Kawasaki Jet Ski Engine Reference 1973-Today [Specs Chart]

Over the decades Kawasaki has used many different Jet Ski engines. The smallest one was a 2-stroke, 294cc single rated at 30 HP. On the other end of the spectrum, you will find a 4-stroke, supercharged, 1498cc, 4-cylinder powerhouse. Producing an amazing 310 HP, the latter is claimed to be the most powerful PWC engine available.

If you want to find out more about the other Jet Ski engines between these two extremes, you’ve come to the right place.

We at JetDrift have compiled them all under one roof!

Kawasaki Jet Ski Engine Reference

Kawasaki 400 Jet Ski Engine

The first Jet Ski engine was a purpose-built, 2-stroke, 400cc, twin Kawasaki marine engine rated at 24.5 HP.

This engine was used in the small-series WSAA and WSAB skis, as well as in the first mass-produced Jet Ski, the JS400, which was in production from 1973 through 1981.

The key features of the Kawasaki 400 Jet Ski engine were as follows:

2-stroke, vertical twin architecture
Piston valve configuration
Displacement: 400cc
Bore and stroke: 65 x 60 mm
Carburation: Single Mikuni BN38 (34mm venturi)
Ignition: Magneto CDI
Lubrication: 50:1 Premix
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 24.5 HP

Kawasaki 440 Jet Ski Engine

The Kawasaki 440 engine was a more advanced configuration of its 400 counterparts. It featured a larger 436cc displacement, but aside from this difference, the two engines were identical. The claimed performance of this twin power mill was 27 HP out of the box.

This 440 engine was exclusively used in the JS440 manufactured from 1977 through 1992.

The key specifications of the Kawasaki 440 engine were as follows:

2-stroke, vertical twin architecture
Piston valve configuration
Displacement: 436cc
Bore and stroke: 68 x 60 mm
Carburation: Single Mikuni BN38 (34mm venturi)
Ignition: Magneto CDI
Lubrication: 50:1 Premix
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 27 HP

Kawasaki 550 Jet Ski Engine

The 550 Kawasaki Jet Ski engine was introduced in the JS550 and was carried over to the successor 550SX. This unit was a 2-stroke, single-carb, 530cc, vertical twin engine, which underwent many performance upgrades over the years.

Released in 1982, the 550 twin featured a piston port configuration and was rated at 36 HP.

In 1986, the performance of this power mill climbed up to 41 HP thanks to these changes:

New Breadbox Jet Power exhaust muffler
New Mikuni BN44 carburetor
Larger intake manifold (increased to 44mm)
Redesigned piston rings
New B8ES spark plugs
Redesigned flame arrestor

This 41 HP engine version was carried over to the 1990 550SX without any significant changes.

By 1991, the 550 Jet Ski engine had been revamped again with many important changes, including:

New piston reed valve configuration
Increased cylinder stud spacing
Dual ring pistons (formerly: single thick piston ring)
1 x Keihin CDKII 38-3 carb (formerly: Mikuni BN44)
CDI-integrated electronic rev limiter (formerly: fuel flood type)
The engine color was changed to silver (formerly: black)

Thanks to these improvements, the power of the engine increased from 41 HP to 47 HP.

In summary, the key specifications of the Kawasaki 550 Jet Ski engine were as follows (all years):

2-stroke, vertical twin architecture
’82-’90: Piston port, ’91-’95: Piston reed valve configuration
Displacement: 530cc
Bore and stroke: 75 x 60 mm
Carburation: 1 x Mikuni BN38 (‘82-‘85), 1 x Mikuni BN44 (‘86-‘90), 1 x Keihin CDKII 38-32 (‘91-‘95)
Lubrication: 50:1 Premix
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 36/41/47 HP

Kawasaki 300 Jet Ski Engine

The 300 Kawasaki engine was the only single-cylinder Jet Ski engine in history. This power mill was a 2-stroke, 294cc, 30 HP oil-injected single manufactured from 1986 through 1991.

Kawasaki used this power source in two stand-up models, namely the JS300 and the successor 300SX.But contrary to popular belief, the engines of these two skis were not completely identical.

Although both were rated at 30 HP, the JS300 had a piston reed valve while the 300SX featured a crankcase reed valve configuration.

