We Test Drive The All-New Kawasaki Ridge Limited & Ridge XR: The Watercraft Journal Ep. 144

...and now for something completely different! The Watercraft Journal was invited to test drive two of Kawasaki's all-new Rec Sport side-by-sides - the Ridge Limited & Ridge XR HVAC. These machines are designed for hard work and plenty of play. While I didn't heave a payload, I did put them through the paces of a very muddy track and saw nothing by smiles.
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[@JDsWaterWorld]

We have a Mule MX Pro with hundreds and hundreds of hours of hard abuse. I also run the Kawasaki FX600v on my Kubota mowers and it has always been flawless. Kawi never disappoints with truth-in-engineering and quality. I wish they had the marketing dedication to the Jet Ski Line that they have to the off road and motorcycle verticals.

[@BrettinFLA]

Do the doors lock?

[@jackhammer2671]

Great looking SxS inside and out and love that smooth inline 4cyl... I was on the list at my dealer for the first 116hp one they got however here's the draw back this thing revs at over 8000rpm at only 57mph that means that these clutches are fully closed at around 40mph and like the KRX that's going to cause premature clutch wear and I don't want to deal with that...heck even Can Am's Defender revs 2000 rpm's less at that same speed so I'm putting buying one of these on hold till that's changed or hopefully changed...like I say to bad because I love everything else about this SxS but will now wait and see.

[@MrMagic700]

Is that the cab squeaking I hear?

[@cliftonwells2424]

For 30g why is it not street legal?

[@RobertBlankenship-id2pl]

love it want one

[@MrSteve8511]

We need someone to put a decibel meter in these and see how it compares to the others....noise is a big deal.

[@Zanderthelab]

You still have to wear a helmet. What’s the big deal?

[@MrSteve8511]

@@Zanderthelab what? No one wears a helmet in these 😁.. not required.

[@Torq-wy2cr]

@@MrSteve8511 He probably still wears a mask.

[@user-ij8ti7ll5o]

how are the seat on the deluxe vs the xr?

[@XF_Chaos]

Well, this is a surprise. I was thoroughly confused when I saw this pop up, but no less enthusiastic for it. It’s cool to see Kawi engaging with media teams to this extent, it gives me the impression that they’re stepping up their game. However, I don’t tend to share that outlook on the Ridge itself. Not because it’s bad - it looks very well built, it does a good job on the trail, and you can tell the designers considered the finer points too. The problem I see is that it doesn’t offer anything (save maybe the power windows) that you can’t find elsewhere. You can easily spec a Can-Am Defender or Polaris General to match the Ridge Limited, while having more options in seating, power and accessories, or you can cut back to drop the price significantly. Again, this doesn’t make it a bad pick, it’s just relying on it’s bombproof reliability to stand out from the rest.

[@pajamatime5750]

I think a Japanese HVAC, fully cabbed option with, as you said “bombproof reliably”, will be enough to get customers attention…. Until now Canam and Polaris provided the only option for someone looking for a fully cabbed HVAC equipped model…. We all know Kawasaki builds a tank compared to those to companies. It’s also their first year for the Ridge. Obviously they’ll have a “crew” model at some point. Obviously they’ll have more accessories in the future. People harp on the Ridge for no reason. It’s great to see Kawi actually entering a new segment with an option that’s not a Teryx or a Mule. Just give them a couple years and you’ll see them advance this model.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

As someone who owns multiple Kawasai products - the quality of these machines far exceeds the other brands..just put your hand on it at the dealer and you will see…

[@XF_Chaos]

@@pajamatime5750 Of course, it’s nice to see Kawi expanding their lineup, I don’t mean to hate. It’s a solid contender, and I’m sure they will offer more layouts in the future. What I’m really interested to see is how their 1-litre inline 4 stacks up with the engines from the others, especially in fuel efficiency. The 1.5 4-cyl from the PWC’s is known to be a bit of a fuel hog, and I’d like to know if the Ridge follows that trend.

[@XF_Chaos]

@@JDsWaterWorld You have a point as well, I’ve been to boat shows with all 3 PWC brands in attendance, and it’s easy to tell how solidly the Kawi skis are built in comparison.

[@edwardbowles8613]

I may be wrong but I say some of the fuel consumption is a myth like the "enormous" weight differences. I know the 310 is a beast but many have shown it can be used as a cruiser and has reasonable range compared to others. Sure, if you hold it pinned it burns it fast. But it can cruise in eco mode. I will find out soon enough as I am newly a 310 owner. But I have 19 years experience and well over 1000 hours on five different skis with the NA 1.5 engine. I have done lots of cruises with other brands and fill ups are always similar. BUT when I have ridden with 110hp and 130 hp Sea Doos they don't have near the pep of the Kawi 160. But if I ran my 160 wide open vs the Yamaha 110 wide open I will burn more fuel. But there is no comparison between the power delivery of those 2 engines. But they can cruise at similar burn rates. And this channel did a comparison of the Kawi 160 and SD 170 and the quoted fill after cruising was 15 gallons back un the Kawi 160 and 17 back in the SD 170. I assume they covered similar range. But I do hope Kawi will do a new engine in the 180 185 range!

[@donaldlamuth5620]

Lots of misinformation on this video. Limited is the lower horsepower actually 92 hp and the XR (116 hp) is the only ridge with a front locker.

[@watercraftjournal]

Yes, the Limited is the lower HP model. The units we had (XR HVAC and Limited) both had 4-wheel lockers. They demonstrated these to us in person.

[@markflaugh2293]

@@watercraftjournalThe Limited only has a rear locker. The XR has both rear and front locker.

[@Torq-wy2cr]

@@watercraftjournal Dude if you don't know for sure, don't make a video claiming it to be accurate. Clearly you have no clue what you're talking about. LIMITED = 92HP XR / XR HVAC= 116HP LIMITED = Rear locker only. XR / XR HVAC = Front & Rear locker.

[@CalgaryAudits]

So BRP invites Travis Pastrana and Cleetus Mcfarland to come out to test their new side by side but Kawasaki gets this Muppet to test theirs. You could tell how much Jeeping experience he has by how well he drove! Yeee haw hold on to yer grandmas undies!

[@crazygeneral5420]

I like what they are trying to do but they still don’t think of taller people, canam is the only machines that I’ve sat in and was able to sit comfortably. All sxs’s need to have room for taller people in my opinion.

[@MrSteve8511]

Sit in the polaris 1500.

[@crazygeneral5420]

The 1500 is over priced for what I’m looking to do with.