My Top 5 Dislikes About the 2022+ Kawasaki Ultra 310 Jet Ski
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ย. 2023
- In this video I go over my top five dislikes about the latest generation of Kawasaki Ultra 310 Jet Skis.
It was hard for me to come up with these five items, although these are all areas that have room for improvement.
Make sure to listen to my conclusion so that you understand how this compares to products from other brands.
#jdswaterworld #jetski #watercraft #jetskiing #jetskis #kawasaki #pwc #seadoo #yamaha #kawasakiusa - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
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And great that you continue to point out they are made in USA. People need to pay attention to that. IT MATTERS!
Yes, as more and more companies continue to offshore, Kawi is still stamping hulls with the same 30 year old 3-story hydraulic press here in the USA! Lol
I ordered two of 160lx, made my decision based on outspoken reliability, no one sales them used in my area, seems like people holding on to them.
Can’t wait to use them.
Newer owned one jet skis, 160 should be enough I hope.
Great and very reliable ski- even morseso than the 310 because they have way less components to fail and are not running under boost. The engines are so easy to work on, you have lots of room in the hull. Congrats!
I have an stx 160lx and I am. In love with it. Never a problem at all, put the Kspeed stuff in it and I hit 62mph plenty for anyone.
Those top speeds of 80+ mph are great show off but pretty impossible on the sea.
My next one will. Be an ultra 160lx so. I don't have to deal. With a supercharger and I get excellent. Fuel consumption.
Just price wise might be getting the previous gen ultra though.. Same. Great hull.
i went for the 310lx met a guy with a 160 raced him he realized he made a purchase mistake
@@JDsWaterWorldwhat’s the top speed of 160 lx? I possibly dont need to fly out of the water from a dead start but would I be able to hit 55 to 60 mph on glass like conditions?
In fact, the only real jet ski...
Haha I see you actually watched the whole video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Something i never even thought about is the black liner. The white color makes total sense! 💯 A true long term user!
Haha believe it or not it makes a big difference!
Has anyone to your knowledge hacked the black? Meaning some type of marine grade white spray paint? It does make a big difference as you pointed out
I have to say I love all your content. As the owner of two 310 Kawasaki's your maintenance videos have been invaluable. I have to say I wish Kawasaki had a gps mapping screen on their display such as the Yamaha or the Seadoo. The ergonomics compared to a Seadoo GTX are a bit lacking but the performance in all water conditions make up for any shortcomings in my opinion. The Kawasaki seems to plow through water at idle speed or in a no wake zone area causing water to come over top of the bow; you will need to make sure the front storage area is sealed by the factory gaskets or make improvements. I've owned several Seadoo Gtx models and a Yamaha SVHO and the Kawasaki's have been my favorite by far, I only wish the screen was GPS mapping capable and they change the storage layout. Also the gas fill spout is in an awkward location to fill if you are out on the water. The Seadoo has a much easier location to fill if you are on an extended run and need to refuel. Keep up the great videos; it was because of your videos and Kevin Shaw's videos on Watercraft Journal that I decided to purchase my first Kawasaki Ultra 310. I now own two of them along with a Seadoo GTX 230 Limited; each ski can do something a little better than the other. I still keep my Seadoo to do some occasional fishing because it's a more stable platform but I can forsee Kawasaki developing their own fishing specific ski. Thanks for all the great videos you have created, keep it up !!
Thanks for the comment! If you add a pump wedge and adjustable seat bracket the low-riding nose issue is solved- I’ve done a few videos on it but it’s a non issue for me at this point even if I try to get it to ride lower I can’t. Yes you definitely have a good point as well about the GPS- seems like they could have easily included it but chose not to…hardware all there. The Kawis do lack some of the refinements you see on the SeaDoos, but mechanically, Kawi does have the legacy and expertise to execute pretty much anything their design teams cook up- if their draconian leadership structure allows it..but that being said in 2022 Watercraft division was split from Heavy industries which hopefully was to enable more innovation without as many layers of heavy corporate oversight
Awesome video as usual. I truly LEARN something new each time. You’re a saint.
Perfect summary of this amazing JetSki!
