2020 Kawasaki STX 160X: The Watercraft Journal, EP. 58

[@fernandomartin624]

2023 and this stx 160s are selling for much more then the competition models no one wants the Yamahas ex nor the trixxes this is the best smaller ski you can buy tank strong long range, bullet proof and being simple to me is a benefit as it's less prone to break. There's a reason in USA. 2020/21 are selling for 11/14k used still.

[@CandEAdventures]

I like kawasaki's more simple and proven design. This 160 is on the top of our list right now.

[@watercraftjournal]

CandE.Adventures interesting point, but you do know that the Yamaha VX series is not only the best selling PWC 3 years in a row, but also the top choice for rental outfits due to ease and low cost of maintenance, right? There’s nothing the STX has accomplished that the VX has met or surpassed.

[@mr2redsled]

The vx hull is weak and brittle my friend has a 2018 and my 2013 ultra lx looks way newer. Also Yamaha is using car paint now and scratches super easy compared to gel coat.

[@CandEAdventures]

The VX is on the list also. Just worried about the brake/reverse systems giving out with age and being expensive to repair. Had bad luck with Sea doo's older trim systems, though Yamaha and Seadoo reliability are not the same thing lol.

[@TheReticKeeper]

@@mr2redsled it's all how you take care of your stuff. My 2014 FX svho before I sold it looked brand new. Dont beach them. Use high end cleaning products and they stay perfect.

[@mr2redsled]

Ya the seadoo has come a long way but still not near as reliable as the Yamaha. The Kawasaki the only thing is every 100 hrs replace the pump bearings and it will run forever.

[@kevinjgwilson]

In future reviews please start including things like recorded top speed (GPS), fuel consumption (GPH) @ 35 MPH and WOT.

[@watercraftjournal]

We recorded the GPS top speed and listed it in this story. Calculating fuel consumption requires several days and extensive testing, and we simply weren't allowed that amount of time with the machine.

[@rickmcmaster2264]

great video, trying to decide between a rxt300, GP18000R and Kawasaki 310R, any suggestions

[@watercraftjournal]

Well, that's a tough one because it depends on your riding style, experience, where you plan to ride, and what exactly you're trying to get out of your ownership. If you're just wanting the fastest one, you're really doing yourself a disservice.

[@Tassie1966]

Go Yamaha

[@ClubMayview]

Gp1800

[@rickmcmaster2264]

@@watercraftjournal im looking for something fast and reliable as im moving into the Trent river and will riding alot..want to be able to tow a tube and maybe a wake board, I was leaning toward the gtx300 limited but have heard the Sea-Doo problems

[@watercraftjournal]

We STRONGLY recommend the FX SVHO or SVHO Cruiser. The GP is a purpose built machine, it's not a good "all around" performer. Too many people "think" they want it and learn that's it's too lightweight for them. The RXT/GTX hull requires a set of RIVA Sponsons and an intake grate to keep planted in corners or track somewhat straight in chop. The 310R is a beast and will devour your budget for fuel. The Yamaha FX has NONE of these problems.

[@jn1471]

You should do the wake pro2020

[@watercraftjournal]

It's no different from the 2019 besides the fuel tank. We've got plenty on the Wake Pro 230.

[@maxflight777]

The Watercraft Journal to be fair it has a slightly higher displacement engine !

[@josephvolper3633]

How stable is this ski..when stopped

[@watercraftjournal]

Compared to?

[@josephvolper3633]

@@watercraftjournal i just wanna know if it is a stable ski ...

[@watercraftjournal]

That's an incomplete question. Compared to a Sea-Doo GTX? A wooden barrel? To previous STX models? How much do you weigh? Are you out in the ocean? On a flat lake?

[@josephvolper3633]

@@watercraftjournal i will ride on lakes and I had a 1996 wave venture that was way more stable than the spark I had didn't like it I weight like 175 same with my passanger or would you recommend the lx unlimited

[@watercraftjournal]

Yeah, it's a lot more stable than that.

[@edensgardenshed9622]

A friend just got one of these we took it out I wasn’t afraid to push it and later he said the computer said we topped it out at 67mph. Is that possible or could waves or airtime give false results?

[@watercraftjournal]

LOL. Yes, it's not right. The paddle wheel-style speedometer is notoriously wrong. Always use a GPS to record speed.

[@fernandomartin624]

With the Kspeed kit ecu, wedge ride plate and sponsons I got 62mph GPS.

[@jasonski77horne50]

What ski handles chop better, the Kawasaki STX 160X, the 15F or the Yamaha Vx Limited?

