A Warm Question: X-Flight or Gatekeeper

[Rollercoaster Rider]

You know the rules. You decide.

[gerstlaueringvar]

Definitely X-Flight!

X-Flight is smoother, more forceful even though it was pretty weak , and it is not as boring as Gatekeeper.

 

Gatekeeper has NO airtime on the camel back and it is realle boring after the MCBR.

[molemaster43]

Swarm at Thorpe Park

[DanM64]

Definitely X-Flight!

X-Flight is smoother, more forceful even though it was pretty weak , and it is not as boring as Gatekeeper.

 

Gatekeeper has NO airtime on the camel back and it is realle boring after the MCBR.

^Yin pretty much nailed it!

 

On paper, GateKeeper should be better in every way.

 

In reality, I thought X Flight was better- and that's not saying much! The fact that GK is right on the beach and goes over the entrance is really cool. Other than that, I thought it was REALLY bouncy, and completely forceless.

 

X Flight is forceless too, but just slightly less so. I can say that the keyhole element on X Flight seemed like it was tighter- the keyholes on GK seemed like they were wider- I didn't get as good of a "chopper" effect as I did on X Flight.

 

I've ridden Wild Eagle as well, and I'd be perfectly happy if no more B&M Wing Coasters were ever built. They are cool to look at- and that's about it.

Edited December 8, 2013 by DanM64

[traincrossin]

I might be slightly biased after working GateKeeper all summer, but I think it's the better of the two rides. It's taller, faster, has some good forces for a wing rider at the bottom of the first drop, a more scenic view along the beach, better keyholes, better restraints now that they changed it so the vest doesn't lock, and a higher capacity with three trains.

[robbalvey]

They were both terrible.

 

Seriously, B&M, you guys made Kumba. You made Raptor, Dueling Dragons, and Nemesis. Remember those? How can you even look at rides like Gatekeeper or X-Flight and not admit that you're just phoning it in to get a paycheck.

[coasterlover420]

Seriously, B&M, you guys made Kumba. You made Raptor, Dueling Dragons, and Nemesis. Remember those? How can you even look at rides like Gatekeeper or X-Flight and not admit that you're just phoning it in to get a paycheck.

He speaks the truth.

 

I still don't understand many B&M fans today. I know so many people who swear up and down that B&M is the premier company today, and I just ask...name one B&M coaster built in the past few years that was actually mind-blowing! I guess Gatekeeper was kind of a "step in the right direction," but I just look at the last half of the coaster and think..what's the point? I'd rather ride a Batman clone all day long than ride Gatekeeper once. I seriously rode Gatekeeper many times all summer long, trying my hardest to appreciate it, but it was too difficult, especially since it started tearing itself up so badly. When I visited SFGAm, I rode X-Flight once, decided it wasn't worth it, then just marathoned on Raging Bull all night. Not the best B&M hyper, but still better than what B&M is dishing out nowadays. I also visited Canada's Wonderland a year later...what is Leviathan? Like seriously...the ride is over after the first airtime hill. Come on! A really good first drop is just not worth a terrible ending. I wish B&M would take a hard look at Magnum or I305 and take some ideas...

[beatle11]

Gatekeeper looks spectacular, but that's about it. X-Flight is only slightly better. They aren't bad coasters by any means, but they don't do much either.

[robbalvey]

I wish B&M would take a hard look at Magnum or I305 and take some ideas...

How about taking a hard look at literally ANYTHING. I mean, I rode Iron Shark this year. A compact, tiny little Gerstlauer that packed WAAAAAAY more forces, fun and excitement than just about anything B&M has done in the last 10 years.

 

I *get* B&M Fanboys for what they did from 1992 - 2000. They had almost a perfect track record of hits during those years. Made some of (still) the best coasters out there.

