david84

Can I ask why you feel that way? It's been proven time and time again that OTSRs are not really needed on looping coasters as long as a lap bar is adequate enough to keep you in place while inversions occur. I'm aware of what you are saying. I've experienced what you're talking about on the Joker's Jinx at Six Flags America. Most inverting coasters I get on have an OTSR and that's what I'm used to.

You just answered your own question right there. We've already seen plenty of examples of new restraints that do away with OTSR's for looping coasters - Premiere's lapbar system, Vekoma's "vest" that they've put on an SLC and a couple of loopers, the X-Car restraint, etc. The biggest issue here is retro-fitting an old coaster would cost the park hundreds of thousands of dollars to do this. So unless they are wanting to re-market an older ride, like Morey's Piers did with Great Nor'Easter, I don't think we'll see this happen. I would hope that any future Premiere, Vekoma or Maurer Shoune installations come standard with their updated versions of lapbars for looping coasters, and it would be nice to see some other manufacturers, like Gerstaluer or B&M for example, follow suit. But I also know that developing a new restraint system, when you already have one that works just fine for the parks, is VERY expensive to put into production. So unless a park is willing to fund that development when ordering a new ride, I doubt that's going to happen either. So to answer your question - Why do we have them? Because it's expensive to do anything else. You are correct.

You just answered your own question right there. We've already seen plenty of examples of new restraints that do away with OTSR's for looping coasters - Premiere's lapbar system, Vekoma's "vest" that they've put on an SLC and a couple of loopers, the X-Car restraint, etc. The biggest issue here is retro-fitting an old coaster would cost the park hundreds of thousands of dollars to do this. So unless they are wanting to re-market an older ride, like Morey's Piers did with Great Nor'Easter, I don't think we'll see this happen. I would hope that any future Premiere, Vekoma or Maurer Shoune installations come standard with their updated versions of lapbars for looping coasters, and it would be nice to see some other manufacturers, like Gerstaluer or B&M for example, follow suit. But I also know that developing a new restraint system, when you already have one that works just fine for the parks, is VERY expensive to put into production. So unless a park is willing to fund that development when ordering a new ride, I doubt that's going to happen either. So to answer your question - Why do we have them? Because it's expensive to do anything else. You are correct.

Yeah, Batwing is an awesome coaster.

I like their boomerang coasters like sidewinder at Hersheypark.

I'm pretty sure it won't be that hard. The train and restraint is system identical to storm runner except that storm runner's restraints have the portion over the shoulders and these don't. Take a look at the restraints on intimidator 305 at kings dominion. Those restraints look more comfortable than the restraints on storm runner.

I haven't had any problems with OTSR restraints. I have not experienced headbanging on a roller coaster with an OTSR. Vekoma has replaced their standard OTSR with the vest restraint. I actually like OTSR restraints because I think they are safer on inverting rides. I'm sure most of the manufacturers are aware of the headbanging issue.

Not sure about the PKD, but PKI's is a giant model. Three long rows. Isn't Dominion's supposed to be a floorless? Yes, Kings Dominion's is a floorless model.

In my opinion, any thrill ride with high g forces should have an OTSR. Drop towers have OTSRs due to the negative g forces they provide. I read that OTSRs are used on any ride that does not allow installation of a lap bar, like an inverted coaster for example. I also think that an OTSR should be used on any ride that goes upside-down for safety reasons. The headbanging issue, on the other hand, I have experienced only once, and that was on Flight Of Fear at Kings Dominion before the restraints were changed from OSTRs to lapbars. I never experienced headbanging on a B&M or Arrow coaster. To be honest, I don't know why people are afraid of OSTRs. I like OSTRs, and if a looping ride doesn't have an OSTR, I won't get on it.