Best B&M Coaster Type?

[I305]

Not sure if this has been posted already, but here it is. What's your favorite style of b&m coaster and why?

 

For me, I'll have to say b&m hypers/gigas, as they're the only style of b&m I've been on, but I'm sure that will change this summer as I'm going to a few parks with b&m inverts.

[hinklea]

for me It's anything that has a good B&M Roar such as the Kumba.

[alpengeist04]

As a whole, Inverts. ...Followed by the Dive coasters.

 

With that said, I still think my favorite individual B&M is actually a standard sit down.

 

Here's how I would rank them.

 

1. Inverts

2. Dive coaster

3. Hypers

4. Sitting coaster

5. Floorless

6. Flying

7. Wing

8. Stand-up

[GnastyGnoric7]

Inverted models for sure, the provide a unique and higher octane ride

This may sound weird, but I like the Stand-Up models, probably because you stand up and they feel different

[I305]

^ I've heard that the inverts are really intense, & that's a good thing... I like my rides nice and intense, filled with high Gs... Not just airtime.

[Meteornotes]

The inverts crush anything else they've built. And the older inverts are more forceful than any of their recent work combined together.

 

dt

[Canobie Coaster]

1) Hyper-Coaster

 

I love the huge drops and the sustained air they produce. The three B&M hypers that I've been on Apollo's Chariot (2), Behemoth (3), and Nitro (6) are all in my top 6 for steel coasters.

 

2) Dive Coaster

 

I've only been on Griffon, but if that ride is any indication I'm a major fan of the dive coasters. The first drop is absolutely breathtaking.

 

3) Inverted Coaster

 

These are the most forceful of B&M's coasters in my opinion. I prefer the drops found on their hypers and dive coasters, but after that inverts are my next favorite. Some of my favorites are Dragon Challenge, Talon, Alpengeist, and Great Bear.

 

4) Sit-Down Coaster

 

It seems B&M sit-downs were one of their earlier designs and because of this, they are more forceful than a lot of their newer coasters. The Incredible Hulk Coaster is a perfect example of this.

 

5) Flying Coaster

 

I've only been on SFGAdv's Superman, but I really enjoyed it! The restraints were extremely comfortable and the sensation of flying was cool. I just wish the layout was more inspired, but that pretzel loop was incredibly intense.

 

6) Floorless Coaster

 

While they're good coasters, I haven't been on any floorless coasters that I would truly classify as great. My personal favorite is Dominator.

 

7) Stand-Up Coaster

 

I didn't like Green Lantern or Apocalypse. Both were pretty rough and not enjoyable for me. Honestly, I prefer the Togo stand-ups that I've been on to the B&M ones that I have been on.

[I305]

The inverts crush anything else they've built. And the older inverts are more forceful than any of their recent work combined together.

 

dt

Well, that's awesome to hear, as one of the parks I'm going to has an older invert(BTR clone)

[Canobie Coaster]

^ Of the B&M inverts that I've been on, Batman the Ride was actually my least favorite. However, it is still a great ride and better than any of their floorless coasters in my opinion.

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Hypercoasters: Tons of great airtime, comfortable seats, and just overall great layouts. I've ridden Raging Bull, Apollo's Chariot, Nitro, Goliath (SFoG), Goliath (La Ronde), Behemoth, and Diamondback. I prefer the V seating for the amazing feeling of isolation.

[Koasterking48]

I would say that my favorite is the "old-school" inverts. Raptor and DD are among the best of the inverts, with Talon and Montu close behind. Sitting coasters are also some B&M's best. Kumba is one of my all time favorite coasters, and Hulk is fantastic as well. Wasn't a huge fan of Wildfire, plus I haven't rode Khan or Time Machine so I can't say anything about them.

[I305]

Hypercoasters: Tons of great airtime, comfortable seats, and just overall great layouts. I've ridden Raging Bull, Apollo's Chariot, Nitro, Goliath (SFoG), Goliath (La Ronde), Behemoth, and Diamondback. I prefer the V seating for the amazing feeling of isolation.

How was Goliath at La ronde compaired to Behemoth?... I've been on Behemoth, and am going to La Ronde in like a week.

[rcdude]

1. Dive Coaster: I've only been on one of these (Griffon), but it was really good and ended up being my favorite coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (as well as making it onto my top ten list). This may drop as I ride more, but for now this is my favorite B&M type.

 

2. Hyper Coaster: I've been on six of these, and all of them are top tier rides within the best two coasters at their respective park. Apollo's Chariot, Intimidator, and Leviathan all make it into my top ten list, and even my least favorite (La Ronde's Goliath) is still on my top thirty steel coasters.

 

3. Flying Coaster: My favorite B&M coaster (Tatsu) is a flying coaster, but the Superman clones (my only other experiece with this type) are fairly dull. Still, the riding position gives a different sensation than most coasters, even other manufacturers' flying coasters, and this type seems to have the most untapped potential of the currently available types.

 

4. Floorless Coaster: Floorless coasters seem to be a mixed bag. There are some good ones (Dominator is my favorite of five), but more often than not they seem good but not great. This type (as well as the hyper coasters) seems like a very cookie-cutter type with little variation in ride experience between the various coasters.

 

5. Inverted Coaster: Although this is a very popular type (and is the one I have the most experience with), I'm not crazy about inverted coasters. I like them, but there are only a few I would go out of my way to ride. Inverted coasters are definitely the most intense type of B&M coaster, so I can see why many love them, but I prefer rides that are thilling and fun but not super intense (hence why I don't really care for the Batman clones).

