Why RIVA's FX Ride Plate Works So Well: WCJ Quick Topics

This clip was taken from The Watercraft Journal IRL podcast titled, "Whoops! We Gotta Answer Your Questions." You can watch it in its entirety HERE: • Whoops! We Gotta Answe...
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[@johnnyg3334]

I made it to a sticky topic...I’m stoked! I ordered the rideplate for my dad as well as my cousin. They’re back ordered now. You told to many people our secret. Haha. I’ll keep you posted of results. Thank you again.

[@watercraftjournal]

LOL. Sorry!

[@matthewkylelewis]

Amazing what a ride plate can do. I had Jim's performance cut the plate on my 2013 Fx Sho and it made a huge difference

[@watercraftjournal]

Right on!

[@carmeloincorvaia9131]

I have read some reviews stating that the Riva Ride plate causes some tongue bouncing at high speeds, is this accurate?Also, I read that shimming the real bolts on the Riva plate could eliminate that, but isn't that defeating the purpose of eliminating the angle of the plate? In addition, is It necessary to put a silicone bead where the plate touches the Ski? Awesome video with a wealth of information, Thank you kindly!!

[@watercraftjournal]

No. The single best modification for the FX (19+) is the RIVA ride plate.

[@kelvinhyde9885]

Amazing Video by the way. I went ahead and purchase the Ride plate and install it on My FX. Huge Improvement but it starts to bounce a lot when riding higher than 65 MPH. Any Suggestion in reducing the Bouncing or I think the correct term is proposing. Any suggestion is gladly appreciated.

[@watercraftjournal]

Many folks mistake this effect as porpoising when they are in fact literally bouncing off of the rev limiter. I personally experienced this prior to tuning our '20 GP1800R. Reflashing the ECU to the Stock 8,000 tune cleared it up.

[@kelvinhyde9885]

Thank you for the quick response. I do have Riva stage 1 tune installed. Mods: Stage 1 Ride Plate Riva Sponsons Engine Breather Riva cold Air intake

[@watercraftjournal]

Consider the intake grate and rubber seal kit.

[@dreknotz1996]

@@kelvinhyde9885 what speeds are you getting , if you dont mind sharing?

[@dragshotking7776]

Simply SiCk Kevin! Free PWC knowledge given away on a 5:15 video. An the HO will pick up just about that 1.5-2mph. Excellent class!

[@watercraftjournal]

You bet! Share with your friends and help us grow!

[@garymarch4711]

Yes, Yamaha likes to slow em down with forward leaning ride plates. Just rented a VX-C on a trip down in florida. Pretty sure Yamaha angled that puppys nose into the water with a "Rental ride plate" to slow it down. Took a lot of salt water to the face . lol. Literally the wettest ride ever.

[@watercraftjournal]

Yes, you are correct. Thankfully, replacing the ride plate is an easy fix.

[@nicholas6574]

Hi, will it make a difference in a 2005 FXHO? Thinking of putting the riva sponsons as well. I am mostly looking for better cornering and handling on choppy waters. Thanks.

[@Driven82]

It's a love hate for many people(not all) with that ride plate, specifically on the 2019+ fx including my '20. It seems to love to porpoise and you have to shim it a bit to make it behave better. I think people should know this and riva should offer shims incase they run into this issue with their particular ski. Buyer be aware you can fix it to some degree but it's quite annoying.

[@watercraftjournal]

Nate, the people complaining about "porpoising" are mainly chowderheads (you can tell 'em I said so). WHY? Because the undulation that they're experiencing is literally the SVHO engine bouncing off of the rev limiter. I know that it "feels" like it's the hull, but it's not. It's the prop pulsing revolutions because the ECU is sporadically surging thrust. Notice how professional racers don't complain about the FX hull porpoising? That's because their ECU's are reflashed. The RIVA Stock 8000 tune we featured last week literally resolves this issue.

[@Driven82]

@@watercraftjournal I appreciate the response but I know several people(some with the flash tune) with the same ski with first hand experience with this issue (including mine). It's not the rev limiter in mine and others experience it's the plate. This has also been commonly reported by several other chowderheads across several forums. It is remediable to some degree with added shims. The plate works some just some need shims to get it right.

[@josephgrekoski2447]

Ya Nate has a point. I run 9150 and porpoise if going from the start. But you should lean forward when going from 0/5. Simple fix. Or adjust the trim (which I don’t like)

[@G_L_S]

@@watercraftjournal no... I’m spinning 8950 rpm on a 9200 limit tune. the Riva plate bounces like crazy over 75 mph..

[@watercraftjournal]

Did you shim the plate at all? What else have you done?

