SFGAmWorld.com
Untitled Document
Park Information
Latest News
Great America
Roller Coasters
Rides
Hurricane Harbor
Water Slides
Water Attractions
Advertisement

Eagle vs Viper - Which Ride Do You Prefer ?

Talk about anything that has to do with Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor here.
Postby CoasterRiderSC on September 27th, 2016, 12:42 pm
I wanted to set this up as a poll but didn't know how. I hear much discussion about which ride is better, and in some cases people say one of them should come down.

Please state which ride you like better and give some reasons

Eagle
1) Much bigger first drop
2) Faster speed
3) Classic racing coaster - makes it exciting when both trains are running
4) Intensity of Helixes
5) Better capacity
6) Longer track length
Last edited by CoasterRiderSC on September 27th, 2016, 12:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Single Day Ride Count Record

50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark)

---- "Here we go, kids!! Here we go!!"
CoasterRiderSC

User avatar
 
Posts: 1223
Joined: August 4th, 2016, 1:20 pm
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL

Postby stergmi on September 27th, 2016, 12:43 pm
1) they're both great for different reasons
2) neither should be taken down
3) Eagle because it was my first big coaster

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
stergmi

 
Posts: 345
Joined: April 19th, 2016, 11:28 pm
Location: Chicago, IL

Postby Guy_With_A_Stick on September 27th, 2016, 1:02 pm
Viper. It is a LOT more consistent, more intense, better theming, and has some of the best airtime of any ride in the park. The double down. <3
Image

Join the SFGAm Fan Discord! https://discord.gg/bNrTj9P

The Voyage | Goliath SFGAm | Skyrush | Maverick | Viper SFGAm | Outlaw Run | Thunderhead | TTD | Lightning Run | Thunderbird
Guy_With_A_Stick

User avatar
 
Posts: 1958
Joined: February 20th, 2014, 5:37 pm
Location: Six Flags Great America

Postby RollingCoasting on September 27th, 2016, 1:03 pm
Eagle for height and speed, Viper for airtime
RollingCoasting

User avatar
 
Posts: 2553
Images: 5
Joined: August 18th, 2013, 5:57 pm
Location: Mount Prospect, IL

Postby Wisco Woody on September 27th, 2016, 2:23 pm
Viper is a typical wooden twister/cyclone done very well, but it can be inconsistent on some days in terms of speed, sometimes only 47-48 mph, and in terms of roughness killing airtime in the back. American Eagle is even more inconsistent more often, but dropping to 64 mph top speed isn't as noticeable.

Now I prefer Viper for its excellent standing airtime and wild fun in both the front and back seat, but the front car on AE red side is a top 15 wood coaster experience for me due to airtime and speed, and if you like violence and pain like me then the back seat of AE blue is "better" than Mean Streak for roughness and pain.
Wisco Woody

User avatar
 
Posts: 193
Joined: August 29th, 2016, 3:58 pm

Postby SFGAM_Hog on September 27th, 2016, 2:49 pm
Viper:
1) Always a fun coaster to do at the end of the day
2) Thrilling(both are though)
3) Airtime is amazing
Why I didn't choose Eagle
1) Airtime hills on it don't excite me
2) Opens later at 11:00=usually don't get reruns on it
SFGAM_Hog

 
Posts: 901
Joined: June 18th, 2016, 4:00 pm

Postby RollingCoasting on September 27th, 2016, 3:03 pm
You reminded me; another advantage of AE is there's (usually) never line!

Wish both coasters would run backwards again, It was a really thrilling experience
RollingCoasting

User avatar
 
Posts: 2553
Images: 5
Joined: August 18th, 2013, 5:57 pm
Location: Mount Prospect, IL

Postby momlovescoasters on September 27th, 2016, 8:39 pm
Great idea for a topic! I love wooden coasters so this is a hard choice. I don't want either to leave but if I had to pick a favorite it would be Viper. The first drop isn't as good but I love all of the smaller airtime hills.

I forced my husband on AE for the first time in YEARS in August. He was smiling and having fun during the first hill......then the fun ended and I got the death stare the rest of the time. Ha ha, kinda made it even more fun for me! Seriously though, when the ride ended he said he will never go on it again. Made me sad but I understand. I'm not even sure if it is the roughness or the appearance that freaks him out. Probably a combination. We rode Viper 3 times and he loved it.
momlovescoasters

 
Posts: 62
Joined: August 17th, 2016, 7:41 am

Postby maxwellt on September 27th, 2016, 9:03 pm
Like em both, but here's the spiel

Eagle
1. in my opinion better drop than viper
2. Much longer
3. Racing and higher capacity

