Kawasaki Jet Ski Top Speed Chart [New and Vintage Skis]

The top speed of production Kawasaki Jet Skis ranges from 62 up to a limited 67 mph thanks to their high-performance, 4-stroke engines. In contrast, vintage 2-stroke Kawasaki Jet Skis could only reach 30-60 mph depending on the model and engine option.

If you want to find out more about the top speed figures of Kawasaki Jet Skis, this post is for you.

For your convenience, we at JetDrift have complied them all under one roof!

How Fast Can a Production Kawasaki Jet Ski Go?

Kawasaki STX 160 Top Speed

Although the STX 160 series includes the slowest production Kawasaki Jet Skis, these machines can still reach a whopping top speed of 62 mph.

This family is made up of the base STX 160, the more advanced STX 160X, and the high-end 160LX.

Each of them shares the same STX hull, and the naturally-aspirated 4-stroke, 1498cc, 4-cylinder engine option rated at 160 HP.

Examples:

• Kawasaki STX 160 top speed: 62 mph
• Kawasaki STX 160X top speed: 62 mph
• Kawasaki STX 160LX top speed: 62 mph

Kawasaki SX-R 160 Top Speed

The only production stand-up Kawasaki Jet Ski, the SX-R 160, also tops out at 62 mph under ideal conditions.

This is no surprise since it borrows its 160 HP engine and pump from the STX family.

Kawasaki released this stand-up model under the name of SX-R 1500 in 2017 but rebranded it to the SX-R 160 for the 2023 model year.

Kawasaki Ultra 310 Top Speed

The top speed of the supercharged Kawasaki Ultra 310 family is electronically limited to 67 mph due to a gentlemen’s agreement between the U.S. Coast Guard and all PWC manufacturers.

This series was completely revamped for the 2022 season, so it returned with a new set of innovative features.

The members of the Ultra 310 family are as follows:

• Kawasaki Ultra 310X top speed: 67 mph
• Kawasaki Ultra 310LX top speed: 67 mph
• Kawasaki Ultra 310LX-S top speed: 67 mph

How Fast Can Vintage Kawasaki Jet Skis Go?

Let’s go back in time a bit and take a closer look at the top speed of 2-stroke Kawasaki Jet Skis!

Kawasaki 400 and 440 Jet Ski Top Speed

The first production Kawasaki Jet Skis were the Kawasaki JS400 and JS440, which topped out at 31 and 33 mph, respectively.

These machines were powered by 2-stroke, single-carb, twin-cylinder engines that produced 24.5-27 HP.

• ’76-’81 Kawasaki JS400 top speed: 31 mph
• ’77- ’92 Kawasaki JS440 top speed: 33 mph

(You can read reviews on these models by following the links above.)

Kawasaki 300 Jet Ski Top Speed

Despite their small, 294cc, single-cylinder engine, Kawasaki 300 Jet Skis could also hit 33 mph under ideal conditions.

The two production Kawasaki 300 Jet Ski were as follows:

• ’86-’88 Kawasaki JS300 top speed: 33 mph
• ’87-’91 Kawasaki 300SX top speed: 33 mph

Kawasaki 550 Jet Ski Top Speed

The claimed top speed of 550 Kawasaki Jet Skis was 35-39 mph in stock condition.

The power source of these machines was a 2-stroke, single-carb, 530cc twin that delivered 35-39 HP depending on the model.

The top speed of each Kawasaki 550 Jet Ski was as follows:

• ’82-’85 Kawasaki JS550 top speed: 35 mph
• ’86-’89 Kawasaki JS550 top speed: 37 mph
• ’90 Kawasaki 550SX top speed: 37 mph
• ’91-‘95 Kawasaki 550SX top speed: 39 mph

Kawasaki 650 Jet Ski Top Speed

The top speed of 650 Kawasaki Jet Skis ranged from 30 up to 41 mph.

The Japanese manufacturer used its 2-stroke, 635cc twin engine in many different models, including:

• ’89-’92 Kawasaki Jet Mate top speed: 30 mph
• ’89-’96 Kawasaki 650TS top speed: 35 mph
• ’91-’95 Kawasaki 650SC top speed: 35 mph
• ’86-’95 Kawasaki X-2 top speed: 35-36 mph
• ’87-’93 Kawasaki 650SX top speed: 41 mph

Kawasaki 750 Jet Ski Top Speed

The top speed of 750 Kawasaki Jet Skis varied widely, anywhere from 40 to 58 mph.

