650/X-2 89 or 90 650sx good buy?

[Docster]

heres the ad:
"for sale: kawasaki 650 stand up jet ski for parts or rebuild. i believe it is a 1989 to 1990, i rode this ski for years, but ended up blowing the engine a few years back, the ski will need a new engine, the enging was taken apart and some of the parts were used on my new jet ski, so there is some engine parts sitting inside the ski, im not sure exactley what parts, but probably about half the engine is there. it would be a great ski to fix up, engine parts and rebuilding it isnt that expensive, and if you know anything about these ski's, its not hard to rebuild yourself, ive done it multiple times without any formal training. sold as is....asking $250.00 o.b.o. no reasonable offer refused, willing to deal."

my plans are to either rebuild the engine or try to find a cheap 750 complete. I offered $175, he agreed. its got the pump in there and most big parts on the engine, not sure on specifics on what its missing, but things like flywheel, carb, all the electronics are there. Figure i could sell off the stuff i dont use to help buy a 750 or something. goal is to build a budget ski, under 5-600 into it total. Think this is worth a good a start?

 

[icecoled007]

Any aftermarket parts?

Man I wish I just bought a SN SJ instead of my 650.... or hold out and save up for a 750 or SJ.....its worth every penny

 

[Docster]

well thats whateveryone says, but around here those dont go for anything less than 2 grand, im just not putting that kind of money into a ski that sadly wont get that much use. this is so i can play while the wife rides the 'Doo. plus my bro has a very nice 701 SN SJ, so i can always make him trade with me for part of the ride haha.

No aftermarket parts that i know of.

 

[kevbo]

You can learn a lot from those ground up projects as long as you actually complete them. Most people here are just riders so thats the only perspective that you hear.

 

[Docster]

oh it will be completed, and rather quickly...im thinking the easiest thing to do is just find a complete motor someone wants to get rid of and sell off my other parts.

 

[Vumad]

Apples and oranges. To make that Ski the same quality of a $2000 SJ, you will probably have $1500 in it. You can get away cheap if you have good pump bearings, cables, etc. Or you can have to buy each one of those parts individually. $50 for a throttle cable, $70 for a steering, $40 for pump bearings, $100 for new start/stop switches, $50 for an exhaust coupler, etc etc, It adds up quick. If you want to build a 650sx for the sake of having a strong 650sx, then go for it. I would discourage you from going that route because it's cheaper. Been there, done that. It's not cheaper, less riding, more hassle.

Hate to be discouraging, but my 1st ski was a 650sx, now I'm dealing with a 750 X2. If I could go back in time and just spend an initial $2k in a SJ, I would. Right now I am saving for a SJ, then I am going to sell all of my 650sx stuff. If it's not bolted to my X2, I want it gone. A waste of time. All of it, including my X2. The X2 has become a hobby for the sake of working on it all the time. Not riding it. That's why I want a SJ. The Vintage Kawi junk is just that, junk. I want something that consitantly works and I can buy parts for, a SJ.

 

[Vumad]

heres the ad:
"i believe it is a 1989 to 1990."

What, no title? It says the year on the title. Don't buy a ski w/o a title. Maybe your state doesn't require them... if so the year is in the HIN number.

If you buy it, let me know. I'll gladly sell you all the 650sx stuff you can handle.

 

[Docster]

im not looking to compete with a superjet, not at all. i just want a budget machine that runs and i can play with, dont need to mod it out at all. just need it to run well. i will keep you posted. i havent even seen it yet...he says everything is in good shape just the motor is apart and some of that was used on his current ski. so we will see.

 

[Vumad]

im not looking to compete with a superjet, not at all. i just want a budget machine that runs and i can play with, dont need to mod it out at all. just need it to run well.

I'm not saying that you should get a superjet because it's better. I'm saying that by the time you are done building the 650sx you may have a lot more invested than you think (or have an unreliable ski). My point is not to be distracted by a low initial investment because in the long run you may have to spend more money in total. Ignore everything I said about the SJ and just focus on that one main point.

Example is me. I bought a $800 650sx because it was cheap. I spent money on parts and it still kept breaking (fix one part, a different one fails). It would have been cheaper for me to buy a $1500 650sx that was in better condition in the long run. I just don't want you to have to go through the same thing I did when I first got into the sport and didn't know anyone or any better.

I hope it works out for you. Best part about the $250 ski is by the time you are done building it is custom to you and you know how to work on it very well.

Good luck.

 

[Docster]

good advice...thats really what im looking for here. i will for sure consider this when the time comes. thank you!

 

[ajmps1]

i just finished building up my first x2, the build was fun, i learned alot and gained alot of confidence, and honestly with a 44m sbn,4in stretched pipe cone and 180-185psi (wiseco rebuild and westcoast head) the 650 rips but its all up to cost, and they take on alooooot of water. but for 175 i say build on a budget dont go over 1000 ride it a year have fun and then do the next one.

 

[Docster]

yea, im just trying to figure out how to seal up the hull so it wont take on as much water. 99% of my riding is lk michigan, and there is always potential for 4+ footers.

 

[Vumad]

yea, im just trying to figure out how to seal up the hull so it wont take on as much water. 99% of my riding is lk michigan, and there is always potential for 4+ footers.

It leaks on the rear most part of the hood at the bottom just behind the clips. It leaks other places, but that place is the worst.