2023 Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160 Series range updated

Of note, the new Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S and 160LX Jet Ski models feature more comfort, including new two-piece seats that are narrower at the front to make it more comfortable for the rider to stand up while crossing rougher water, and footwells similar to those introduced last year to the higher-powered, range-topping Ultra 310 supercharged jet skis.

The new model also adopts the Ultra 310’s taller bumper that’s designed to deflect more spray, as well as LED daytime running lights that help the ski stand out on the water.

The 2023 models will come equipped with a suite of electronics that includes cruise control, power mode selection and launch control, as well as a 7.0-inch colour LCD screen, a jog-dial controller to select from three display modes, screen display functions including a speedometerBluetooth connectivity to smartphones and for the entry-level 160LX, “other infotainment features”.

Larger mirrors on either side of the skis offer a greater field of vision behind the rider.

Both skis will also get a “5.0mph” mode that limits the jet ski’s top speed, handy for entering no-wake zones or traversing inshore zones where personal watercraft are restricted to slow speeds and a staring line until they are at least 100 metres offshore, and electric trim control.

A rear-view camera will be standard on both models, as will revised storage compartments with gullwing-style hatches, new cleats that will make it easier to tie the jet ski up at a jetty, and a boarder rear deck that will store more gear or make it easier to use the ski as a platform for water-based activities.

The Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S and 160LX include a handle behind the rearmost seat, while the deck behind it is fitted with multi-mount rails that allow owners to secure accessories onto the platform. 

Owners who step up to the 160LX will gain a four-speaker Jetsound audio system, a three-position adjustable seat, and a cowl over the LCD screen on the dash.

The entry-level Ultra 160LX-S “Sport” will be finished in Candy Steel Furnace Orange/Ebony for the new model year, while the Ultra 160LX “Luxury” will wear a Metallic Shadow Gold/Ebony colour combination.

Both skis share the normally aspirated 160hp liquid-cooled, 1498cc in-line four-cylinder Ninja engine, and use Kawasaki’s 22.5-degree deep vee hull design that Kawasaki says provides the right balance of performance and handling.

The drivetrain includes Kawasaki’s Kawasaki Smart Reverse with Deceleration (KSRD), a system that reverses the direction of the ski’s jet to either slow it down or push it backward – handy when docking or riding the ski back to its trailer. Also helping is a function that allows the rider to increase the revs while reversing – handy for getting off the trailer. 

Kawasaki has also increased the fuel capacity of the Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S and 160LX to 78 litres.

Kawasaki Australia said the first deliveries of the new Jet Ski Ultra 160 Series would land in Australia in about August. Prices are expected to be released ahead of their arrival.