[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "back%20in%20the%2080s%20we%20had%20small%20stand-up%20jet%20skis%20which%20were%20light%2C%20highly%20maneuverable.%20do%20models%20like%20this%20still%20exist%20or%20are%20they%20mostly%20large%203%20person%20watercraft%20now%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Yes \u2014 stand-up jet skis like the ones from the \u201980s *do* still exist today, but they\u2019re much less common, and most of what\u2019s out there are heavier or more specialized than those earlier models. Here\u2019s how today\u2019s landscape compares:\n\n---\n\n## What made \u201980s stand-ups special\n\nIn the 1980s:\n\n- Stand-up jet skis were lightweight, often two-stroke engines, designed for one person.\n- Maneuverability, freestyle tricks, jumps \u2014 those were their strong suits.\n- Examples include early Kawasaki JS series, stand-up Yamahas, etc.\n\n---\n\n## What\u2019s still around now\n\nWhile the majority of PWCs (personal watercraft) today are sit-downs (often carrying 2-3 people or more, with broader hulls), there *are* modern stand-up models \u2014 basically niche market, competition or freestyle focused. Some currently active examples:\n\n### Yamaha SuperJet (2021-present)  \n- Completely redesigned in 2021. A four-stroke, inline three-cylinder 1,049cc motor. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_SuperJet?utm_source=openai))  \n- Weight around 375 lb dry. Still commanded by a standing rider, lighter and more agile than a 3-person runabout, but not \u201cultra-light\u201d. ([supremarine.com](https://supremarine.com/post/2021-yamaha-superjet-stand-up-jet-ski/?utm_source=openai))  \n- MSRP ~$9,499. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_SuperJet?utm_source=openai))\n\n### Kawasaki Jet Ski SX-R 160 (also referred as SX-R 1500 in some earlier models)  \n- One person, stand-up PWC. Four-stroke, ~1,498cc engine. ([content2.kawasaki.com](https://content2.kawasaki.com/ContentStorage/KMC/Products/8146/pressRelease/2021-Kawasaki-Jet-Ski-Lineup-Press-Release_8_27_20.20826122219.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n- Hefty weight \u2014 over 550 lb in some specs. Length, width, etc. much larger than old \u201980s skis. ([baysidejetdrive.com](https://baysidejetdrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-jet-ski-sx-r-160-en-us-spec-sheet.pdf?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## How they differ from the \u201980s classics\n\n- **Weight & size**: Modern stand-ups are heftier, largely due to stricter emissions regs, safety requirements, and more robust four-stroke engines. The old two-strokes and fiberglass hulls were very light and minimalistic.  \n- **Power vs. torque**: The newer models give more usable torque and better fuel efficiency (especially with four-strokes) versus the high-rev two-stroke powerbands.  \n- **Features and compliance**: Modern skis have better braking, handling, safety, reboarding aids, regulation compliance. All this adds complexity and often weight.\n\n---\n\n## Are ultra-light, purely minimal stand-ups still made?\n\nNot really in the way the \u201980s skis were. If you want something small, nimble, you\u2019ll mostly be looking in the vintage/used market for original two-stroke stand-ups. The newer stand-ups try to strike a balance: better emissions, structural safety, durability, but that means some compromises.\n\nManufacturers and articles confirm that stand-ups are now a niche: Boatsail Magazine says there are only \u201ca handful\u201d of dedicated stand-up PWCs in production. ([boatsailmag.com](https://www.boatsailmag.com/boating/stand-up-jet-ski/?utm_source=openai)) Also, in 2025, production volumes for stand-ups represent only a small fraction (much under 10%) of total PWC sales. ([wifitalents.com](https://wifitalents.com/personal-watercraft-industry-statistics/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## Bottom line\n\n- If you loved the feeling of those old \u201980s stand-ups, **yes**, you *can* still get something similar \u2014 Yamaha SuperJet or Kawasaki SX-R are probably the closest.  \n- But expect something larger, heavier, with fewer raw edges than the two-stroke machines of that era.  \n- If you want something almost exactly like the old ones, you\u2019ll likely need to go used or vintage.  \n\nIf you like, I can pull up a list of **stand-ups in current production** and how they stack up with the \u201980s models in terms of weight, engine type, cost. Would you want that?"
    }
]