The other features of these two 300 Jet Ski engines were identical:

2-stroke, single-cylinder architecture
JS300: Piston reed valve, 300SX: Crankcase reed valve
Displacement: 294cc
Bore and stroke: 76 x 64.9 mm
Compression ratio: 7.2:1
Carburation: Single Mikuni BN34 (28mm venturi)
Ignition: Magneto CDI
Lubrication: Oil injection
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 30 HP

Kawasaki 650 Jet Ski Engine

The Kawasaki 650 Jet Ski engine was a 2-stroke, 635cc, oil-injected vertical twin rated at 52 HP.

This power source was introduced in the 1986 X-2, but it later found its way into many other vintage Jet Skis, including:

The features of the Kawasaki 650 Jet Ski engine were as follows:

2-stroke, vertical-twin architecture
1988: piston reed valve, 1989-1993: crankcase reed valve configuration
Displacement: 635cc
Bore and stroke: 76 x 70 mm
Compression ratio: 7.2:1
Carburation: Single Keihin CDK 38-32 or CDK 40-34
Ignition: Magneto CDI
Lubrication: Oil injection
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 52 HP

Kawasaki 750 Jet Ski Engine

The Kawasaki 750 Jet Ski engine was arguably the most versatile 2-stroke Kawasaki marine engine. This 743cc vertical twin was manufactured in many different configurations and produced 63-83 HP depending on the model.

The key features of this engine included:

2-stroke, vertical-twin architecture
Crankcase reed valve configuration
Displacement: 743cc
Bore and stroke: 80 x 74 mm
Compression ratio: 7.0:1
Lubrication: Oil injection
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 63-83 HP

This engine was available with single and twin carburetors, as well as in “Small Pin” and “Big Pin” configurations.

Are you wondering what the difference was between them?

In a nutshell, the base small-pin 750 (743cc) engine was designed with lighter and less durable components and was ported for more bottom end power. It produced 63 HP with a single carburetor and 75 HP with dual carbs.

Kawasaki manufactured the “750 small pin” Jet Ski engine from 1992 through 1995.

In contrast, the “750 big pin” engine was an upgraded version of the small pin, manufactured from 1995 onwards. (In 1995 Kawasaki used both, so identifying 750 Jet Ski engines from this year could be tricky.)

Compared to its predecessor, the big pin engine design was more durable and was ported for higher top speeds.

It also produced more power since the single-carb big-pin Kawasaki 750 engine delivered 70 HP while its dual-carb brothers were rated at 75-83 HP.

The key upgrades of the big-pin 750 Kawasaki Jet Ski engine over the small-pin were as follows:

The big end of the connecting rods and the wrist pins were larger and more durable, which ensured higher durability. (This is where the name “Big Pin” comes from.) Due to this difference, the pistons and the rods of the ’92-’95 small-pin and ’96 big-pin 750 engines were not interchangeable.
It was designed with a heavier and more durable crankshaft.
The big-pin 750 engine featured a slightly smaller carburetor(s), reed cages, and inlet tracts, which increased air speed in the inlet.
The cylinders had higher exhaust ports than its predecessor.
It had different ignition timing, port timing, and compression ratio, which translated to less bottom end power but ensured much better acceleration and a higher top speed.
It had significantly more horsepower.

For a better comparison, we’ve compiled all 750 Kawasaki Jet Skis with their engine configurations into one chart:

Year	Model	HP	Carbs	Pin
1992-1995	SS (750SS)	63	1	Small
1992-1995	750SX	63	1	Small
1993-1995	Super Sport Xi (750SS Xi)	75	2	Small
1994	Super Sport XiR	NA	2	Small
1994-1995	ST (750ST)	63	1	Small
1995-1997	750 ZXi	83	2	Big
1995	STS (750 STS)	80	2	Big
1996-1997	STS (750 STS)	83	2	Big
1995-1997	750 SXi	75	2	Big
1996-1997	SS (750SS)	70	1	Big
1996-1997	Super Sport Xi	75	2	Big
1998	750 STX	83	2	Big
1998-1999	Xi Sport	80	2	Big
1998-2000	SXi Pro	75	2	Big

Kawasaki 800 Jet Ski Engine

The Kawasaki 800 Jet Ski engine made its debut just after the Millennium. This 2-stroke, 781cc, twin-carb, vertical twin engine was rated at 80 HP.

The Japanese manufacturer only used this engine in two models, 2003-2011 800 SX-R and the lesser-known, 2^nd generation X-2, manufactured from 2006-2008. Sadly, the latter wasn’t marketed in the U.S.