Yeah these “dislikes” are trivial compared to my gripes with other brands…if I did a “things I don’t like” video about SeaDoo it would be an hour long
🤣🤣😂😂DO IT!!!! (teasing of course)
I have 10 hrs on a 2023 310x. First Kawi and truly impressed with engine, hull and ergonomics. The quality on the main components is very high. However, there are some fails:
1. No center glove box (gullwing storage is awkward and not watertight). I hardly use the center controls.
2. Front storage opening way too small and not watertight
3. Water in the hull after each ride
4. Cheap rivets on bumper and "rub rails" - two failed within 10 hours
5. Reverse system too weak
If they were to fix these, a complete home run. I would buy again even if with these shortcomings. If you're in the market, go for it.
I agree with you on the rivets- never had any fail but think they should have been stainless bolts or even stainless button head Allens. The funny thing is under the jog dial there’s a huge empty space…inside the fairing..could have been glove box like prior gen- maybe a tad smaller. I actually like the gull wing compartment- It holds a lot of crap I use the Kawasaki dry bag in there. The reverse I only ever use for maneuvering around at slow speeds where it works great..I have heard guys say it’s nowhere near as strong or sophisticated as the SeaDoo reverse
@@JDsWaterWorldmy Sea Doo”s reverse was crazy. So strong that if you are doing 55 mph and for some season decided to do a full reverse, it might toss you off. I never tried that but it would actually move my body towards the handle bars with a lot of force with aggressive braking. Did I hear correctly (maybe Kevin from Water Journal?) that tha KAWASKI reverse can be "calibrated" to dramatically improve breaking? That the factory settings are lame???
Well said! Love the videos JD!
Nice job highlighting your dislikes. I have heard just about the same dislikes from other that own the same year model Kawi 310’s. But I agree with it still being one of the best jetskis produced to date from Kawasaki. Thanks for sharing!
I figured I should give people a perspective on some of the areas needing improvement with the ski…this list is not all encompassing, but overall as long as she’s reliable and safe it’s all stuff I can live with lol.
I thought about mounting the older tool kit tube you mentioned. Several used ones out there for sale and you can still get from Kawi. But I tried the phone bag first and so far so good. This was a good video idea. All skis have flaws. These Ultras have theirs but the good outweighs the bad. So many things I keep liking. One bad thing is looking at it in my mirrors while towing it! Can be distracting! Looks better all the time and they really look great on the water. I did not love them at first. Primarily the LX with all the speakers BUT they all have just grown on me. The lines of that front end blend well when seeing them in my truck mirrors!
Yeah it really does look sharp on the water, the profile is very sleek and just looks like it wants to go fast. And yes, all skis and vehicles have their flaws…these ones I can live with..there are no fundamental engineering snafus on this ski like some brands are experiencing…I honestly wanted the best watercraft money could buy- the price to me was irrelevant- I support a family of 5 on my income alone..I go out in the ocean by myself and need a serious machine I can rely on to get me home safe..this is the one.
Another major problem I’m having on my 23 Ultra 160 LX is the submarining at low speeds. Agree with everything else you said. Great video and great ski!
Easy fix, move your seat to the backmost position and trim up. For the 310 the Kspeed pump wedge gets the bow up a few degrees making it ride much higher- don’t know if anyone has a 4 degree or 3 degree wedge yet for the 160- it comes with a stock 2 degree wedge, but really needs 4 degrees to get bow up on 160
I wish the cruise control was easier to engage,its not easy to hold the speed steady enough in chop for cruise to enable. Also the Bluetooth doesn't auto co nect, you have to manually do that every time you start the ski. Its a hassle.
Yes, you do have to do a bit of hand yoga..I often use my left hand to engage the cruise on the right pod..”9@
The Kawasaki is a great ski that it provides American 🇺🇸 jobs. The quality is very good the hull and motor. I have rode the 160 lx not the ultra hull. The 160 sounds and rides like a Yamaha VXR. Yamaha is running 3rd in quality right now. The Alaska rides use the Ultra 160 for their fleet. I have seen more Seadoo units in rental fleet used to be mainly Yamaha.
The 160 is the Ultra hull, same as the 310. Haha my dad maintained a rental fleet of JS550s back in the 70s! The Yamaha VX rental units are atleast SMC fiberglass.
@@JDsWaterWorld I meant the stx 160. I have never ridden the ultra.
Ahhh, ok thanks for clarifying. It’s a game changer for the chop
I have a 2006 STX 900 and bought new, to date I spent very little on maintenance, really they are very well built equipment.
Yea the STX 900 and 1100s are awesome
Love this video, I own a 2023 STX 160X, and I absolutely love it, we ran 30 hrs on it this summer, I totally agree with you about Kawasaki Jetski's.
