Saying current generation B&M coasters ride rough is not a hot take, and it’s not even controversial anymore. The last glass smooth new install B&M coaster I’ve ridden is Emporer at Sea World San Diego. Just this summer, I’ve ridden Wrath, Dr. D and Rapterra and holy snuck balls, I will leave my opinions aside at the moment.
What’s your take? Is it cost cutting?
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Is B&M becoming today’s generation of Arrow roughness?
38 posts
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I’ve had rides on Rakshasa that were rougher than any ride I’ve ever had on Demon, so B&M may be even worse than Arrow roughness. I hope they can mitigate it somehow because it’s to the point where I’d rather just walk through to the exit if I get assigned an end seat on Rakshasa.
I think it’s because they can get away with it fine. Do you think B&M or six flags cares about the opinion of enthusiasts and gp regarding roughness. At the end of the day a new investment is trying to draw new people into the park and it will do so. It doesn’t mean that it’s right. Raging bull should not be smoother than our brand new B&M. But I think this is going to continue because they can get away with it.
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I typically don't complain about roughness on rides but the outer right seats (especially on row 3) on Wrath are a bit bumpy.
What is causing all the roughness? Is it the wheels? Single Day Ride Count Record
50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark) ---- "Here we go, kids!! Here we go!!"
I think part of it is the wide trains and having seats that ride well outside of the track. However, Valravn isn’t nearly as rough as Rakshasa, so there must be something else going on, too. I just hope it’s fixable.
I honestly think it has to do with the 7 across train design. In the front row, dead middle seat, the ride is incredibly smooth. So, the ride tracks well, Unlike rides like Penguin Trek and Phoenix Rising. Those two shake and vibrate no matter the seat you're in.
If you have ridden Dr.D's and Iron Menace, those both suffer the same problems as Wrath. Albeit, Iron Menace is the worst of the three. Dr. D's isn't that comfortable in the back wing seats either, but it tracks well like wrath. I haven't done Emperor, but Iv'e been told that one has no issues. Emperor runs the 6 across trains. I really think it's the trains. The bigger dives are all very smooth, but also have the wider track gauge and thicker spine to help. Idk, but I just think it has to do with the 7 across train build.
In all honesty, it's probably a design flaw. All dive Coasters should be using the wider track so that the trains also have a wider wheel base.
The train cars are probably flexing a lot on the outer seats due to the forces being inflicted upon them. What's strange is it hasn't been consistent for me, sometimes it's really rough and beats me up, other times it's nothing more than a slight bobbing like X-Flight which leads me to believe weight distribution is king. If the car's weight is way off balance, then you really feel that jerk to the side on the final turn. "I've been told that some part of every wish will be heard but lately I lost sight of the truth in those words."
First comment for me in this forum.
I have about a dozen rides on wrath so far and unfortunately I have to ride the seat with the bigger red seat belt so my experience has only been the the middle in either the 3rd or 2nd row. The 3rd row is the worst of them even from the middle seat. the 2nd row has been the better ride for sure, they should have a a bigger belt for the first row as well. Don't see the need to exclude bigger people from the front row experience. Feel disappointment so far the ride was over hyped
Has anyone here ridden Rapterra? I found that ride to be as rough as Wrath can get, if not rougher. While some seats on Wrath offer a smooth ride, I tried first row inside and outside and last row inside and outside on Rapterra. And I thought the ride was absolutely terrible. I’ve ridden all 5 B&M wings now in the US and Rapterra is easily the worst experience.
Rides that offer rough experiences will not be GP magnets, and will become complete walk ons for the GP just like Shockwave became. And that’s a real shame after these parks spend millions and millions of dollars on a ride.
Give this a look: https://youtu.be/pjnFUurg1kc?si=B5dkKRnc9KRezCa8
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^ Very interesting video. SO it could be the slewing rings that's causing the issue.....
Single Day Ride Count Record
50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark) ---- "Here we go, kids!! Here we go!!"