[@user1456]

My '21 FX cruiser HO is such a wet ride it's annoying, spray constantly blasting your face in chop. I stay bone dry on my EX in same conditions. Will the riva plate or '22 yamaha FX plate resolve this? The yamaha plate is half the price.

[@eostrow1963]

I seen you told someone the ride plate does not cause bouncing!? Do you even know what you’re talking about?? I have a 2021 FX SVHO with The Riva ride plate the bouncing is so freaking bad! I added two washers to each side and it still bounces like crazy!

[@watercraftjournal]

First, I hope you got the pump seal kit. Without it, that thing will cavitate like crazy (even more than stock). Also, did you shim it at all? Not all hulls pop out of the mold exactly the same - you gotta play with the shims a little.

[@eostrow1963]

@@watercraftjournal I have the stage one plus,No Sponsons or intake grate. I have a total of four washers on the back two on each side. It helped quite a bit but still bounces like crazy.

[@watercraftjournal]

No pump seal kit? And I've heard guys using quite a few shims to get it right.

[@eostrow1963]

@@watercraftjournal I didn’t think they had a pump seal kit with the stock intake grate.

[@watercraftjournal]

I missed where you said you were running the stock grate earlier. My bad.

[@darkdragonentertainment8778]

Kevin in right and also riva plate only matters after 70mph & up as far as handling & yes in flat water u will get thay extra mph! Sponsons, dramatically help in close corse & ruff waters. I can back this statement up with plenty of offshore trophies 🏆😁

[@watercraftjournal]

Yup. It does work!

[@FlightLogProductions]

Hi Kevin, I have a ‘19 FX HO, I have noticed this nose plowing you speak of in this video and will be looking at purchasing the RIVA ride plate for my ski. Is it worth getting a top load intake grate? I ride all inland lakes, often choppy. I notice kind of a weird phenomenon when either getting onto plane or coming off of plane, the ski seems to get squirrely. . I’m wondering if the RIVA ride plate and/or Sponsons would fix this? Thanks!

[@watercraftjournal]

Yes, absolutely. Because the attitude of the craft favors the nose, it tends to unhook the traction at the tail. The intake grate "loads" the pump, giving the ski traction. The ride plate corrects the "attitude" or natural tilt of the hull, bringing the nose up.

[@jetskiordie3448]

Allright i change today a ride plate And my speedometr go crazy sometemies when I go full.trottle he shows something like 50 km 60 km but when im turn jetski from one side to another everythings sims to goes ok And today ihe hits 115, 116 km i dobnt know if this possible, i only change a exoust And this ride.plate

[@watercraftjournal]

The speedometer on the new Yamaha’s is garbage. It’s calculated off of engine RPM. There’s no gyroscope or GPS.

[@jetskiordie3448]

@@watercraftjournal so i think this plate make me slower i musi try with gps

[@watercraftjournal]

Not possible.

[@jetskiordie3448]

@@watercraftjournal i speeding with my guy he have vxr 2020 ho And after i change the plate you have right acclereration is Better And speed aut also! Big difference! But i dont know.what with speedometr i only rebolt IT And.he stops.working like bufore

[@cyrusamini5543]

Love the vids man, I have the 18 fx svho. Do u advise I change my ride plate? Cheers

[@watercraftjournal]

The '18 isn't as constrained as the revised '19 models.

[@Meatman285]

Nose plow the same on the gp? My 21 splashes alot

[@cmcconn100]

Hi Kevin, Thanks for the great information as always. I own 2 skis and I'm an old man, 55 this summer. (old screen pic, she's 10 now) I love speed and own a '19 FX Cruiser SVHO. I love it, but it's a wet ride and cavitates on launch, so it's not perfect. I like your suggestions on improvements, the maptunerX is in the mail, and the ride plate and sponsons to follow soon. Should I worry about the light layup and delamination problems people have had with nanoxcel 2? I also love to fish and have a '21 FishPro. All options, speakers, iDxx, etc. I'm probably adding heated hand grips soon. I have an electrical issue. Seadoo will sell me a second battery of the same size in parallel with the first. This doesn't seem like enough. What have you heard about other people doing to solve the electrical shortage in the new electron hungry skis? Plus other cool mods of course.

[@watercraftjournal]

The big fix for the Fish Pro is the new stator and wheel in the '22 Trophy. It's pulled from the Can-Am's so it's pretty stout. I really can't get into detail on that one (I don't know all the details as they're all very fresh) but that seems to be the big upgrade.

[@WaterDR-tw8re]

I have a 2019 FX SVHO. What’s the difference between the Deans Team and the Riva ride plate in terms of performance?

