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1982-1989 Kawasaki JS550 Review and Specs [Video]
The JS550 was the flagship stand-up jet ski in Kawasaki’s fleet from 1982 through 1989. It was built on the proven JS hull and featured a 2-stroke, 530cc, vertical twin engine rated at 36/41 HP. The popular JS550 was phased out by the more powerful 550SX in 1990.
If you want to find out more about this iconic jet ski, this post is for you.
We at JetDrift have compiled all you need to know into this Kawasaki JS550 review!
1982-1989 Kawasaki JS550 Review
The iconic Kawasaki JS550 was introduced in the 1982 model year. It shared its fiberglass-reinforced SMC hull with the JS400/JS400 series but had a more powerful 530cc engine option, upgraded exhaust, performance rear sponsons, and the all-new mixed-flow jet pump.Regarding dimensions, the proven JS platform measured 84.3 inches in length, 24.4 inches in width, and 25.5 inches in height.
This hull housed a purpose-built, high-performance Kawasaki marine engine. This powerhouse was a 2-stroke, 530cc, piston port, vertical twin rated at 36 or 41 HP depending on the model year.
The key features of this 530cc Kawasaki twin engine were as follows:
- Style: 2-stroke, twin-cylinder, piston port configuration
- Displacement: 530cc
- Cylinders: 2
- Piston rings: 1
- Ignition Shieled CD
- Starting: Electric
- Crankshaft: T-bone style
- Cooling: Open-loop
- Carburetor: Minuni diaphragm-type (‘82-‘85: BN38, ‘86-‘89: BN44)
- Power: ‘82-‘85: 36 HP, ‘86-‘89: 41 HP
Thanks to its high-performance engine and propulsion, the JS550 produced plenty of thrust so it instantly became popular among racers and performance-minded riders.
It was more powerful and slightly faster than its smaller brothers. To be more precise, the top speed figures of JS-based Kawasaki Jet Skis were as follows:
- ’76-’81 JS400: 31 mph
- ’86-’88 JS300: 33 mph
- ’77-’92 JS440: 33 mph
- ’82-’85 JS500: 35 mph
- ’86-’89 JS500: 37 mph
- ’90 500SX: 37 mph
- ’91-’95 550SX: 39 mph
- Handlebar-mounted start/stop button
- Starter interlock switch
- Throttle limiter
- Siphon bilge system
- 3.4-gallon fuel tank
- Floatation cells
- Fire extinguisher compartment
- Tool kit
- Bumper rails
- Sponsons
- Self-circling rider pick up
As an example, it lacked a shut-off switch and a safety lanyard, so the engine didn’t stop automatically when you fell off into the water.
Instead, it had a self-circling system that forced the machine to idle in circles around you in the water. This meant that you had to catch the ski in the water to reboard.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and talk about the difference between model years!
Kawasaki JS550 Timeline
1982 Kawasaki JS550
The JS550 debuted for the 1982 season as the flagship stand-up Kawasaki Jet Ski.
Key upgrades over the predecessor JS440 include:
- Larger displacement engine (436cc to 530cc)
- Power increase from 27 to 36 HP
- High-capacity, mixed-flow jet pump
- Larger exhaust
- Performance sponsons
- Yellow/White color scheme
- Lack of chin pad and side rail pads
- Lack of rev limiter
- Front deck exhaust outlet
- Aluminum wear ring
1983 Kawasaki JS550
Changes and upgrades over the ’82 JS550 include:
- New Red/White color scheme
- Silver/Black graphics
1984 Kawasaki JS550
Changes and upgrades over the ’83 JS550 include:
- Kawasaki decal on the handle pole
- Silver/Blue graphics on the top deck
- The color of the pole bracket changed to silver
- Chin pad
1985 Kawasaki JS550
Changes and upgrades over the ’84 JS550 include:
- New light blue/dark blue/silver graphics
1986 Kawasaki JS550
The 1986 Kawasaki JS550 was heavily redesigned and returned with many innovative features, including:
- The exhaust outlet was moved to the right side, below the rub rail
- New Breadbox Jet Power exhaust muffler
- Exhaust bypass fitting on the left side of the ski
- New Mikuni BN44 carburetor
- Fuel flood style rev limiter
- Larger intake manifold (increased to 44mm)
- Redesigned piston rings
- New B8ES spark plugs
- The finger throttle was replaced by an ATV-like thumb throttle
- Redesigned flame arrestor
- Redesigned fire extinguisher compartment cap
- Stainless steel wear ring
- New graphics
As the name suggests, this was intended to prevent the engine from over-revving when the impeller was out of the water.
It saved riders a lot of headaches since over-revving was a common issue on earlier models.
Thanks to these performance upgrades the engine power of the JS550 was increased from 36 to 41 HP while its pump delivered 368 pounds of thrust.
This translated to slightly quicker acceleration and a top speed increase of 2 mph.
