Remake of The Bat? - CoasterBuzz

Does anyone think that with the new Suspended Coaster technology that S & S Arrow could remake The Bat? It seems like most of the problems have been addressed in the future Suspendeds and I fail to see why the company hasn't replicated it.

No order = no replica

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JOHN
RCT INSOMNIACS
KIMBERLY LAKE INC.

Actually, I think they could remake it if they wanted to, but with banking and such so it wouldn't have as much wear on the track. I've never ridden the Bat but Ive heard it was the best.

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http://coasterplace.web1000.com

They certainly could, but with all the selection parks have today, who would want one?

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Never Has Gravity Been So Uplifting.

I figured since everyone who has ridden praises it as they do that maybe a remake wouldnt be such a bad idea.

For the record... I don't think too many parks want to have older-type rides anymore in their parks. They want the latest & greatest like Impulses, 4-D coasters, floorless, & flying.

When was the last suspended coaster made? It had to have been at least 10yrs ago... which means that they aren't exactly #1 on the park's list of future coasters.

I guess the reason being is that they aren't the fastest rides, they're not the most thrilling, and for a ride that has no inversions... they require the OSTR/horse collar restraints which never seemed feesible. Not to mention that they do take up a large footprint, and a decent ride has to have 2 lifts (such as Iron Dragon, and The Bat did).

In other words... it's most likely not gonna happen... even another suspended isn't going to happen, unless S&S/Arrow find a new technology that will make the ride fun, thrilling, new, and popular for any park.

Actually, I see no reason that a suspended would need OTSRs. By their nature they can't pull sugnificant negative G's and none ever built have inversions. That said. Inverteds seem to have replaced suspendeds as under the track coasters.

The Bat was a fun ride that I enjoyed, but I'm not sure how well it would hold up against recent rides. It's appeal was mostly in the fast turns near ground level. Dorney's Talon reminds me of the Bat a lot in this respect, though Talon lacks Bat's trees which added to the sensation.

Actually Roller Soaker was built last year and has lapbar's only.

Other then that Top Gun was built in 1992 as the last one. It is IMO the best ride at PKI and a lot of people agree.

It is short but extrmely intense.

Regardless Setpoint seems to be doing quite well with their Swing Things suspendeds. They have just taken on another form.

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Ah what the hell.....Magnum What?

S:ROS blew me away

*** This post was edited by MagnumForce 4/27/2003 2:00:25 PM ***

You know it's funny to me. Yes, the Bat was quite a coaster to see and experience in it's day. It's constant closures and quick removal has made it the most infamous and most legendary steel coaster ever built.

But what I find amusing is, if the Bat still existed today, most every enthusiast would speak poorly of it. It would easily be considered the worst of the suspendeds among coaster buffs, not to mention the general public.

Here is a good comparison for those so curious about the ride:

PKI's Top Gun has a top speed of 51 MPH.
PCW's Vortex has a top speed of 55 MPH.
Big Bad Wolf caps out at 48 MPH.
Ninja at SFMM hits 55.
Iron Dragon at CP reaches 40 MPH.

The Bat averaged a top speed of 35 MPH. That is 5 MPH slower than what I consider the pokiest coaster at CP... Iron Dragon.

To emphasize it even more...

Rugrats Runaway Reptar Rollercoaster at PKI reaches over 25MPH and Flying Super Saturator reaches a top speed of 30 MPH.

Yes, the Bat was definitely something to see and experience in it's day. However my point is, it has become a legend simply because of it's unique history and the legend behind it. The coaster still has a TON of intrigue surrounding it. But if it still existed today, it would have a ton of empty queues and poor word of mouth.

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Shaggy

Proud A-lister!

Excellent point. I bet Drachen Fire will be the same in 10 years. But, I do bet that the Bat was much better! (I saw it once....never got to ride it :( )

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

I'm not holding my breath waiting for another suspended, but I WOULD like to see someone get Arrow's new "Bodiless Suspended" trains...

http://www.arrowdynamics.com/products/suspended/index.php

(and click the "bodiless suspended" link...)

Short version: floorless suspended trains, but (unlike what Vekoma did with Vampire's new trains)... Arrow's uses the comfy 4th Dimension restraints, and seats 5 to a car (2 in front, 3 in back). Interesting...

A few months back I asked Arrow ( from e-mail address on web site ) why their suspended coasters couldn't do inversions. They're response was that the original design didn't allow for inversions, but they were working on it. Working on it? Hmm......I wonder.....

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Intelligence is a God given gift: Know how to use it.

Yes, their ArrowBatic can :)

The original suspended was itnended to do a corkscrew. The original small scale protype had one, but by the time they build the full scale single-car prototype, is was abandoned. At proper speed it would be fine....BUT....if it was a hair too slow, the results would be catastrphoic. For sure destroying the train/wheel assemblies to some degree, and perhaps passengers too. Every coaster rolls back, and this one would be no different. Too risky!
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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

The old PBS science show 3-2-1-Contact! actually showed that looping suspended in a working model form. Even the model rolled back in the video they showed, if I recall correctly from my hazy youth...

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"I can't believe I just left a nuclear weapon in an elevator." -- Farscape

I love the Ninja at Magic Mountain. The terrain on the hillside couldn't have been more perfect for such a ride. It's the only suspended I have ridden, so I can't make much of a comparison though. I think a suspended built on flat land isn't such a great idea. Ninja also has the coolest slogan of any ride - "The black belt of roller coasters."

Whoa! That bodiless suspended sits three across, huh? So they can also increase the capacity too, where as the one used on Vampire still has that two across seating.

DawgByte II said:

Not to mention that they do take up a large footprint, and a decent ride has to have 2 lifts

I don't know. Top Gun at PKI only has one lift and it's a great model for showing what a suspended coaster can do. It's my third favorite coaster in the park.
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Goccvp1

If I had something inspiring to say, you'd be reading it now.

Three across in every even-numbered row, two across in every odd-numbered row. 5 per car, same as the ArrowBATic.

The idea isn't so much capacity as it is to make it easier to see around the people in front of you. :)

Iron Dragon was a great ride before Mantis was built. The way it wrapped through the woods was spectacular! Even though it is not very tall or fast, I still enjoy it.

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YOUNGSTOWN 2010
*** This post was edited by jkpark 4/28/2003 10:49:09 AM ***

Peabody - Drachen Fire already *has* that same "legendary" status as The Bat. Having ridden DF in its original pre-modified state I can attest that while it certainly was unique it wasn't anything to write home about.

Moosh

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Don't believe everything you think. - bumper sticker seen on 4/19/03

I wrote home about it several times, Moosh. ;)

So to speak.

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-Vater
Have you ridden a Toboggan?