Just a curious question here...have B&M sit-down coasters sort of "died" as of late? I could be out of the loop, but the last one that was built was Hulk at Universal, right? I've been on Kumba at BGT and I loved it. How many are out there right now? Are they not popular? Is B&M cashing in on it's hyper design and neglecting future sit-down designs? What's going on?

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I haven't heard of too many being built, but with the different gimmicks out there (flying, impulse, inverted, suspended, launched, etc.) parks seem more intent on providing a more unique coaster, rather than something where you sit in a regular train. Go figure.

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[QUOTE=DJ_ProcSwitch]Is B&M cashing in on it's hyper design and neglecting future sit-down designs? What's going on?[/QUOTE]
Once again, it's not up to B&M. If a park wants a sit down coaster, B&M is going to build it for them. They still advertise their dive machine for crying out loud.

B&M isn't really "cashing in" on anything. Parks see something they want and buy it. If anything, B&M is cashing in on the floorless and inverted styles. There are only four B&M speed coasters (hypers) and 2002 was the last time one was built. Floorless and inverted coasters are still being sold and given unique layouts (Golden Lion at Tivoli Gardens and Silver Bullet at Knott's).

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Another thing...their Floorless coasters are basically a new generation, high-end version of the traditional sitting looping coaster. Why build a looping coaster with closed trains when you can enhance the experience with open sided, floorless vehicles that are also available by the same manufacturer?

The last B&M 'sit down' coaster was Wild Fire @ SDC, and even that has elevated type of seats. It's alittle unfortunate, Kumba has always been my favorite coaster hands down, and I think the floorless coaster trains really don't add all that much in terms of extra thrills.

There isn't much to draw people with on a normal sit-down, so theres a lack of newer ones.

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[QUOTE=PANTSFREE]I think the floorless coaster trains really don't add all that much in terms of extra thrills.[/QUOTE]
But it doesn't take away from the thrills either. A lot of people think that floorless trains add a lot to the ride, so why would they choose something that would give the same thing actual ride, but some people would think was less thrilling since it had a floor?

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It looks like floorless coasters are the next generation sit-down loopers (from B&M).

[QUOTE=General Public]It looks like floorless coasters are the next generation sit-down loopers (from B&M).[/QUOTE]
I agree... Why not? With a floorless we're removing any extra unnecessary materials off the sit down cars. It's like any business or model; remove unneccesary items, make it lighter and cheaper.

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Yeah, they wanted a lighter, cheaper roller coaster car, not a new design that would generate greater excitement for the riders.

Most people arent thinking "But the sit-down coaster is dying out! We need to save it!!1" Unlike endangered animals, people dont care if a certain type of coaster is going the way of the dodo. Its the way the world works. Sort of like standups, people are losing intrest in them.

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Dude, you're mistaken. You have conveniently forgotten the throngs of parkgoers who are prepared (violently if need be) to return side-friction coasters to their rightful place inside all major amusement parks. ;)

[QUOTE=coasterguy1]of like standups, people are losing intrest in them.[/QUOTE]

It's not the people that are losing interest in them. It's the wave of other 'new' gimmicks that have washed over the stand-up coaster concept in the industry recently, which has been out since the 1980's; I believe the concept has reached its zenith in size and magnitude with The Riddler's Revenge. The industry is always seeking out the newer, more radical and unexplored designs.

Another thing about stand-up coasters is that they have low capacities. People can never get in and out of them correctly, so it slows down the line. I think that's the main reason parks aren't buying stand-ups anymore.

But we're talking about the sit-down variety. :)

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ThrillNetwork editor emeritus - NSCIGC member
Voyage is the best roller coaster ever.
Raptor ride count - 1,146.

I think B&M standups will die out before the sit-downs.

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I for one, love a good Floorless so much more than a sit-down. The idea of being able to swing your legs out feels much more free, and much less restricting.

Yea, thats my favorite aspect of the hyper coster trains. Going down massive 200ft plus drops with your feet dtraight out is great fun.

I want to ride a Floorless so bad now. I was wondering, does it feel like your feet are gonna hit the track when it goes really fast? I would think so!!!! :confused:

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Element of Freedom - December 15th

When I rode Medusa @ SFGADV for the first time last summer, when the train first left the station and when the train was going up the lift the floorless trains gave a much more open and vulnerable type of feeling, but once the ride got started I really didn't notice that much of a difference from regular sit downs.

I have to agree 100%. People, in general, enjoy new concepts because they make things up about them. Examples:
In line for Alpengeist during VTBC's opening year, I heard some guy saying: "There's a new ride at PKD, that launches you one hundred mph in half a second through fire." Ugh.
My point is, when there is a new and unusual concept, people don't know what to expect, and are tempted to check it out. That happens to be a reason for me for not going to BGW since 2000.

[QUOTE=bk2004]I want to ride a Floorless so bad now. I was wondering, does it feel like your feet are gonna hit the track when it goes really fast? I would think so!!!! :confused:[/QUOTE]

In the very front row, yes. In all other rows, you really have to be focusing on your feet the entire time to get that feeling while the ride is in operation. In all other rows excluding the first one, the floorless effect is not so much more of a spectacular view like the front, but more of freedom of movement and lack of confinement.

Not only do riders like them, parks do too. The absent footwell is just one less part of a train riders can throw up in.

Or, more specifically, vomit cleaning ride-op whelps such as yourself enjoy the Floorless models more.

Me to. They already have. I dont think that parks will get sit-downs because they want something more unique. Like a floorless-flyer-inverted, ect. Sit down loopers were with arrow, not with all of the new train designs, they want something different!!!!!

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Element of Freedom - December 15th

It isnt really that they are unique, cause everyone has an inverted coaster. Its like Kraxle said, people are going for the new gimmicks rather than the old ideas (besides wooden coasters). Parks know that when people hear "floorless coaster" they will flock to the park to see what it is, just because it is some new, wild thing to them.

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I love Sidecar on Mainstreet!

Yeah. Parks can do wonders marketing a new Floorless coaster. Magic Mountain's radio ads for Scream! described it as "no track above you, no floor beneath you, and no car around you!"

And for the average person who hears an ad like that, it really gets you thinking - I wonder what [i]that's[/i] like? Or based on the description alone, you just visually imagine a person flying through the air in just an open chair.

I've been on a few floorless coasters, Kraken (sea world), Baman Knight flight (SFWOA), Superman ride of steel (WBMM). In my opinion as has been said they are only special if you sit in the front row otherwise there is not much difference from a sit down. The thing I don't like about them is the amount of extra time they take to load/unload because of the way the floor comes up and the fence thing at the front.

Oh by the way, I'm new on here. Is everyone from America on here?, no worries;I love your country!.

The floor-drop and gate sequence (performed simultaneously) only takes less than 5 seconds. Now, it's the crew working the ride that you shouldn't like if they're doing everything very slowly (checking restraints, etc)

[QUOTE=coaster kid]Oh by the way, I'm new on here. Is everyone from America on here?, no worries;I love your country!.[/QUOTE]
Do you mean are the approximate 275 million people from America on here? or do you mean is everyone here from America?

In either case, no.

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