2015 Yamaha VXR WaveRunner: Review

The new, edgy, muscle craft in Yamaha’s 2015 WaveRunner line-up is all about delivering more bang for your buck. The proven 1812cc four-cylinder DOHC engine, which produces about 180-185hp, is the industry’s biggest displacement engine fitted to a production watercraft. The drive is enhanced by the addition of Yamaha’s new RiDE dual-throttle deceleration and docking system, while an all-new, longer and wider hull, with trim function, actually removes the bang and expands your WaveRunner’s application. But for all this, the main thrust of the new VXR is to deliver a race-inspired experience at an affordable price using a reliable engine.

OVERVIEW
- A big engine and extended hull for class-leading performance
The 2015 VXR replaces the previous-generation VX18R, which was originally introduced in 2011 and enjoyed some four years topping its category. What category is that, you ask?

Yamaha promotes its VXR as a muscle craft. With an all-new, light but strong, NanoXcel2 hull and deck, encapsulating the industry’s biggest displacement 1.8L engine in a production water craft, the VXR certainly flexes its muscles.

Visually, the 2015 VXR is larger and aesthetically more aggressive than the previous model. The striking new deck has edgy lines, integrated wing mirrors, and sporty chrome highlights.

The black and laser-yellow metallic livery of our test ‘ski’ was eye catching, but torch red metallic is an option. More colours and graphic combos are likely to be available in 2016.

On the water, the addition of a lightweight two-piece, sport-bolstered, three-person seat, and a larger stern platform with integrated boarding step, extend the watercraft’s application. Mount a rod-holder bracket and ‘esky’ and go fishing.

But we launched on the Gold Coast Broadwater to test the VXR’s performance. What we found was a playful WaveRunner that teams plenty of out-of-the-box squirt with signature Yamaha refinement and, we’d expect, reliability.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Value is a key part of the VXR’s quotient
Yamaha says the typical VXR muscle-craft buyer is the young fella who is looking for uncompromising performance, but may not want to shell-out $22K for a supercharged FZS SVHO.

“He’s looking for tight handling, blisteringly fast acceleration and top speed, and agility for flat water racing, wave jumping and tow-sports like wakeboarding and water-skiing,” enthuses Mark Harman, Yamaha Australia’s National Marine Marketing Communications Co-ordinator, as we prepare to launch the VXR near SeaWorld.

The typical demographic for the VXR includes 21-35 year old sports enthusiasts who want to go fast, but are on a budget. At $15,950 (plus trailer, rego and on roads), the VXR is certainly an affordable performer for <$20K driveaway with a tank of high-octane unleaded, though it will run happily on 87.

But does it press your buttons? Less than two weeks earlier we had been driving 300hp ‘skis in Nashville, so we had a decent performance baseline to go by as we straddled the new saddle.

LAYOUT AND DECK
- Three seater with plenty of scope from watersports to sportsfishing
Yamaha has made a big effort to bolster the ergonomics and ride comfort of its 2015 VXR. To this end, and that of your rear end, there’s a revised two-tone, hard-wearing, race-inspired bolstered sports seat. It’s a two-piece three-person seat that facilitates access into the handy totally dry storage compartment below.

Expectedly, the new bigger hull includes for more storage, which totals 93.2 litres including that new dry under-seat storage bucket. The previous model didn’t have this feature.

The VXR also has a glove box at the helm, as well as the main under-bonnet bow storage area for bigger kit, ropes, anchors, towels, dry-storage bags and so on.

But even loaded, and with crew, we reckon the new platform will remain nice and stable. One up, the extra hull length is noticeable in the rear deck area, which is now longer and wider to accommodate passengers more comfortably. You can easily fit a fishing rack/esky here, too.

The big aft platform and revised deeper rear boarding step also aid in re-boarding and with a supplied two hook you might be inspired to try some skating or boarding. Certainly, the three-seater has the torque and seating with which to share in the summer fun.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Impressive power-to-weight ratio in a bigger muscle-craft hull
Yamaha makes its hulls and decks from NanoXcel, a proprietary injection-moulded light but strong composite that’s proven itself in the industry and with a lot (ab)use from everyone from ‘ski’ racers to fishos and tow-in dudes. For 2015, a new NanoXcel2 product is used that’s lighter again.