I’m telling you that reverse lever is a gem…no actuators to break, no electronics to fail..that’s why we love our 2021 Ultra LX 160 it’s proven reliable
Agree on manual reverse. Love it. All the hype over the electronic systems is overblown in my opinion. Over 30 years of riding. Never needed it. And I dont let my skis sit. The off throttle steering systems have value. When you chop the throttle on a ski you immediately slow down vs a car. My issue has always been with new or infrequent riders. They never or rarely use whatever reverse mechanism you have and often just shut the ski off when approaching a dock or boat.
Love the video 👏🏽
Hi JD, thanks for all the advice in the past, That was an eye opener, how poorly those parts were on the more expensive ski. I used my ultra lx for only 3 hours over the summer, got bored, and now have sold it. Keep up the good work, I think most Kawasaki owners are relying on your channel, as it is terrific..Unfortunately, I am going to unsubscribe because the jetski thing was short lived at least for me. Back to boats. I miss fishing.
Hahaha you crack me up man. You were bored because you didn’t get a 310!
It's nice to see an honest likes/dislike video from a rear Kawi owner. Non of that biased sponsored review.
I was not easy coming up with these 5 things, but figured I should try to highlight some areas that need improvement, since I spend so much time talking about the good features.
@@JDsWaterWorld I'm sure there are plenty of things wrong with them.. they are called kawasuki for a reason 🤔😅😂😂🤡
@@RM.Adventures_only SeaDoo fanboys call them that 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤣🤡
I love the speakers I see you have installed!!
What and how much are they?
How much were they to install?
I’m dying to know I want this!
I did a full review video here: I also have a comprehensive installation video. They are great, I love them so far. Check out PWCbrackets.com
On-Water Review of the @pwcbrackets 4” Marine Stereo System for the Kawasaki Ultra 310 Jet Ski
th-cam.com/video/YlF4UiLr3yY/w-d-xo.html
Another great video, I don’t own a kawie but love there hulls, not crazy about the upper deck, we need a cross between the upper deck of a seadoo with the hull of a Kawie 😎 are you still writing for WCJ? Another great channel 👍
Lol, hey to each his own! I still do some work with Kevin from time to time, obviously he’s featuring lots of SeaDoo content at the moment with the new launches so not much for me to write about there as I only do Kawi stuff 😂
EXACTLY
I agree with everything. I almost wanted to paint the storage white. What helmet is that, I might get one for a winter ride.
Yeah the black might hide dirt and grime and scale etc and look cleaner over time but the white made it easier to see the contents for sure. That’s an old GLX motocross helmet with a set of cheap motocross goggles treated with rainex. I go though a pair of goggles a year..every once in a blue moon I get hit in the face with a wave and the ocean reclaims them
The push button grommet things are standard off the shelf in the auto parts stores here in Japan.
Haha why did they stop using them on the Kawis? I would love to hear the official reason..the new ones kinda suck
Do you have a link to buy them?
i agree with all of this. i thought the kawi had the fuel consumption info, but never paid attention to it, so i take it that i'm wrong. but i have the same dislikes as you
Another great video thanks mate! How long have you had the exhaust filter delete plate in there for? Anything noticeable at all? Like hesitation to start when you’ve been riding then parked up for a few hours?
It’s been about 25 hrs I’ve had it in. I did notice last time I was out on it- one of the times I started it up, it started and stalled and then I restarted, and it was fine. The following time a few hours later I held the start button a bit longer and it was fine. It did this same thing once in a while even with the filter though as well
@@JDsWaterWorld interesting. I’m a few hours away from ordering a 23 LXS and contemplating if I should do the same as you. Or throw a plate in there after the first one fails if it doesn’t make any difference. As long as I blow out the water box religiously I guess. If the water box wasn’t there it would be less of a problem. With a riva free flow exhaust for example. But I’ve heard them..way too loud and sound horrible imo.
Man I must have got lucky with my first ultra 300x..I changed 2 out in the 180hrs I had it.