[@watercraftjournal]

Good question. I haven't ridden the Dean's plate, but I know what he does to achieve it: The Dean's plate shaves length and pitch angle to raise the nose and release drag - both very good things. The only qualm I have is that these are permanent mods - you cannot uncut a plate. The RIVA plate extends the running surface at a slightly more aggressive angle, also bringing the nose up. But the RIVA plate also casts inverted strakes into the plate, providing superior bite in an angled ("roll in") corner.

[@WaterDR-tw8re]

Hey....what are your thoughts on Riva Sponsons on an FX?

[@klo910]

Would trimming up correct the plowing problem on the FX?

[@watercraftjournal]

No, because trimming up doesn't fix the plate's wedge-shape forcing the nose down.

[@klo910]

@@watercraftjournal Thanks for the response and explaining that. I’ll be getting a new ride plate.

[@klo910]

Just got my Riva ride plate yesterday! Gonna put it on this weekend and hopefully try it out Monday!

[@klo910]

Got to try my Riva ride plate this weekend. Nice improvement. I’ve done the ride plate, ribbon delete and cold air intake. What would be the next thing to do for more top end speed? I have the HO.

[@FlightLogProductions]

@@klo910 was there a big difference from the RIVA ride plate? I have a ‘19 HO as well.

[@walterbauer4841]

Hey Kevin would you put sponson‘s and ride played on the new GP 1800 RSVHO Yamaha 2021

[@watercraftjournal]

Unless you're racing, they aren't terribly necessary. I push for sponsons usually on craft that require the added help. But yes, they TOTALLY work great on the GPs.

[@walterbauer4841]

@@watercraftjournal kool thanks Kevin I just order some sponson’s

[@klayg111]

What about gp1800r svho ride plate

[@littles64]

Love your videos lots of great info..quick question .I have a new 2022 vx limited HO. Is it worth getting the riva ride plate ? Thanks in advance

[@watercraftjournal]

Probably not. This is for the FX models.

[@littles64]

@@watercraftjournal so do they make for the vx models ? Or you are saying it’s don’t bother ? Just wondering why u say no for the vx

[@watercraftjournal]

Don't bother.

[@kickinitwiththekramers6997]

Why don't bother on the vx if it's literally a gp1800r minus the lighter material in the hull ( same hull design) and parts like the ride plate... You do stage 1 on the vx and you're running the same speed numbers as the non-svho gp1800r does 70+ mph... So I'm confused why a heavier fx is worth getting aftermarket parts over the vx..? ps. Greenhulk confirmed this info regarding the vx with stage 1.

[@kickinitwiththekramers6997]

Hi Kevin! Love you videos! I have a 2021 VX Cruiser HO 1.8L. I'm looking to put the Riva ride plate on my ski. Will the Riva ride plate install on my factory intake grate or do I need to purchase the Riva intake grate as well?

[@watercraftjournal]

Why do either?

[@kickinitwiththekramers6997]

@@watercraftjournal are you saying don't do either of them? I would like to change out the stock ride plate for the Riva ride plate due to porpoising/cavitation... It's pretty bad on this ski . Also the ski just loves to nose dive. What are your thoughts?

[@watercraftjournal]

Neither are going to clear any of that up.

[@BiLoSellHigh]

To add sealant on the ride plate Mets the front of it or just to the bolts ?

[@watercraftjournal]

If only you subscribed to the magazine: watercraftjournal.com/gallery-resealing-your-yamaha-waverunners-transom-plate/

[@Nypromed]

I have a 2019 Yamaha GP 1800r what can I do so my ride be more stable in the water?

[@watercraftjournal]

Define "more stable." You mean while sitting still and you standing up and walking around the ski? Or do you mean while under throttle tracking straight through chop? We need more info.

[@DaltonOB]

Ride plate on the 21 with top loader grate?

[@watercraftjournal]

Perfect!

[@DaltonOB]

@@watercraftjournal thanks for the response, really enjoy all of your informative videos!

[@BronxBombers-or7dv]

Question I have a 2021 GP1800r HO. Not the SVHO. Will a ride plate for me effect the trim system at all ? Or in the end help it even more? U said there is some MPH gains, has that been tested somewhere on my ski? Thanks in advance

[@watercraftjournal]

You don't need it. The ride plate on the GP is the former RIVA plate. It's great. You'll be fine.

[@BronxBombers-or7dv]

@@watercraftjournal so separate question then. With the gp1800 HO. WHat are some mods I could make that would make it worth it? I’m thinking abo it doing the sponsons since I’m in rough water a lot. But other than that I’m sort of stuck.

[@watercraftjournal]

Sponsons are great, particularly if you're all about cornering. An intake grate will keep you hooked up. The cold air intake kit and engine breather kit are good options as well.

