Yamaha FX Super High Output

The ski's the limit

As though to tell me I've been a good boy, the big man up top made the sun shine down brightly on me as the new Yamaha FX Super High Output rolled up before my eyes. As the ski was reversed back into the water, my thoughts turned to just how far the PWC product has come over the past 10 or so years. No longer just a watersports toy, today's craft is a self-sufficient machine capable of providing endless amounts of fun! So let the fun begin!

Using an all-new hull, built using NanoXcel, a new super lightweight fibreglass material, enables this ski to weigh in at 25kg less than equivalent craft (376kg dry). Powered by the biggest capacity four-stroke engine ever to be packed into a jetski, this is the ski that PWC fans have been waiting for! Essentially a two or three seater, this ski is designed to be the perfect long-range cruiser, or watersports fun toy!

CUSTOMER INFLUENCE
The designers at Yamaha have obviously been listening to feedback from their customers over the past decade, because they have built into this ski features that we could only dream about years ago.

Today's PWC is fitted as standard with built-in drinkholders, watertight storage compartment, dual mirrors and even an extended boarding platform complete with a reboarding step to make life easy. Make no mistake about it, if you don't discover how easy reboarding this ski after falling off is, you're not pushing it hard enough!

To ward off the thieves, the FX SHO is fitted with an advanced security system, as far as PWCs are concerned anyway. Standard on this ski, the owner is supplied with a portable car immobiliser type device, which has the ability to lock the electrical system of the ski, whether it is on the beach or trailer, and also enables the ski to use a learn mode, perfect for those long cruises when maximum power is not the main aim, but fuel efficiency is, or also to lower the power available to novice users.

A Cruise Assist Mode is fitted (similar to cruise control in a car) allowing you to set and forget the throttle to maintain a constant speed. This is ideal for towing wakeboarders and enabling the perfect speed, or for setting a comfortable speed in smooth waters. Located on the right-side handlebars, this function is easy to use and convenient.

Reverse traction control is fitted as standard to the FX SHO, limiting the engine to 3000rpm in reverse, and avoiding the engine sucking in air and cavitating or free spinning the impeller, providing no thrust.

One hundred litres of watertight storage provides ample room for all the odds and ends that one tends to take on a day out.

The FX SHO is strikingly attractive in its blue and black colour scheme, while the sister ship model, the FX SHO Cruiser, is finished in a more sedate red and black colour scheme.

The FX SHO Cruiser also boasts a higher padded seat with backrests, popup cleats, raised handlebars and fuel management computer, on top of the standard list of inclusions on the FX SHO.

YOU'RE IN CONTROL
As always, Yamaha have not only focussed on the performance of this craft, but the ease of use for its owner. The layout of the controls and extras is absolutely perfect.

The operator is supplied with a waterproof storage compartment on the port side in front of the driver, while to the starboard is a drinkholder.

A quick-shift trim system is fitted on the portside handlebars, enabling the ski to be trimmed to perfection for the conditions with unbelievable ease.

A digital and analogue dash cluster supplies speed, rpm, hours and Volts on a digital gauge at the touch of a button, while the analogue gauge provides speed in both mph and kmh.

 The steering helm is adjustable up and down for comfort, and the seat is both comfortable and functional, with well-placed foot rests. Like all skis, this one is comfortable whether sitting down in calm water, kneeling on the seat or standing in the rough.

MONSTER MOTOR
Packed into this ski is the biggest capacity engine ever fitted to a production model, a whopping 1812cc monster! As if that wasn't enough, they've also added a supercharger just for good measure, which combined pushes out a reported 200hp!

Up until recently a 1300cc ski was the biggest and best available!

As well as an all-new high-technology supercharger system, this Double Overhead Cam, four-cylinder, 16-valve EFI engine also features a new lubrication system, designed to provide for the high demands of such high-technology.

Not only content with providing a great new engine, Yamaha have also tweaked at the jet system to provide high-performance for this new generation ski. Now featuring, as standard, a high-flow intake duct, designed to maximise water flow for high-performance skiing, a stainless steel three-blade impeller (which drives the water), and a stainless steel impeller housing liner (to protect the inner workings from sand damage and wear).

TRACTABLE STEED
Although we had a great day for jet skiing, the 10 to 15-knot breeze on the day, and the remainder of the easterly groundswell from the previous week's low-pressure system, allowed for some fun times offshore.

Having spent many hours aboard previous Yamaha products, I was very anxious to see just how good the next generation of PWC product is. Boy was I happy with the results!

The response from the throttle on this ski is simply awesome! The slightest application of the throttle shows a huge delivery of smooth power and an immediate increase in speed. This ski is easy to drive to suit the conditions using the throttle, allowing the driver to lift and drop the bow at will, in an attempt to meet the wave at the perfect position.

The hull is drier than I remember of the previous Yamaha's I have used, and only when playing in the surf did I get noticeably drowned while wearing a one-metre wave, which is all part of the fun. The bow spray guard appears to do its job, and in calm water and over boat wakes, this ski is very dry.

I achieved a flat-out speed of 105kmh in flat water, and I know I could have achieved a little more if I was game!

At both high and low speeds, this craft is extremely manoeuvrable. At 105kmh, the ski feels as solid as a rock. Rough water will obviously slow you down, not because the ski can't handle it, but because the rider can't!

The engine is pleasingly quiet and smooth, unlike the two-strokes of only a few years ago.

This set up is fun and pleasing to use in all aspects.

Forward, neutral and reverse gears make docking onto a jetty or driving onto the trailer a piece of cake.

THE VERDICT
Wow! Featuring this much horsepower and an all-new designed hull, buyers will not be disappointed.

Today's PWC is as much at home providing the thrills and spills jetskis have been renowned for, as a comfortable base to spend hours aboard enjoying new and exotic locations. And really, that's the benefit of a PWC - capable of having fun in the surf with your mates one day, and enjoying the remote waterways in some out of the way place, which would just be too hard and expensive to access with a boat.

A jetski, like this, is capable of trailing to anywhere behind a medium sized four-cylinder car, still has the ability to teach the kids how to ski, and cruise for a picnic with the wife at the drop of a hat.

One of two models, the FX SHO and its brother the FX Cruiser SHO provide a cost-effective way of exploring this great land, and also of letting off some steam and releasing some of the stresses of day-to-day life. Coupled with Yamaha's renowned reliability and resale value, this is excellent buying of a high-quality product. Get out and enjoy it!