Who has ridden Flashback at SFMM?

I recently saw some photos of Flashback at SFMM and was wondering what it was like to ride. I never hear anything about it but I read it's a one of a kind design. I also never hear anything about Ultra Twister at Astroworld. Are these coasters worth riding?

Well it should be a great ride. But poor maintanance and horrible trains completely ruin the ride. I love the tight, compact, twisting layout of Flashback, but find it tough to re-ride because the seats, restraints and train are just too uncomfortable. While it is a one of a kind ride, I'm afraid I have to give a thumbs down to the ride. And omg it needs a serious paint job. If they get new trains for it and maybe enclose it, we're talking about a whole new ride.
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"Time flies...Whether you're having fun or not". -Mary Engelbreit.
*** This post was edited by DWeaver on 12/12/2001. ***

*** This post was edited by DWeaver on 12/12/2001. ***

I've been on Flashback several times and cannot give you a consistent thumbs up or thumbs down. The first time I rode it, I believe it was called Z-Force at SFOG. From what I can recall, it was an incredible experience because the concept was so much different than other coasters at the time (and might still be). However, I've been on it at SFMM many times and have either been sick the rest of the day from the head bashing the OTSR's gave me or felt fine (I followed directions and kept my head snug against the headrest). Basically the ride is a box shape. You go up the lift hill and travel a few feet and then go immediately into a hairpin dive. The best example I can give you is to hold your hand straight out and then drop it almost straight down and curving to the left or right. This is what most of the ride is like. There is one instance that I can recall where you are traveling straight and then actually go upwards. The ending of the ride is a pretty solid 360 degree turn series and then back into the station. Sorry to carry on like this, but here's my take. Go on it if you have the chance because it is a neat experience and a cool ride. But, keep your head planted against the rest. I think the only thing keeping this from being an excellent coaster would be lap bars instead of OTSR's. Afterall, there aren't any loops and only hairpin turns. But that's for another topic...

p.s. Coasterbuzzers: please correct me if any of this is incorrect. Thanks!!!

I rode this coaster back in 1997.I remember it being rough riding as I bit my tongue on it.I did not like the trains on it.The OTSR bashed my head and I didnt' care for the 4 across seating.(restricts the view too much)Even at that,this coaster was alot more fun to ride then anything we have here in Oregon.I could see wild mouse type cars on this coaster as the layout reminds me of a mouse coaster

I rode it back when it was Z force. I thought it was very unique then, but I was shorter, so I did not get banged around as much.
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- Peabody

Same here, Peabody. Rode it the year it opened (88), thought it was all that. Rode it at Magic Mountain and was shaking my head afterwards.
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Dayuum, Your HOT!

Like most others, I have ridden many times and just dont know why I put myself through it. I rode it when it was new at SFMM, and it was OK. More recently when I ride it, I find myself going to the gift shop for some Excedrin. While I DO like the actual sensation of the hairpin drops, the ride is SOOOOO unbearably brutal that you just cant enjoy it. There is a reason that it is a one of a kind design. It's not worthy of reproduction. Hopefully, the rumors of re-vamping it are true. I would love to see this ride made into something that is actually rideable. As it is now, SFMM rarely even operates it, because most people come off of it complaining.
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My other car is a Giovanola!

I rode it once when it first started operating when I was there. I loved it. It was a one of a kind experience. It was very rough with horrible trains but i loved it. I went in like 1998

Whenever Flashback is open, I ride it a few times - I love this ride.

I have found that I can ride it comfortably when I do the exact opposite of the way they instruct you to ride it. I lean into the shoulder restraint, using it as a stabilizer for the entire front of my upper body. I then wrap my arms around the sides of the restraints, to have full stability. This way my neck and head can be kept easily between the shoulder bars instead of banging them. I find that putting my head back is really bad - it just binds me with the vibrations and jolting motions of the car.

I'm about 6', 1" tall, so that also might have something to do with my riding technique. It seems like if you are shorter it wouldn't work the same.

There is no other roller coaster that I know of that has the same amazing feeling as I get on this. As you dive straight down with a twist, you feel the intense force from the weight of the car suddenly jolting downward. This feeling has a lot to do with the shape of the car, since it is in the shape of a block instead of a long train. The back seat on the sides give the full effect.

