"Forceless" Beemers, and why we love 'em all

There has been a group of citizens that have recently been brain washed into thinking that the "Forceless" Beemers are crap. Well here is a love thread for ALL Beemers because they truly are coaster design marvels.

The big accentuated loops that give little positive G's and big hangtime, to the 'snap' of the flatspins and in-line twists, to the sraight or curved drops that still put your heart in your throat even if it is 'tame' compared to Intamin monsters.

This is for all of us that would like to say "Silver Bullet is actually a good ride" and "Superman Krypton Coaster is a top ten!" Why is everyone focussing on how weak some of the newer beemers are, when they have an undeniably high FUN factor that the Intamin's don't.

Note: I am not Intamin bashing, just B&M loving.

I've never met a B&M inverted I didn't like (even if Alpengeist is too big, it's still fun). Apollo's Chariot is still my favorite hyper. They could put a Batman clone on every street corner and I'd ride every one of them.

There's my love for the day.

[singing]Nitro will help you get your Z's[/singing]

Huh? Oh. Sorry, just passing though. Don't mind me. :)

We never do......

LOL, that was kinda funny.

I've never met a B&M I didn't like. I have, however, gotten to know some better, and I can't stand them after seeing their unflattering, moody personalities.

I love Alpengeist, I just went on Great Bear here in Hershey and I was yerning for Alpengeist! I love that ride! I really do miss Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

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Jeff said:
I've never met a B&M inverted I didn't like (even if Alpengeist is too big, it's still fun). Apollo's Chariot is still my favorite hyper.

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Raging Bull kicks some serious ass too, I liked it way better than Millenium force, even if the trim is on REALLY heavy on the third hill you still get insane airtime in like 8 spots on that coaster, compared to Milleium Forces measly 4 airtime spots, 2 of which sucked...... *** Edited 8/3/2005 5:30:58 PM UTC by coasterkid16***

coaster design marvels.

Agreed.

big accentuated loops that give little positive G's and big hangtime

Yep...cool, love 'em!

the 'snap' of the flatspins

Oooh, sorry...now you're losing me. That snap can be a real pain in the neck and the only pain-free flatspins I've encountered were on Silver Bullet.

in-line twists

My favorite B&M element...I call it the "Kumba-thingy" because it was the first B&M coaster to feature that design. In fact Geauga's Dominator ranks low in my opinion due to the lack of a "Kumba-thingy"...or, as I say: "No Kumba-things, no love!" LOL!

undeniably high FUN factor

For the most part I agree with you. There are only a few B&M coasters I truly don't enjoy [PCar's Vortex is one that comes to mind]. Even Nitro, which I find a total snooze-fest, is fun...but its lack of forces leave me wanting more. I think the most disappointing model they have is the Flyer...I've ridden all three in the US and other then the pretzel loop find them a total bore.

that the Intamin's don't

Other than Volcano, which I thought was only "meh" I can't think of a single Intamin that isn't just as fun as a B&M.

I think the thing to love most about B&M coasters is that they are extremely reliable.

Amen to the Vortex comment.

I do agree that Intamin coasters are just as much fun. I haven't actually met one I didn't like. Of course, I have met some that don't run reliably, but I've never met a closed B&M.

Moosh, as I was trying to say (didn't really clearly, which I appologize for) I love a couple of Intamins and actually currently Xcelerator is my favorite steel coaster out there, I just Simply love it. I find the intamins to be very fast, intense, and energetic it just seems to miss that fun factor. With intamin I find myself thinking "This is insane or amazing" unlike the Beemers where I usually think "This is flippin' cool!". The Point I'm trying to make, Beemers do not get the heart pumping like most Intamin's but they are just so relaxing and stress free which is a great thing since even the heart pumping forces of the intamin is a sort of stress, a good stress, but a stress none the less.

I think enthusi-asses are the only ones who have a hard time admitting to liking B&M and even then I don't think it's nearly as widespread as it sometimes seems.

The B&M's are just so darn accessable. They're the everyman's coaster. Anyone from the timid first timer to the hardened enthusiast can find something along the way to like and feel accomplishment over.

How can anyone argue with that? They're the coaster equivalent of non-offensive, middle of the road top 40 music. The 'cool' ones won't admit they like it, but they're singing along alone in their cars.

P.S. I also have some resentment to the reliabilty factors of the Intamin's, granted they think more outside the box then Beemer but at least you should try NOT to throw people out. And to go on Record, I actually pretty much hate All beemer stand up coasters other than Georgia Scorcher......

And in this case 'Cool'='Idiot'.

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Lord Gonchar said:
I think enthusi-asses are the only ones who have a hard time admitting to liking B&M and even then I don't think it's nearly as widespread as it sometimes seems.

The B&M's are just so darn accessable. They're the everyman's coaster. Anyone from the timid first timer to the hardened enthusiast can find something along the way to like and feel accomplishment over.

How can anyone argue with that? They're the coaster equivalent of non-offensive, middle of the road top 40 music. The 'cool' ones won't admit they like it, but they're singing along alone in their cars.

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That is without a doubt the smartest coaster related thing I have ever heard!

Yeah, Gonch is smart like that. Hot, too ;)

So B&M's are like that new Backstreet Boys single that sounds a little bit pop and little bit grunge...and was a pretty good tune until I found out who sang it...?

...aghh...throw me into the camp that thinks all B&M's are fun! I still like that new Backstreet Boy song!

but wasn't batman the ride the first to have one?

Yes, you're correct. Thanks for catching that.

^^ I have to agree.

I also agree with Moosh's comment about reliability. Chances are, that when you got to a park that has a B&M, that it will be open and running, most, if not all, of the day. When a new Beemer opens, they usually open with few glitches as they are a tried and true design that has been implemented in many parks.

Intamins are really about pushing the envelope and always bettering their product at the expense of reliability. Beemers give the public the same wonderful thing they have been giving parks since Iron Wolf first opened to the public. People love them and thats why parks buy them.

One last thing is that Beemers tend to be people eaters. Capacity with a well run crew and running all trains can outpace most rides in a park and add to the overall capacity of the park.

Now, onto the beemers I like:

Nitro: I used to love Raging Bull and was a huge fanboy, but Nitro won my heart the first moment I rode it. Yeah, the Speed coasters can be sleepers, but Nitro still threw you around a bit and reminded you that it was a high speed thrill machine.

Batman: Like Jeff said, clone em and throw em in every park. I'll ride em all. Great, tight layout with lots of G's and nonstop excitement from drop to brakes.

Kraken: First floorless I rode and the one I judge all the rest by. I have yet to find a floorless that is so well laid out and as fun as Kraken is. Short lines everytime I go doesnt hurt either.

As said before by several different people Beemers are the perfect coaster for a park that wants to attract a big crowd, and be able to let the thousand people in line ride it in half an hour. Some of there coasters just have blazingly fast moving lines, you hardly stand still, then others don't but I think that depends on the crew and if someone is to big to fit.......

I've always loved Beemer seats. Can't feel uncomfortable in those things. I've also always loved the unpainted rail concept.

One complaint, however: the prevalence of Beemers has led to rampant GP misconceptions about which rides seat four across, and which seat the traditional two. I'm always annoyed by the group of five or six who want to "sit together" on some ride.