550's are fast!

[DaUpJetSkier]

Ive built up my 550 over the last two years and I just bought a SJ a while ago with a 650. Well I finally had both skis out and the 550 keeps right up with the SJ. Its got a kerker pipe, k&n filter, ports smoothed, 15 skat trak, intake and ride plate, 44 SB mikuni. My 650 only has and intake grate and ocean pro milled head. Just gotta say im really surpised that the ol 550 can keep up, I guess I built it right. I think im gonna mill the head, its at 0nly 100psi right now so maybe go only up to 150 if I can and see. Now I need a 701 for the 650. Just thought id say lol.

[kustumk31]

or maybe because the hull is so skinny. and the 650 sj is like 4"wider. think that could be it?

[Matt_E]

I rode a 550 back to back with my 650 square today. I think the 550 had a pipe, and my 650 has a milled head.
I was surprised - that 550 does pretty well for itself. That hull is kinda fun. I have some newfound respect for old school Kawi riders now.
Makes me want an FX1.

[DaUpJetSkier]

well the 65o turns like no other compared to my 550 and that right there does it for me, I can throw the 650 much more actually. Bottom end is a lil more on the 650 sj but both are nothing to brag about. I dunno, if I can get soem goos stabs on the sj i'll be happy this year and then move up and get some power for Br's.

[tiplickhahaha]

thats pretty cool im putting together a 550 right now :biggthumpup: :biggthumpup:

cant wait till it's together:woot:

[SJ/XPBri]

its easier to get speed out of a 440 than a 550. less mass in the moving parts of the engine add up in the RPMs. and the old kawi hull are so small and light.

how does the 650 compare to the 550 in bottom end? thats where it matters. youre right. you need a 701.
Who cares... if you want speed, buy a couch.
Bri

[SJ/XPBri]

No Problem SFL :biggthumpup:

[2XLR8]

In the spring of 92 at a B.C. race in marine stadium I witnessed a race between Rob Flores and a Swedish guy by the name of Manson. Flores had a mod fully done up by Newman himself from Rec world in Vegas. This boat had wescoast cylinder and stainless skat pump (440) total loss. The swede had 550 C1 OEM cylinder stroker crank, no total loss and a 550 pump prepped by dave at Jet Pro (also a swede).
Off the line the rec world boat pulled on the 550 pump boat by at least 3 boat lengths , halfway to the bouy they were even, 3/4 of the way the swede had him by 2 boat lengths ,around the bouy the swede was pulling away and had him by 4 boat lengths. Back then if your 550 did 52 it was good and most people said they did 54 mph when they were doing 52. The 550 pump, oem cylinder,non total loss boat was doing 56 mph on radar.

[adet16v]

In the spring of 92 at a B.C. race in marine stadium I witnessed a race between Rob Flores and a Swedish guy by the name of Manson. Flores had a mod fully done up by Newman himself from Rec world in Vegas. This boat had wescoast cylinder and stainless skat pump (440) total loss. The swede had 550 C1 OEM cylinder stroker crank, no total loss and a 550 pump prepped by dave at Jet Pro (also a swede).
Off the line the rec world boat pulled on the 550 pump boat by at least 3 boat lengths , halfway to the bouy they were even, 3/4 of the way the swede had him by 2 boat lengths ,around the bouy the swede was pulling away and had him by 4 boat lengths. Back then if your 550 did 52 it was good and most people said they did 54 mph when they were doing 52. The 550 pump, oem cylinder,non total loss boat was doing 56 mph on radar.

that sounds like a bedtime story :biggrin:

[Idok]

I rode a 550 back to back with my 650 square today. I think the 550 had a pipe, and my 650 has a milled head.
I was surprised - that 550 does pretty well for itself. That hull is kinda fun. I have some newfound respect for old school Kawi riders now.
Makes me want an FX1.


me too :rolleyes:

[WaveDemon]

I rode a 550 back to back with my 650 square today. I think the 550 had a pipe, and my 650 has a milled head.
I was surprised - that 550 does pretty well for itself. That hull is kinda fun. I have some newfound respect for old school Kawi riders now.
Makes me want an FX1.


me too :rolleyes:you ready to sell that pile of parts?

[ShAkEdOwN]

I am building a 500 right now. You guys are giving me hope, thanks.

[DaUpJetSkier]

just to clarify my ski is a 440 with a 550 block, so I dunno if the 440 pump makes that big of a difference or not.

[Idok]

[quote=Idok]you ready to sell that pile of parts?


i have a renewed interest in her.........finished the carbon work this past weekend, just have to glass the bracket area, turf and assemble!

should be ready in 4-6 months :rolleyes: :Banane09:

[douglee25]

I have a 550 that's stock. The thing is so clean and runs so well that I can't justify selling it. It is a fun little toy that makes me laugh just about every time I ride it. When I jump the first wave and hear the pump unload, the sound just cracks me up when comparing it to a superjet. It almost sounds like a little wind up toy. I think I'm gonna take mine out this weekend. lol

Doug

[adet16v]

I have a 550 that's stock. The thing is so clean and runs so well that I can't justify selling it. It is a fun little toy that makes me laugh just about every time I ride it. When I jump the first wave and hear the pump unload, the sound just cracks me up when comparing it to a superjet. It almost sounds like a little wind up toy. I think I'm gonna take mine out this weekend. lol

Doug


ahhh the pink lightning....

