Buy new?

L

Limited-Flip-TED

Location
.
With so much garbage out there looking for a decent ski and not wanting a headache, has any of you just said screw it and bought new? Or is it a waste of money? Ive been looking for a clean SJ but cant find squat around me.
 
SXIPro

SXIPro

JM781 Big Bore
Location
Here on the 'X' mostly
I don't like the way the newer hull rides at all, so for me I would stick with a pre-'08. I'm sure you could find a decent SJ in your area, especially FL. Sure you may have to take a bit of a drive, but you could get one with a lot of goodies for the price of a new one.
 
JT_Freeride

JT_Freeride

John Tetenes @Jtetenes
Location
Long Island
I would never waste my money on a completely stock Superjet. For $8k I would buy a modded SJ and take the extra money to make it perfect.
 
user_error

user_error

Location
seattle area, Wa
i have several friends who have purchased new ones for racing purposes and they absolutely love them. For freeride applications it seems more popular to just buy someone else's pieced together ski and run it until it breaks. It is likely cheaper initially to do that, but i think the cost equals out over the long term.

i guess it depends on what you want to do. Most racers who buy them use them as lites/stock class machines which do not require as mush $$ investment to get it up to spec. the limit is endless in freeride applications, so buying an older one appeals to more people.
 
Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
if I was looking for a new Ski I would seriously consider new. I had my SXR that I raced stock. Never had any issues with it like I do with my Superjet. If you are going to just add a pipe and a head. Go for it. It well worth the piece of mind.
 
makejetskiinggreatagain

makejetskiinggreatagain

Brandon
I bought my 2013 new. I think it was way overpriced for what you get and regretted the purchase for the first full year. However, the peace of mind knowing that everything is new and you wont have to do any wrenching on the beach for a long time (hopefully) is very nice. Two years after my purchase I think I'm starting to be more ok with the decision I made to get one. Would I do it again? DEFINITELY NOT for the 9k (after dealer fees) that I spent. I've seen several last years models going for less than 7K brand new in the spring time the last two years so if you got a deal like that on one it might be worth it.
 
Midlake Crisis

Midlake Crisis

Site Supporter
Location
Bakersfield, CA
For the price of new I would buy:
Used AM or shortened hull with footholds etc.
Better than new Jetmaniac BB or other reliable fresh builid
AM Prop to match motor
Better than new JSS or OCD Electronics
Factory Pipe when available LOLZ

Reliable and more fun and less money than new
 
Vumad

Vumad

Super Hero, with a cape!
Location
St. Pete, FL
I bought a 2004 in 2011 for $2800, and drove 6 hours round trip for the deal. In gas alone it was $100 more, but if you believe in your vehicle having a finite amount of miles, it was probably a $3300 ski.

I've since replaced
midshaft housing $200
throttle cable $50
steering cable $70
motor rebuilt due to a case leak, and found a worn bearing so had to do a complete rebuild $500
carbs rebuilt $150
new battery $100
new hood seal $100

$1170 more on top.

So, were at nearly $4500 for a stock setup. Next thing to be said is, "well that's still half the price of new", except a few important things...
Most of that stuff is SBT or WSM, inferior quality to what comes new. Those prices are what I paid, most of them were close to dealer prices, so about 30% less than retail. So we can probably call it closer to $5000 for retail on OEM quality parts.

Then, lets not forget that each of these items broke one at a time. A lot of instances requiring more than 15 minutes of my time, in some occasions days. Oh, and I may have owned the ski 4 years now, but most of those repairs were at the 1-2 year mark. The 1st year had a lot of down time, so did the 3rd.

And last but not least, lets not forget there are still a few lose ends. Things like my start/stop switch needing to be cleaned regularly, my paint is severely oxidized in some places, a bond rail bumper fell off, my turf is coming off, my gunnel pads are both off and need to be glued back on.

New is the right decision for many people. If I made more money and had less time, I'd be a new buyer.
 
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tshank123

tshank123

Yo hablo ingles
Location
Vegas
Personally, I never buy any vehicle new. Yes, you get the piece of mind when you buy new. However, just like any vehicle, the second you take a ski off the dealer's lot it loses a ton of value. So many people buy brand new ski's and a year later decide they don't want it. They only rode it a handful of times, its still pretty new and they list it on craigslist for what they paid for it. They soon discover that they will never sell it for that, and some lucky person gets a basically new ski for much less than the original owner paid.

Keep lookin man, you'll find one eventually. I guarantee that the day after you buy a new one, somebody will put an ad up for a newish clean ski. Happens every time.
 
Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
I bought my ski new in 99. Swapped hulls in 2007. Once ski was 5 years old, the Age really started showing....... I have rewired the inside of electrical box several times from breaks in the wiriing. Replaced Harness going into electrical box. At least 3 coils. 3 Start Stop switches. 3 or 4 starters. (I will buys good used ones). 4 or 5 bendixes. Dont know how many motor mounts. 3 Intermediate Shafts and dirive shafts. 1 Intermediate housings. 5 Steering cables. 2 throttle Cables. Believe it or not, Never replaced any of the battery cables. Oh, 5 batteries (2 were jetworks). Fuel Lines replaced 5 times. Waterlines. About the same. 1 Complete Pump Replacement by the time you add up all the different parts. Grips. Not even going to count.


So, Why in the hell would I want to buy someones 5 year old ski when at this point each of these parts I listed are going to have to be replaced pretty soon............


PS. I am still running the same Carbon Tech Reeds I got used from Tricky in 2004. How they are still holding up I will never know. Oh, Replaced AM Intake Manifold when the reed block holes stripped out.
 
aytee

aytee

Location
south dakota
I'm kinda with BK on this one... First ski i bought new in 12.. First due to the lack of anything used anywhere close... I currently own said 12 sj, 90 650sx, and just acquired an 89 440... Now that you know that I'll elaborate.... the sx gets more wrench time than ride time.. The 440 is on the stand not running... The sj is there when i want to go ride...
I live on a lake so it's common to jump on and ride for 20-30 mins just because... It's nice to have a reliable boat that you don't have to worry about taking it out for 10 mins and breaking down... I really think the turn away in this sport is the fact that the learning curve with your first few seasons.. And breaking down half way through the first season and the ski just gets pushed to the side and never rode again, then eventually sold to another noob who thinks they can fix it.. They ride it a few times and it breaks down... Repeat...
With a new ski, you push the go button... And you go... You learn how to ride it before you learn how to fix it.. Coming from a bunch of guys who have been around and know how everything works it's easy to say you'd buy used...
I fix vehicles for a living.. So that end of the deal is no big deal for me... But i say as a first ski reliability is worth the investment if you have the means... Buy used and you might end up like Rosie with a thread 150 posts long about a blown motor and know nothing about fixing it.. What first time ski owner has patience for that?

Sorry @Roseand not knockin on ya just a reference... But this post is about as long and boring as some of yours... You can take a round with my ex if you'd like! Hah

Sent from inside a beer can
 
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