 

6. Stand-Up Coaster: If there is a B&M type I truly don't care for, it is this one. With the exception of Riddler's Revenge, there isn't a stand-up coaster I'd wait more than 15 minutes for. I've been on 5 of these, and three rank below every other B&M coaster of every other type that I've ridden. Additionally, my least favorite B&M coaster (Vortex at California's Great America) is a stand-up and is a whole tier below every other B&M on my list.

 

I have yet to experience a B&M Sitting Coaster or Wing Coaster, but I hope to get a chance to sample both of these types in the next couple years.

[I305]

I've noticed that many people here are saying that many of the newer B&Ms are less forceful/Intense. Does anybody know why?

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Hypercoasters: Tons of great airtime, comfortable seats, and just overall great layouts. I've ridden Raging Bull, Apollo's Chariot, Nitro, Goliath (SFoG), Goliath (La Ronde), Behemoth, and Diamondback. I prefer the V seating for the amazing feeling of isolation.

How was Goliath at La ronde compaired to Behemoth?... I've been on Behemoth, and am going to La Ronde in like a week.

 

Goliath at La Ronde simply has more hills, but lacks the speed and duration of airtime in hills. Also, the V style seating on Behemoth gives it an edge.

[ThanksforRiding]

Inverted. It just seems to offer the most intense and wild ride.

[kailisun98]

I like SOME B/M Stand-Up coasters. My favorite would be: Riddler's Revenge @ SFMM. This was surprisingly smooth.

[prozach626]

My favorite coaster type period: B&M inverted. I loved the intensity. I still think B:TR is a great ride and would get a lot more praise had it not been cloned. I have to pick Afterburn as my favorite, followed by Raptor and Montu.

 

Two inverted flops I've been on are Patriot and Silver Bullet. They are beautiful coasters, but total let downs. Too smooth and no forces.

[Sammy*]

I've noticed that many people here are saying that many of the newer B&Ms are less forceful/Intense. Does anybody know why?

 

Cause the dip before the drop is gone.

 

On a serious note Its more because the old ones have tighter elements vs the newer ones have more gradual transitions as well as more trims.

[mike541x]

Inverts and hypers have been my favorites. And while Manta is the only Flyer I've been on, I found the ride very enjoyable. I'd like to see more B&M flyers.

[B&MBoy1982]

A lot of readers here need to get down to ride the Florida B&M's. Those parks know how to take care of their B&M's.

 

Those of you putting Raptor over Montu must have fallen and hit your heads.

 

I rode Montu 4 times last Friday, and there is not a bad place or bump on the entire ride.

 

I like everything about B&M coasters, and I can not put a finger on the one STYLE that I like the most. What I tend to like most is the reliability of their rides. People say that B&M likes to stay in their comfort zones when it come to their rides, but that is what makes them so reliable.

 

Even Hulk with it's tire driven launch system has little down time.

 

Given that 2013 is the "Year of Faulty Intamins", I have a feeling more B&M's will start popping up. I think we are at 90 total B&M's with Banshee and the Heide Park Wing Coaster both opening in 2014.

 

Kumba is my number 1 steel coaster.

 

Out of the 30 B&M's I have ridden, Kumba and Montu are my top 2.

Edited October 1, 2013 by B&MBoy1982

[JonnyRCT3]

1. Inverts

2. Wing

0. Stand Up (eww )

[shivtim]

Looking at Mitch's Steel Poll, the top 10 B&Ms are:

6. Shambhala - hyper

9t. Katun - inverted

12. Nemesis - inverted

17. Montu - inverted

18. Leviathan - hyper

19. Nitro -hyper

20. Goliath (SFoG) - hyper

22. Pyrenees - inverted

26t. Behemoth - hyper

26t. Diamondback - hyper

 

And the bottom 10 B&Ms are:

311. Vortex (Carowinds) - stand-up

294. Vortex (CGA) - stand-up

283. Apocalypse - stand-up

205. Mantis - stand-up

175. Batman: the Dark Knight (SFNE) - floorless

164. Hydra - floorless

159. Scream! (SFMM) - floorless

153. Georgia Scorcher - stand-up

136. Silver Bullet - inverted

134. Patriot - inverted

 

So it looks like inverteds and hypers are the most popular (with the exception of Silver Bullet and Patriot), and Stand-ups are the least popular. Some floorless coasters are also relatively unpopular.

Edited August 22, 2013 by shivtim

[Schrecken]

For me, probably their hypers, and then after that, the dive machine (I've only been on Griffon at BGE). Floorless after that, and then standard inverts. Flying style is OK but I've only been on two of the Superman flyers at SF parks. Standups I like the least (though I did enjoy Riddler's Revenge when it was new and stand-ups were the "in thing" back in the late 90's) now.

Never been on a wing coaster but I hope to be able to get to CP next year and do Gatekeeper, or perhaps the one at Dollywood, or if another park closer to me builds one.

[mightypotato]

Now that I've finally been on a few wing riders to round out the B&M catalogue, here is my preference* for B&M rides:

 

1. Old school inverts (i.e., Batman, Montu, etc)

2. Hypers

3. Dive machines

4. Sit down loopers

5. Floorless

6. New inverts (Talon, etc)

7. Wing riders

8. Flying

9. Stand-up

 

* Your mileage may vary