 

Then from 2001 - 2006, it was hit and miss, with nothing in that time frame being anywhere as good as the earlier years, and then 2007 onwards, c'mon... they are just phoning it in. The last six years have been a snoozefest of "trying to like" a bunch of forceless coasters because they *used* to make the most badass OMFG BLOW YOUR MIND AWAY coasters 20 years ago.

 

I just simply cannot get excited about a new B&M anymore because they don't make exciting rides anymore.

 

--Robb "There. I said it." Alvey

Edited December 6, 2013 by robbalvey

[TroyWD98]

They're both just alright for me. I got to visit Cedar Point this summer for the first time, and since GK had been up and running for less than 2 months, I expected it to have one of the largest lines. However, out of the 3 times I rode it, the most I waited was 10 minutes! On the days I went, Maverick always had the largest lines with around 1hr to 1hr 30mins for comparison. So despite its gorgeous looks... it seems even the general public isn't that impressed with it. I really wish CP would have went with Intamin again instead of spending $25mil on something rather forceless. Oh well.

 

As for X-Flight, it's a shorter ride, not as fast or tall, but I prefer the keyholes and the ending section over GK's ending section. They're pretty even for me overall, I suppose.

[dippindotsguy8]

I tend to agree, my thoughts after riding X-Flight were "Well that first drop was interesting."

We spent the rest of our day riding other, better rides. I felt no desire to ride it again or wait in any sort of line for it.

[Dr. M]

I wish B&M would take a hard look at Magnum or I305 and take some ideas...

How about taking a hard look at literally ANYTHING. I mean, I rode Iron Shark this year. A compact, tiny little Gerstlauer that packed WAAAAAAY more forces, fun and excitement than just about anything B&M has done in the last 10 years.

 

I *get* B&M Fanboys for what they did from 1992 - 2000. They had almost a perfect track record of hits during those years. Made some of (still) the best coasters out there.

 

Then from 2001 - 2006, it was hit and miss, with nothing in that time frame being anywhere as good as the earlier years, and then 2007 onwards, c'mon... they are just phoning it in. The last six years have been a snoozefest of "trying to like" a bunch of forceless coasters because they *used* to make the most badass OMFG BLOW YOUR MIND AWAY coasters 20 years ago.

 

I just simply cannot get excited about a new B&M anymore because they don't make exciting rides anymore.

 

--Robb "There. I said it." Alvey

 

Have I mentioned how much I'm looking forward to all the Kings Island fans getting so stoked for Banshee and then having you, and others, tear it apart? I'm practically bouncing with anticipation.

[christianscoasters]

They're both just alright for me. I got to visit Cedar Point this summer for the first time, and since GK had been up and running for less than 2 months, I expected it to have one of the largest lines. However, out of the 3 times I rode it, the most I waited was 10 minutes! On the days I went, Maverick always had the largest lines with around 1hr to 1hr 30mins for comparison. So despite its gorgeous looks... it seems even the general public isn't that impressed with it.

 

It's not fair to compare the popularity of these rides based on line length. GateKeeper gets twice as many riders in one hour (or even MORE than that) than Maverick does. GateKeeper also had 2.16 million riders this year. No new ride has got over 2 million riders in its opening season other than Raptor. With GateKeeper being at the front of the park, most people ride it earlier in the day, resulting in a much shorter line at night. With all of these factors in place, it's not fair to say that the GP isn't impressed with it.

 

Regarding X-Flight or GateKeeper... I have not ridden X-Flight yet, but I plan to next year. As for GateKeeper, the sad reality is that some days it's "meh" and some days that it's fantastic. I rode it in early May on a colder day, and like most posters here, didn't really experience much. No airtime on the camelback, but I thought it was "fun" nonetheless. Fast forward to a hot day in June and WOW it was much different. That thing was hauling a$$ throughout the entire ride. I was out of my seat on the camelback. Yes, butt-off-seat airtime. The dive loop had fantastic forces and so did the helix after the block brake.

