Son of Beast reopens at Kings Island

Registration required. ):

From what people have said on the other message boards, they've said the ride has improved to where you actually get airtime on ride. Since I have a Maxx Pass, might have to make a trip down there to try out...plus more night rides on Beast

Air time would be a nice touch ;)

Really? Airtime on a wood coaster at Kings Island?

Perhaps I need to check this out...!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
(context for the link above)

Gee, Dave, I thought you'd be there yeasterday... at least for Strickers!

He was at Strickers

has anyone ridden SOB yet? is it smoother than before . like to see the new version on you tube????

I took a spin tonight. I have to say, overall the ride has been GREATLY improved over the past. The second half of the ride was actually really smooth, including the final low swooping turn that leads to the final drop. You no longer slam into the transitions there. With that said, the Rosebowl is still pretty bad. Again, not as bad as in the past, but it was pretty violent during the bottoms of the drops.

I had read a lot of reports about new airtime on the ride, but I'm not sure where? There was some airtime on the first drop and second drop, but nothing amazing and nothing more than what was already present. The ride is definitely re-rideable at this point. The trains rode much more comfortably than I anticipated.

The ride has been closed for periods of time before only to re-open with similiar reviews. It has a reputation of deteriorating quite quickly though, so I think its a bit early to call the modifications a success.

- Todd

I rode last night also and i do not know if i had a bad ride or what but i found it to be as bad as ever. The jackhammering in the rosebowl was very bad.

My girlfriend swore before that she would never ride again but i talked her into it last night after i told her about all the reviews i read. She has once again said she would never ride again, she hated it!!

No, I don't think you had a bad ride at all. It sounds like the kind of ride that people have been talking about since it opened. Of course, you have your KI fanboys who will say its the greatest thing ever and that all the problems have been fixed. I, too, had serious issues in the rosebowl. I don't think it is *as* bad as it was, but its far from smooth at that point of the ride. What I don't understand is, that was the problem area in the first place.....that was the ONE place I expected to be smooth at least for a short while.

I will say that the run from the block brake back to the station was pretty smooth though. The ride is still just a snoozefest for me all around.

- Todd

Todd, Even the PKI fanboys have swore it off, Or quit defending it.

Chuck

Well, some of them have came to their senses, but there are still quite a few who refuse to call the ride a failure. LOL. Have you been over to ride it yet, Chuck? I'm curious to hear your thoughts after our discussion at HWN. It looks as though they increased the size of the roadwheels on these trains to match those of the old trains. Either way, they are just weird on that ride.

- Todd

They are the old roadwheels as I understand it.No, I have no plans to visit KI again this year. Did it the day after HWN. Might get a pass for next year. Im on the fence right now.

I know I mentioned G train road wheels would never work on it. Im glad they thought so also :)

Chuck
*** This post was edited by Charles Nungester 7/7/2007 9:14:26 PM ***

I was there for a few hours today... mostly to do the waterpark.

I did get my ride on SOB, though.

Other than the nasty jackhammering in the bottom of the rosebowl (on both passes), there has been vast improvement. It's so much better when that train crests the second hill and takes the transition so much smoother. Also, I noticed no bouncing whatsoever on the first drop. The ride felt faster, but since I was in 2-1, I didn't feel any airtime. Then again, it was 10:45 in the morning.

The Wife still hated it, though.