Viper
1. Better airtime
2. More smooth
3. Opened more than eagle

In the end I prefer viper. My #4 at the park

Sent from my SM-G920R6 using Tapatalk
Image
maxwellt

User avatar
 
Posts: 372
Joined: July 14th, 2016, 6:23 pm

Postby Mean Streaker on September 27th, 2016, 9:11 pm
AE

1) it's a GAm classic
2) it's the worlds tallest, fastest, and longest racing coaster
3) it has amazing airtime
4) it's big
5) it's beautiful
6) even waiting in line is fun
Mean Streaker

User avatar
 
Posts: 167
Joined: August 10th, 2016, 3:59 pm

Postby Viper 88 on September 27th, 2016, 10:58 pm
Viper a very fun smile inducing ride. AE is almost too rough.
Viper 88

User avatar
 
Posts: 636
Images: 0
Joined: July 10th, 2008, 2:24 pm

Postby batmanfan80 on September 28th, 2016, 2:08 am
Viper easy. The rides are either great or a bit violent and underwhelming. Eagle goes from incredibly great to unrideably violent every time in the same sections.
batmanfan80

 
Posts: 77
Joined: July 19th, 2016, 11:43 pm

Postby FParker185 on October 1st, 2016, 2:35 pm
When did American Eagle get airtime? Re-profiled since last week or something?
Favorite Wood Coasters: The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II, Thunderhead, Balder
Favorite Steel: Steel Vengeance, Expedition GeForce, Olympia Looping
Parks visited: 222, Coasters Ridden: Steel: 822, Wood: 178, Total: 1000
FParker185

User avatar
 
Posts: 4500
Joined: February 5th, 2004, 12:04 am
Location: Joliet, IL

Postby RollingCoasting on October 1st, 2016, 5:48 pm
I agree to an extent. After the drop there is potential to be airtime, but it's not there.

I do experience some floater airtime towards the end of the ride, but I'm not sure where this ejector is coming from
RollingCoasting

User avatar
 
Posts: 2553
Images: 5
Joined: August 18th, 2013, 5:57 pm
Location: Mount Prospect, IL

Postby maxwellt on October 1st, 2016, 9:44 pm
There's a little airtime, but not much. Cam and I had a discussion one night about eagle. The shape of the hills don't provide the airtime, like, they aren't the right curve or bend. There were some mathematical terms thrown in there too, but if eagle got rwtracked, they could make the airtime hills the right shape so there is airtime

Sent from my SM-G920R6 using Tapatalk
Image
maxwellt

User avatar
 
Posts: 372
Joined: July 14th, 2016, 6:23 pm

Postby Guy_With_A_Stick on October 1st, 2016, 9:53 pm
I said that the current hills on Eagle are like tangent circles(two circles are next to eachother, the top of one circle is the top of the hill, and the bottom of the other circle is the valley of the hill). You can especially notice this coming into the first hill- instead of continually curving up(like a parabola), it's a straight section until it hits the top of the hill. If they did make them parabolic, that first hill could offer some serious ejector.

Sent from my VS820 using Tapatalk
Image

Join the SFGAm Fan Discord! https://discord.gg/bNrTj9P

The Voyage | Goliath SFGAm | Skyrush | Maverick | Viper SFGAm | Outlaw Run | Thunderhead | TTD | Lightning Run | Thunderbird
Guy_With_A_Stick

User avatar
 
Posts: 1958
Joined: February 20th, 2014, 5:37 pm
Location: Six Flags Great America

Postby Wisco Woody on October 1st, 2016, 9:55 pm
To get the good airtime, the only option is Red side, front car. Even then the first hill is so long it just provides floating zero g, but the second hill gives a pop of stronger floater air. The airtime hills on return, 1 more than blue, do provide actual floater air, but only in the front car and not as sustained as on Viper.
Wisco Woody

User avatar
 
Posts: 193
Joined: August 29th, 2016, 3:58 pm

Postby Coaster Justin on October 2nd, 2016, 1:59 am
Viper for 5 Reasons:
5. Shorter Length Queue Line
4. More Consistant Airtime (Especially the final hill)
3. Smoother Turns
2. Great Ride from beginning to end
1. I like my Legs and knees
926 Coasters around the World! Countdown to 1000!

http://sfgamworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15272

Runner Up of the 2017 SFGAmWorld Elimination Thread
Coaster Justin

User avatar
 
Posts: 2115
Joined: October 12th, 2007, 12:07 pm
Location: Park City, IL

Postby CoasterCale on October 3rd, 2016, 10:25 am
I would say Viper is already better. There's more consistent airtime. Overall is smoother and I don't even necessarily need a non-wheel seat to enjoy it.
Check out my Coaster vids
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_o4Mtg8LDHpRuK7rRKMdAQ

It seems like the other side always wins on American Eagle :?
Also, I've ridden Goliath 23 times in one day. HBU? :roll: :P
(Sorry in advance for unnecessary commas and parenthesis every where)
CoasterCale

User avatar
 
Posts: 646
Joined: November 21st, 2013, 6:22 pm
Location: Edgewater, Northside Chicago

Postby CoasterRiderSC on October 3rd, 2016, 12:15 pm
CoasterRiderSC wrote:I wanted to set this up as a poll but didn't know how. I hear much discussion about which ride is better, and in some cases people say one of them should come down.