This is no surprise since the Kawasaki 750 power mill had undergone many performance upgrades over the years. It was also marketed in both single and twin-carb configurations.

The top speeds of the most well-known Kawasaki 750 Jet Skis were as follows:

• ‘94-’95 Kawasaki 750ST top speed: 40 mph
• ‘92-’95 Kawasaki 750SX top speed: 43 mph
• ‘92-‘97 Kawasaki 750SS top speed: 45 mph
• ‘95-’97 Kawasaki 750 SXi top speed: 47 mph
• ‘93-’97 Kawasaki Super Sport Xi top speed: 48 mph
• ‘95-’97 Kawasaki 750 STS top speed: 48 mph
• 1998 Kawasaki 750 STX top speed: 48 mph
• ‘98-’99 Kawasaki Xi Sport top speed: 48 mph
• ‘98-’00 Kawasaki SXi Pro top speed: 48 mph
• ‘95-’97 Kawasaki 750 ZXi top speed: 51 mph

Kawasaki 900 Jet Ski Top Speed

The triple-cylinder Kawasaki 900 models could reach a whopping top speed of 47-54 mph out of the box.

Each of these machines shared the same triple-carb, 891cc, 3-cylinder engine rated at 100 HP.

Examples:

• ’01-’02 Kawasaki 900 STS top speed: 48 mph
• ’97-’06 Kawasaki 900 STX top speed: 47-52 mph
• ’95-’97 Kawasaki 900 ZXi top speed: 54 mph

Kawasaki 1100 Jet Ski Top Speed

You can expect the top speed of an 1100 Kawasaki Jet Ski to be in the ballpark of 51-64 mph.

The entry-level model in this breed was the carbed 1100 STX with a top speed of 51 mph.

On the other end of the spectrum, you could find the race-intended 1100 ZXi and Ultra 130 D.I.

Examples:

• ’97-’09 Kawasaki 1100 STX top speed: 51 mph
• ’00-’04 Kawasaki 1100 STX D.I. top speed: 52 mph
• ’96-’03 Kawasaki 1100 ZXi top speed: 58 mph
• ’01-’04 Kawasaki Ultra 130 D.I. top speed: 64 mph

Kawasaki 1200 Jet Ski Top Speed

The fastest 2-stroke Jet Skis were arguably the 1200 models with a top speed of 60-65 mph.

There were only a couple of vintage Kawasaki Jet Skis that enjoyed this triple-carb, 1176cc, 3-cylinder engine option, including:

• ‘02-’05 Kawasaki 1200 STX-R top speed: 60 mph
• ‘99-‘05 Kawasaki Ultra 150 top speed: 65 mph

Surprisingly, Kawasaki designed 1200cc Jet Skis with both 2-stoke and 4-stroke engine configurations.

The lesser-known STX 12-F utilized a 4-stroke, 1199cc, 4-cylinder, fuel-injected engine that offered a top speed of 55 mph.

Kawasaki 250 Jet Ski Top Speed

The Kawasaki Ultra 250X was the first supercharged Kawasaki Jet Ski featuring a 4-stroke, 1498cc, 245 HP engine option. Like all other high-performance Jet Ski manufactured after the Millennium, this model also came with a limited top speed.

Under ideal conditions, the top speed of this Kawasaki 250 Jet Ski was 67 mph and it could go from 0 to 30 mph in less than two seconds.

Kawasaki 260 Jet Ski Top Speed

The Kawasaki Ultra 260X was an upgraded version of the 250X manufactured from 2009 through 2010.

Just like its predecessor, the top speed of this Kawasaki 260 Jet Ski was also restricted to 67 mph.

Kawasaki 300 Jet Ski Top Speed

The supercharged engine of the Ultra 260X was upgraded to 300 HP in 2011 when the Ultra 300 series was born.

This family contained the Ultra 300X and the Ultra 300LX, both topping out at 67 mph.

Kawasaki 310 Jet Ski Top Speed

Kawasaki marketed its popular Ultra 310 family virtually unchanged from 2014 through 2021.

Each of these high-performance 310 Ultras shared the same platform and the top-of-the-line supercharged 310 HP Kawasaki engine. Hence, their top speed was uniformly 67 mph.

