2008 Yamaha VX Cruiser Preview

Key standard features and affordability make this entry level PWC a smart buy

Now in its second year of production, the idea behind Yamaha’s VX Cruiser was to build an affordable cruiser that doesn’t skimp on the luxuries everyone has come to know, expect and enjoy from this venerable brand.

Yamaha has obviously found a formula that works with this vehicle, as it was among the best-selling personal watercrafts in the industry in 2007.

“The VX is our entry level line and value product—just don’t get fooled by the word value,” Yamaha’s marine product manager Jean-Francois Rioux told PersonalWatercraft.com. “These crafts feature all the quality, reliability and fit and finish found on all the products that we build.”

The most obvious place to start when looking at any entry-level offering is price. With an MSRP of US$8,399, the VX Cruiser is a lot easier on your wallet than other similar models in the marketplace.

Yamaha’s MR-1 4-stroke, liquid-cooled engine is not the most powerful one around at 1,052cc (110hp), but it is plenty quiet and very good on gas. Electronic fuel injection provides smooth, consistent power and lower exhaust emissions.

Rioux says consumers can expect to see as much as a 30% increase in fuel economy with this model over competitive 4-stroke machines.

Should riders find themselves overturned after, maybe, riding a little too aggressively, a slant detection switch will cut the engine and oil pumps immediately to protect the motor from ingesting water.

Yamaha’s off-throttle steering kicks in when riders cut the gas. That’s a big help when you need to maneuver while slowing down. Also, for those times when you find yourself in a tight spot and turning around is not particularly easy, the VX Cruiser comes standard with reverse.

To protect the VX Cruiser from any unwanted riders, you can activate the Yamaha security system by the touch of a button with the remote controlled transmitter. That same remote can also activate the low RPM mode. Perfect for inexperienced riders, the low RPM mode cuts the top speed by about 30 per cent.

As far as creature comforts are concerned, the VX Cruiser comes equipped with a cruiser seat that provides lower-back comfort for the rider and rear passenger and ample room for a third passenger.

What Yamaha calls a multi-function electronic information center is basically a digital dash. You can get quick reads on speed, RPM and fuel level. It also offers a low fuel warning, a low oil pressure warning, an overheat warning and a check engine light with a self diagnostic function.

The VX Cruiser’s high-compression hull has high-performance sponsons for added stability. For passengers who don’t feel like holding onto the person in front of them, passenger handholds provide an alternative.

If you should decide to jump off the VX Cruiser mid-ride to take a swim, an extra large re-boarding platform makes it a little easier to get back on.

You can store a few smaller items in the glove box, which also has a pair of self draining cup holders. A big bow storage locker is capable of protecting larger items.

All things considered, the VX Cruiser is an impressive entry-level cruiser, especially considering the price. You can find a PWC with more power and more options, but the VX Cruiser is a vehicle to consider if budget is one of your key determining factors.