[douglee25]

ahhh the pink lightning....

You know it!

http://www.jetski.nu/media/museum/kawasaki/550sx-1991.jpg

Doug

[keefer]

I had a 87 550 with the non reed, piston port motor. It had the Coffmans half pipe and a Mariner milled head. The cyl was ported and the rev limiter defeated. I had the old round body Mikuni 44 main jet drilled and it ran pretty good. It would outrun the guys with the 650 SJs back then. I bought my 94 SJ and it would run dead even with it in stock form. I think we clocked it at about 45 mph screaming its heart out. Lots O fun but it was like riding a 2x4 with an engine attached.:biggrin:

[Shrivel]

Lots O fun but it was like riding a 2x4 with an engine attached.:biggrin:

I found that I could actually carve the 2x4 a bit better.

[surfjetlouie]

SFL do you have pix of Barby? if you do. you should post them also the other one the one I have put footholds in the racing purple. they where pretty cool ski.
Louie

[All Stock]

You guys are making me miss my 88 440. That was a blast.

[Moondance]

You guys are making me miss my 88 440. That was a blast.ahhhhhh......the good ole days. Kinda makes one miss his/her youth. Wait, we're all still young:arms:

[onesojourner]

I have a 550 with a pipe and my friend has a 650 sj. they are pretty close in speed. you cant even compare them when it comes to bottom end. the sj will rip your arms off compared to the 550s get up. the sj will out turn the 550 any day. I can drag my face through the water and ride it out. you cant do that on a 550.

[ATS_Scott]

My first ski was an 89? 550 piston port. No title, seller was in middle of a divorce and didn't know anything about it. Turns out it was ported by dale's jet sports. When I got it, it didn't have the factory sponsons attached... that thing was scary! I got a box of parts with it and one day saw the sponsons in there and thought... "hmm those look like they would fit on the back of the hull"...Wow what a difference!

The ski eventually locked up... I think it was tuned for racegas, and the base gasket was THIN. I assume it had a big overbore. On 93 pump it would easily hang with my buddies stock 93 750sx. Man I miss that ski, it hit SOO hard on the bottom. It was lost in a barn fire in 2001. I hadn't ridden it in years by that point.

I'm now own a 93 SJ with the stock 650, B pipe, unknown impeler, grate and rideplate. it's fun but not anywhere near as brutal as that 550 was...Maybe someday

And I also own half of a pair of 73 JS400's one is a WSAA hull and the other is a WSAB. "V" hull and the standard "flat" hull. In amazing condition for being 30 years old.

Scott
www.ATSRacing.net

[nikad58]

Ive built up my 550 over the last two years and I just bought a SJ a while ago with a 650. Well I finally had both skis out and the 550 keeps right up with the SJ. Its got a kerker pipe, k&n filter, ports smoothed, 15 skat trak, intake and ride plate, 44 SB mikuni. My 650 only has and intake grate and ocean pro milled head. Just gotta say im really surpised that the ol 550 can keep up, I guess I built it right. I think im gonna mill the head, its at 0nly 100psi right now so maybe go only up to 150 if I can and see. Now I need a 701 for the 650. Just thought id say lol.

i thought i would just let you know... a stock 650 SJ went a amazing 36-38 mph !! Im thinking with a intake your slowed down just a tad also..

[the WaTeRhAwK]

i thought i would just let you know... a stock 650 SJ went a amazing 36-38 mph !! Im thinking with a intake your slowed down just a tad also..



yeah butch, but they have the ability to jump out of the water from a dead stop with meager modifications compared to the 550 that has to have all kinds of crap done to it, and still doesn't have the active powerband until like charlie says "it's screaming it's little heart out" and has to have a 13 degree prop and a 440 pump to even get close to the holeshot the 650 sj has. :smile:

[skiprincess]

Old thread...but reading it brought back memories of my first stand up ride. That thing was a scarey, skinny, wiggley, loud rocket...and I loved it. After learning on that, everthing else has been a cake walk. :biggrin:

[Freestylin-FX1]

:smile: 550 on roids :woot:

[skiprincess]

My brother has an FX-1...heavily modded...much MORE scarey than the old 550!!! :bigeyes:

[MrSki]

Oh my...you guys/gals have a lot to learn about the 550 potential. Mine run circles around SXR's.....well, when they are running that is but that is besides the point.

[Big Kahuna]

trouble maker!!!!!!!!!! ;)

[skiprincess]

trouble maker!!!!!!!!!! ;)

It's only trouble if your willing to get sucked in...:wink:

[MrSki]

What - did that look like an invite? Travis, Bueller?

most have heard of my lack of time this summer due to family issues...and my new experience with stock kawasaki ignition troubleshooting keeping one boat down...where is my new CDI coil Gordy?

but...when this here pink boat got tuned back in June, it did outrun a stock SXR. If I get my PJS T-3 motor ever running...and install the 440 after burner pump...I'm thinking it will be a contender for a mildly modifed SXR...but we will have to wait and see about that so don't hold me to it yet.

Sorry - intel's server wont let me post a picture of the pink ski....