how big of a differwnce between the skis for

btmboards

btmboards

Brett
Location
Oceanside, Ca
Hey, I am about to purchase my first ski in years. I am big into dirtbikes street bike and everything fast and powerful. The problem is I am on an extreme budget, about $500 . I was looking for a 650 but am having a hard time getting one but I am able to get 550s all day long (late 80s to real early 90s). I am 6' about 175lbs. About 85% of my riding will be in the surf here in Oceanside. So my question is, if I just go with a 550 instead of the 650 will I be disappointed with the power and ridability.
 
D-Nice

D-Nice

flap dem wings johnny!
Location
hammonton, new jersey
take out a loan an get atleast a 701, could prolly find a square nose superjet with one it. thatd be ur best bet for not spenden as much. if u were 110 pound chick a 550 would prolly be alright
 
mightymighty2stroke

mightymighty2stroke

I'd rather be on the lake
Location
LKN, NC
I disagree on taking out a loan/etc...this is his first ski anyway, it doesn't have to be amazing and powerful. I learned to ride on a 650 that I paid $500 for, and it was well worth it. That thing is super reliable, never leaves me stranded, and was great to learn on. The upside is that when you get tired of it and want to sell it, you'll have no problem getting back what you paid. I don't know that I would go for a 550, I would just keep looking for a good deal on a 650.
 
D-Nice

D-Nice

flap dem wings johnny!
Location
hammonton, new jersey
id still say get the loan. hell take a decent one an get a RN with some work. if your 6 foot an 175 lbs your obviously in good shape and not a fat guy with tired legs that needs a ski with a seat. any1 u talk to that has ridden a stand up (except old ppl and outta shape ppl) will tell u there a blast. i started riding a 2 seater waveraider 7 years ago an thought it was awsome. sold that then got a blaster 1 and thought it was gnarley an would never go back to a couch, kept the blaster an got a RN sj an have no desire to ride the blaster unless my sj is down. the only downfall to a stand up in my opinion is that u cant through a broad on the back :) but hey thats why i got the back up blaster
 
btmboards

btmboards

Brett
Location
Oceanside, Ca
Well I decided to use a little money that I had in another account that I wast planning to use to get me to around $1000 so I would be able to get something a little better but when I showed up for work today they call a mass meeting of every employee and handed every one of us an envelope with 60 day notices in them, so the loan and spending a lot is out of the question if I still get one I may be stuck to getting a 550 unless I happen to find a 650 for cheap real soon
 
D-Nice

D-Nice

flap dem wings johnny!
Location
hammonton, new jersey
that blows man. been in your situation and know the feeling, collect unemployment to pay the bills and find an under the table job for boat money. sellin grass pays better then cuttin it! that got me through my rough times
 
227

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
BTM This is a very expensive sport. If your budget for a ski is only $500, this may not be the best sport to get into in your current situation. Remember the cost of the ski is probably the LEAST of your expenses in this sport. Consider this, just to ride will cost you about $25 for gas and oil, EVERY TIME YOU RIDE. Also a $500 ski will be a 25-30 year old ski which is basicly a time bomb, especially when it will be ridden in the surf, and will most likely cost you more to fix should anything go wrong than what you can sell it for. Since your local, why don't you come down to the Oceanside ramp this Saturday June 2nd at 7am and meet the crew. You'll see us, we're the ones you'll be riding with when you do get a ski so just introduce yourself. We have a wealth of information that we all learned the hard way that we would be more than happy to share
 
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BruceSki

BruceSki

Formerly Motoman25
Location
Long Island
227 couldnt have put it better. Take advice from the guys who have been doing it for years. They will tell you where you can take shortcuts and where you can't. It's expensive even when you have a real reliable setup. Better off getting into a yamaha twin than an old kawi too.
 
btmboards

btmboards

Brett
Location
Oceanside, Ca
Hey, thanks for all the advice guys. As for the money situation after the purchase I understand that. It's not that 500 is all the money I have it is just around what I am trying to spend for the start with the complete intent of outing more into it. I have been riding and racing dirtbikes since I was a little kid which also typically would require money to be dumped into it with at a very similar rate with my fair share of motor rebuilds worth more than the bike. I just haven't had a bike since I moved down here do to all the place to ride being so far away. So I was hoping to replace my dirtbike with a jet ski. Also fixed and rebuild several kawi sit downs. Since I have been on the water on boats and skis all my life. I have just never had my own stand up and haven't been on one since my uncle sold all three of his kawi 550s years ago. I very much know what I am in for, but I am dying not being in the water in one form or another since I moved here last fall.
As for meeting everyone on Saturday morning I would love to, but will have to see if I can get up that early since I work till about midnight. Might be a good reason to get up and do some kayaking though.
Thanks again guys, appreciate the input and advice
 
btmboards

btmboards

Brett
Location
Oceanside, Ca
How cheap is cheap?
Nice video Charlie, only problem is that he know what he is doing well enough to get everybit out of that ski. I don't. It's good to see that it can be done though. That just means ill have no excuses on my 650.
227 I am definitely going to try and make it down there tomorrow morning and check out your guys set up. Could I get you name, so I'm not the idiot walking around looking for a guy named 227. Thanks
 
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R

Riding The Right Way

Location
Orange County, CA
I'd let it go for $400 (that is what I have in it, so thats what I would like to get out of it)
It has a full rebuilt carb (Mark Gomez did it like two months ago)
brand new primer kit
been looked at and gone though (by Mark)
I have the current regestration and pink
I can also give you a pvc stand for it (my dad stole the rolling one, that it is sitting on in the picture, from me)

It needs, a starter and water box and well a battery. (I've been trying to find a starter and waterbox, because I'd like to keep it. But I haven't been able to get anything cheap enough)
3f2c0d66.jpg

201fff5d.jpg
 
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btmboards

btmboards

Brett
Location
Oceanside, Ca
I bought a 650 the next day, my girl will be coming into town this fall so we may get her a 550 though but not going to till then so maybe if you are still looking to het rid of it at that point. Thanks though
 
227

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
btmboards said:
......227 I am definitely going to try and make it down there tomorrow morning and check out your guys set up. Could I get you name, so I'm not the idiot walking around looking for a guy named 227. Thanks
Click to expand...

Check the Cabo 2011 thread, that is me.
 
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