2021 Yamaha SuperJet: The stand-up returns
One of the world’s best-selling ‘stand-up’ watercraft returns to Australian showrooms after a three-year absence and a switch to four-stroke powerThe Yamaha SuperJet will return to Australian showrooms in 2021 – after a three-year absence – with four-stroke, three-cylinder power after emissions standards brought the previous two-stroke model to an end locally in 2018.
The 2021 Yamaha SuperJet is a completely new, more compact design and comes with significantly more power than before.
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Yamaha’s 1049cc four-stroke three-cylinder TR-1 engine has replaced the previous 701cc in-line twin-cylinder two-stroke.
This engine is widely used in Yamaha’s mid-level sit-down watercraft and entry-level performance sit-down model, the EXR.
Yamaha customarily doesn’t list power outputs for its watercraft. However, the 2021 SuperJet is believed to be equipped with the 101ps (71kW) version of the TR1 rather than the 110ps (81kW) version from the EXR.
This amount of power in such a light craft will still make for a formidable combination.
The 2021 model is the biggest change to the Yamaha SuperJet since the original arrived 30 years ago when most personal watercraft were of the stand-up variety.
As the personal watercraft market has shifted to two-seater and three-seater sit-down models, the stand-up category has largely been aimed at closed-course racing, professional surf riders, and freestyle riders.
With the new model, Yamaha is aiming to broaden the SuperJet’s appeal outside the racing and stunt riding community, including “aging tricksters who will find the athleticism and excitement of riding the new SuperJet to be a similar challenge as wake surfing, which sees continued interest and growth among this audience”.
The 2021 Yamaha SuperJet’s TR-1 engine is accompanied by a larger, 18-litre fuel tank to improve riding time between refills. By comparison, the Kawasaki SXR stand-up has a 23-litre fuel tank.
The handlebar is extendable (three positions), and a new “learner mode” for novice riders trims power to 85 per cent capacity and limits top speed to 64kmh. Riders can click out of novice mode with by pushing the engine stop/Learner Mode button three times.
The deck and hull of the 2021 Yamaha SuperJet is 19 centimetres longer, 8.0 centimetres wider, and 13 centimetres taller than the previous two-stroke SuperJet.
The bigger engine has increased weight compared with the SuperJet’s predecessor by 31kg (to 170kg dry weight), although overall the 2021 Yamaha SuperJet is 60kg lighter than its direct rival, the Kawasaki SXR (listed at 250kg with a full tank of fuel and all fluids).
The Yamaha SuperJet’s new hull is said to have been inspired by the award-winning Kommander GP1, a specialist racing hull made in the US.
Yamaha says the new SuperJet hull was designed for “greater static and dynamic stability while maintaining … thrilling turning abilities”.
The turn angle of the adjustable steering nozzle can be set at either 16 degrees or 19 degrees.
Those brave enough to test their mettle on the new stand-up won’t need to wait long.
The 2021 Yamaha SuperJet is due in Australian showrooms in December 2020 at the same time as the new GP1800R range. The new FX range is due in November 2020, and the VX series should arrive in January 2021 or February 2021.
Pricing for the 2021 Yamaha SuperJet is yet to be announced, however, its predecessor cost circa-$12,000.
Specifications
Model: 2021 Yamaha SuperJet
Length: 2.43m
Beam: 0.76m
Height: 0.79m
Weight: 170kg (dry)
Engine: 1049cc 4-stroke, 3-cyl, TR-1
Impeller: 3-blade, stainless steel
Fuel: 18 Litres
Capacity: 1 rider
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