Good buy?

[u/Formal-Negotiation74]

Really just looking at the black one. Its an early 2000 maybe an 01?. Virage TX sti 1200. With just over 100 hours. The red one has some issues. It supposedly will run with a little work, but the owner basically wants to just cut it up and scrap it. So the deal is 2300 for both, and the trailer. The black one runs pretty good. Its got a little bog when you start it, but once you get going it runs great.

Do you think 2300 is a solid deal for these?

[u/TheKrakIan]

Polaris parts are hard to come buy these days, so repairing it if it breaks can be difficult. If it's cheap enough and runs well, then send it.

[u/jfsm2010 → u/TheKrakIan]

The same can be said about any 25+ year old machine. Plenty of obsolete parts on my sea doos

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/TheKrakIan]

Commons misconception. Polaris parts are easy to come by

[u/TheKrakIan → u/CompetitiveYou2786]

Where are you sourcing your parts?

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/TheKrakIan]

Numerous sites but probably the most was a mix of eBay and watercraft superstore. The eBay seller I’m usually getting from is actually a similar setup to watercraft superstore, they just use eBay as a marketplace.

Plus OP has the carbed version, way less preventive fixing. On the injected ones you gotta do a preventive fix to eliminate a fuel pressure regulator from falling in the tank still took only 40 mins

[u/Formal-Negotiation74 → u/CompetitiveYou2786]

Is the sti not fuel injected? Im looking at the black one in the photo. It says "direct injection" on the cowl, but idk much about the polaris

[u/muhbeardy → u/Formal-Negotiation74]

Yes, the black Virage TXI is fuel injected. The very first thing that needs to be done to it (if not done already) is reinforce the fuel pressure regulator. After that, basic maintenance like replacing the spark plugs (NGK PZFR6H or Champion QC10PEP only), oil injection lines and fuel lines, pulling the pump to grease driveshaft splines, and finally greasing the thru hull bearing is about it.

The red Virage TX is carbed. Clean the carbs, and follow the maintenance outlined for the other one and you'll have a pair of good machines.

ETA the red ski requires NGK BR9ES plugs.

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/muhbeardy]

OP! Please don’t run the fuel injected one until you have done this! Or verify it has already been done.
If not done, it’s one wake away from dropping its regulator in the tank, leaning out and melting pistons. Easy fix well worth it!!

https://youtu.be/MoqtQnNpmbU?si=NX9WQTd0vefVEyDP

[u/Formal-Negotiation74 → u/CompetitiveYou2786]

Could this be causing the bogging when first started?

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/Formal-Negotiation74]

Ehhh, could be, could be like half way out and is loosing pressure. Overall with the fuel injected make sure you got pressure. The fuel pumps are surprisingly reliable along with the oil pump but this is an Achilles heal of the fuel system, make sure you do this and that your lines are all good.

If your out on the lake and it fails at higher speed, you won’t notice it really until it’s melted a hole in the piston. That YouTube link I dropped, he basically rebuilt one in worse shape and higher hours, and still answers comments to this day!

[u/Formal-Negotiation74 → u/CompetitiveYou2786]

Well I just got the fuel sending unit out. What a pain in the ass. The reg is intact tho.

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/Formal-Negotiation74]

Id run some sta-bil marine fuel stabilizer and NEVER ethanol on these. its a good cleaner for carb’ed and injected, after some hard runs its a good hold over till the winter service clean, made my genesis with a Dirty carb turn to a first time starter upper

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/TheKrakIan]

Watercraft superstore also has ridiculously fast free shipping. Maybe because we’re both on the east coast🤷

[u/CBCT360]

I haven’t had any issues finding parts for my Polaris Skis and I’ve loved all of them. Mine have been 750 and 780 Fuji Triple cylinder engines though. If these have Ficht fuel injection, just be aware that they’re problematic. Speaking from experience of owning an Evinrude 150 Ficht. High maintenance and finicky.

[u/RobLazar1969]

Trailer is at least $1500. Worth a thought.

[u/tehobsession]

I love the polaris skis!!!

[u/CompetitiveYou2786]

Don’t listen to these arm chair mechanics, there is plenty of Polaris parts still out there, ton of aftermarket support. Thinking price should have been a bit better, I got my two (03 Genesis carbed, 03 MSX 140 injected)
I had to do maybe a day of combined time of work and preventative maintenance, and 300 bucks in parts (new jet pump reseal, bearings, carrier bearing for MSX, MSX fuel regulator fix,) and a new trailer tire + trailer bearings.
Half these naysaying guys have 2025 sea-doos and wouldn’t know how to take a drain plug out the dealer didn’t show them

[u/TreemanTheGuy]

There's a lot of 90s Polaris on my lake. 52 cabins and at least 15 Polaris on the water during the peak season. But they are older. Don't see any virages. It might be tough to find parts for the newer Polaris skis. You should probably look up their specific engines and see if parts are decently available. We have a 1996 slt780 and it seems like parts aren't hard to find, but they made a lot of them. Not sure about the newer ones.

But the trailer must be worth quite a bit, and if it's in good shape, it's probably not a crazy price. Especially if you plan to own two skis

[u/muhbeardy → u/[deleted]]

The black one is a 2001 Virage TXi fuel injected, the red one is a 2000 Virage TX carb.

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/muhbeardy]

Ahhh good spot, lol buddy is in store for a fuel pressure reg reinforcement

[u/Accurate-Soil5772]

Do it

[u/PSN-Angryjackal]

yea good deal. The trailer alone is worth a good amount.

[u/GrooveAttic]

If it runs fantastic! If not, enjoy the process and get her going!

[u/RogueWarrior14]

I see your tags are from California. If you’re near SoCal Watercraft Plus ATV in Huntington Beach still works on these and can find you parts. I had them work on my 00’ Polaris Virage 700 about 2-3 years ago.

[u/wire4money]

No. Do not buy Polaris.

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/wire4money]

Why not? 4 Polaris skis later, all running, through all model generations, all my 780 needs is a carb clean in the winter, and even then it’ll run just a bear to start and have low RPM

[u/wire4money → u/CompetitiveYou2786]

They have bad electrical systems, and are getting hard to find parts for. Good luck if you ever want to sell it.

[u/Dry_Chip_6210 → u/wire4money]

Agreed and definitely dont buy if you arent mechanically inclined, few shops will attempt to repair!

[u/CompetitiveYou2786 → u/wire4money]

some gens are better than others, and if you have basic knowledge of a wire schematic you can get by just fine. If OP can turn a wrench and lay solder, they’ll be fine. Besides that, you’ve got a hull and jet pump. If it has a struggle not worth it, slap a Yama in