[@SlayerHawkX]

I have a 2020 gp 1800 svho..i bought a riva gen 2 intake have not installed..im more of a top speed guy..going in the low 80s now with mods..do i want to put the riva gen 2 on?..

[@watercraftjournal]

Why ask us? Talk to RIVA about your setup. They have a database of proven combinations.

[@SlayerHawkX]

@@watercraftjournal g.thx....sub delet..

[@adamrybak7227]

How do you think changing ride plate and sponsons on a 16’ vx cruiser HO would benefit handling if at all? I went threw every comment hoping someone else would of asked already. Lol

[@watercraftjournal]

You won't pick up speed but you'll be able to cut turns a lot tighter.

[@alfredozorrillagarde7543]

First ride today. What can I say, my FX HO is an other ski, night and day. Now the ski is not fighting the waves is surfing, like floating. No more wet ride. Just BE CAREFULL with Riva as they do not have STOCK and they will take your money and they will serve you.... who knows !!!

[@watercraftjournal]

They will take your order, but RIVA will not SCREW their customers. Otherwise, wait until the plates are in stock, or opt for Dean's Team to cut/shave your plate. It's a similar result but a permanent one.

[@alfredozorrillagarde7543]

Come on Kevin, Deans cut in Europe ??? 🤣. Just saying they do not have stock since las year and be advise...

[@watercraftjournal]

Dean will cut a plate and ship it to Europe. Just call and ask.

[@Pistonburn]

I've read on the Green Hulk forum that the Riva Ride Plate was causing some FX's to Porpoise. I think most of these guys have SVHO's. But I have a HO, With the Riva Plate, Does your Ski Porpoise now? I'm fine with the stock speed, I just want to get the Bow up because I'm, as Kevin says, "THE OLD MAN in the JEANS and FLANNELS"

[@alfredozorrillagarde7543]

@@Pistonburn wokrs great on my HO...

[@Tropicards]

I have a feeling, as they did with the GP, Yamaha will bring out an improved plate sooner than later.

[@watercraftjournal]

Unlikely considering this plate was engineered intentionally to slow the FX down in order to be USCG compliant.

[@Pistonburn]

@@watercraftjournal I get that Kevin but why would they use the same plate on the HO. It's not like they don't already use different part between the HO and SVHO Different Pistons , and Probably Injectors and cams. A plate it pretty simple and cheap

[@FlightLogProductions]

@@watercraftjournal Why not just use the governor to limit speed, instead of change/ruin the handling?

[@dreknotz1996]

@@watercraftjournal is a RIVA 2020 ride plate better than a Yamaha 2022 stock ride plate? Friend is selling me his. is it worth the update?

[@surfer8210]

@@dreknotz1996 Have you installed the plate and if so notice a difference?

[@frankcapasso9796]

Will plate work on 21 vx ho on improving ride ?

[@watercraftjournal]

Are the VX and FX identical skis? The answer is NO.

[@longjonsilvers802]

Same story for Seadoo? GTX Ltd and RXTX?

[@watercraftjournal]

You cannot properly change out a BRP ride plate due to it being a heat sink.

[@longjonsilvers802]

@@watercraftjournal Got it, so it’s just the intake grate

[@ale91613]

Can I install this on my vx deluxe 2022

[@watercraftjournal]

No. There's a GP plate for that.

[@ryanchristopher1520]

Did Yamaha improve this ride plate for 2021?

[@watercraftjournal]

This was entirely on purpose. So no, it hasn’t been changed.

[@josephgrekoski2447]

Best vid!!! Stock roofs plate is trash lol

[@watercraftjournal]

You mean the stock ride plate? Yup.

[@stangography2060]

Nice... looks like Ebay is the place to grab a plate for 2018 and older lol ..

[@watercraftjournal]

RIVA's got 'em. So do Dean's Team. And Jim's will mod yours if you need.

[@stangography2060]

@@watercraftjournal okay searched their site says only 19+... ill try to call tomorrow and see so i can order it... thanks... don't want to be down too long for sending to Jim to get mod done..

[@jetskiordie3448]

today comes my ride plate we see what happend!

[@watercraftjournal]

Let us know how you like it!

[@jetskiordie3448]

@@watercraftjournal No problem i write im Little exited beckuse i have ho engine And im.looking for some gains next step gonne be reflash the map

[@dreknotz1996]

@@jetskiordie3448 any word on plate or tune?

[@jetskiordie3448]

@@dreknotz1996 on my chanell is the video when I tester it And on the end i speed with my friend who have the vxr edition with the same.engine like me. My is faster i wait for tune from green hulk but now is problem with power filters we wait