First ride on '08 SJ

Daesharacor

Daesharacor

Rossi wannabe
Location
Buffalo, NY
Hey guys-

I've been doing research and surfing the forums for the last few months, and decided stand-ups look like fun. I'd never ridden a stand-up until this weekend. I drove 7 hours and picked up a brandy new '08 Superjet. I even got to take it out of the crate and everything. Anyway, wow. Got it ready to go and running at my cottage, and you guys make it look easy!

It's a lot harder than I thought it would be. I think one of my problems stems from the fact that I'm a motorcycle road racer, and for anybody who's ridden before, when you're leaned over dragging a knee, your inputs to the handlebars are reverse due to gyroscopic effects. Example: You're leaned over with your right knee on the ground, and you want to exit the corner and lean upright again. You pull back with your right hand, turning the bars to the right, which stands it up and begins leaning the bike the other way.

I don't know if that makes sense to anyone, but it took me quite a while to realize that is not how stand-ups work! When I was leaned over in a turn on the SJ, if I wanted to lean back up to straight, I'd turn the bars left, just like a car. I guess it's just going to take awhile to get used to it, and realize that jet propulsion steering from the rear end is not equivalent to 2-wheels and front steering.

Anyway, that being said, it was fun as hell. I did crash quite a few times, but only once that I hurt myself on. I somehow managed to fall off and wang my shin on the side rail and get a huge lump/bruise. I wear my wetsuit legs since then. I also managed to get an eyesocket enema, but that wasn't too big of a deal, I'm guessing that's common.

It didn't help that the wind was up on Seneca Lake, and there was quite a chop. If I could get a day or two on a calm lake, that'd probably help my learning curve.

So anyway, I had a bunch of questions that I can't remember now (other than your opinions on the race bike / stand up steering reversal) so I'm sure I'll be adding to the thread as I remember them. Just wanted to say hi, and admit I'm a complete stand-up noob! I really enjoyed it though, and am really looking forward to getting comfortable and used to the controls and dynamics.
 
z00m

z00m

UK X-H20
Location
UK West midlands
Yep i had the same thing with the steering, everytime i shot in to a corner it all went backwards on me, took a while to get it right, my other problem was on a road bike weight is massive with handling , you move your body round the bike to steer, on the ski i had to learn not to force the ski with weight, other wise you toast in 30 mins, let the ski do the work hang loose, and speed is stability with out a dout, back off in a turn and your off,

Mick
 
Daesharacor

Daesharacor

Rossi wannabe
Location
Buffalo, NY
Agreed. I had to force myself to chill out and stop the death grip on the bars... It doesn't matter how hard I hold it. My core muscles are pretty sore from a day of riding! My abs are definitely worn, I didn't even know I was using them. Forearms are slightly sore, but not bad.

One question I had - Which stance is easier to learn with? I feel most comfortable with my left foot back and straight-ish leg, and my right foot up against the front of the tray with that knee bent. I tried pretending like I had footholds, with both feet back square, but it felt kinda wierd... and since there's nobody at the cottage to show me what's the right way to do it, I'm just guessing and doing what feels right. I'd rather not get into a bad habit, though.
 
tipafew

tipafew

Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Your stance is good. That is by far the most stable. When I am railing turns I will actually switch feet. Right turn...right forward.........Left turn, left forward.
With your stance, the bars should be neutral in your hands, not pulling back like wakeboarding/skiing.
Ha...It's kind of funny....I had the opposite problem 5 years ago when I got my first bike. I had been riding skiis for a long time. when I entered corners I had to remind myself I wasn't on a ski!
 
yankeeboy

yankeeboy

Location
Down stream of Harrisburg, PA
I'm right foot dominant, and i ride right leg back, left leg forward, with both kness bent slightly. I'm usually in my footholds, which give a wider stance, but since you dont have any yet, just vary your stances and youll catch on to whats natural.
 
JoeD

JoeD

Location
Havasu
If your considering racing at any point you might want to start now on switching feet in corners, right turn, right foot forward, left turn left foot forward. Good choice for your first ski though, the 08 is an awesome handling ski.
 
