I fell at this point it is time to speak out. I have 2 Identical GTX SC Limited before any thing was done they were tested on GPS my ski was 64.3MPH out of the box; my wife’s ski was 62.3. At the begining of the summer I put a stage 1 kit on my ski and put the prop that was on my ski on to my wife’s bone stock ski. We have all read the Riva advertisement claming 67-68 mph with the installation of the stage 1 kit. I figured what the hell I’m already doing 64mph it should be easy to do 67 right! NOT.

After the professional install from Riva my first run on the lake in flat water, 5 gal of gas 1/3, and a 180 pound test pilot, water temp 89, air temp 91, was 58MPH at 6300rpm. Remember before the install I was doing 7600rpm. Well let me tell you I was not a happy camper.

I loaded it back on the trailer and went back to Riva. They said they would water test it and see what the problem was, OK. Well the phone call comes and they said cant find a problem maybe the wrong prop was installed and they would order a new one OK.

Pick up the ski a few days later and back to lake we go. 61.8 mph and after about 10 minutes it just fell on its face and got slower and slower. Back on the trailer and back to Riva. Phone call comes “you have a bad super charger clutch” (ran fine before all this) but, it is under warrantee. OK pick the ski up a few days later and back to the lake.

63.4 but took all day to get there. Back on the trailer and back to Riva, I had subjected that the prop had too much pitch so they re-pitched the prop and back to the lake we go.

63.8 went back re-pitched again 64.5 and back to Riva again this time it went to the R&D department where it was there for the better part of a week. Back to the lake we go 64.2mph but now I’m at 7250 to 7300 rpm (still not at 7600 rpm were it should be or any were near 67mph). Now I’m told due to water temps and the hot air temps is why I’m not seeing 7600 rpm and the 67 to 68 mph well then tell me why my stock ski is now doing 64.2 mph at 7600 rpm all day long in the same water and same conditions with the same drive???????????????????????????????????????????????? I don’t buy that bull sh(*^&*(t. Then I’m told the advertisement of 67-68mph is the best of 10 runs on flat water with 1/3 tank of gas on a Wednesday in October with a full moon and mars was lined with Uranus. It’s a bunch of crap if you ask me.

Well now we are at the end of summer my wife’s ski put a betting on me and my stage one kit any day of the week (even when there is a full moon). So now we are going to try putting a stock prop back on and see what happens.

I will say the service manager at Riva is a gentleman and has done every thing in his power to help me. But it is still a very disappointing and expensive experience. And to top it off I have to here my wife every day saying” I told you not to touch it” so hopefully we will get to the bottom of all this. Does any one have any ideas????

Sorry for your misfortune at Riva.

My friend was just at RIVA last week and was told at the parts counter by a parts guy that "We have someone BETTER than TJ!!!

Sooo maybe go back to riva and see if you can get this "someone BETTER than TJ" to work on your boat. I know TJ could make good on all the advertised speeds, so better than TJ should have no problem at all.

If not than get a large jar of vaselene so when UrAnus lines up on a Full Moon, it wont hurt sooo bad.

quote:

I don’t buy that bull sh(*^&*(t. Then I’m told the advertisement of 67-68mph is the best of 10 runs on flat water with 1/3 tank of gas on a Wednesday in October with a full moon and mars was lined with Uranus. It’s a bunch of crap if you ask me.

Hey Jam,

I also have a 04 GTX SC LTD. I also started with the Riva Stage one and our ski's will "NEVER" see 68 MPH for a mere $700. Try closer to $4K and you will get there. I wound up removing everything and the only thing I have left from the Stage 1 is the $100 wedge. I sold everything else. I am not sure why it is advertised that way. Right now I am averaging mid 68's to low 69's and here is what mods I currently have to make it happen:

RR ECU
RR Intercooler
Race Tech Plumbing
PPG Power Pipe
Vortech S/C Impeller
Riva OPAS Block Off's
Riva Sponsons
2 Degree Wedge
Riva Intake Grate
RR HD Clutch Kit
Modified 4" Air Intake to front storage compartment w/mini breather
(Most Importantly) Ditch that Solas that I tried to have repitched twice, I use STOCK prop and turn 8300 to 8350 with no prob

In my opinion, Riva totally abandoned the modification process of the GTX's when the RXT's and RXP's became popular. I was told that the GTX's are previous models and the focus of advancements has moved on to the RXT's and RXP's. Luckily for us that PPG and other expert tuners do not feel that way or we would be finished.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Red Devil,

WOW THANKS THAT IS THE ANSWER I WAS LOOKING FOR I KNOW I WAS NOT CRAZY THINKING THIS IS NEVER GOING TO REACH THESES SPEEDS ADVERTISED AND BUY THE WHY IT WAS NOT $700 IT WAS $1200 WITH THE INSTALL AT $90.00 AN HOUR.

