1986-1988 Kawasaki JS300 Review and Specs [Video]
The Kawasaki JS300 was a popular stand-up jet ski in the late ‘80s. It inherited its JS plarform and features from the JS440 but was powered by a smaller 294cc, oil-injected, single engine. After three short years of production, it was replaced by the more advanced 300SX.
If you want to find out more about this legendary ski, this post is for you.
We at JetDrift have compiled all you need to know into this Kawasaki JS300 review!
1986-1988 Kawasaki JS300 Review
The Kawasaki JS300 was the smallest member of the popular Kawasaki JS stand-up family. Its bigger brothers were the JS400, JS440, and the flagship JS550.All of these machines were manufactured in Lincoln, NE USA, and shared the first production Kawasaki Jet Ski platform.
This body measured 84 inches in length, 24.4 inches in width, and 25 inches in height and was made of fiberglass-reinforced Sheet Molding Compound (SMC).
While its siblings enjoyed twin power sources, the Kawasaki JS300 was powered by a smaller, single-cylinder engine. This unit was a 2-stroke, 294cc, vertical single Kawasaski marine engine rated at 30 HP.
This engine was engineered with many innovative features, including:
- 2-stroke, vertical-single, piston reed valve configuration
- Open-loop water cooling system
- Mikuni BN34 diaphragm type carburetor (28mm venturi)
- Oil injection system
- Magneto CDI ignition
- Electric start
- NGK BR7ES spark plug
There’s no question that the key advantage of this engine was its advanced oil injection system. This made the riders’ lives much easier since they didn’t have to bother with the oil-gas premix anymore.
Thanks to its small single engine, the dry weight of the JS300 was only 222.7 pounds, so 3-4 people were even able to launch it by hand from a truck bed.
Engine power was delivered to an axial-flow, single-stage jet pump housing a 6-vane stator and an aluminum 3-blade impeller. This propulsion system ensured a maximum thrust of 243 pounds and a top speed of 33 mph.
The fuel consumption of the JS300 was 3.2 GPH at full throttle, which translated to a cruising range of 36 miles or a playtime of 1.1 hours. It offered very similar performance to the JS400 and JS440, only the JS550 was slightly faster with more torque.
Like any other Kawasaki Jet Ski built on the original 1973 JS hull, the JS300 was also extremely nimble. Riding it well required a lot of athletic skills, a good sense of balance, and tons of practice.
The JS300 came standard with some advanced features, including:- Handlebar-mounted start/stop buttons
- Starter interlock switch
- Throttle limiter
- Thumb throttle
- Continuous self-activating bilge pump
- 3.5-gallon fuel tank
- Engine oil level gauge
- Fire extinguisher compartment
- Tool kit
- Control panel cover
- Deck mats on the tray and the rails
- Chin pad
Instead, the ski started circling in the water, so the rider had to literally catch it to reboard.
Although Kawasaki marketed the SJ300 until 1988, its more advanced successor, the 300SX debuted in 1987.
Kawasaki JS300 Specs Charts
For your convenience, we’ve compiled the key specs of the 1988 Kawasaki JS300 into these charts:Kawasaki JS300 Engine Specs
Kawasaki JS300 | Engine Specs |
---|---|
Engine type | 2-stroke, vertical single, piston reed valve, water-cooled |
Displacement | 294 cc (17.9 cu in.) |
Bore and stroke | 76.0 x 64.9 mm (2.99 x 2.55 in.) |
Compression ratio | 7.2 : 1 |
Ignition system | Magneto CDI |
Lubrication system | Oil injection (break-in period: oil injection and gas/oil mixture 50:1) |
Carburetor | Mikuni BN34 diaphragm type (28 mm venturi) |
Starting system | Electric |
Battery | 12 V 19 Ah |
Kawasaki JS300 Tuning Specifications