Shonuff

Shonuff

I've got the glow
Site Supporter
Location
Memphis
If you're considering racing, get an SX-R because I'll kill you in the chop. Keep that SJ for awesome freeriding, though.
 
Daesharacor

Daesharacor

Rossi wannabe
Location
Buffalo, NY
Thanks guys! I love a responsive forum.

I'll try the switch-stance thing next time I'm out.

I'm curious what the deal is with cavitation and a stock motor / prop. I've seen the videos, and it looks like all the good freeriders can just blip the throttle and jump way up in the air for flatwater rolls and backs. I rode in a bunch of chop, so it was hard to do any solid experimenting, but I found that if I let off the throttle for a second and the bow dipped, then I could hit it again and get a little light on the water, and if I did it again, sometimes I'd get a nice little jump where the entire hull was out of the water, but sometimes the prop would just spin up and I'd go nowhere. I'm assuming that's due to the chop and I must have been sucking air in the dip of a wave or something... right? Is there a common replacement for the stock prop that's meant for torquing out of the water like that, or do I just still suck at this point?

Also, yes, I'll search for that.
 
K

Kennay

Squarenose for the _____
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
Shonuff said:
If you're considering racing, get an SX-R because I'll kill you in the chop. Keep that SJ for awesome freeriding, though.
Click to expand...

I don't think so man. The nose on the 08 I rode stayed way high and floated right over chop and wakes.... I was very very pleased and surprised at the same time. I LOVE the 08 hull
 
K

Kennay

Squarenose for the _____
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
Daesharacor said:
Thanks guys! I love a responsive forum.

I'll try the switch-stance thing next time I'm out.

I'm curious what the deal is with cavitation and a stock motor / prop. I've seen the videos, and it looks like all the good freeriders can just blip the throttle and jump way up in the air for flatwater rolls and backs. I rode in a bunch of chop, so it was hard to do any solid experimenting, but I found that if I let off the throttle for a second and the bow dipped, then I could hit it again and get a little light on the water, and if I did it again, sometimes I'd get a nice little jump where the entire hull was out of the water, but sometimes the prop would just spin up and I'd go nowhere. I'm assuming that's due to the chop and I must have been sucking air in the dip of a wave or something... right? Is there a common replacement for the stock prop that's meant for torquing out of the water like that, or do I just still suck at this point?

Also, yes, I'll search for that.
Click to expand...

Riding more (Gaining experience) and body positioning as well as timing the throttle will help you combat those problems to a certain extent.
 
Daesharacor

Daesharacor

Rossi wannabe
Location
Buffalo, NY
Kennay said:
Riding more (Gaining experience) and body positioning as well as timing the throttle will help you combat those problems to a certain extent.
Click to expand...


I figured as much. Next question: Bilge pumps. How do they get triggered? Are they always on, or do they have a float indicator (unlikely) or some other means of going off/on when needed? I am searching for this as well, but it's hard to get that specific question in a search.
 
Daesharacor

Daesharacor

Rossi wannabe
Location
Buffalo, NY
And I've read a few threads about sealing the stock hood... where does the intake get fresh air from then?

I'll start new threads or shut up if you guys want...
 
velocity

velocity

Location
Bentonville, AR
Just keep asking in here, I am sure you will get your questions answered. The guys blipping the throttle for rolls and backflips probably have a lot more motor than you do. Make sure you are comparing yours to other stock boats.
 
z00m

z00m

UK X-H20
Location
UK West midlands
Daesharacor said:
I figured as much. Next question: Bilge pumps. How do they get triggered? Are they always on, or do they have a float indicator (unlikely) or some other means of going off/on when needed? I am searching for this as well, but it's hard to get that specific question in a search.
Click to expand...

Yeh most run a bilge pump, some trigged by a foat switch some a dash switch,
mine is on the bars as the picture , the little switched next to the start stop, if your riding the surf i would get one, they will run wet and dry so you dont have to worry about it burning out, you buy the pump (fitted below the prop) the fitting kit ( normally with a nice alloy umi exit) and a switch kit,
Mine runs when i need it and im pritty good at knowing when i need it to what i have been doing on the ski, if you take on water they will clear it from the hull in seconds,

bars2.jpg


Mick
 
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