Yamaha GP1300R Specs and Review [Video]

Home/News/Yamaha GP1300R Specs and Review [Video]

The Yamaha GP1300R is one of the most famous Yamaha WaveRunners in history.

The success story of the GP series started with the GP800 and GP1200 Waverunners, and continues to this day.

Just like other iconic vintage 2-stroke PWCs, like the WaveBlaster or the Sea-Doo XP, the Yamaha GPs still have a large fan base.

If you’re looking for a Yamaha GP1300R for sale, this post is for you.

We have compiled the most important facts and specs into this comprehensive Yamaha GP1300R review!

You may also want to find out the drawbacks of owning a vintage 2-stroke WaveRunner, so that you can make an informed buying decision.

Yamaha GP1300R Review

The first Yamaha GP1300R was introduced in 2003. It replaced the legendary GP1200R and had a completely new engine.

It was called a “musclecraft,” referring to its power and sportiness, and become instantly popular among racers as well as everyday riders.

Although the GP1300R inherited its hull from the 1200R, it was 20 pounds lighter. Aside from this, the hull’s design was the same as the 1200R’s.

This high-performance hull was also reinforced at critical points to give it more strength and durability. The dimensions remained unchanged at 115.4 inches long and 45.3 inches wide.

It performed really well on race tracks, and become one of the top choices for many racers. Although The GP1300R was very nimble and sporty, it was still stable enough, even for recreational riders.

The other key advantage of this hull was that it was less prone to porpoising, which was a constant issue on many earlier GP models.

The Quick Shift Trim System (Q.S.T.S.) and the adjustable sponsons also contributed to better handling, resulting in a customizable riding experience, faster planning, and radically reduced porpoising.

With its lightweight hull and powerful engine, this WaveRunner was designed for wave jumping. Moreover, other sit-down jet ski tricks like spins and donuts were not an issue on it.

Yamaha GP1300 Top Speed and Performance

Regarding the Yamaha GP1300R engine, it was a 2-stroke, 3-cylinder, 1.297cc power source. Just like any other Yamaha marine engine, this power source was cooled with an open-loop cooling system.

To the delight of many fans, this engine was fuel injected. All the earlier GP models featured carburetors, which needed continuous attention.

The other advantages of this new fuel-injected engine were the significantly lower emissions and better fuel economy.

Another great feature on the new GP1300R was called “traction control.” Put simply, it transformed and “smoothed” the WaveRunner’s performance on choppy water and during wave jumps.

When an earlier, carbureted GP jumped out of the water, its engine often bogged down. This is because the fuel mixture in the carbs became too rich while the craft was in the air. This led to a sudden decrease in power when the hull touched the water again.

Being honest, it wasn’t a pleasant experience, as the momentum strongly forced the rider towards the handlebar. Afterwards, the engine suddenly “woke up” and produced an unexpected race-start.

But thanks to the traction control, this wasn’t an issue anymore, as the new engine produced continuous power during every jump. That’s why the fuel-injected 2-stroke WaveRunners were much more popular than the carbureted models.

With this unique power source, the 2003 Yamaha GP1300R offered 165HP, while the second-generation model produced 170HP.

The new GP hit the market in 2005 and not just with a slightly more powerful engine, but the power valves were also dropped. Additionally, the new GP1300R got a redesigned pump as well.

These GPs were also known for their amazing acceleration and top speeds. With the 165HP engine, the stock GP1300R top speed was around 65-67 mph. But with the upgraded 170HP engine and the new jet pump, the 2005 GP1300R’s top speed could reach 69mph, or even slightly more under ideal conditions.

The lower hull weight and the extra 5HP led to an outstanding, 0.26 HP/pound power-to-weight ratio and better acceleration. At that time, it was the fastest production PWC in the world!

The first GP1300R was in production from 2003-2008; the first-generation from 2003-2004, while the more powerful 170HP model from 2005-2008.

Yamaha GP1300R Specs

Let’s move on to the GP1300R specs. For your convenience, we’ve compiled the key numbers into one chart.

SpecsGP1300RGP1300R
Year20032005
Length (in)115.4115.4
Width (in)45.345.3
Height (in)40.240.2
Dry Weight (lb)653655
Performance (HP)165170
Power-to-weight ratio0,250,26
Displacement (cc)1.2971.297
Top speed (mph)6769
Max fuel consumption (gal/h)16.615.1
Cylinders33
Engine stroke22
Fuel capacity (gal)15.915.9
Riders22
Load Capacity (lb)353353

As many Yamaha GP WaveRunners were released during the years, you may want to compare all of them side-by-side.

ModelYearHPPower to weight ratio
GP7601997900.19
GP120019971350.26
GP80019981200.24
GP800R20021200.20
GP1200R20001550.23
GP1300R20031650.25
GP1300R20051700.26
GP1800R HO20171800.33
GP1800R SVHO20172500.24
The evolution of Yamaha GP series

The evolution of Yamaha GP series

We can say that the performance of these flagship models increased heavily over the years. (Don’t forget that the GP1800R HO was marketed as VXR in the earlier years.)

