Head to head: Sea-Doo Spark Trixx and Yamaha WaveRunner EXR

Tempted to buy a jet ski but don’t want to break the bank? The Sea-Doo Spark Trixx and Yamaha EXR are a good place to start.

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These are not the cheapest jet skis money can buy – there are more basic models in each range – but they are the most affordable tickets to some serious fun.

The Sea-Doo Spark Trixx was introduced in late 2017 as a 2018 model year as an addition to the regular Spark range that came out in 2014.

A clever redirection of the jet pump at the press of a button and the addition of foot wedges down the rear enabled the Trixx to easily perform the jet ski equivalent of a wheelstand.

Meanwhile, at the start of 2019 Yamaha added a perkier engine and a lighter hull as an option to its entry-level EX range that was introduced in 2016. They called it EXR and added it to its "performance" jet ski line-up.

While the Yamaha can’t perform a wheelstand, it likes to jump out of the water on take-off and can perform super-sharp U-turns.

Either of these performance-oriented entry-level jet skis can be ready to tow-away for about or slightly less than $14,000.

Think that’s expensive? The top-of-the-range high-performance models from all three brands – Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki – eclipse $26,000 ride-away.

While $14,000 is a fair estimate, chances are you’ll be able to take advantage of discounts off the retail price or low interest rate finance offers in the lead-up to summer on runout models.

As this article was published, both brands are doing promotions while they make way for 2020 year models – which are mechanically identical but have a new colour scheme.

Trailer and registration are not included in the prices below but generally you need to add between $1500 and $2000 depending on the type of trailer and the cost of registration in each state.

The Sea-Doo range starts from $7699 in its most basic two-seater form, but the model we have here is the two-seater Spark Trixx priced from $10,199. It’s also available as a three-seater from $11,099.

All Yamaha EX models are three-seaters. The EX range starts from $8499 but the model we have is the EXR from $12,299.

While the manufacturers claim each has a seating capacity for up to two or three people, that’s a lot of weight for these small craft. They’re better off used solo or, at a pinch, two up. Here’s how they compare.

The Spark Trixx can do the jet ski equivalent of a wheelstand at the press of a button. It also has foot pegs or “step wedges”, adjustable handlebars, and meaty handgrips so it’s easier to balance when near vertical.

It has proven to be a hit. The Trixx now accounts for more than half of all Spark sales in Australia.

Changes for the 2019 model year were cosmetic and this green and yellow colour scheme is due to carry over into 2020. As this article was published this model is also available in orange.

All Spark models are powered by the same 899cc three-cylinder Rotax four-stroke petrol engine available with 60 or 90 horsepower, depending on the variant. The engine and its power outputs have not changed since they were introduced in 2014.

The Spark Trixx, however, comes with the 90-horsepower version.

The three-seater gets a pontoon attachment that lengthens the rear deck, comes with a slighter longer seat, and has a towing hook. The two-seater tested here has a shorter seat and no rear deck extension.

It’s relatively easy to climb aboard the Spark Trixx from the water once you master how to best avoid the foot wedges. However, the Yamaha is the easier of the two thanks to its larger and flatter rear deck area.

Being one of the lightest watercraft on the market makes the Spark Trixx easy to manoeuvre. The dry-weight difference on the Trixx variants is modest: 192kg for the two-seater and 199kg for the three-seater (versus 184kg and 191kg for the regular Spark two- and three-seat models).

Service intervals for Sparks are 12 months or 100 hours, whichever comes first, and usually cost about $450 per visit, depending on the dealer. There’s no easy customer access to the engine bay; body panels need to be removed with tools for routine servicing.

Popular accessories include a large portable and detachable Bluetooth audio speaker pod ($700), a 27-litre front storage bin ($210), a rear re-boarding step ($150), and a “LINQ” fitting ($99) to attach a soft dry-storage case ($299) onto the rear deck.

Another option worth considering is the security key ($295) which is paired electronically (like a car immobiliser) to your specific watercraft. On standard Spark models anyone with a Sea-doo lanyard can ride it away as it’s effectively “unlocked”.

If you already own a regular Spark and are miffed that you missed out on a Trixx, you can add the Trixx bits that enable it to perform the same stunts for $1200 in parts and about $500 in labour.

On the water

The key to the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx’s capability is its extended-range variable trim system, or VTS.

The VTS switch on the left handlebar and the software behind it add 10 degrees of movement to the standard trim settings (17 degrees upward and 6.0 degrees downward). There are nine positions in total, including a clearly marked neutral setting for flatter riding.

In “wheelie” mode it points the jet pump further upwards. With your feet on the wedges near the rear of the deck the Trixx can stand almost vertical if you get the balance right.

The trim is adjusted via two buttons near the left grip handle. If you press the top arrow for long enough the trim will skip directly to “wheelie” mode.

The up and down buttons are a bit too sensitive and you end up developing patience while you tap them carefully so you don’t end up in the wrong mode. A software update to make them more intuitive would be welcome.