Please state which ride you like better and give some reasons

Eagle
1) Much bigger first drop
2) Faster speed
3) Classic racing coaster - makes it exciting when both trains are running
4) Intensity of Helixes
5) Better capacity
6) Longer track length


Well gang, after riding both rides several times on 10/1/16 (Eagle - 4 , Viper - 7) in the front and back, I have changed my mind!!! Eagle is taller and faster, but I actually think Viper is BETTER for these reasons:

1) Less brutal on the body
2) More airtime on the hills after first drop
3) Head chopper elements (you can't underestimate these!)
4) Overall more fun to ride (smile inducing as someone called it).

I guess in my 45 yo mind, I'm still remembering how Eagle USED TO BE when I was a kid! Those "rumple strips" never used to be on the first drop and it was way smoother when it was young!

So Viper gets my vote NOW!
Single Day Ride Count Record

50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark)

---- "Here we go, kids!! Here we go!!"
CoasterRiderSC

User avatar
 
Posts: 1223
Joined: August 4th, 2016, 1:20 pm
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL

Postby HuskieJohn on October 4th, 2016, 3:56 pm
Viper is my favorite wood roller coaster. Granted I have not been on many others but its easily my #1.
HuskieJohn

 
Posts: 27
Joined: June 16th, 2016, 2:19 pm

Postby Wisco Woody on October 4th, 2016, 5:38 pm
^ If Goliath doesn't rank higher for you due to its "steel feel", I suggest you go up to Mt. Olympus to ride Hades 360. It has a lot of great airtime and laterals, especially in the back seat, and it now has a giant corkscrew yet retains the look and feel of a classic Woodie. Viper does have a lot of great combined airtime, but I wish it was more consistent with its top speed and as a result more consistent strength of its airtime.
Wisco Woody

User avatar
 
Posts: 193
Joined: August 29th, 2016, 3:58 pm

Postby CoasterDave316 on October 4th, 2016, 11:40 pm
FParker185 wrote:When did American Eagle get airtime? Re-profiled since last week or something?


The red side has almost always had airtime. You get decent airtime on the first 2 hills out, and depending on trims you sometimes get ejector air in the back row coming out of the helix.

I've never liked the Blue side much, always has been the roughest, slowest and worst side in my opinion.

I have been disappointed with how Viper is running this year, it usually is the smoother of the two. This year it has been pretty rough especially at bottom of the first turn. Needs some track work this off-season for sure in a few spots.
Go Bulls!
Dave - SFGAmWorld Webmaster
CoasterDave316
Webmaster/Site Admin

User avatar
 
Posts: 2696
Joined: December 27th, 2002, 10:32 am

Postby RollingCoasting on October 5th, 2016, 1:20 am
I agree with Dave, airtime seems to be more apparent on the red side. Though in my opinion, it's nothing to write home about.

I will say that riding American Eagle in the rain will make you appreciate it more (As long as you don't mind rain darting towards your face)
RollingCoasting

User avatar
 
Posts: 2553
Images: 5
Joined: August 18th, 2013, 5:57 pm
Location: Mount Prospect, IL

Postby CoasterRiderSC on October 5th, 2016, 1:10 pm
^ My 4 rides on 10/1 on Eagle were ALL in the rain! The last one was a bit painful as the raindrops were pelting me in the face. But it made for a memorable ride.
Single Day Ride Count Record

50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark)

---- "Here we go, kids!! Here we go!!"
CoasterRiderSC

User avatar
 
Posts: 1223
Joined: August 4th, 2016, 1:20 pm
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL

Next

Return to Six Flags Great America Forum

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: gottastrata33, Majestic-12 [Bot] and 30 guests

Privacy Policy About Us Copyright Disclaimer E-Mail SFGAmWorld
COPYRIGHT - SFGAmWorld.com
All content and images on this site are Copyright 2001 - SFGAmWorld.com and may not be used without permission.
This is NOT the official site of Six Flags Great America, SFGAmWorld.com is not affilated or endorsed by Six Flags Great America.
SFGAmWorld.com does not make any guarantee on the accuracy of the information on this website and cannot be held responsible by the use of this information.
SIX FLAGS and all related indicia are trademarks of Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. ®, TM and © . The official Six Flags site can be found at SixFlags.com
BATMAN, SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of © DC Comics.
LOONEY TUNES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.©
The Wiggles Pty Ltd. SCOOBY-DOO and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Hanna-Barbera.

cron