Now let’s move on and compare the GP1300R to its predecessors, the 1200 and 1200R.

Yamaha GP1300R vs. GP1200R Comparison

SpecsGP1200GP1200RGP1300RGP1300R
Year1997200020032005
Length (in)112.6115.4115.4115.4
Width (in)44.145.345.345.3
Height (in)38.240.240.240.2
Dry Weight (lb)525675653655
Performance (HP)135155165170
Power-to-weight ratio0,260,230,250,26
Displacement (cc)1.1311.1761.2971.297
Top speed (mph)58656769
Max fuel consumption (gal/h)1416.916.615.1
Cylinders3333
Engine stroke2222
Fuel capacity (gal)13.215.915.915.9
Riders2222
Load Capacity (lb)352353353353

If you are interested in these vintage 2-stroke WaveRunners, you may want to learn more about the lower-performance models, GP760 and 800.

We did the research and compiled all the GP WaveRunners ever built into one chart:

SpecsGP760GP800GP1200GP1200RGP1300RGP1300RGP1800R HOGP1800R SVHO
Year19971998199720002003200520172017
Length (in)112.6112.6112.6115.4115.4115.4131.9131.9
Width (in)44.144.144.145.345.345.34848
Height (in)38.238.238.240.240.240.246.946.9
Dry Weight (lb)470498525675653655739769
Performance (HP)90120135155165170180250
Power-to-weight ratio0,190,240,260,230,250,260,240,33
Displacement (cc)7547841.1311.1761.2971.2971.8121.812
Top speed (mph)5455586567696767
Max fuel consumption (gal/h)1012.91416.916.615.1nana
Cylinders22333344
Engine stroke22222244
Fuel capacity (gal)13.213.213.215.915.915.918.518.5
Riders22222233
Load Capacity (lb)352352352353353353nana

Yamaha GP1300R For Sale

If you are considering buying a GP1300R, keep in mind that you can only choose from fairly old models. This is because these PWCs were only in production from 2003 until 2008.

If you are looking for a Yamaha GP1300R for sale, you probably want to know where you can still find one.

It would be best if you started your research in the fan groups on Facebook and in online forums. You not only can find tons of useful information about these PWCs under one roof, but sometimes a good deal as well!

But if not, don’t worry. If you do your research, you can still find many Yamaha GP1300R for sale on Craigslist, or other online ad sites like PWC Trader or Boats.com.

Yamaha GP1300R Prices

In general, Yamaha GP1300R prices range from $3.500 to $7.000 depending on their engine hours and condition. These models are arguably the most expensive models in the 2-stroke GP family. It may surprise you that these aged WaveRunners cost the same as a brand new entry-level PWC!

As 2-stroke sit-down PWCs are not manufactured anymore, the market demand for them still exists. That’s why GPs have such a high price!

Additionally, unlike its predecessors, they are powered with the more efficient and reliable fuel-injected engines. This is another factor which pushes the price of the GP1300R upwards.

It sounds incredible, but a heavily modified GP1300R in perfect condition can even cost as much as $10k!

Conclusion – Are Yamaha GP1300Rs Still Worth Buying?

Are the GP1300Rs still worth buying? This is a typical question of many buyers.

One thing is for sure, these 2-stroke sit-down crafts offer an unbeatable riding experience. On the other hand, they are aged, and many of them are worn out. Even if they were very reliable, now they would need much more care compared to a newer 4-stroke.

If you are thinking of buying a Yamaha GP1300R, don’t forget to consider these factors:

Capacities: Beware that a GP is good for solo rides. It has a much smaller hull compared to a new 4-stroke, and easily becomes tipsy if you want to ride it with an adult passenger. It also features a smaller gas tank and storage compartment than most of the newer crafts.

Porpoising: Another problem is the GP1300R porpoising issues. Although the new hull design is much better compared to the old 1200’s hull, it still doesn’t completely eliminate it. The good news is that you can reduce this negative effect with some mods like installing an aftermarket ride plate, trim tabs or other performance parts.

Reliability and durability: Unfortunately, these vintage PWCs require much more work and attention compared to a 4-stroke craft. Even if the latest GPs don’t feature carburetors, many other parts can fail on these old PWCs. If you lack mechanical skills, it will be a pain when you have to fix your ski. Also, keep in mind that their engines are worn out, and an engine rebuild can be an expensive investment.

Costs: Considering these reliability issues, owning a GP1300R may cost more than you think. Beyond the parts and the repair costs, they burn a lot of gas. If you ride at full throttle, you can empty the tank in an hour!

As a rule of thumb, none of the vintage crafts can be recommended for beginners. Because of these concerns, if you are new to this world, we recommend that you buy a newer, 4-stroke non-supercharged PWC. Once you have some experience in riding and maintenance, you can switch to a 2-stroke PWC anytime.

As a final word, if you’ve already decided to purchase a GP, don’t skip the water-test, and also check the compression in the cylinders.

This is our Yamaha GP1300R review. We hope you find it useful!

DISCOVER 2024 PWC MODELS Kawasaki, Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Krash…

DISCOVER MODELS
Discover models
Discover models