Geeze Jam,

That is some serious labor! Where are you located? You and I could install the Stage 1 in a couple of hours if you are close by. I have done all of my mods myself and saved "mucho" bucks!!

Ya now you tell me!

We're sorry that you are not happy with the results of your Stage I Kit's performance. As related in your post, we have checked your ski out several times to address your performance concerns. The last time the unit was tested at our lake it ran 64.5mph @ 7,500rpm as documented by our service department.

Our print catalog advertises 66~67mph @ 7,600rpm and our web site 67mph @ 7,600rpm. Our testing was performed during our Florida "winter" with average air temps of 70~75°F. Your craft is now being tested under the worst air conditions possible; over 90°F with high humidity. These climactic conditions will negatively affect the performance of any supercharged engine. Cooler, denser air produces more horsepower. This is why Rotax 4-TEC engines respond so well to larger & improved intercoolers such as our Power Cooler Kit.

Our technicians last assesment of your ski was that it was performing well considering the poor air quality (high temp & humidity). We, and you, should expect the ski to perform better as the weather improves and as advertised when fall and winter arrive.

quote:

Originally posted by Red Devil:
Hey Jam,

I also have a 04 GTX SC LTD. I also started with the Riva Stage one and our ski's will "NEVER" see 68 MPH for a mere $700. Try closer to $4K and you will get there. I wound up removing everything and the only thing I have left from the Stage 1 is the $100 wedge. I sold everything else. I am not sure why it is advertised that way.

We've never claimed 68 for our Stage I Kit. 66~67 in our printed catalog and 67 on our site. But never 68.

This ski has never hit 7500 rpm since the stage 1 kit was installed and now it is running as of yesterday 7250rpm and not 1 rpm more as my stock ski with a rider that had 30lbs on the rider of my mod ski put 5 ski lenght on it.I have suggested the last time it was in maybe the SC is slipping again. But we have been down that run before the bottom line is still why is my stock ski running at 7600rpm all day long on the same lake on the same day with the same rider? You still have not answered this question.
Hopefully the stock prop will solve the issue. If not, then keeping the ski stock sounds like a better idea.

Oh and last time I checked 63.7 is not 66-67mph as your catlog clams. And the catalog does not state you will only acheive this speed in the dead of winter.

Jam,

I would really consider putting your stock prop again. For some reason, I have only spoken to one person who has a GTX that has had any luck with a Solas. I wish I could get my Solas working so it isn't being a dust collector, but, I am also tired of paying $90 a pop for a repitch and a "possibility" it will work when my stock prop is already turning the RPM's and MPH's I am expecting.

quote:

Originally posted by RIVA CREW:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Red Devil:

We've never claimed 68 for our Stage I Kit. 66~67 in our printed catalog and 67 on our site. But never 68.

I see RIVA commented on the above statement but not the one below:


In my opinion, Riva totally abandoned the modification process of the GTX's when the RXT's and RXP's became popular. I was told that the GTX's are previous models and the focus of advancements has moved on to the RXT's and RXP's. Luckily for us that PPG and other expert tuners do not feel that way or we would be finished.

I was in the middle of replying to that part separately when my laptop locked up...

We haven't "abandoned the modification process of the GTX's". We've moved on. Just as we do when one model is discontinued and another introduced. This is very common; and not just for RIVA or this industry. We offered as much as we felt the market would take for the GTX-SC. After that even we rely on hop-up shops like PPG to take it further if it's demanded. However, the demand is significantly lower than it is for the newer models making it justifiable to shift our efforts (and money) towards development of products for the newer and more popular models. Just through our dealership alone we've sold more RXT's in their first year than all GTX-SC's combined. That alone is basis enough for our shift in focus.

Thanks for the reply Riva,

I agree that a business has gotta-doo what it's gotta-doo. Like we both know and as you indicated, there are enough suppliers out there to take care of the GTX owners.

Guess I am just a little "touchy" when it comes to my GTX.

No problem. One new product we will be releasing soon that will work with the GTX-SC is our Performance Thermostat Kit. It fits up with all 4-TEC SC engines!

Ok time for an update!

Riva put the stock prop back on a week ago and we whent back to the lake. 1/3 tank of gas our 180lb test piolt and away we whent: 7600rpm ya! but the speed was only 62.9 . As we rode you guest it, it slowed down and rpms fell off. I was going to take it back but katrina came to town, so we rode on sunday. 7250 rpm and 59.5 mph So now we are back to the Super charger problem. But the good folks at Riva are hard at work on the SC. Will fill you in when the SC problem is fixed. ( ps. you would think a company like Sea Doo would address this problem quickly. I guess they are not worried about market share!)