Jet Ski Top Speed – How Fast Are Jet Skis?

Jet ski top speed has got to be the most common question I get asked.

The top speed of a jet ski can vary from 40 to 70 mph, depending on the model.

The fastest a stock jet ski can go is 70 mph due to a gentleman’s agreement with the US coast guard. However, jet skis delivered outside the United States don’t always have this 70 mph limit and can often go slightly faster.

The average jet ski speed is 57 mph, but many new riders never go beyond 40 mph as they learn the ropes. Doing 40 mph on a jet ski feels like doing 80 mph in your car and shocks many new riders.

Jet Ski Top Speed Chart

Make	Model	MPH	KPH
Sea-Doo	SPARK 2up 60HP	40	64
Sea-Doo	GTI 90	43	69
Sea-Doo	SPARK 3up 90HP	49	79
Sea-Doo	SPARK TRIXX 2up	49	79
Sea-Doo	SPARK TRIXX 3up	49	79
Yamaha	EX	50	80
Yamaha	EX Sport	50	80
Yamaha	EX Deluxe	50	80
Yamaha	EX Limited	50	80
Yamaha	EXR	51	82
Sea-Doo	GTI 130	52	84
Sea-Doo	GTI SE 130	52	84
Yamaha	VX-C	53	85
Yamaha	VX	53	85
Yamaha	VX Deluxe	53	85
Yamaha	VX Cruiser	53	85
Yamaha	VX Limited	53	85
Yamaha	SuperJet	53	85
Sea-Doo	WAKE 170	55	89
Kawasaki	ULTRA LX	55	89
Sea-Doo	GTI SE 170	56	90
Kawasaki	STX 160	57	92
Sea-Doo	Fish Pro 170	57	92
Kawasaki	STX 160X	57	92
Kawasaki	STX 160LX	57	92
Sea-Doo	GTX 170	58	93
Yamaha	VX Cruiser HO	58	93
Yamaha	VX Limited HO	58	93
Yamaha	FX HO	58	93
Yamaha	FX Cruiser HO	58	93
Kawasaki	SX-R	59	95
Sea-Doo	GTR 230	63	101
Sea-Doo	WAKE 230	65	105
Yamaha	GP1800R HO	65	105
Sea-Doo	GTX 230	66	106
Yamaha	FX SVHO	68	109
Yamaha	FX Cruiser SVHO	68	109
Yamaha	FX Limited SVHO	68	109
Sea-Doo	GTX 300	70	113
Sea-Doo	GTX Limited 300	70	113
Sea-Doo	RXT-X 300	70	113
Sea-Doo	RXP-X 300	70	113
Yamaha	GP1800R SVHO	70	113
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310X	70	113
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310R	70	113
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310LX	70	113

The top speed numbers come from personal experience and research.

Can You Make Your Jet Ski Faster?

You can make your jet ski faster by adding upgrades and mods.

These upgrades vary; some are as simple as reprogramming your jet ski and some require significant work to the engine and exhaust.

To learn more, check out Riva Racing.

Can You Make Your Jet Ski Slower?

Most jet ski models today have speed limiters that allow you to restrict the top speed.

For example, Sea-Doo has an ECO mode that limits top speed to 45 mph.

A lot of models even have a learning mode or learning key that can be programmed from 32 mph to 50 mph. The jet skis that can’t be programmed are stuck at 35 mph.

You also have more modes like Touring that makes the jet ski slower to take off but still gets to top speed. This is nice if you want to cruise and not launch out of the water.

These modes are not new; for example, Sea-Doo has Touring and Sport mode since 2009 and became more available after 2011.

That Doesn’t Sound Fast?

I do get a few people tell me 40 mph or 55 mph doesn’t sound fast.

While 40 mph in your car may not seem fast, on a jet ski, it feels like 80 mph.

I’ve had a few customers new to the sport who won’t go past 35 mph because it’s too fast for them. I remember my first time on a jet ski and being blown away by the pure take-off power.

You don’t have a roll cage around you like in a car, so you hear all the wind noises, and you sit a lot closer to the water, so it feels like you’re going faster than you are.

Don’t let the lower speeds confuse you; all jet skis you get today are fast. Jet ski manufacturers don’t fight over top speed, they fight over 0 to 30 mph and 0 to 50 mph numbers. Every jet ski you buy today feels like it jumps out of the water when you go full throttle! This is especially true for new riders.

I’m Sure My Jet Ski Does 100 MPH!?

I’ve had customers tell me their jet ski does over 100 mph stock.

There has never been a production model jet ski that has done over 70 mph from the factory.

What they’re confusing is MPH with KPH or KM/h.

100 KPH = about 60 MPH

And 60 mph is a standard top speed for many models. 57 mph is the average in the chart at the top.

Yamaha VS Sea-Doo VS Kawasaki

Of the leading 3 manufacturers, who makes the fastest jet ski?

Well, all 3 are capped at 70 mph due to a gentleman’s agreement with the coastguard.

Sea-Doo and Kawasaki are the only ones with 300 HP engines, but the racers love to use Yamaha.

Sea-Doo has the tech, Kawasaki has the bigger engine, and Yamaha has the hull.

Things are getting more interesting since Sea-Doo updated the RXP-X, and Yamaha has made some fine-tunes to the already great GP1800R SVHO. At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to personal preference. The manufacturers lay the groundwork, it’s the racers that do the impressive stuff.