Advice?

[cameront21]

Hello, I am very new to the sport (1 week ago) and just bought my first ski, and im loving the sport. A 94 kawasaki 550sx. I know, I know, nothing but super jets right. Well I didnt find that out until after I found out about this site. So I plan on learning on the kawa, and then purchasing a SJ later on. So my question is, When im riding my ski once i get up to speed and my nose comes down the ski goes into a random bounce in the calmist of waters. I have read through the forums here and on jetski .com and have heard people say just lean forward more, or find your spot and push or pull against the bounce. Nothing seems to work no matter where i position myself. Im 6' 220lbs I dont think my size is an issue. Any advice on fixing this problem would be of great benefit. Thanks in advance for the help.

Thanks
CameronT21

 

[pjsrider]

You need an extended ride plate.. Look on ebay.. The bounce is called porpoising. The extended ride plate replaces the flat aluminum one right under the pump and is longer, which pushes the nose down and holds it from hoping. While your at it look for a scoop grate as well so that it will hook up better in chop.

Jay

 

[subseawellhead]

220lbs, extended ride plate, full tank, lean forward.

 

[njfl]

Congrats onthe 550. I have Superjets, but when I am n California (were I spend a lot of time for work) I really enjoy riding my co-workers 550 onthe weekends. It's really snappy and responsive(he also has a Kawi 650, but I like the 550 better).

Usually, fior a smaller/lighter person, shifting the weight around works. I think you are a little too big to impact a difference, or more appropriately stated, the "sweet spot" position is very small (slightly forward and you bounce, slightly backward and you bounce). An extended rideplate would help. This increases the effective length of the ski.

 

[cameront21]

thanks

awesome thanks for the help, are ride plates hard to isntall and any advice on which 1 i should get? thanks so much for the help

 

[SuperJETT]

Don't fight it, just relax, and get an extended rideplate. Once you tighten up and try to fight it, it will typically get worse because you can't keep exact rhythm with the porpoising.

 

[Snackem]

you may find that riding surf stance helps. I'm 6' and 250 and I ride surf stance a lot of the time when I ride SJ's, it allows me to put a lot more weight forward which will help keep the nose down.

 

[pjsrider]

Ride plates are really easy to change. It is held on by 4 bolts and that is it. It doesnt really matter on what brand you get, just look on ebay for one cheap. Some have grooves in the bottem so the ski wont slid as much, but I think that takes all the fun out of the ski.

Jay

 

[Speedfreak]

Don't fight it, just relax, and get an extended rideplate. Once you tighten up and try to fight it, it will typically get worse because you can't keep exact rhythm with the porpoising.

As Darin said just let it go. Put one foot all the way in the front of the tray and the other one close to the rear but the rear foot only put your toe on the tray and use your foot as a shock absorber. just play with your stance and the ski you will eventually be able to ride any ski and that won't be an issue reguardless of rideplate.

Oh yea practice, practice, practice

 

[jetskee]

As Darin said just let it go. Put one foot all the way in the front of the tray and the other one close to the rear but the rear foot only put your toe on the tray and use your foot as a shock absorber. just play with your stance and the ski you will eventually be able to ride any ski and that won't be an issue reguardless of rideplate.

Oh yea practice, practice, practice

Ditto....my ski did the same thing when I first started riding.
As you get better and riding the ski becomes 2nd nature,
the porpoising goes away.

 

[djyox]

I would say get the ride plate, but even after buying my plate it still did it...

It just took me learning where to put my weight over the ski, and learning to ride with the ski....


As said, just ride it, and it will go away....







BTW, on the sx's didn't they come with an extended ride plate?