Fresh water? Some guys have said the same thing that their filters lasted that long. Maybe the manufacturing process changed? I ride mostly in salt and that just kills it. But also, I’ve gotten so many messages and calls about it I know it’s not just me. Depends on whether or not you want to give them an excuse to void your warranty or just be smart and don’t ever take into a dealer with anything but stock configuration
@@JDsWaterWorld 95% salt water use here. Perth..not many lakes around. A few dams, that’s bout it unfortunately. True they would still have to prove the plate caused said warranty issue and if it’s nothing to do with it, should be fine..should 😂 Have you done your own maintenance since new? I know the 300/310 maintenance platform quite well now and would rather not pay ~$400 per service even under the warranty period. Appreciate you taking the time to reply 🤙🏻
Could not agree more on the front storage. Opening is stupid small. The black liner is terrible. I hate that the fuel tanks are black now also. All of my previous ski tanks and storage were white. Well the STX 160 has a black tank but storage is white. I took my front hood apart and drilled holes and mounted a stainless D ring or U bolt to the inside of the front hood. That allows me to clip lines to stuff I put up front and you can reach the line that is clipped to the inside of the storage lid. BIG HELP. I have a soft back pack style cooler and some dry bags that I keep up there and this allows me to pull them out while on the water. I keep a dock lined clipped to the D ring also for quick access.
The tool kit placement in the bottom of the front storage was another bonehead idea. Historically mounted under the seat. I get the adjustable seat required a change. But IF you need that kit out on the water!!! I bought a cell phone dry bag. It had a large plastic closure with hole drilled thru it so it could be clipped to something. I drilled the hole large enough to slide over the front seat section seat post. Put the factory tool kit in the phone bag. Seat post goes thru the hole I drilled and put some velcro on the opposite end to keep the bag from flopping. Over 50 hours with this setup including several ocean runs and everything stayed in place and dry. Fortunately never needed it! I also added pliers to the kit. Old kits had pliers. New kit did not have pliers.
My Ultra is the 160 so no exhaust filter but if I ever do the 310 I will delete as you did.
Rear seat section is too floppy but not a big deal so far for me. Again, guessing sliding seat mandated that and I do like the adjustable seat.
I do not like the floppy factory steering system. Part of the issue is the dealers never tighten them tight enough. I have always taken steering apart and tightened it after purchasing a new ski. But the tilt has too much flop also. I will likely change to the steering you have this winter.
But I have truly grown to love this ski. I love the gullwing storage. I have found various containers including a small cooler box that fits in there. It is surprising how much you can fit in there and the access is great. Fears of dropping phone overboard are overblown and from folks that have likely not used the ski.
Older push rivets much better and I have swapped some of the new for the old.
Thanks for all your videos and tips. Greatly appreciated.
Great comment, I know you also know the Kawis very well so some great tips. I too love the gull wing storage- I think it’s great and yes my dry bag fits in there perfectly. Yeah no kidding on the tool kit- only someone who never rode a Jet Ski would decide it should go there…and the older tool kits used to come in a waterproof plastic tube with a real set of actually useable tools…sad they cheaped out on that.
I saw your audio video thanks and really appreciate you, another question I saw the kspeed ecu ,does it work!! I really want to get that one! LmK😊
Yes, it works great! I have had 0 issues with the Kspeed tuned ECU. For the 2022+ skis you can expect an avg 10% increase in Hp and a 25% increase in your acceleration. Kspeed is also very responsive to any questions you might have and is always happy to help.
@JDsWaterWorld
Thinking just to buy another ecu and not to refresh mine,just in case I want to get it back for warranty! Also thinking about the sponsons they got! Really did not like the original sponsons!
Yeah that is exactly what I did- I purchased a new ECU and set of keys and Kspeed tuned it, and then shipped it to me. I have not tried out their sponsons on my ski- they do look awesome though
May I ask you from you got your speakers? And how it was installed?
Yes I have a few videos posted on that and my full review will actually be the next video I post! This is the PWCbrackets 4” stereo system for the Ultra 310. I did the install myself and actually produced a full feature tutorial on installing it that PWCbrackets provides to customers. A condensed install video is below: Great system!!
Installing the PWC Brackets 200 watt 4” Marine Stereo System on the Kawasaki Ultra 310 Jet Ski
th-cam.com/video/rvs_fPEpCYY/w-d-xo.html
Hey JD, how are you doing?. At the 1:28 mark I see you have an Ore....Very smart. Peace.
Hahaha yes in all my skis I carry one. I have a nice telescoping one. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
@@JDsWaterWorld... I 100% agree my new friend. Have a blessed day... Peace.
I made it brand new 97 with kawasaki to 2023 before it failed me for the first time 1100 triple stx kawasaki. 26 years on the water without leaving us stranded.
What happened in 2023?
I have Kawasaki ultra - 310 2022. At the beginning after ech ride water was in about 200 ml but right now a lot of water. Could you tell me reason this problem please! Thank you! Iryna and Serhiy
Could be any number of things but most common is a leaking hose or through hull fitting...you have to just check everything.