Examples:

• ’14-’21 Kawasaki Ultra 310R top speed: 67 mph
• ’14-’21 Kawasaki Ultra 310X top speed: 67 mph
• ’14-’21 Kawasaki Ultra 310LX top speed: 67 mph

Kawasaki Jet Ski Top Speed Chart

For your convenience, we’ve compiled the top speeds of Kawasaki Jet Skis into one chart:

Years	Model	Top Speed (mph)
1973-1975	WSAA	NA
1973-1975	WSAB	NA
1976-1981	JS400	31
1977-1992	JS440	33
1982-1985	JS550	35
1986-1989	JS550	37
1986-1988	JS300	33
1986-1993	X-2	35
1987-1991	300SX	33
1987-1990	650SX	41
1989-1992	Jet Mate	30
1989-1996	TS (650TS)	35
1990	550SX	37
1991-1995	550SX	39
1991-1995	SC (650SC)	35
1991-1993	650SX	41
1992-1995	SS (750SS)	45
1992-1995	750SX	43
1993-1995	Super Sport Xi (750SS Xi)	48
1994-1995	X-2	36
1994	Super Sport XiR	NA
1994-1995	ST (750ST)	40
1995-1997	900 ZXi	54
1995-1997	750 ZXi	51
1995-1997	750 SXi	47
1995	STS (750 STS)	48
1996-1997	STS (750 STS)	48
1996-2003	1100 ZXi	58
1996-1997	SS (750SS)	45
1996-1997	Super Sport Xi	48
1997-1999	1100 STX	51
1999	1100 STX Limited	51
1997-2006	900 STX	47
1998	550SX	39
1998	750 STX	48
1998-1999	Xi Sport	48
1998-2000	SXi Pro	48
1999-2005	Ultra 150	65
2000-2004	1100 STX D.I.	52
2001-2002	900 STS	48
2001-2004	Ultra 130 D.I.	64
2002-2005	1200 STX-R	60
2003-2011	800 SX-R	48
2003-2007	STX-12F	55
2004-2020	STX-15F	62
2006-2008	X-2	NA
2007-2022	Ultra LX	55
2007-2008	Ultra 250X	67
2009-2010	Ultra 260X	67
2011-2013	Ultra 300X	67
2011-2013	Ultra 300LX	67
2014-2021	Ultra 310X	67
2014-2021	Ultra 310LX	67
2014-2021	Ultra 310R	67
2017-2022	SX-R 1500	62
2020-	STX 160	62
2020-	STX 160X	62
2020-	STX 160LX	62
2022-	Ultra 310X	67
2022-	Ultra 310LX	67
2022-	Ultra 310LX-S	67
2023-	SX-R 160	62

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:

How Fast Does a 2-Stroke Kawasaki Jet Ski Go?

The top speed of 2-stroke Kawasaki Jet Skis varied between 31 and 65 mph.

How Fast Does a 4-Stroke Kawasaki Jet Ski Go?

You can expect a top speed of a 4-stroke Kawasaki Jet Ski to be in the ballpark of 55-67 mph.

Which Kawasaki Jet Ski is the slowest?

The slowest Kawasaki Jet Ski was the vintage JS400 with a top speed of 31 mph.

Which Kawasaki Jet Ski is the Fastest?

The fastest Kawasaki Jet Skis are the flagship supercharged models, including the 310X, 310LX, and the 310LX-S.

How Fast is a Supercharged Kawasaki Jet Ski?

The top speed of supercharged Kawasaki Jet Skis is uniformly limited to 67 mph.

How Fast is the Kawasaki Stand-Up Jet Ski?

The top speed of the only 4-stroke Kawasaki stand-up Jet Ski, the SX-R 160, is 62 mph while vintage 2-stroke Kawasaki Jet Skis topped out anywhere from 31-48 mph.

How Fast Does a 3-Seater Jet Ski go?

The top speed of production 3-seater Jet Skis varies between 62 and 67 mph, while their vintage predecessors only went 35-55 mph. It’s a fun fact that the top speed of the first 3-seater Jet Ski (650TS) was only 35 mph.

As you can imagine, this machine was pretty underpowered and could barely carry three adult riders!

Which 3-Seater Jet Ski is the Fastest?

The fastest 3-seater Jet Skis are the Kawasaki Ultra 310X and its luxury counterparts, the 310LX and 310LX-S.