1993 kawasaki 750 ss top speed

Twenty years ago Kawasaki debuted its first Jet Ski and pioneered the way for a totally new sport. A tribute to its leadership is the fact that many boaters still refer to personal watercraft as "jet skis," regardless of the manufacturer. (Jet Ski is a registered trademark for Kawasaki water vehicles.) And now with the advent of two- and three-passenger craft, the term personal watercraft (PWC) has become a misnomer, leaving industry wordsmiths struggling for new terminology. But, whatever you want to call them, two things are certain: The sport is flourishing and Kawasaki is still a leader.

There are two aspects of using this type of watercraft that have received special attention in recent years: touring and speed. Once the novelty of spinning yourself dizzy on these unsinkable craft wears off, riders often want to venture away from designated use areas and see what surrounds them. (For safety concerns, many public lakes and beaches have designated "jet ski" areas.) As a result, touring clubs have formed in many areas. Most PWC riders can cruise only so long before an innate propensity for speed takes over. From my experience, most tours are actually a series of mini-drag races, with brief intervals to rest.

Lots of get up and go

To address this combined desire for touring and speed, Kawasaki introduced the Jet Ski Super Sport Xi in 1993 and has further honed it for 1994. At only 99.6 inches in length, this near-50-mph pocket rocket adds a new dimension to Kawasaki's slogan, "Let the good times roll."

The Xi's oomph comes from a two-stroke, two-cylinder, water-cooled 743cc engine that Kawasaki beefed up with a new exhaust system with enhanced timing. With the increased power come a stronger crankshaft and pistons for added durability. In all, the Xi's performance additions increase its maximum thrust by 59 pounds and add six horsepower to the engine, compared with previous models.

For the safety of the driver, the propeller is enclosed with a shielded, jet-propulsion system.

Good standard features

For 1994, Kawasaki has refined the Xi further by replacing the manual trim system with an electric one, making it easier to adjust the nozzle angle for various riding conditions. A trim system adjusts the planing level of watercraft. Instrumentation that shows fuel and oil levels and indicates coolant temperature are standard on the Xi. Refinements to the Fiberglas-reinforced hull include stabilizers for easy boarding and better maneuverability. There is also a new engine-compartment drain for simplified cleanup.

Other noteworthy features of the Xi include automatic oil injection to each cylinder for extra lubrication, waterproof digital ignition, automatic bilge pump and an engine stop switch with a lanyard. A lanyard is a short rope or cord attached at one end to the ignition key and the other end to the driver. When a driver falls off the craft, the key goes too, disengaging the Jet Ski. To keep novice riders from getting into trouble, there is also an adjustable throttle limiter to restrict power output and speed.

Exhilarating ride

My experience aboard the Xi was pure excitement. The rapid acceleration was exhilarating and top speed was as fast as I care to go. After a few hours of practice, the Xi can be maneuvered into tight turns at fast speeds, including 180- and 360-degree twists, and even stand on end.

For more sedate touring, it seats two riders comfortably and remains stable at slow speed.

Whatever the use, the Xi will indeed deliver hours of good times.