Fly High with Kawi
It's a shame that Kawi isn't nearly as active as far as innovation goes. Don't get me wrong, the '22 redesign is fantastic, but if they put some time into tweaking a few things they've left alone so far, they could jump miles ahead of where they are now. That 1.5l 4cyl has been around for a decade and a half, seeing an engine more similar in size to the other brands - maybe a 1.7l - with that supercharger would be nuts
You know funny enough the fact they didn’t change the engine is the only reason I was comfortable with the ski- knowing the engine, hull, and driveline would remain the same reliable combo. That being said, the new BRP 325s are going to force Kawi to up their game engine wise and make some major upgrades
Im very happy with the 1.5l engine ultra160lx. I'm not looking for a few more horsepower and i don't need bragging rights. There is a limit to how fast you can comfortably ride in chop, and superchargers and cubic inches isn't going to change that. Big swells and everyone is slowly down so what's the point? And you can't read the waves at 40mph+....you are hanging on. My 160 will do 55mph, more than enough for me.
KAWI doesn't have a boat division to share technology from, and the jetski market is limited so only so much R&D they can invest in so they will likely always lag.
You are 100% right, I always laugh when people tell me they go through the chop at 80 miles an hour. Im like on what planet?
They pay American manufacturing wages and corporate payroll taxes so they don’t have as much slosh fund for R&D..
looks so much water splashing while turning..?
The filter haha
Yeah I know, I was preaching the filter gospel telling everyone that it was necessary…and that was supposedly a well informed opinion supported by industry experts and wouldn’t cause people to void their warranties…but then I snapped and couldn’t take any more…
@JDsWaterWorld I know old school ocean guys on greenhulk who said you must run it but I never had a problem...blow out waterbox twice every time (aftermarket waterbox also helps)
I’m not changing an exhaust filter again unless Kawi sends me a case of them for free
@@JDsWaterWorldis this an issue on all Kwai 160 and 310s since 2014 or is this an issue for 22 onward? Thanks!
Only the 310s, all of them since 2014. The 160s do not have an exhaust filter
Got a 2023 Ultra 310 LX-S, and it could be so much better if Kawasaki let their product designer have internet connection and allowed him read comments.
Front Compartment: Even if you're a six-footer with the agility of a cat, forget about reaching it. Mounted a waterproof backpack because necessity is the mother of invention, right?
Music Control: Wanna skip tracks? Better come to a full stop, 'cause safety? Nah, it's just ridiculous, especially when you can freely fiddle with trim and cruise controls.
Camera: 360p? Is this a nostalgia act for the '90s? Practically useless.
Fogging Port: So thin, I had to engineer my own contraption to make it work.
Waterproof Compartment: Badly placed. Nearly hit the thrust trigger and turned the marina into my personal bumper car track. And keeps happening on occasions.
Fuel Cap: Inconvenient location makes refueling a chore when on the water. Dock, disembark, fuel up. Rinse, repeat.
Oil Filter: Hidden like a treasure, but no one wants to dig that deep.
And the stealerships? Pricey as a gourmet meal but without the taste. Went to four, and it's like they all graduated from the School of Bad Attitude and all are sons of the same sick mother.
Too many small issues ruining what could've been an epic ride. Feels like the product designer never even rode this sea-beast himself. 🤦♂
PS. Regarding the missing fuel stats. It's not there on purpose. I am riding 3-4 times a week with bunch of supercharged Yamahas and Sea-doos but I am the most frequent gas station customer. 30% more consumption than any other pwc.
Don't get me wrong. I still love my machine and I am happy that i bought Kawasaki. Like mentioned by JD others have even more serious issues. But many small issues could be avoided by a better product designer.
Hahaha love the internet comment. I’m trying to provide a forum for us Kawi owners to be heard- can’t say it’s working as of now, but hopefully some day! And yes your sentiments are all valid! I have not personally had an issue with the fogging port or fuel fill- interesting about the stereo never knew it was locked out like the display over 3k rpm. If you keep the ski on MPO or LPO and ensure eco light is on when riding, consumption seems to be on par with other supercharged skis. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Man you ain’t LYING!!!! I absolutely hate the front compartment. It’s so dang hard to get anything in and out of it. And it’s constantly getting wet inside that seal is a joke , plus it needs to be WHITE.
Maybe Kawi will listen and make it better or maybe they will ignore us..hard to tell at this point