[@watercraftjournal]

The 160X and previous 15F share identical hulls. The 15F has a lower center of gravity, improving on the unit's overall balance. The VX hull is identical in shape to the GP; we find that it tracks truer in rougher water than the Kawasaki.

[@jasonski77horne50]

@@watercraftjournal Thanks, thats very helpful. Im thinking of getting the Vx Limited for my wife and the Gp 1800r ho for myself (We have different needs on the water lol)

[@quadmarrakechdiv4159]

Top speed ?

[@watercraftjournal]

56mph.

[@quadmarrakechdiv4159]

@@watercraftjournal thanks

[@markg999]

Can't be right...a 15F will run low 60s and this weighs the same. My guess is 62 to 63 mph.

[@GBsPitstop]

That’s class leading fuel capacity. Like you said if they just had electric reverse that thing would be more competitive to the other brands. Top speed is class leading also. Will be interesting to see how the Seadoo 170 competes with this.

[@watercraftjournal]

Sea-Doo will fare better as far as total sales due to their superior dealer network. The lack of braking truly is hurting Kawasaki right now, and its inexplicable why they won't go forward with the braking system they've patented (we wrote an article on it).

[@dlpcaddy]

I dont mind not having brakes. The ibr has issues too . Solenoid failing

[@CommieCat]

@@watercraftjournal I tried searching your website and couldn't find it.

[@bjmajmtwentysixteen3806]

Literally the best looking ski on the market of any range or brand What a shame its so small, and doesnt have IBR This would be the ski id get if it had bigger storage, was a true 3 seater and had IBR And no the 300 hp kawis do not look like this so dont even say they do.

[@watercraftjournal]

LOL beauty is subjective we suppose.

[@bjmajmtwentysixteen3806]

@@watercraftjournal They are all going overboard with shape and design All the skis are too busy looking I just want a good looking simple Ski that looks hot Not into all these lines and shapes that end up looking like a dog's breakfast

[@bjmajmtwentysixteen3806]

@@watercraftjournal This Stx looks better than the green and black gp1800r Yamaha If this STX was the size of the 310r and had ergo lock seats and IBR then it would kill everything else from a design standpoint They need to get back to simpler designs Dodgem car designs Everyone wanted their colour But the cars all had simple designs

[@bjmajmtwentysixteen3806]

@@watercraftjournal Kawasaki are retarded I've always wanted a 310r but keep buying seadoos because it took Kawasaki 5years later to figure out how to do IBR. And as soon as they finally figure it out, they change the design of their Ski that I loved in the 310r and went to this hideous design that they have out now for 2022 All Kawasaki need to do for their 310r to destroy seadoo and Yamaha is 1. Go back to the previous generation style body look 2. Ergo lock seats 3. IBR Thats literally all they need Maybe a but better instrument cluster but that's it. Why waste your time on headlights on a jetski and change the entire design to something hideous like that. They've completely got no idea All they needed was The old design Ergo lock seats And iBR And a nicer instrument cluster And it would have been game over. Simple fixes. Instead we got dumb headlights

[@souljaboybeat]

Very nice

[@watercraftjournal]

Thanks

[@mr2redsled]

thx for the video. When will you do a ultra lx and 310 video. So little Kawasaki supper on this channel.

[@watercraftjournal]

mr2redsled we’ll have a review on the 310R in 3-4 weeks. No LX this year.

[@mr2redsled]

I haven’t seen an lx one yet. But thx for getting atleast some of them done.

[@jaxon258]

Nice

[@emmanuelatzamoglou989]

Not really a base model nor could it be a good rental i am disapointed ,but looks good

[@watercraftjournal]

Emmanuel Atzamoglou this wasn’t the base model, the plain “160” is. Now if you meant a Recreation or Rec Lite segment, then yes, you’d be correct.

[@emmanuelatzamoglou989]

@@watercraftjournal yes thats what i mean ,something to attract more buyers

[@notkirill6991]

I was actually thinking about renting one of these out, can you tell me why you say it can't be a good rental?

[@notkirill6991]

Does anyone know the 0-60 time

[@watercraftjournal]

It's slooooow

[@notkirill6991]

@@watercraftjournal dang. So I should wait and get the seadoo gtr 230 huh?

[@nathanshears5980]

So many experts in the comments, seems like its mostly people who have only gotten into the game in the last few years.... how would you guys have coped without a braking system, speakers etc.

[@watercraftjournal]

There are professional runabout racers who can't ride a standup. They're rare, but I know of a few.

