Ride Plate recommended for NON RACE 1100 ZXi

[DooWriter]

What ride plate do you have personal experience or personal knowledge about, for a recreational (NOT RACE) 1100 ZXi that porpises on almost anything other than glass conditions?

Will it help significantly in 1' chop, or will that require a new grate?

I don't need to go faster.

I would like a little more straight-line stability at WOT.

[cbeastwood]

Search E-Bay for "ZXI ride plate". There's an Ocean Pro on there for sale right now. I have one and swear by it.

- Craig

[DooWriter]

Craig,

Did you change to the Ocean Pro from stock, or did it come on the ZXi (do you know how bad the ride was with the stock plate)?

I don't want to wait for a week and "maybe" get the bid. Do you have a web site for Ocean Pro, or someone who sells the product?

[DooWriter]

http://www.wavetech1.com has R&D ride plates at 10% off and FREE shipping.

Examples:
Kawasaki 750/900/1100ZXi Pro Series WV12175500
$91.95 - $9.20 = $82.75 + $0.00 (yes ZERO)
S&H

Denis Kirk
$90.99 + $__.__ S&H

http://www.rd-performance.com/search_result.asp

121-75500 KAW. 750/900/1100 ZXI PRO SERIES PLATE $94.30 + $_.__ S&H

[DooWriter]

OOPs!!

Slight error on my reading of their site.

NO shipping, but $5.50 handling.

My cost = $88.26 shipped UPS ground

[cbeastwood]

Yes, mine came with the original ride plate and the handling was a joke. The extended ride plate completely tamed the bouncy-bounce.

- Craig

[Paul Zxi n XP]

I have only tried the R & D plate. The ocean pro looks interesting, and i feel, due to its design it will track a straighter line than the R & D. It even got to the point that i made my own rideplate and even modded my hull!!! :D

I extended my Steering nozzle myself, as per Performance Engineering specs. You can contact James Crone to give you the best advice. He is the ZXi God!!! Try www.performance-eng.com

Another thing if noticed is that the porpoising occurs at around 25-30 mph. What i usually do is just ride it out till i get faster speeds. However this may not be practical.

Weights up front might help, but they will surely slow you down.

My suggestion is:
1. go with an extended nozzle first (test it after)

2. rideplate

3. Intake grate

this will surely help you tame your ski down.

[DooWriter]

I ordered an R&D ride plate, and should get it by Monday.

If it keeps the bow down, the next thng to find out, is will the pump stay loaded in 6" - 1' waves. If it doesn't, I'll be looking for a new intake grate.

Does anyone know how Kawasaki was able to manufacture something that handles so bad? Is it just the 96 model? Was the hull used for a model with a lighter weight engine?

I know someone with a 98 1100ZXi, but can't get together to see how his drives until the end of the month.

[cbeastwood]

I had the R&D ride plate and liked it, also. It was about 1 inch shorter than the Ocean Pro, and had a flat bottom instead of the inverted tunnels of the OP.

I noticed that it would break loose in turns. If you know how to ride the ZXI, you'll probably like it more because you can spin it out easier with the R&D than with the OP. But this is my fiance's machine and I didn't want any surprises for her.

- CBE

[cbeastwood]

Doo,

One other thing - you asked how Kawi can make such a crappy hull - well, to my knowledge they are STILL making that hull - I think the 1100 ZXI is still in their lineup with the identical hull. I don't know if it's as bad, though, but I'm almost 100% sure it's the same hull - a local dealer has one for sale.

- CBE

[Paul Zxi n XP]

Its a crappy hull, that why i modded my hull... now its a dream!!!

[Kamakazi Kid]

What did you do to your hull?