Vekoma/B&M Questions - CoasterBuzz

I Have recently taken an interest to more then just riding coasters.I am now finding a huge interest in everything else about them and,i have learned quite a bit from all of you here at CB.My questions may seem dumb to all of you but i do have alot to learn and,i'd be greatful to anyone who wants to give me some insight.My questions are,#1,are all Vekoma coasters only two seats wide as opposed to B&M's four seat wide designs?#2)Does B&M in fact have coasters out that are less then four seats wide? Is this what makes B&M smoother or is it more then that?I haven't been any further then PA as far as park trips so,i have been limited to SFgadv and Dorney not to mention all the boarwalk stuff so,i don't think i've ridden as big a variety as even half of you have.I am also hearing from some critics(not particularly from CB) that they don't really care for the huge smoothness of B&M's.I am not being sarcastic but,why would this dissapoint people?I can tolerate rough rides very well but,i do prefer a smoother coaster myself.
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Rickyswmn

1) Yes
2) B&M did the trains on Physclone @ SFMM, they are 2 seats across. The reason B&M's are smoother is because all wheels are in contact with the track at all times.

To me roughness gives me a better feel for the coaster, it makes it a more personal experience for me...
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Drachen Fire, Will it be swimming with the fishies?

Vekoma's Flying Dutchman's have 4 accros seats.And the Hammerhead stall has 4 and 3 and 2 accros seats.

Thuur Crompvoets
Http://www.vekoma.8m.com
Vekoma@europe.com

Mindbender, Deja Vu is built by Vekoma, and they have 4 across seating. I think those 3 are the only coasters by them with 4 across.

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V2, Deja Vu... how can it be better? Add Viper! Oh, wait. It's already there!

Déjà Vu has 2 across.But the seats are in a row of 2.So it looks like it has 4 accross.

T. C.
Vekoma@europe.com

Batman: The escape, Flashback(SFMM), and Superman The Escape are Intamins, and feature 4 across seating.

I love the B&M smoothness. Medusa West is my personal favorite looper.

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"X" marks the spot in 2001!

I believe all except S:TE were designed by B&M when B&M worked for Intamin

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Six Flags Worlds of Adventures opens May 4, 2001 at 5:00 pm. SFWoA 115 years young in 2003.
"I dress myself" Ralph Wiggum

The psyclone trains are B&M and are only two across. Now thats really being awkward but it's a fact.

Rickyswmn said:
"I haven't been any further then PA as far as park trips so,i have been limited to SFgadv and Dorney not to mention all the boarwalk stuff so,i don't think i've ridden as big a variety as even half of you have."

Why not go to SFA it's close enough SFGAdv and it's good.
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What is life with out coasters, geniuses, and/or SFA

I love the smoothness of B+M's 4 across trains. Medusa East, Hulk, and Dueling Dragons are some of my top coasters. I'll be riding Kraken on Wed. and from what I hear, it's one of the best coasters in Florida.

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"When they come for me I'll be sittin at my desk, with a gun in my hand wearing a bulletproof vest!"
-Catch 22

Why not go to SFA it's close enough SFGAdv and it's good

I have planned to take a trip there this July actually.I am really looking forward to seeing another six flags park.Is this your home park?

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Rickyswmn

Hey Rick,
I believe there are two reasons why B&M's are oh-so-smooth:

1. The wheels are spring loaded, as well as the articulation for the wheel assembly as a whole.

2. B&M goes over every 36 inches of track, until the entire ride (in 36 inch parts) have been calculated to give an extra smooth ride.

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Jes
Webmaster, Jes's Roller Coasters
http://www.jesms.cjb.net

MindBender said:
...The reason B&M's are smoother is because all wheels are in contact with the track at all times.

Unless there is some sort of special shock absorbers or articulation that the B&M trains have that other wooden stock doesn't have, I would imagine that the roughness was due to the track...

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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.

The roughness on Arrow coasters is caused in large part by the train skipping across the track and then slamming around inside the track on turns. The smoothness of a ride has more to do with train design than track design. Headbanging, though, I believe to be caused more by bad track design. This is why I am afraid that Phantom's Revenge will not be very smooth as they are keeping the chasis from a poorly designed train. We will have to ride it to find out though.

I think B&M's 4 across seating than Vekoma's 2 across seating. For example, let's compare both of their inverted coasters styles. B&M's 4 across seating works with inverted coasters becuase the coaster flows faster and smoother. Vekoma's 2 across seating does not work with inverted coasters because the coaster flows more slower and their is more hang-banging, which is something that most inverted coasters likt myself do not like. I think coaster compainies like Vekoma and Intamin should follow the B&M example of 4 across seating on all their coasters. 4 across seating, I believe, has got more popular in the last couple of years.

I disagree that it's more train than track design. Arrow rides have traditionally had fixed radius curves, or segmented fixed radius curves. Parabolic curves, found on Intamin and B&M rides, gradually start and end curves. If you think about it, this is how you turn your car when you drive to work. You don't suddenly start turning, but that's precisely what an old Arrow ride does.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com