[@shaneembry7565]

If it had a comparable reverse & brake I’d buy 2. Crazy how Kawasaki can be that far behind.

[@shaneembry7565]

Also there’s not even a neutral....

[@watercraftjournal]

Shane Embry exactly our thoughts.

[@JedemPoKucama]

The thing I like about it is the fact that it has a manual reverse😅

[@arqjavierobregon]

Finally we can see a more simple more aerodynamic curved design like the 2007-2009 RXTX SEADOO. Yamaha looks are old style. Seadoo designs look rough with only straight lines. Thumbs up!!!! Kawasaki for this accurate design.

[@watercraftjournal]

Beauty is subjective.

[@1FishinAddict]

Engine is pretty much the same since 2004!

[@watercraftjournal]

Correction, since 2014. The cylinder and crank case were changed for optimized oiling and larger cooling passages, under piston oiling, new pistons, improved ringlands, and the polymolded intake manifold.

[@1FishinAddict]

The Watercraft Journal that’s pretty much the same. Was the old one ever overheated due to those ? No.

[@watercraftjournal]

You're tragically misinformed and staggeringly shortsighted. Recasting a crankcase and cylinder require all new molds, casts and machining programs. That's a few hundred thousand dollars in initial investment. The supercharged 1.5L's famously overheated; internal operating temperatures cooked and split pistons, ate bearings and rings. The ECU countered the excess temps by DUMPING fuel into the cylinders; while that helped to offset combustion temps, internal temps required massive changes to engine oiling and cooling - even going so far as to implement a SECOND cooling circuit.

[@1FishinAddict]

The Watercraft Journal Righttttt, it’s so great ain’t it ? As a rider, do you really feel any different? How about upgrade some other safety aspects like no wake, brake, better display ? To most end users, all we see is the same pwc with a new number year and a higher price tag. Kawasaki is on the bottom of any types of upgrade. If you like the mumble jumble tech crap they put out to get to your pocket, go right ahead. Most people are more sensible than gullible.

[@alhit007]

I have to say it looks like a cheap Chinese knock off , (of a Kawie!), those mirrors look so cheap, that rear deck is also very small and an after taught. The clocks are tacky, and then reverse, sorry guys but it just looks budget build, and not so budget price. I love the ultra!! The Hull is still one of the best open water hulls on the go.

[@watercraftjournal]

al hitch oh there’s a lot of cost cutting to be seen, but everything here is built in the Lincoln, NE plant. No reverse is the biggest letdown.

[@edwardbowles8613]

The new mirrors do offer the best rearword visibility on a PWC that I have experienced.

[@edwardbowles8613]

Agree on the mirrors. The writers on here do seem to contradict what they said in the video. Video far more positive than the people responding in writing from the site. They will not even give an agreement to the opinion that it is a great looking craft. Have to respond with "beauty is subjective". Duh! Yes it is. If you could not say anything positive to that writer, why respond when it is subjective. They also rag on Kawi for green and black colors....hello! The other two models are different colors! No credit there either. To pass this off as being the same as the 15f is completely off. The ride of this ski is drastically different than the 15f. Surprisingly so. These writers knocked Kawi for cheapening which yes they did on some things. But did they ever give the 15f the credit it deserved for wonderful hardware? Not likely. Do they knock Yamaha or Sea Doo for their cheap plastic stuff? No. The hood hinge assembly is a drop from the gas strut and stainless hardware of the 15f but the 160 hinge and hood is far easier to operate and open and close than the Yamaha VX or EX. Much more force to latch the VX hood open and to break it free to close. And the EX with those cheesy rubber strap latches. These STX models are better than those and certainly better than lower tiered VX models. Compared to the top tiered VX's I guess it is "subjective". I do wish Kawi offered the ability to add options. Variable cruise and USB port and even the stereo which I dont care to have. The Kawi stereo control placement is far better and having a regular radio function is a plus also.

[@maxflight777]

SeaDoo IBR is light-years ahead of this ugly green rubbish

[@watercraftjournal]

iBR and Yamaha's RiDE has truly spoiled us from the days of manual reverse. The placement is terrible and almost always ensures that'll you'll unhook the lanyard when operating the reverse.

[@mph7]

But the kawasaki is years ahead of seadoo for reliability, 5yr warranty is awesome, just bought one today and value for money and warranty did it for me

[@Doc_Roz]

@@mph7 no 5 year warranty in the states, 12 months.

[@notkirill6991]

@@mph7 hey I'm thinking about picking up one of these, any thing you can tell me with your ownership