Suspended Coaster Question

I just recently got regular access to the internet and therefore have just recently begun looking at sites dedicated to roller coaster enthusiasts, and I have noticed that while people seem to like Big Bad Wolf at BGW, Iron Dragon (a similar coaster built at around the same time) seems to be almost universally denigrated. I was wondering -- what makes the experiences of these two coasters so different? Is it the theming around Big Bad Wolf? Is Iron Dragon over-braked? (a common complaint about cedar fair parks)

In fact, it is BBW that is braked heavily where it wasn't originally. ID has no trims.

Basically, it comes down to design and location. BBW is a pretty wild ride at times in a unique location with awesome theming. ID is a GREAT family ride. It's a great starter coaster and is a good part of CP's coaster collection.

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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

In other words, Peabody is saying (while trying to defend ID):

Big Bad Wolf goes 55mph and swings above horizontal.

Draggin' Iron goes 35 - 40mph and hardly swings to 45*.

Get it? Got it? Good.

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God wants spiritual fruits, not religious nuts!
*** This post was edited by S00perGIR 5/10/2003 10:59:13 PM ***

LOL. Thanks for the clarification.

Any opinions about other suspended coasters?

Ummm... Top Gun at PKI is really good, fast and intense.

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God wants spiritual fruits, not religious nuts!

Ninja tears all of them apart. Well, it shares that right with Big Bad Wolf, Vampire and Hayabusa.

BBW is one of the greatest coasters I have ever been on. It's all about the swing. With it the coaster is awesome but without swing it's just boring.
*** This post was edited by Colin 5/11/2003 2:17:02 AM ***

Vortex all the way.

The sensation of climbing the mountain, and then flying down to the lake, and swinging over the lake. Awesome.

And the amount of swing at the end? Sweetness

The only one I thought was *tame* was ID....the rest provided at least a few moments of thrill....someday someone will show me why riders on suspendeds require such an enormous amounts of restraint INSIDE the *cabins*....probably not in this lifetime though...;)
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"Like most problems in life, it's nothing that can't be solved with a little bending"...Bender, Futurama

Iron Dragon is tame, yes, but it still is a good family ride and I think it's a good part of Cedar Point. But not all coasters need to be intense and thrilling!
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CCI Lives On!
-Patrick

Check out the Vampire at Chessington World of Adventures, Vekoma supplied some new floorless trains for the ride and they are quite enjoyable.

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Nemesis Inferno - The Pressure is Building!
Rare RollerCoaster Resources - http://clik.to/rrcr

I've been on Iron Dragon, Vortex, Top Gun, and Big Bad Wolf- Top Gun was by far the best with Vortex in a close second. I was very young when I rode BBW however, so if I were to ride it again, my opinions might change. :)

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If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

Both Top Gun and BBW are fantastic. Cedar Point is my home park. But, I rarely go on Iron Dragon. Just not very exciting for me...seems way too tame for me. The speed on Top Gun and BBW are awesome.

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Almost 20 years in A.C.E. Time flies when you're havin' fun! =)

ID at CP is just an entry coaster for younger riders. You have to start somewhere and ID is still fun for all those youngsters. Another reason ID isn't very big is the space concens at CP. I have no idea if they were planning to put in another coaster where TTD is when ID was built but it could have been a thought. If ID was any taller or longer, there would be no room for TTD and who would want that? If you look at the design for the BBW at BG it takes up a ton of land because suspended coasters can't turn tightly. BG built BBW larger because they had room to spare and because they aren't worried about breaking any records for number of coasters. I would rather have ID and TTD where they are now than a bigger better ID and no TTD.

Has ID *become* a coaster Pointers say is just for "starters" and not meant to be a thrilling coaster to defend where its lacking compared to other suspended coasters or did CP advertise and market ID as a family coaster to begin with? Iron Dragon is the fiercest-named family coaster I can think of.

-Danny
*** This post was edited by Koaster King 5/11/2003 4:31:59 PM ***

Actually Rugrats Runaway Reptar at PKI is more fiercer than ID - ;-)

I've ridden Iron Dragon, Ninja, BBW, Top Gun, and Vortex and BBW beats them all (IMO). Great hilly, wooded location, near misses in the German village, the incredible drop towards BGW's Rhine River.

But I will say that Vortex is slightly better than Top Gun because of the climb up Wonder Mountain, dropping over the midway, and the helix over the water.

I wish parks would still consider adding suspended coasters again. I feel they never had a chance to realize what they are truly capable of doing - layout wise.

X Factor

I just wish I could've ridden the Bat in its time. :( Judging from the pictures, I'd say it was one of the best suspendeds ever built. Anyone who's ridden it care to chime in?

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If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

KoasterKing: Kraken sounds pretty fierce to me, no? ;)

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Never Has Gravity Been So Uplifting.

The Bat was truly unique.....I'm just glad that the problems were worked out. The suspended coaster became successful thanks to the trial and error of that furry critter. :) Nice to see one pop up again at Kings Island (not to mention one that takes names!).
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Brad Sherman
The Headless Horseman awaits thee in 2003!
Arrowed!

I had the pleasure of riding The Bat, and it was one wild ride. At the time, it probably seemed more intense than it really was, simply because it was the first of it's kind.

I also enjoy PKI's Top Gun. Fast and smooth. My only complaint is it's length. I wish it were 1000-2000 foot longer! :)

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Pinball and Coasters...Any Questions?