The new muscle-craft hull measures 90mm longer and 30mm wider than its predecessor. There is a weight increase of 18kg, due to the larger dimensions and also the addition of the new RiDE dual-throttle deceleration and docking system.

The VXR now includes an automatic bilge pump and Yamaha’s excellent Command Link digital instrumentation, which seemed easy enough to read in bright sunlight and at-a-glance when underway. We also used the new dual revision mirrors to good effect.

ON THE WATER
- The world's fastest naturally aspirated watercraft
The new hull features modified hull strakes, softer bow chines, and a new deeper keel for better stability, handling, performance and a drier ride in varying conditions, says Yamaha.

We’re not sure that you every stay that dry on a ‘ski,’ but trimmed out it’s certainly travelling well ahead of the spray line.  There are five trim positions available with the arrow-up and arrow-down buttons on the left handlebar. Maybe these could be bigger?

Tellingly, even after some circuit work, and long runs trimmed down, we didn’t feel or look like drowned rats. Of course, shifting your rider weight enhances the trim range further, and as we leant back on the handlebars and hit the throttle, the VXR was keen to take flight.

Back with some in-trim in the light chop on the Broadwater, the vee hull does feel like it’s cutting the water. Given the range of running trim, it’s a very versatile and seaworthy ski, even if it does feel distinctively light and agile.

The new RiDE dual-throttle controls are intuitive. The right throttle is acceleration and the left throttle is deceleration. You can use them in concert to slow down, reverse and dock. The system simply places a bucket over the jet nozzle.

There’s nothing more to say about RiDE, except that it would be very hard to go back to a recreational WaveRunner without it. Oh, and the hull doesn’t nose dive when you apply the deceleration lever. It’s a more gradual deceleration action than its rival's ‘brake’, however.

Back on the trigger, Yamaha says the VXR does 0-50km/h in under 1.8 seconds. In the data supplied to us, top speed is 107km/h at 7400rpm wide-open throttle. At 6000rpm fast cruise, you will see just under 80km/h for a range of about 100nm from the 70lt fuel supply.

If range if your objective, 4000rpm gives the figure you want of 114nm cruising at 33.5km/h or about 18 knots, which we thought was very carefree and comfortable as we toured WaveBreak Island.

The 1.8L engine in the VXR is considered one of the most economical around and if you think 200km range you should be good.  Beyond this eco groove we found the acceleration inspiring from this four-cylinder 1.8L fuel injected VXR. It’s not mind-blowing but it is satisfying.

VERDICT
- It’s racy and lively, but refined and user-friendly to ride and drive
At 348kg, the VXR is quite a lot lighter than its competition, a fact confirmed to us when we staged a virtual weigh-in with competitor inline specs. It’s this power-to-weight ratio that certainly makes the VXR lively and willing to take flight over waves if you want to jump them. Agility was a standout feature in our test.

The torque from this high-displacement engine will be a good thing racing around the cans or against your mates, but also appreciated when riding with family and friends.  It’s a nice smooth four-stroke, four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine, a proven performer now fitted with a revised 155mm axial high-pressure pump.

But it’s more the whole package that delivers the goods here.

All the features — RiDE, trim, the new seat and longer hull — meld to create a very agreeable WaveRunner experience for under $20K driveaway on registered trailer.

It’s not a two-door like a muscle car, but this three seater is certainly designed for performance driving and at an affordable price in keeping with the genre. Racy and refined and keenly priced from $15,950 sans trailer and on-roads.

LIKES
>> New longer and bigger muscle-craft hull improves performance
>> RiDE deceleration and docking is a fantastic addition to the VXR
>> Yamaha’s signature refinement adds to the racy ride
>> Performance for your buck

NOT SO MUCH
>> Storage has been boosted but it's not class leading
>> Three-cylinder opposition are accelerating quicker
>> We want more colour and graphics combos

Specifications: 2015 Yamaha VXR WaveRunner
Price as tested: $15,950 (plus trailer, rego and on roads)
Price from: As above
Length: 3.35m
Beam: 1.22m
Weight: 348kg
Hull Construction: NanoXcel2 Hull and Deck
Fuel: 70 litres
Capacity: 1-3 persons
Storage: 93.2 litres
Engine: HO Yamaha marine engine, four-cylinder, four-stroke, DOHC, 1812cc, 155mm High-pressure pump, with electronic fuel injection
Warranty: The VXR comes with a three-year factory warranty