I haven't been on an upside-down coaster... which ones are smooth?

and which ones would you recommended? I haven't been on one because i don't know if i'll be able to tolerate the headbanging and the headaches that it can cause. help me out people....thanks.

Maybe you are in the wrong hobbie, CoastersAreFun.

I guess you could start with a lapbar-only looper, and work your way up from there. How about Superduperlooper at hersheypark, or Lazer at Dorney? Umm...Revolution at MM, Flight Of Fear's at PKD and PKI, ect.

Sholder harnesses are what your head would bang into on a looper that has something other than vertical loops, like corkscrews or butterfly type inversions.

Study the layout of a sholder harnessed looper so you could better anticapate the directional changes. This way when you ride it, a turn or inversion will not take you by surprise.

Suspended Looping Coasters, or SLCs, are well known headbangers. They have been nicknamed "Hang and Bangs".

Don't be a wimp. At least give loopers a try. I think that most enthusiasts exagerate the pain they feel on a rough coaster. Try it once and if it is too rough, mark it on your track record as having ridden it once, and move on to another.

Just never even consider Son Of Beast.

dexter said:

I guess you could start with a lapbar-only looper...
Just never even consider Son Of Beast.

I find this very funny. :)

FYI, Revolution has OTSRs AND a lapbar. I wish I had a chance to ride it in the pre-OTSR days as I feel they are cumbersome and greatly diminish a good coaster with a great layout.

Yeah is Good!

CoastersAreFun said:
I haven't been on an upside-down coaster... which ones are smooth?

The green ones.

Just find a green coaster, you'll be fine.

(Well, which green multi-loopers are generally considered rough? Off the top of my head, I can't think of one. Seems like a good answer at this point :) )

coasterimage - lordgonchar

I didn't find SFDL's Viper particularly smooth. :)

I would say if you want a smooth looping coaster, ride one that seats four across.

-Nate
*** Edited 8/17/2005 9:08:40 AM UTC by coasterdude318***

what about Medusa at great adventure,is it smooth? scary?

If you don't want head banging try any B&M there the smoothest out there and keep your head off the the back of the seat.

Avoid coasters that have a track that looks like an extended ripcage, they are generally banging.

As Ajrides said, rides by B&M have the reputation of being the smoothest (even though some of them, expecially the standups, also have banging moments).
B&Ms are easily recognised by their square beam shaped spine and 4-across seating.

For the smoothest ride, try to get somewhere in the middle of the train (not front or back, left or right), this way the physics of the ride will work most natural. (Some people like the extra pops and forces you get in the front and back... sitting in the middle can also make the ride a little less exciting)

Generally, coasters are best enjoyed when you get beyond the "omg i think i'm gonna die" point and just enjoy the flying feeling that some of them provide - takes a little leap of faith there.

Medusa is smooth and no coaster is scarey. What park are you planning on going too Coastersarefun?

Thanks,
DMC

I would recommend any Beema. Avoid the "older" Arrows (with the exception of the TN Tornado) unless you love migraine-like headaches. Vortex (PKI), Viper (SFMM), Gasm (Great Adv) are some examples of "YEEOUCH!"

Most SLC's I have been on have been horribly painful (with the exception of the Gauntlet at Magic Springs).

It really depends on your height and tolerance to pain. From my experience the Beemas (usually floorless like Medusa, Batmaninator, as well as coasters like Nitro, Raging Bull, Apollo's....) have been exceptionally smooth. Most of the inverts are quite smooth (Raptor, Alpengeist, Silver Bullet, etc.)

The Anton's aren't too shabby either. ;-) Exactly what park do you have in mind?

-Tina

*** Edited 8/17/2005 1:36:09 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

With the *exception* of Gauntlet....maybe I was on a different SLC at Magic Springs, LOL...sucked as bad as any other SLC as far as I'm concerned...

Beemer floorless models seem to be getting a bit *bouncy*....I wouldn't say ROUGH per se, but not the butter-smooth ride you'll get from most other B&M products...

Than again, I think SFMM's Viper is the smoothest looping Arrow NOT in Dollywood... ;)

I thought Gauntlet was more rough than Kong, which I ride pretty regularly. It surprised me so many find it smoother than typical SLCs...

Smoothest looper I've ever been on is Silver Bullet, but non-standup B&Ms shouldn't be too bad.

Ouch Parker, you HAD to remind me of B&M stand-ups? ;)

I avoid them for the most part, 'cept for Scorcher....and Riddler if/when it has two trains running.

The Georgia Scorcher? I don't remember it being TOO bad, neither was Iron Wolf at Great Am surprisingly.

Riddler's is da bomb. The smoothest "stand-up" coaster I have been on. Chang and Mantis have their days.

Bill, you know how fussy I am, but do you think some of the floorless beemers are ROUGHER than Viper at SFMM? Viper gave me the worst headache I have had since FOF had OTSR's. ;-) I have found all the floorless Beemas to be as smooth as glass.

Must be my height. lol.

The few TOGO stand-ups that remain are ten times more painful than the Beemas IMHO. The one at PCW beat the CRAP out of me, and I had the bruises to prove it. :-)

-Tina

*** Edited 8/17/2005 4:58:41 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

^^ Silver Bullet has to be ridiculously smooth to beat out (release the) Kraken. It's the lick :)

Silver Bullet IS quite smooth, and surprisingly *fun*. I loved it!

The old Batmans are still the most intense Beemas around. Not rough but INSANE.....especially when your feet go numb.

Raptor is getting that way, especially during the final helix. :-P

-Tina

Do you sleep Tina? ;)

It's been said before but definately any Beemer with the exception of Mantis, iron wolf and the occasional batman can give headbanging, but nothing as serious as Iron Wolf. I've found Wildfire, Floorless coasters, and Silver Bullet to be very smooth and completely enjoyable and re-rideable, some of the Batman's aren't nearly as rerideable because they are so intense. Doesn't mean that that is a bad thing, but for fun and reridability Floorless coasters are the best I think.

^Not really, Brian. :-)

Also, Coastersarefun, avoid the old "Corkscrews". There are a few left, but OUCH! Myrtle Beach sold theirs years ago, which was a good thing I guess.

The one at CP I never ride unless I am with a newbie. I can never see CP getting rid of THAT though, it's looks too pretty along the midway. :-)

-Tina

*** Edited 8/17/2005 5:14:30 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Incidentalist said:
dexter said:

I guess you could start with a lapbar-only looper...
Just never even consider Son Of Beast.
I find this very funny.

Funny as in, "I agree and that is ironic", or funny as in, "I disagree and you are a moron, dex. ;) "

I threw this in at the last minute to say that SOB is an exception. SOB is rough for different reasons, but that's another topic alltogether.

I forgot that Revolution now has otsr. I've never really been on it; just seen pics.

(Sorry for abusing the quote feature.)

*** Edited 8/17/2005 7:33:08 PM UTC by dexter***