Kommander Industries Throwback to the 1984 Kawasaki JS440

Builds

Interview with Dustin Motzouris

SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Originally from South Africa, Dustin Motzouris started spending the majority of the year racing in the USA from 1995 at 14 years of age, he was lucky enough to win a few titles and get picked up by the RIVA Yamaha factory team. Then made his way onto Factory Kawasaki where he got to live the glory days racing for the best team in jetski history.

KOMMANDING THE INDUSTRY

After that Dustin bought a dealership back in South Africa but continued racing in the USA and around the world. 8 years ago however, he made the decision to sell his dealership and move back to the USA to continue racing and partnered in Kommander Industries when it was just a performance shop.

Kommander ended up growing it into a Yamaha dealership which is when they decided to make their own hulls. His parents were generational boat builders with a big factory in South Africa and they allowed him to use that and started producing their first models. Dustin had to learn a lot and made a lot of mistakes in the beginning but figured it all out along the way.

They stuck to it and kept progressing, a huge step was made when Dustin’s brother, Tyron, took the leap and started a standalone factory to build their own standups. With this commitment and the introduction of 4-stroke engines they made the decision to go 110% and throw everything they had at it and the GP1 was created. Since then, they haven’t looked back, the GP1 is still built in their factory in South Africa and they’re lucky enough to distribute them all over the world.

KOMMANDER GP1 1500 / 1984 KAWASAKI JS440

This particular build, a throwback to the iconic 1984 Kawasaki JS440, was a lot of fun for the Kommander team. It was built specifically for a very good client of theirs that has had many GP1’s but wanted the new factory edition. So they used the 1500 Kawasaki engine, Solas 148 pump with custom prop and an ECU tune.

This is a great package, runs on pump gas and will reach 68 to 70 mph (109 – 112kph) depending on water conditions and temperature. The team see it as a privilege to build such an awesome Vintage Kawasaki throwback ski to the true heritage of what we all love to do, and that’s ride stand ups.

For more information on Kommander and their GP1 skis you can contact Dustin and his team here… Kommander Industries.