In 2008 a part of the excitement came in the form of the Kawasaki Jet Ski STX-15F. This machine has awesome manuverability and an affordable price tag for most any budget at just over $8,000. This personal water rocket is truly on the leading edge of affordability in the watercraft world.

The appearance of the 15F is very inviting. There is not only plenty of comfortable seating for the driver but there is also enough room for two more. The narrower lead area of the seat makes it easier to move around when aggressive riders want to play hard.

Storage in the 15F is very spacious at 23.5 gallons. The majority of this is in the bow but there are small spots under the seat and also a glove box for the immediate things like sunscreen and a fire extinguisher. The steering bars are well placed for sitting or standing riders and with the LCD dash, seeing all the important stuff like fuel levels, gear position warning lights a breeze. Readings such as the tachometer, speedometer, trip meters and a clock are also available for keeping up with how long you have been having a blast on the water.

KSS or Kawasaki smart steering is an advantage to the operator on this 15F as it monitors steering input with engine speed and should the rider turn full lock without the throttle on, the computer automatically engages the engine rpms to assist in turning the craft. This is another great feature for learning the personal watercraft ropes.

The heart of the 15F takes its developmental roots from the street side of Kawasaki?s freedom machines. The engine in the very popular Ninja motorcycle had set precedence in its own right and would now be used to help propel a new staple in the book of PWC. This massive 1498cc power plant has four cylinders, dual overhead cams and is liquid cooled as well. An impressive 160 horsepower is waiting for the rider who demands it.

The low and mid-range torque is instantly noticed with just a twitch of the throttle and with digital fuel injection the delivery is smooth. The 60mm throttle body helps the 15F respond with crisp, clean acceleration and getting aspiration through the large capacity air box also helps lower noise while allowing better air intake flow.

Setting standards for the PWC community is a goal for the engineers at Kawasaki. One way they succeed at this in the 15F is by using four valves in each cylinder head, effective timing control, precise intake and exhaust valve lift angles on the DOHC cams, which makes the 15F produce less emissions. This setup has earned many awards for low emission and one being the Three-Star Ultra-low emissions rating set by the EPA itself.  There are also a few items included for those who can push open the envelope even when they do not really want to see what?s inside.