Question about smoothness of older B&M's

Since I have been really looking at Nemesis for different recreations in RCT2 and NL, I was wondering, since this is one of the "older" beemers, how smooth are these older ones? Such as Kumba, Iron Wolf, Nemesis, etc.?

Do they age as bad as the Arrows?

Well 2 of Raptor's trains got new wheels last year and I would say it imporoved the ride considerably, and proably gave me the second best ride of my life late one august wensday. Last month I rode Alpie and it seemed somewhat ruff in comparison especially for being built in 01. I would say they age much better than arrows but then again arrown are not all that smooth in the first place with a few notable exceptions.

I have only been on Iron Wolf. It is still pretty smooth except the corkscrew. If you have ever been on it you know what I mean but it has always been like that.

I have yet to find a "rough" B&M coaster. And I've ridden most of the ones people call rough (mainly Iron Wolf and PGA's Vortex). I think most people are confusing the raw intensity of those two rides with the glassy smoothness (and forcelessness) of the newer B&M's, as it's the older B&M's that are my favorites.

-Nate

Sharpel007 said:
Last month I rode Alpie and it seemed somewhat ruff in comparison especially for being built in 01.

I went on Alpengeist just recently and it was as smooth as glass. Also, it opened in 1997, not 2001.

Well, I can say add Top Gun to the old, rough B&M list... although it (along with Vortex across the midway) has its good and bad days. When you hit either of these coasters on a bad day, there is no denying how bad they hurt. I have been on Vortex though when it is as smooth as RRv and so I think there may be many factors on how these coasters ride.

Another note, the day I rode Alpengeist it was VERY rough through the cobra roll and into the MCBR. I mean rough rough, was very suprised by it and only rode three times because of it. I'm talking about *Top*Gun* rough here.

So now everyone will chime in saying they have never been on a rough Top Gun.

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I couldn't agree with you more, Nate. The two Paramount B&M standups are actually on my "most wanted list". If they're anything like Iron Wolf, I won't be let down.

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*** This post was edited by BullGuy 4/17/2003 12:08:52 AM ***

Sorry, got mixed up with apolos chariot

The one and only original B:TR is running as smooth as ever despite being 11 yrs old.

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Summer 03-CP, HP, Canobie, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.

the chariot was built in 99, nitro was built in 01

GoliathKills said:

Another note, the day I rode Alpengeist it was VERY rough through the cobra roll and into the MCBR. I mean rough rough, was very suprised by it and only rode three times because of it. I'm talking about *Top*Gun* rough here.

So now everyone will chime in saying they have never been on a rough Top Gun.

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I agree that Alpengeist's cobra roll was certainly "jerky," but I didn't think it was rough at all. In fact, I liked it since it added to the intensity. The MCBR is also a bit rough but that's only due to the sudden decrease of the train's speed, and has nothing to do with the roughness of the coaster.

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Backhand, who thinks signatures like this are redundant

Batman at SFGAm was built in their thrid year of production, and runs liek a charm.

Iron Wolf, on the other hand... Personally, the last time i rode it, I came off thinking that Shock Wave was less painful. That, despite at leats one major attempt at curing the rides' ails. I still like the ride (Shock Wave never really bothered me that much), but it is the roughtest steel ride I've ever been on. That's just in my opinion, though.

On the other hand, the last time I rode Mantis, it was about the age IW was at when it started getting rough. Mantis was still intene and slightly painful, but not rought. Put that together with Batman, and I'd say that B&M have worked out whatever issues they may have originally had with aging.

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I agree ee that Alpengeist's cobra roll was certainly "jerky," but I didn't think it was rough at all. In fact, I liked it since it added to the intensity. The MCBR is also a bit rough but that's only due to the sudden decrease of the train's speed, and has nothing to do with the roughness of the coaster.

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Backhand, who thinks signatures like this are redundant

Ditto, there is always one jerk to the right and then one to the left on the cobra roll but it is not "ear bleeding" bad like the ones that occured on, lets say, Drachen Fire. Those gentle bumps (when prepared for them) can be avoided and does nothing to ruin a great ride

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Summer 03-CP, HP, Canobie, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.

Alpengiest IS as smooth as glass. But it is VERY intense and that is why you might think its rough but its really not.

If Vekoma had a ride just like Alpengiest you'd prolly be braindead.

Raptor is very smooth and still very fun along with Kumba.

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Personally, I find that the stand-ups DO in fact age poorly....the inverteds seem to do MUCH better....could be *just me*...;)
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There are 2 different types of roughness. Arrow roughness throws you all over the place and makes your body hurt in places you never knew existed. B&M roughness is a lot less severe, but enough to let you know that something is off. I rode a rough Great Bear at Hershey once and I'd prefer to ride that 100 times rather than ride a rough Arrow just once.

Nate's got it right, no B&M is actually "rough"...when riding older B&M's, some people just expect to sit there and not feel anything, like many newer B&M's. Iron Wolf is one of my fav. stand-ups, and Vortex at Carowinds isn't rough by any means...they're intense, not rough, people.

coasterdude318 said:
I think most people are confusing the raw intensity of those two rides with the glassy smoothness (and forcelessness) of the newer B&M's

I was as surprised as anyone about the roughness of Vortex. It wasn't just intensity, but quite a bit (not constant) headbanging. Every other B&M I've been on has been the usual smooth, so I really don't have any ideas about why this particular one was rough. I'd easily give it another chance, though.

And just to let you know, Top Gun, Demon, and Invertigo were all smoother. ;);)

The reason why people think Iron Wolf is rough is because of the harness. They changed them a couple of years ago and now they come up over your head, and your head fits in there pretty tight . When you go through the turns you head wants to move and all it can do is bang up against the harness. I bet if they changed the harness back it would not be as rough.
*** This post was edited by KrazyKoaster 4/17/2003 11:25:04 AM ***

Raven_Rider said:they're intense, not rough, people.

No, no, no. How can that be true? I've been on intense B&Ms (Nemesis, Mantis etc.) that were certainly not rough.