The most powerful production jet skis are the Kawasaki Ultra 310 series, as these jet skis currently offer the most horsepower! This series consists of 3 models, the Ultra 310LX, the Ultra 310X, and the „race-ready” 310R. If you want to find out all about these amazing jet skis, this post is for you.
We at PowerSportsGuide have gathered the key specs of these jet skis along with some great review videos!
Which Jet Ski has the Most Horsepower?
It’s safe to say that the title for the „most powerful production jet skis” belongs to these three:
- Kawasaki Ultra 310LX
- Kawasaki Ultra 310X
- Kawasaki Ultra 310R
All of these jet skis offer not less than 310 HP and can reach a top speed of 67 mph!
They are powered with the same 1,498cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder engine. For the highest possible performance, this engine features a supercharger with an intercooler.
These units add a lot of horsepower to the engine, which results in a higher top speed and better acceleration. On the other hand, they also increase fuel consumption and make the engine less reliable.
Although this engine doesn’t have the biggest displacement in its class (Many Yamaha WaveRunners offer 1812cc) this is arguably the most powerful jet ski engine on the market, offering an amazing 310 HP.
To feed all these horses, the Kawasaki Ultra 310 series features a 20.6-gallon fuel tank.
Moreover, they come with a sealed 56-gallon storage capacity and a 496-pound load capacity. Thanks to these capacities and their large seats, the Ultras can easily carry 3 adult passengers.
With the gas and the necessary gear, the curb weight of these machines can reach a range of 1,000-1,100 pounds. This means these models are not only the most powerful jet skis on the market, but the heaviest as well!
Ultra 310 models also share the same fiberglass hull, which is 132.7 inches long, and 47 inches wide.
It seems like they are pretty similar, doesn’t it? Let’s see what the differences are between these models.
It’s safe to say that the primary distinction is their design. Each of them comes in different colors, and the seat and handlebar design are different as well.
The 310X and 310LX offer more comfort, which is why these models are considered „Luxury” jet skis.
In contrast, the 310R is classified a „Performance jet ski” as it’s designed for performance-minded owners.
Since this jet ski is the most powerful and aggressive model in the fleet, let’s take a closer look at it!
The Kawasaki Ultra 310R Review
First things first, we can notice many “race-inspired” features on this flagship Kawasaki.
It comes with a heavy-duty, 18-position adjustable handlebar. It’s made of stainless steel and equipped with a paddled crossbar like a dirt bike. It not only looks very durable, it also is!
This gives the craft a unique and aggressive look, as the handlebars of competitor models are usually covered in plastic.
The seat of the craft is also unique in this class. As it’s narrower than the average seat, it allows you more “play” with your legs at the corners or when you ride on choppy water.
The saddle also features a big bolster to support your feet during accelerations. This bolster is also soft, so you can even sit on it when riding on rough water.
Regarding the material, the seat is covered in a sticky vinyl, so it’s not as slippery as the average saddle. That’s why Kawasaki calls it a “sport performance seat design.”
As this jet ski is built for racing, don’t expect to have a lot of features and additions. But let’s face it, many of the bells and whistles would just make the machine even heavier. Thus, they are not welcome on a race jet ski!
It features an electric trim of course, which raises or lowers the bow of the craft-based on your needs. You can benefit from this feature when cornering, but it also helps eliminate proposing.
For your convenience, the craft also features cruise control. Thus, you can choose ECO and no-wake mode, which come in handy if you have to go at a slow but steady speed.
Additionally, they can help reduce the machine’s fuel consumption. It’s a great point, since the Ultra 310R is a pretty thirsty vessel, it can burn around 25 gallons per hour at full speed! This results in a 2.8 MPG and a low cruising range.
This means if you ride hard, you can dry out its tank in around an hour! But if you are more careful on the throttle and frequently use ECO mode, you can of course expect much longer rides before you have to refuel.
Thanks to its deep-V hull, the Ultra 310R cuts the waves easily. This is a great advantage on longer offshore rides!
This special hull design, and its remarkable capacities and dimensions makes this jet ski a perfect choice for jet ski fishing as well!
Top speed?
Just like any other performance jet ski, the Kawasaki Ultra 310R can go as fast as 67 mph. This is because the top speed of jet skis is artificially limited according to an agreement between the U.S. Coast Guard and jet ski manufacturers.
However, under ideal conditions and if it’s not carrying too much weight the Kawasaki Ultra 310R can even hit an amazing top speed of 70 mph! When it comes to acceleration, according to Watercraft Journal’s test, the machine can do the 0-60 mph run in 3.5 seconds.
Drawbacks?
Beyond the hefty price tags, the main con of the entire Ultra 310 family is that these models don’t have any braking system!
It’s a surprising fact, as every competitor jet ski like the Sea-Doo RXP-X/RXT-X, or the Yamaha GP series features a special mechanism which is considered to be the braking system.
These systems are known as iBR (Sea-Doo) and RiDE (Yamaha). The main advantage of these additions is that they can not only slow down the machines, but they also come in handy if you have to maneuver in tight places.
By using them you can easily load/unload the craft on the trailer, but they also make docking much easier.
As the Ultras lack either of these systems, you need more practice in order to handle them in these situations.
Another issue is trying to stop the craft, as you must rely solely on the water drag. This means you have to release the throttle and simply wait while the hull sits on the water.
Keep in mind that this takes time, especially if you go at higher speeds!
Therefore, you have to expect a significantly longer stopping distance on a Kawasaki Ultra compared to its competitor jet skis.
Although it lacks a braking system, the Ultra 310R features a manual reverse. This does a good job if you want to move the craft backward, but keep in mind that it can be engaged after you’ve stopped the machine.
Conclusion
The Kawasaki Ultra 310 models are the most powerful jet skis in production. They are powered with 1499cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder supercharged engines, which produce an incredible 310 HP.
You can find 3 different models in this family, the 310R, the 310X and the 310LX. Thanks to their powerful engine, all of these machines can reach the (limited) 67 mph!
They also come with a large hull, large fuel and storage capacity, and a convenient 3-passenger seat.
Prices?
As you can assume, they are not among the cheapest jet skis on the market. Depending on the model be prepared to pay around $15,500 – $18,200 for a Kawasaki Ultra 310. Finally, this results in $50-$60 for every single horsepower!
As a final word, keep in mind that these machines deliver extreme power and don’t feature any braking system. Thus, they are not recommended for beginners!
If you are planning to purchase your first jet ski, you may want to take a look at the Rec-Lite or the Recreation categories.
This is our short review of the most powerful jet skis. We hope you like it!
References:
https://www.personalwatercraft.com/blog/2017/12/2018-kawasaki-jet-ski-ultra-310r-review.html
https://watercraftjournal.com/enjoy-the-violence-2020-kawasaki-ultra-310r-jetski-video/