The digital dash display shows the remaining fuel in the 30-litre tank, your speed in miles or kilometres per hour, and is a gateway to two driving modes: touring and sport. The sport mode doesn’t deliver more power but it does change throttle sensitivity and makes it feel more lively.

Touring is a great mode for first-time riders or for parents who want to give one of their kids a turn, but most seasoned PWC riders will go straight to sport mode.

The 80km/h top speed is modest compared with sports jet skis which are up in the 100km/h to 120km/h range, but the Spark Trixx is all about tight turns and nimble manoeuvres.

It’s extremely intuitive to manoeuvre, making it easy for novice riders to quickly build their confidence.

“Wheelie” mode is easier to master than you might expect. Just be aware that it is deemed as “irregular riding” in most states and, in particular, you need to be 200 metres away from the shoreline in Queensland and NSW if you want to explore its potential.

The Sea-Doo Spark’s lightweight, scratch-resistant plastic “Polytec” body and hull have copped a beating online over the years for being fragile, but it’s apparent in the videos some riders have had so much fun with the Spark that they’ve pushed it beyond its limits.

Providing you’re not trying to set a world record for wave jumping or going out of your way to harm you or the ski, the Sea-Doo Spark and Spark Trixx will be more than fine. Sea-Doo has also made running changes to improve the strength of the deck and hull on the most recent models.

The engine has a nice three-cylinder thrum, but sounds unrefined until you start to rev it. Redline is 8000rpm but peak torque is at 6500rpm, giving the engine plenty of flexibility.

The other surprising aspect is fuel economy. I filled it with a belly of 98 RON premium unleaded fuel, rode for several hours (much of it in “wheelie” mode) and the digital fuel gauge barely moved.

I was hoping to run it dry to get an idea about fuel range but I ran out of time before I ran out of fuel. Suffice to say you’d easily get a few hours of riding fun out of it, even though the tank is tiny.

Room for improvement? The glovebox is too small to stow a large smartphone in a waterproof case (or a tube of sunscreen), so it’s worth adding the front storage bin. Just be aware, though, the optional front storage area is not waterproof, so carrying a phone or camera could still be tricky.

Fortunately, JetPilot now makes a personal watercraft vest with two large zip pockets to store waterproofed phones and slim point-and-shoot cameras. So that could be a good option with either of these craft.

The difficulty in accessing the engine bay may frustrate technically-minded owners but Sea-Doo says that as long as the Spark Trixx hasn’t been upside down in the water there’s little chance of water ingress.

As with other Sea-Doo models, flushing the craft after a ride should be done sparingly. Although the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx has a rubber seal around the driveshaft – rather than a carbon seal on other Sea-Doo models – it’s still best to flush for no more than 60 to 90 seconds.

Because Sea-Doo has a closed loop engine-cooling system, you’re really only flushing saltwater out of the exhaust.

Yamaha gave its pint-sized, budget-priced WaveRunner EX a big performance boost at the start of 2019.

On Yamaha’s website it’s listed alongside the flagship “high-performance” models in the range, not in “recreational lite”, which can make it tricky to find – but it is a fair description of the ski.

The Yamaha WaveRunner EXR is powered by the same 1049cc three-cylinder from the rest of the EX range but it gets a power boost from 101ps (99hp) to 110ps (108hp), due to engine calibration changes and a higher rev limit, from 7300 to 8000rpm.

A jet pump extension and an added foil on the intake grate are designed to provide quicker throttle response.

The Yamaha Waverunner EXR also gains a lighter NanoXcel2 hull – which brings the overall weight of the craft down from 272kg to 245kg – for an improved power-to-weight ratio. By comparison, the Spark Trixx has 86ps of power and weighs 192kg (three seater is 199kg).

The Yamaha WaveRunner EXR has more standard storage space than the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx.

The Yamaha WaveRunner EXR’s glovebox can accommodate a large phone, a wallet and a tube of sunscreen, though we used it to stow a 6.0-metre tow sling during our test. Or, you can fit a large beach towel.

There’s also a slim storage area under the nose cover, but it’s not waterproof. In total there is up to 30 litres of storage space in the Yamaha WaveRunner EXR versus just 1.6 litres in the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx.

The large, flat rear deck makes it easier to reboard the Yamaha WaveRunner EXR than the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx and there’s space to sit on the back and dangle your feet in the water when stopped.

Side mirrors are standard on the Yamaha WaveRunner EXR but not available on the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx. However, the Spark Trixx is available with an optional portable Bluetooth sound system ($600), as seen in the example tested. Yamaha does not yet offer such an accessory on this model, however, the company is planning on offering a speaker kit for the EXR and other WaveRunners in 2020.

On the water

As with the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx, the Yamaha WaveRunner EXR is extremely nimble. In fact, when we first tested this craft we said it felt like strapping yourself onto a weed whacker that can float.

The Yamaha WaveRunner EXR offers incredible precision and control at your fingertips, although it is easy to put yourself in the water if you lean too far over and haven’t grabbed enough throttle to get out of trouble.