The most important specs of the Kawasaki 800 Jet Ski engine were as follows:

2-stroke, vertical-twin architecture
Crankcase reed valve configuration
Displacement: 781cc
Bore and stroke: 82 x 74 mm
Compression ratio: 7.2:1
Carburation: Mikuni BN40-38 x 2
Ignition: Magneto CDI (Digital)
Lubrication: Gas/Oil Premix (60:1)
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 80 HP

Kawasaki 900 Jet Ski Engine

The high-performance Kawasaki 900 Jet Ski engine was the manufacturer’s first triple-cylinder power source. This 2-stroke, 891cc, triple-carb, 3-cylinder power mill delivered not less than 100 HP and was in production from 1995 through 2006.

The Kawasaki 900 Jet Ski engine debuted in the 1995 900 ZXi and was carried over to the 900 STX and the 900 STS.The key specifications of this unit were as follows:

2-stroke, 3-cylinder architecture
Crankcase reed valve configuration
Displacement: 891cc
Bore and stroke: 73 x 71 mm
Compression ratio: 5.5:1
Ignition: ’97-’99: Magneto CDI (Digital), ’00-‘06: DC-CDI (Digital)
Carburation: Triple-carb
Lubrication: Oil injection
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 100 HP

Although the 900 engine was exclusively marketed with a triple-carb setup, it was paired with many different carburetors, including:

’97-’98: Keihin CDK 38-29 (x3)
‘99: Keihin CDCV 38-29 (x3)
’00-‘06: Keihin CDCV 38-33 (x3)

Kawasaki 1100 Jet Ski Engine

The Kawasaki 1100 Jet Ski engine was a 2-stroke, 1071cc, 3-cylinder power mill marketed in both carbureted (120 HP) and fuel-injected (130 HP) configurations.

The triple-carb 1100 Kawasaki engine debuted in the 1100 ZXi and was carried over to the 1100 STX.For the Millennium, the Japanese manufacturer revealed the fuel-injected 1100 D.I. engine, featuring a Ficht direct fuel injection system. This unit was used in the 1100 STX D.I. and the much sportier Ultra 130 D.I.Specifications of the carbureted 1100 Kawasaki Jet Ski engine include:

2-stroke, 3-cylinder architecture
Crankcase reed valve configuration
Displacement: 1071cc
Bore and stroke: 80 x 71 mm
Compression ratio: 5.8:1
Ignition: Magneto CDI (Digital) or DC-CDI (Digital)
Carburation: Keihin CDK 38-29 or CDCV 38 (x3)
Lubrication: Oil injection
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 120 HP

In contrast, the specs of the fuel-injected 1100 Kawasaki Jet Ski engine were as follows:

2-stroke, 3-cylinder architecture
Crankcase reed valve configuration
Displacement: 1071cc
Bore and stroke: 80 x 71 mm
Compression ratio: 6.6:1
Ignition: DC-CDI (Digital)
Carburation: Ficht direct fuel injection
Lubrication: Oil injection
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 130 HP

Kawasaki 1200 Jet Ski Engine (2-Stroke)

The most powerful 2-stroke Kawasaki Jet Skis were powered by the 2-stroke 1200 Jet Ski engine. This unit was a high-performance 1176cc, triple-carb, 3-cylinder power mill rated at 145 HP.

Kawasaki reserved this power plant for the factory racer 1200 STX-R and the legendary Ultra 150.The cylinders of this powerhouse were slanted 45 degrees in the hull to keep the center of gravity low.

What’s more, its intake manifold was also slanted back 45 degrees, allowing the use of a more effective, downdraft carburetor position.

What does this mean?

In a nutshell, a downdraft carburetor is mounted on top of the engine, meaning that air comes from above the carburetor and goes straight down through the intake.

The key specs of the Kawasaki 1200 Jet Ski engine include:

2-stroke, 3-cylinder architecture
Slanted cylinder position
Crankcase reed valve configuration
Displacement: 1176cc
Bore and stroke: 80 x 78 mm
Compression ratio: 5.8:1
Ignition: DC-CDI with Kawasaki Throttle Responsive Ignition Control (K-TRIC)
Carburation: Triple Keihin CDCV 40-35 carbs in downdraft position
Lubrication: Variable-rate Superlube oil injection system
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 145 HP

Kawasaki 1200 Jet Ski Engine (4-Stroke)

The first 4-stroke Jet Ski engine was the 1199cc, fuel-injected, 4-cylinder, 125 HP Kawasaki marine engine offered exclusively in the STX-12F.