I’m leaning towards a combination on that and cheap tolerances. However, you would think that tolerances get messed up from normal wear, like raging bull after 30 yrs. Not sure tho. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Cheaper tolerances are a factor for sure. The trains only amplify the imperfections in the track.
This is why you still feel the bump in the middle seat, but it feels way worse along the edge.
Honestly there probably isn’t anything that can be done now that could realistically smoothen it out Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This is pretty much the conclusion I've come to. I think coasters with wide trains are just inherently rough. If the conditions are right, you may get a smoother ride, but don't count on it. I just hope parks stop buying them so B&M can get back to making rides like they used to.
Stops buying wide trains? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes, but more specifically stop buying coaster models that have wide trains. I personally wouldn’t mind seeing B&M build another surf coaster. Anything other than wing and dive coasters, really.
I think wings and dives are really the only things parks have left to buy from B&m catalog. I’m not too thrilled about the surf coaster but wouldn’t oppose it. Most major parks have all the b&ms they want and/or need. I definitely agree with you on wide trains though, they suck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I loved Pipeline at SeaWorld, I would really like to see more parks build surf coasters.
Out of the new B&M's I have rode the past 5 years, I would say Pipeline is one of the smoothest. Orion and Candymonium both opened in 2020 and I thought those were also really smooth. The worst two I have rode are Phoenix Rising and Penguin Trek, those two coasters have a really bad shake to them.....however riding Big Bad Wolf's revenge this year, it was much smoother. These ride's are all only 2 across, so it doesn't make sense they are that rough. I thought Rapterra was surprisingly smooth when I rode it. I only rode it once in front though. I was expecting it to be worse. I haven't had a really rough ride on Wrath yet but I think I have usually been in the middle when I rode it in the back row. I did notice it was a little rougher when I rode on the end in Row 2 though. Even the roughest B&M's don't seem that rough at all compared to some wooden coasters, or Boomerang's I have been on. I've never got off a B&M that was so rough that I said, I'm never riding that again. Like I have said with some coasters. I also have never found most Arrow coasters to be that rough, I'm 6'1 and couldn't hit my head on the harness if I tried. Go Bulls!
Dave - SFGAmWorld Webmaster
That cork screw on Vortex at Carowinds is the most brutal B&M element if you’re not prepared for it. It gets most people.
I agree on the arrow roughness. I find arrows to be smooth. Jerky, yes. But still smooth and I am on the shorter side. Maybe it has to do with center of mass? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I hate Arrows with a passion. Sorry not sorry.
And by far the worst one I've been on has to be Corkscrew at Cedar Point. "I've been told that some part of every wish will be heard but lately I lost sight of the truth in those words."
Agree, Corkscrew at Cedar Point sucks big time. I do rank an Arrow #1 in my coaster rankings. X and X2 is without a doubt the best roller coaster I’ve ever ridden. Been awhile since I’ve been on it, and the audio was working then. So hopefully it still holds up. Gonna get back out to MM within the next year to reevaluate.
Corkscrew is an absolute waste of space! It has absolutely NOTHING going for it and I typically like Arrows such as Tennessee Tornado, Ninja, Loch Ness Monster, Demon, etc. Single Day Ride Count Record
50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark) ---- "Here we go, kids!! Here we go!!"
Are we absolutely positive that Ve-Coma isn't somehow involved in the fabrication and construction of the newest B&M coasters??
Ve-Coma rides in my opinion are among the absolute worst rides I've ever been on! (I never did get a ride on Deja Vu so I can't comment on that one. It was always down when I went and I wasn't going super often like I do now since 2014) As for the "wide train" theory, I rode Valravn 8-10x in 2019 and absolutely LOVED it! I don't remember it being rough at all. Orion was smooth as well in 2020 and 2022 when I rode it. Mako wasn't rough either when I last rode it in 2023. Could the slewing rings be the cause of the roughness in newer B&Ms? Single Day Ride Count Record
50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark) ---- "Here we go, kids!! Here we go!!"
38 posts
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