We performance test the supercharged Yamaha FX SVHO and the Yamaha FX HO back-to-back and run VBox numbers to see what the speed difference really is, including acceleration and top speed.

Supercharged versus non-supercharged? It’s a question many Jet Ski riders begin with, even before they’ve set foot in a showroom or hit the water for a test ride.

To help answer that question we’ve lined up the non-supercharged Yamaha FX HO Cruiser alongside the supercharged Yamaha FX SVHO.

Because of shipping delays over the past year or so, it took a while for both of these skis to arrive in Australia.

No sooner had they hit showrooms, they were replaced by 2023 models with new colour schemes.

However, this test is still relevant to the Yamaha WaveRunners on sale as this video was published.

These 2022 editions are identical to the 2023 models in every way except colour schemes.

Both the 2022 and 2023 models have the same stronger hull introduced in 2022, the same top deck and new centre console design, the same engines, the same jet pumps (155mm for the HO and 160mm for the SVHO), and the same upgraded ride plates (5 degree cut on the HO and 3 degree cut on the SVHO).

The intake grates differ from non-supercharged (no 'scoop' grate) to supercharged models ('scoop' grate). However they did not change between 2022 and 2023 models.

While this generation Yamaha FX has been out since 2019, Yamaha made massive upgrades to the 2022 FX series which carried over into 2023.

In this video we will go through current Australian and US pricing for the 2023 Yamaha WaveRunner FX models – supercharged and non-supercharged – and show you the colour schemes for the current models.

We also VBox tested each of these WaveRunners – using super-accurate GPS-based timing equipment – so we can demonstrate once and for all what the speed difference really is.

This video is not sponsored content. We own the Yamaha FX HO Cruiser used in this test. The Yamaha FX SVHO was kindly loaned to us for this comparison by Sydney Watercraft Centre. https://www.sydneywatercraft.com.au.

Time codes:
00:00 Introduction
02:35 Quick recap
04:14 Similarities and differences FX HO v FX SVHO
08:12 Australian pricing
08:53 US pricing
09:38 Ride plate differences
10:30 Jet pump differences
10:50 Performance test
12:04 Performance times FX HO versus FX SVHO