Fortunately, it’s reasonably harmless when you fall off at low speeds, which you will inevitably do as your bravado increases and you challenge yourself to take tighter and tighter turns.

Eventually, you’ll end up in the drink as I did, and you’ll be laughing all the while. Helpfully, the Yamaha WaveRunner EXR is small enough to flip over and then clamber back on board.

Performance-wise, top speed is capped at about 80km/h (the same as the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx) and they both accelerate with the same enthusiasm thanks to their similar power-to-weight ratios.

The Yamaha WaveRunner EXR’s fuel tank is 50 litres, which gives it more range compared with the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx’s 30-litre tank. How much? I ran out of energy before I could run the EXR empty.

That 50 litres is a lot of fuel capacity for a small jet ski – and it is very much welcome. Please, Yamaha, do not fit a smaller tank.

In contrast, the larger and heavier performance flagship jet skis from Sea-Doo and Yamaha have 70-litre tanks (the Kawasaki 310R has a 78-litre tank), which are barely enough given they consume fuel at a rate of about 65L/100km when pinning it.

The Yamaha WaveRunner EXR is extremely chuckable and can do almost anything you ask of it. Until you go beyond its – and your – limits.

The WaveRunner EXR hull is made from Yamaha’s lightweight NanoXcel 2 material rather than the standard Yamaha WaveRunner EX model’s stronger but heavier sheet moulded compound (SMC).

No jet skis really like being beached (unless the keel is fitted with a protective guard or coating such as those used by lifesavers) but it’s probably best to avoid or minimise riding the Yamaha WaveRunner EXR onto sand.

There’s nowhere to store an anchor on either of these small jet skis, other than a sand anchor (a small bag you scoop sand into), which really only works in calm waters. If you must beach the EXR, try to avoid any rocks or other shrapnel that might score the hull. The Spark Trixx is a little more resilient but it’s still worth exercising caution.

Fitting a keel guard is not recommended for recreational use as it can affect the performance and manoeuvrability of the ski.

Room for improvement? Although the Yamaha WaveRunner EXR’s standard storage space is more generous than the standard Sea-Doo Spark Trixx, a bit more would be welcome. In the meantime, keep an eye out for PWC vests with zip pockets, as mentioned earlier. Just remember, you’ll need to put your phone and camera in a waterproof case as the pockets in the vests are not waterproof.

Yamaha recommends routine maintenance every 100 hours or 12 months, whichever comes first. The costs vary from $250 to $450 per visit, depending on whether it’s a minor or major service.

For those who want to service the craft themselves, access to the engine bay is limited but not impossible.

After each ride, Yamaha recommends flushing the engine with fresh water for about three minutes (there’s no carbon seal to damage) and giving the engine bay a light spray with fresh water to remove salt spray, followed by a squirt of YamaLube on key components to repel water and corrosion.

Warranty is three years, which is one year more than the standard Sea-Doo coverage.

There is only about $1000 price difference in three-seater form between these two watercraft. Both of these jet skis are an absolute blast and a great way to get into the sport.

If you want to perform wheelstands and listen to music as you ride – or unclip the speakers and listen to your tunes on the beach once you’ve reached your destination – the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx with the optional sound system is a great choice.

Just be sure to consider some of the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx’s storage options and go for the extra stability of the three-seater if you plan to ride with even just one passenger, let alone two.

The Yamaha WaveRunner EXR, while a touch more expensive, delivers a different level of fun and performance. It feels more direct to operate, more punchy in acceleration, and it’s easier to climb back on board once you’re in the drink thanks to the larger and flatter rear deck.

The Yamaha’s larger fuel tank gives you more riding time between refills but, that said, the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx has enough capacity to run all day.

Budget and buyer tastes will ultimately be deciding factors, but you can’t go wrong with either of these skis.

Specifications
Model: 2019 Sea-Doo Spark Trixx two-seater
Length: 2.79m
Width: 1.18m
Weight: 192kg (dry)
Power: 899cc three-cylinder four-stroke petrol, 90hp
Top speed: 80km/h
Fuel tank: 30L
Seating capacity: 2
Priced from: $10,199 (not including trailer and rego) with foot wedges, adjustable handlebars, digital speed display, 1.6-litre glovebox
Price as tested: $10,799 (not including trailer and rego) with portable Bluetooth audio system ($600)
Warranty: Two years (check for three-year warranty offer)
Service intervals: 12 months or 100 hours, whichever comes first
Supplied by: Cronulla Sea-Doo and CanAm

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Specifications
Model: 2019 Yamaha WaveRunner EXR
Length: 3.14m
Width: 1.13m
Weight: 245kg (dry)
Power: 1049cc three-cylinder four-stroke petrol, 110hp
Top speed: 80km/h
Fuel tank: 50L
Seating capacity: 3
Priced from: $12,299 (not including trailer and rego) with digital speed display, 30 litres of storage
Price as tested: $12,299 (not including trailer and rego).
Warranty: Three years
Service intervals: 12 months or 100 hours, whichever comes first
Supplied by: Yamaha WaveRunner Australia

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