1987-1988 Kawasaki JS550
Changes and upgrades over the ’86 JS550 include:
- New blue/white graphic kits
1989 Kawasaki JS550
Changes and upgrades over the ’87-‘88 JS550 include:
- All-white gelcoat
- White handlebar pole and pole bracket
- Pink/blue graphics
Kawasaki JS550 Specs Charts
For your convenience, we’ve compiled the key specs of the 1989 Kawasaki JS550 into these charts:Kawasaki JS550 Engine Specs
| Kawasaki JS550 | Engine Specs |
|---|---|
| Engine type | 2-stroke, vertical twin, piston port, water-cooled |
| Displacement | 530 mL (32.3 cu in) |
| Bore and stroke | 75 x 60 mm (2.95 x 2.36 in) |
| Compression ratio | 7.2 : 1 |
| Ignition system | Magneto CDI |
| Fuel / Lubrication | Gas/ Oil Premix ratio 50:1 |
| Carburetor | Keihin CDK 38-32 |
| Starting system | Electric starter |
| Battery | 12 V 19 Ah |
Kawasaki JS550 Tuning Specifications
| Kawasaki JS550 | Tuning Specifications |
|---|---|
| Spark Plug Type | NGK BR8ES |
| Spark Plug Gap | 0.7 ∼ 0.8 mm (0.028 ∼ 0.032 in.) |
| Ignition Timing | 21° BTDC @6 000 r/min (rpm) - 2.52 mm(0.1 in) @6 000 r/min (rpm) |
| Carburetor Idle Speed - in water | 1 500 ±100 r/min (rpm) |
| Carburetor Idle Speed - out of water | 1 900 ±100 r/min (rpm) |
| Compression Pressure | 1 320 kPa (13.5 kg/cm2) 192 psi |
Kawasaki JS550 Drive System
| Kawasaki JS550 | Drive System |
|---|---|
| Coupling | Direct drive from engine |
| Pump type | Mixed flow, single stage |
| Pump thrust | 167 kg (368.2 lb) |
| Steering | Steerable nozzle |
| Braking | Water drag |
Kawasaki JS550 Performance
| Kawasaki JS550 | Performance |
|---|---|
| Minimum Turning Radius | 2.75 m (9.0 ft) |
| Draft (Stationary) | 200 mm (8.0 in) |
| Fuel Consumption | 17 L/hr (4.5 US gal/hr) @full throttle |
| Cruising Range (1) | 47 km (29.2 mi) @full throttle |
| Cruising Range (2) | 45 minutes |
Kawasaki JS550 Dimensions
| Kawasaki JS550 | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 84.3 in (2 140 mm) |
| Overall width | 24.4 in (620 mm) |
| Overall height | 25.2 in (640 mm) |
| Dry weight | 114 kg (251.3 lbs) |
| Fuel tank capacity | 13 L (3.4 US gal) including 3.4 L (0.9 US gal) reserve |
Takeaways
As a takeaway, we’ve answered the most common questions about the Kawasaki JS550 (1986 model)!What is a Kawasaki JS550?
The Kawasaki JS550 was a high-performance, 2-stroke, stand-up Kawasaki Jet Ski.
When did the Kawasaki JS550 Come Out?
The Kawasaki JS550 debuted in 1982.
What Years Did Kawasaki Make the JS550?
Kawasaki marketed the JS550 from 1982 through 1989.
What Size was a Kawasaki JS550?
The Kawasaki JS550 measured 84.3 inches in length, 24.4 inches in width, and 25.2 inches in height, while its draft was 8 inches.
How Much Did a Kawasaki JS550 Weigh?
The dry weight of the Kawasaki JS550 was only 251 pounds.
How Many People Could Ride on a Kawasaki JS550?
The Kawasaki JS550 could carry only one rider.
What Kind of Engine was in the Kawasaki JS550?
The Kawasaki JS550 was powered by a 2-stroke, 530cc, piston-port, vertical twin Kawasaki marine engine.
Was the Kawasaki JS550 Supercharged?
The Kawasaki JS550 was powered by a naturally-aspirated engine.
Was the Kawasaki JS550 a 2-stroke?
Yes, the Kawasaki JS550 was powered by a 2-stroke engine.
How Much Horsepower Did a Kawasaki JS550 Have?
The Kawasaki JS550 produced 36 or 41 HP depending on the model year. (‘82-‘85: 36 HP, ‘86-‘89: 41 HP)
How Much Oil Did a Kawasaki JS550 Hold?
The Kawasaki JS550 didn’t have an oil system.
How Much Fuel Did a Kawasaki JS550 Hold?
The Kawasaki JS550 was equipped with a 3.4-gallon fuel tank.
How Much Fuel Did a Kawasaki JS550 Use?
The claimed fuel consumption of the Kawasaki JS550 was about 4.6 GPH at full throttle.
What was the Fuel Range of the Kawasaki JS550?
The fuel range of the Kawasaki JS550 was about 29 miles (45 mins) at full throttle.
How Fast Did a Kawasaki JS550 Go?
The claimed top speed of a Kawasaki JS550 was 35-37 mph under ideal conditions (’82-’85: 35 mph, ’86-’89: 37 mph).
Did the Kawasaki JS550 Have a Reverse?
No, the Kawasaki JS550 didn’t have a reverse system.
Did the Kawasaki JS550 Have a Brake?
No, the Kawasaki JS550 was manufactured without a brake system.
How Much Does a Kawasaki JS550 Cost?
The asking price of a used Kawasaki JS550 varies between $1,000 and $8,000 depending on the year and its condition.