Kawasaki JS300 | Tuning Specifications |
---|---|
Spark Plug Type | NGK BR7ES, NGK B7ES |
Spark Plug Gap | 0.7 ∼ 0.8 mm (0.028 ∼ 0.032 in.) |
Ignition Timing | 18° BTDC @ 6 000 r/min (rpm) - 1.99 mm (0.078 in) @ 6 000 r/min (rpm) |
Carburetor Idle Speed - in water | 1 700 ±100 r/min (rpm) |
Carburetor Idle Speed - out of water | 2 200 ±100 r/min (rpm) |
Compression Pressure | 1200 kPa (12.0 kg/cm2) (171 psi) - open throttle |
Kawasaki JS300 Drive Shaft
Kawasaki JS300 | Drive Shaft |
---|---|
Coupling | Direct drive from engine |
Jet Pump Type | Axial flow, single stage |
Jet Pump Thrust | 110 kg (243 lb) |
Steering | Steerable nozzle |
Braking | Water drag |
Kawasaki JS300 Performance
Kawasaki JS300 | Performance |
---|---|
Maximum Speed | 53 km/h (33 mph) |
Minimum Turning Radius | 2.75 m (9 ft) |
Draft (stationary) | 200 mm (8 in) |
Fuel Consumption | 12 L/h (3.2 US gal/h) @full throttle |
Cruising Range (1) | 57 km (36 mi) @full throttle |
Cruising Range (2) | 1.1 hrs |
Kawasaki JS300 Dimensions
Kawasaki JS300 | Dimensions |
---|---|
Overall length | 84 in (2140 mm) |
Overall width | 24.4 in (620 mm) |
Overall height | 25 in (640 mm) |
Dry Weight | 101 kg (222.7 lbs) |
Fuel tank capacity | 3.4 US gal (13 L) including 0.9 (3.5 L) |
Kawasaki JS300 Fuel and Oil
Kawasaki JS300 | Fuel and Oil |
---|---|
Engine Oil Type | 2-stroke, BIA Certified for Service TC-W |
Engine Oil Tank Capacity | 1.7 L (1.8 qt (US) |
Starter Gear Housing Oil - Grade | SE or SF class |
Starter Gear Housing Oil - Viscosity | SAE10W40, 10W50, 20W40, or 20W50 |
Starter Gear Housing Oil - Capacity | 0.2 L (0.21 US qt) |
Takeaways
As a takeaway, we’ve answered the most common questions about the 1986-1988 Kawasaki JS300!What is a Kawasaki JS300?
The JS300 was a vintage single-cylinder, stand-up Kawasaki Jet Ski.
When did the Kawasaki JS300 Come Out?
The Kawasaki JS300 debuted in 1986.
What Years Did Kawasaki Make the JS300?
Kawasaki marketed the JS300 from 1986 through 1988.
What Size was a Kawasaki JS300?
The Kawasaki JS300 measured 84 inches in length, 24.4 inches in width, and 25 inches in height, while its draft was 8 inches.
How Much Did a Kawasaki JS300 Weigh?
The dry weight of the Kawasaki JS300 was only 222.7 pounds.
How Many People Could Ride on a Kawasaki JS300?
The Kawasaki JS300 could carry only one rider.
What Kind of Engine was in the Kawasaki JS300?
The Kawasaki JS300 was powered by a 2-stroke, 294cc, vertical single Kawasaki marine engine.
Was the Kawasaki JS300 Supercharged?
The Kawasaki JS300 was powered by a naturally-aspirated engine.
Was the Kawasaki JS300 a 2-stroke?
Yes, the Kawasaki JS300 was powered by a 2-stroke engine.
How Much Horsepower Did a Kawasaki JS300 Have?
The Kawasaki JS300 produced 30 HP out of the box.
How Much Oil Did a Kawasaki JS300 Hold?
The Kawasaki JS300 was designed with an oil system featuring a 1.8-quart oil tank.
How Much Fuel Did a Kawasaki JS300 Hold?
The Kawasaki JS300 was equipped with a 3.5-gallon fuel tank.
How Much Fuel Did a Kawasaki JS300 Use?
The claimed fuel consumption of the Kawasaki JS300 was about 3.2 GPH at full throttle.
What was the Fuel Range of the Kawasaki JS300?
The fuel range of the Kawasaki JS300 was about 36 miles (1.1 hours) at full throttle.
How Fast Did a Kawasaki JS300 Go?
The top speed of a Kawasaki JS300 was about 33 mph under ideal conditions.
Did the Kawasaki JS300 Have a Reverse?
No, the Kawasaki JS300 didn’t have a reverse system.
Did the Kawasaki JS300 Have a Brake?
No, the Kawasaki JS300 was manufactured without a brake system.
How Much Does a Kawasaki JS300 Cost?
The asking price of a used Kawasaki JS300 varies between $1,000 and $3,000 depending on the year and its condition.