It's Official: Kawasaki to stop making standups

S

Speedlaw

Location
Hudson River Valley
No sponsors ? I'll still be out there !!!!

Jack said:
Damn, is it even worth it for a newcomer to join this sport... I wanted a superjet anyways, but whos to say yamahas not gonna back out or they're going to knock off all 2 strokes? BALLS!
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So what ? These skis are glorified weed whackers anyway. You can build a Harley or Chevy engine without a single OE part, and our engines can be fixed by any competent machine shop. There is no $ in the economy for $5k toys, and most parts are not OE, so this might not be worth it...but much like Yamaha, there is a warehouse full of these things so they will still be available for a few years, at least. Maybe, at that time, we will finally see the 4 stroke standup.

My 14 year old SJ has been rebuilt once, and I'm looking for a SN SJ for my kids. At a few hundred for the ski and another few hundred for the parts it will need, I'm in the water. There's not much there, though for OE to make money. Also, skis may get killed, but they don't really wear out like a car or bike. Everything can be replaced by most garage mechanics. I know someone on their fourth x2 rebuild-ski is almost old enough to vote.

I recently heard a story from a neighbor, who this year bought two big Sea Doo 4 strokes from a local dealer. The biggest problem is the incompetency of the service dept of that dealer, and the neighbor is NOT wrench handy. They are getting turned off on the sport due to the lack of support. (or as they said, they took my money (20K) pretty fast but can't do a ten hour service promptly).

I don't need an ad campaign, big sponsors, or popular accolades to make this my sport. Even if it is just me, some nice curls, and a few gallons of high test, it's all I need.

I love the ESPN "hot summer nights" videos from the 80's too. Bud is not coming back to sponsor, nor are the big hair chicks wearing Oakleys. (I don't mind the neon going away, though) It is now a bunch of die hards, in the spots the eco nazis have not managed to close, alone in the waves. This isn't all bad. We remain under the radar, unmolested.

Now, if someone could get MAVTV to actually do a decent job broadcasting races (hire a few college kids with macbooks and a cheap HD camera) I'd be set.
 
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Va Superjet

Va Superjet

X
Location
Mechanicsville Va.
You are witnessing the end of another era. Just like muscle cars, big boats, and other things middle class Americans enjoyed. New skis are well into the 10 thousand dollar bracket. I would bet that most will stop making them and only make premium models for the ultra rich. I expect to see Honda and Kaw proably stop making them all together soon. Who the hell is going to buy 25 thousand dollars worth of skis that they can't get serviced, or that can't be owned outside of a factory warranty due to the repair costs. A 4 stroke standup from a major manufacturer will never happen due to the backlash from "user error" in getting the engines wet. And besides, unless something changes soon I think the law states that by 2105 or maybe even 2012, no new 2 stroke engines will be sold in the US by any manufacturer. This includes weed eaters, leaf blowers, etc. Everything. I can't wait to haul around my 20 lb weed eater to trim my fence line. Another very disturbing trend is the tween to teen demographic. I do not see any where near as much of this group at the Lake or waterways over the last few years. It would be my suspicion that the major manufacturers know this too. It's all marketing and the bottom line. No new generation coming up to buy your toys, you switch to different toys. I guess Kawasaki will use the R&D money to develop a new game console or a smartphone with a pwc app. I hope I am wrong, but I do not see any generation behind me getting into our sport with any real numbers. I'm in my 40's and I ride with mostly folks my age and older now. Not very many folks in their 20's and 30's have the extra thousands of dollars to spend every year on a hobby of any type. I better get back in the garage, I'm ranting like an old coot and I'm not even old yet. Ride On.
 
B_RAD_BALLA

B_RAD_BALLA

Location
martinez, ca
Ive been hooked on skis since i was 13 now im 21 and still in love. ive gotten so many young people into standups... if we can, my generation will be riding standups for a long time. have some faith in the younger folks VA.
 
tumblingtwerp9

tumblingtwerp9

Location
Fayetteville, Ga
I see plenty of people around my age (17) at the lake during the summer. Ive been riding since i was 12 and I dont plan on stopping any time soon. I already told my parents that my skis are going with me when I go
 
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