This power source was adapted from the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R motorcycle, which was heavily redesigned for marine use.

It was manufactured from 2003 through 2007 and phased out by the more powerful 1500 engine.

Specifications:

4-stroke, 4-cylinder architecture
Displacement: 1199cc
Bore and stroke: 83 x 55.4 mm
Compression ratio: 11.2:1
Ignition: Digital transistor
Carburation: Digital fuel injection
Lubrication: Semi-dry sump
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 125 HP

Naturally-Aspirated Kawasaki 1500 Jet Ski Engine (4-Stroke)

The Kawasaki 1500 Jet Ski engine is a 4-stroke, 1498cc, fuel-injected, DOHC, 4-cylinder power mill derived from the Ninja ZX-14R motorcycle engine. This unit comes in both naturally-aspirated and supercharged configurations, with the former rated at 160 HP.

The 1500 Kawasaki Jet Ski engine was introduced in the 2004 STX-15F and was carried over into a lot of popular skis like the Ultra LX.Surprisingly, Kawasaki still uses this engine in their latest Jet Skis including the STX 160 family and the SX-R 160 stand-up.

Specifications:

4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 4-valve architecture
Cam: DOHC
Displacement: 1498cc
Bore and stroke: 83 x 69.2 mm
Compression ratio: 10.6:1
Aspiration: Naturally-aspirated
Ignition: Digital transistor
Carburation: Digital fuel injection
Lubrication: Semi-dry sump
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 160 HP

Supercharged Kawasaki 1500 Jet Ski Engine (4-Stroke)

The supercharged Kawasaki 1500 Jet Ski engine is a more powerful variation of the base 1500 engine. It utilizes a constant-displacement, Eaton TVS supercharger, which boosts its performance from 160 to 250-310 HP.

This engine debuted in the 2007 Ultra 250X and has undergone many performance upgrades over the years, including:

2007-2009: 250 HP (Ultra 250X)
2009-2010: 260 HP (Ultra 260X)
2011-2013: 300 HP (Ultra 300X/LX)
2014-2021: 310 HP (Ultra 310R, Ultra 310X, Ultra 310LX)
2022-Today: 310 HP (Revamped Ultra 310 series)

The key specifications of the latest supercharged Kawasaki 1500 engine are as follows:

4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 4-valve architecture
Cam: DOHC
Displacement: 1498cc
Bore and stroke: 83 x 69.2 mm
Compression ratio: 8.2:1
Aspiration: Supercharged
Ignition: Digital transistor
Carburation: Digital fuel injection
Lubrication: Semi-dry sump
Cooling: Open loop
Power: 310 HP

Kawasaki Jet Ski Engine Chart

For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of all the Kawasaki Jet Ski engines ever produced:

Years	Model	Engine cc	HP	Cylinders	Carbs
1973-1975	WSAA	400	24.5	2	1
1973-1975	WSAB	400	24.5	2	1
1976-1981	JS400	400	24.5	2	1
1977-1992	JS440	436	27	2	1
1982-1985	JS550	530	36	2	1
1986-1989	JS550	530	41	2	1
1986-1988	JS300	294	30	1	1
1986-1993	X-2	635	52	2	1
1987-1991	300SX	294	30	1	1
1987-1990	650SX	635	52	2	1
1989-1992	Jet Mate	635	52	2	1
1989-1996	TS (650TS)	635	52	2	1
1990	550SX	530	41	2	1
1991-1995	550SX	530	47	2	1
1991-1995	SC (650SC)	635	52	2	1
1991-1993	650SX	635	52	2	1
1992-1995	SS (750SS)	743	63	2	1
1992-1995	750SX	743	63	2	1
1993-1995	Super Sport Xi (750SS Xi)	743	75	2	2
1994-1995	X-2	635	57	2	2
1994	Super Sport XiR	743	NA	2	2
1994-1995	ST (750ST)	743	63	2	1
1995-1997	900 ZXi	891	100	3	3
1995-1997	750 ZXi	743	83	2	2
1995	STS (750 STS)	743	80	2	2
1996-1997	STS (750 STS)	743	83	2	2
1995-1997	750 SXi	743	75	2	2
1996-2003	1100 ZXi	1071	120	3	3
1996-1997	SS (750SS)	743	70	2	1
1996-1997	Super Sport Xi	743	75	2	2
1997-1998	900 STX	891	100	3	3
1999-2000	900 STX	891	100	3	3
1997-1999	1100 STX	1071	120	3	3
1998	550SX	530	47	2	2
1998	750 STX	743	83	2	2
1998-1999	Xi Sport	743	80	2	2
1998-2000	SXi Pro	743	75	2	2
1999-2005	Ultra 150	1176	145	3	3
2000-2004	1100 STX D.I.	1071	130	3	FI
2001-2006	900 STX	891	100	3	3
2001-2002	900 STS	891	100	3	3
2001-2004	Ultra 130 D.I.	1071	130	3	FI
2002-2005	1200 STX-R	1176	145	3	3
2003-2011	800 SX-R	781	80	2	2
2003-2007	STX-12F	1199	125	4	FI
2004-2020	STX 15-F	1498	160	4	FI
2006-2008	X-2	781	80	2	2
2007-2022	Ultra LX	1498	160	4	FI
2007-2008	Ultra 250X	1498	245	4	FI
2009-2010	Ultra 260X	1498	260	4	FI
2011-2013	Ultra 300X	1498	300	4	FI
2011-2013	Ultra 300LX	1498	300	4	FI
2014-2021	Ultra 310X	1498	310	4	FI
2014-2021	Ultra 310LX	1498	310	4	FI
2014-2021	Ultra 310R	1498	310	4	FI
2017-2022	SX-R 1500	1498	160	4	FI
2020-	STX 160	1498	310	4	FI
2020-	STX 160X	1498	310	4	FI
2020-	STX 160LX	1498	310	4	FI
2022-	Ultra 310X	1498	310	4	FI
2022-	Ultra 310LX	1498	310	4	FI
2022-	Ultra 310LX-S	1498	310	4	FI
2023-	SX-R 160	1498	160	4	FI

This chart is for informational purposes only! For exact specifications, please refer to the factory manual.

Takeaways

As a takeaway, we’ve answered the most common questions on the topic.

What Kind of Engines do Jet Skis Have?

Since 2012, Kawasaki Jet Skis are exclusively powered by 4-stroke, 1498cc, 4-cylinder engines. Vintage Jet Skis utilized smaller 2-stroke engines that displaced between 294 and 1176cc.

Which Jet Ski Engine is the Largest`?

The largest production Kawasaki Jet Ski engine is the 4-stroke, 1498cc, 4-cylinder power mill derived from the Ninja ZX-14R motorcycle.

Regarding vintage models, the largest 2-stroke Jet Ski engine was the 1176cc triple used in the Ultra 150 and 1200 STX-R.

Which Jet Ski Engine was the Smallest?

The smallest Jet Ski engine was the 2-stroke, 294cc, single, which was used in the JS300 and the 300SX.

Which Jet Ski Engine was the First 3-Cylinder?

The first 3-cylinder Jet Ski engine was the triple-carb, 891cc, crankcase reed valve, 3-cylinder Kawasaki marine engine rated at 100 HP.

This power mill debuted in 1995 in the 900 ZXi and later it found its way into the 900 STS and the 900 STX.

Which Oil Injected Jet Ski Engine was the First?

The first oil-injected Jet Ski engine was the 2-stroke, 294cc, 30 HP, single-cylinder engine revealed in the 1986 JS300. In the ’90s oil-injected Jet Skis became more prevalent across the entire Kawasaki PWC lineup.

Which was the First Fuel Injected Jet Ski Engine?

The first fuel-injected Jet Ski engine was the 2-stroke 1100 Kawasaki “D.I.” marine engine. This 2-stroke, 1076cc, triple utilized a Ficht fuel injection system and delivered 130 HP.

This power source was used in the 2000-2004 1100 STX D.I. and the 2001-2004 Ultra 130 D.I.

Which was the First 4-Stroke Jet Ski Engine?

The first 4-stroke Jet Ski engine was the 1199cc, 4-cylinder Kawasaki marine engine borrowed from the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R motorcycle. This power mill was exclusively used in the 2003-2007 STX-12F runabout Jet Ski.

Which Supercharged Jet Ski Engine was the First?

The first supercharged Jet Ski engine debuted in the 2007 Kawasaki Ultra 250X. This high-performance power plant was a 4-stroke, 1498cc, DOHC, 4-cylinder engine rated at 250 HP.

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