 

Also, after Labor Day, they fixed the restraints so that ALL of the vests no longer tightened up uncomfortably throughout the ride. It drastically improved the ride experience. It was very "freeing." I knew plenty of people who didn't rank GateKeeper too highly but agreed that with the vests being fixed, it's a totally different ride and they liked it a lot more.

[Dr. M]

Two pages and only one mention of the phrase "wing rider"... are we finally purging that from the lexicon?

[matteocrepaldi]

I haven't been on neither of them but Gatekeeper looks better!

[Rollercoaster Rider]

I wish B&M would take a hard look at Magnum or I305 and take some ideas...

How about taking a hard look at literally ANYTHING. I mean, I rode Iron Shark this year. A compact, tiny little Gerstlauer that packed WAAAAAAY more forces, fun and excitement than just about anything B&M has done in the last 10 years.

 

I *get* B&M Fanboys for what they did from 1992 - 2000. They had almost a perfect track record of hits during those years. Made some of (still) the best coasters out there.

 

Then from 2001 - 2006, it was hit and miss, with nothing in that time frame being anywhere as good as the earlier years, and then 2007 onwards, c'mon... they are just phoning it in. The last six years have been a snoozefest of "trying to like" a bunch of forceless coasters because they *used* to make the most badass OMFG BLOW YOUR MIND AWAY coasters 20 years ago.

 

I just simply cannot get excited about a new B&M anymore because they don't make exciting rides anymore.

 

--Robb "There. I said it." Alvey

 

 

I think Behemoth had some good air and Tatsu was pretty intense

[Geauga Dog]

Definitely X Flight. I think the wing coasters work better as a smaller ride rather than a larger ride plus it seems to have a more fluid layout than Gatekeeper.

[yay101]

Hmmmmmmmmm I hate to go against my home park SFGAm, but I liked GateKeeper's layout and aesthetic view better.

 

I do have to give X-Flight tons of credit though because it had more of a clever theme to it than GateKeeper.

[Werner]

I agree with most said above. There is just no good Wing-Coaster out there that i've ridden. Now back to the question, i choose X-Flight as the better of the 2, it was just a little less boring

[Mrlittle]

I can't decide which one I dislike more. Seriously, wing coasters are boring rides. Okay if I had to choose, I pick gatekeeper only because CP got a really nice new park entrance.

[robbalvey]

I pick gatekeeper only because CP got a really nice new park entrance.

This. I think my favorite part about Gatekeeper is it brought Cedar Point forward about 30 years in terms of your first impressions as you walk up to the park. As for the ride itself? I didn't even bother to ride it again when we visited for 3 days in August. I rode it during the media day. Got the footage and photos we needed, but I had zero interest in riding again. I mean, why ride Gatekeeper when there is Maverick and at least 10 other BETTER coasters in the same park?

 

Actually, I take that back. I *did* attempt to ride it one of the nights we were there, but it was down for the rest of the evening. Not that I cared either way, I was just going to give it a "courtesy ride" and I couldn't be bothered to go back and try again the other two days we were at the park.

 

--Robb "Not a fan of Wing Coasters." Alvey

[cfc]

^Exactly--Maverick, Millennium force, Raptor, Blue Streak, and even Magnum are better rides than Gatekeeper.

[RCjunkie]

X-flight and Gatekeeper are the only Wing riders I have been on and I would also have to choose Gatekeeper over X-flight because of the location. It is next to the water and now defines the entire entrance to the park. It looks great but just rides OK, just not thrilling enough for me. On a 10 scale I would give both a 6.5 but that's me.

[rosscoe]

I really don't think there is too much of a battle between these two rides, they are both ho hum fun rides. Nothing special about either one of them. Swarm on the other hand had at least a little force behind it.

[Werner]

I'd have to agree with you Ross I did 4 of them this year being(in order): The Swarm, Wild Eagle, X-Flight and Gatekeeper. Now let that also be the order i like them most. Yes! I prefer Wild Eagle over X-Flight and Gatekeeper