If they could modify the cars without a shoulder restraint it would obviously improve it's comfort. I'm always scared though that they will just scrap it instead of fixing it up, since people are always complaining about it.

Being a passholder, I don't ride everything all the time, but there are rides at M.M. that I would always ride if they are open - this is one of them! The others I don't miss by the way, are Goliath, Batman, Riddler, Superman, Freefall, and Déjà vu. I know that these aren't all rides that everyone would pick, but they're my personal favorites... I'm sure X will be added to that list too.

Lets just say it needed improvement when it was brand new at SFGAm.
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""An hour wait for a 2 minute thrill. Yes, we need our heads examined""

The back seat full left side is the best seat ever on this ride. You get the most out of the diving turns and also there is suports or beams that the train dives right next to and it looks like its gona be a headchopper on some of the turns. Its a great ride in my book, but you need coaster riding technique to get a good ride though. weather you plant your head against the headrest or lean forward. do whatever you need to do the get the most comfortable ride. I love this ride and when ever i go to MM i always have a mini marathon on this ride, cuz no onelikes it and a line is practically non exsistant all day. But if you want a head banging back breaking ride, then ride the front seats, it almost impossible the get a good ride up there. Just go and try it for yourself. You will see what i mean. SO i always ride in the back. overall i give this ride two thumbs up. If I had room in my backyard i would own this one of a kind RC.

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LETS ROLL!! This place is dead anyway!

I rode Flashback when it was Z-force too. Didn't like it too much, but not that bad. The final swooping turn rocked though. I love Ultra Twister. I have had the extreme fortune of riding the one in Nagashima and it still has a vertical climb. Awesome. No lines, and I rode it over and over in every seat. Still love the drop. It gives me the creeps everytime you break the crest.... ahhhh...............:)
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Check us out! www.geocities.com/ethylsite

I rode it when it was at SFOG and I thought it was a blast.
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Ya wanna beer?...It`s 7am!......Scotch?

It has been rough @ SFMM since day 1. The 540 degree helix is awesome and quite rough too. The G's are great on it. If you hold your head to the direction the hairpin drop is, its not as bad.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read somewhere that Flashback had specially designed trains to make it so that riders cannot put their hands up because they might hit the supports, therefore, making it impossible to have lapbars. Again, I may be wrong, since I've never been on it, so I don't know what it's like.

That may be true, but do the OTSR's have to be made out of concrete? They have got to be the hardest shoulder harness of ANY ride out there, and that surely does not help its notorious reputation.

I agree with most folks here and say the layout of the ride is really good, but the roughness and headbanging kill it. I even hold on with all my strength and brace for impact, and STILL will get bashed at least 2-3 times per ride. (The same system yeilds pain-free rides on Viper)

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"X" marks the spot in 2001!

Your head is right in the line of fire! Those OTSR's are rock hard to! BUT this is simply a must ride. You can only ride it once per visit but you simply must ride! It's great with no wait and the most unique coaster I have been on!

Thanks for your help. It sounds kind of like a mixed bag on who likes it who doesnt. I think the sensation of a hairpin dive would make up for the head banging pain. I mean my home park is SFNE and if I can put up with Mind Eraser and the Cyclone I can put up with anything!!

I have to agree with Soggy. Why does the most brutal ride in the world that is made of steel have to have the HARDEST restraints I have ever encountered. They also come down akwardly over your chest. I enjoy the ride, but that's because my head is far above the restraint. Most people 6'2" and under should have one of the worst rides of their life.

Swingers said:
The back seat full left side is the best seat ever on this ride. You get the most out of the diving turns and also there is suports or beams that the train dives right next to and it looks like its gona be a headchopper on some of the turns. Its a great ride in my book, but you need coaster riding technique to get a good ride though. weather you plant your head against the headrest or lean forward. do whatever you need to do the get the most comfortable ride. I love this ride and when ever i go to MM i always have a mini marathon on this ride, cuz no onelikes it and a line is practically non exsistant all day. But if you want a head banging back breaking ride, then ride the front seats, it almost impossible the get a good ride up there. Just go and try it for yourself. You will see what i mean. SO i always ride in the back. overall i give this ride two thumbs up. If I had room in my backyard i would own this one of a kind RC.
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LETS ROLL!! This place is dead anyway!

WHAT! The front is WAY smoother than the back!