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Intamin AG / Bolliger & Mabillard

Which coaster manufacturer turns out better coasters.

From Formula 40
Posted August 3, 2010 at 5:29 PM
Bolliger and Mabillard currently has 13 coasters on Amusement Today's top 25 steel coaster list. Intamin AG has only 5 but it's top two (Bizarro at SFNE, Millennium Force) have had the number one spot for the last 10 years.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Formula 40
Posted August 3, 2010 at 3:29 PM
Kind of a cats & dogs argument, but I'd like to see peoples opinions.

From isaiah mercado
Posted August 3, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Intamin AG has smoother coasters than B&M. B&M's coasters are sometimes rough. But i Dont have A favorite.

From Russell Meyer
Posted August 3, 2010 at 7:41 PM
I would have to ask which Intamin and B&M coaster you have ridden Isaiah?

I've ridden all of the top coasters on that particular list, and would highly question where one would say that Intamin's are smoother than B&M's. In fact, by their very design, B&M trains are designed to be smoother because of their wide carriage and larger wheels. Are there some very smooth Intamins, sure, but those are typically the ones that are near the top of the list because of their good maintenance and larger wheels (gigas and hypers).

Also, smoothness does not always come down to manufacturer. It has a lot to do with the fabrication company (the iron workers that piece, bolt, and weld the track into place) and the park itself. Not only does the park's maintenance staff have a lot to do with the smoothness and performance of the coaster, but the location of the park can dramatically affect the smoothness of the coaster depending on the climate and other considerations (sound dampening-Talon, Led Zeppelin, Intimidator or earthquake protection- V2, Xcelerator, California Screamin').

Smoothness can also be perceived differently depending on how riders are restrained within a coaster. Trains with OTSRs always seem rougher because a slight jolt or bump will cause riders to bang their head, while trains with simple lap bars seem smoother because there's nothing for your head to bump into. In fact, if you look at 2009's top 10 list, there's not a single coaster on that list with OTSRs, and subsequently no inversions.

From isaiah mercado
Posted August 3, 2010 at 8:07 PM
^ well I've only been on Xcelerator and Superman: The Escape of Intamin AG and Batman, Scream, Riddler's Revenge, and Silver Bullet of B&M. Batman and Silver Bullet are kinda smooth but Riddler and Scream not so much. I found Xcelerator really smooth but it was probably cause of where i was sitting. A friend of mine visited SFNE and told me about Bizarro and he said that it was really smooth so i took his word. Obviously you've been on more Intamins than me or him Russell so I guess i'll take your word.

From Nick Markham
Posted August 4, 2010 at 12:08 PM
I like to compare them this way, putting up their best coasters against each other. Here is a list of some of the top coasters by each designer. It is up to you to decide which is better, though I must side with Bolliger & Mabillard:

B&M

-SheiKra
-Dragon Challenge
-Manta
-Nitro
-Diamondback
-Intimidator
-Tatsu
-Bizarro
-Montu
-Goliath

Intamin

-Bizarro
-Millennium Force
-Top Thrill Dragster
-Wicked Twister
-Storm Runner
-Fahrenheit
-Intimidator 305
-Volcano Blast Coaster
-El Toro
-California Screamin'

From Formula 40
Posted August 4, 2010 at 12:17 PM
Good list, Nick. Consider the variety each builder has. B&M has popularized sitting, stand-up, flying, inverted, diving machine, floorless, and hyper/mega coasters. Intamin has LIM, spacediver, impulse, and giga/strata. Keep in mind also that Intamin has designed some of the best wooden coasters (El Toro, Colossos, Balder, T Express) with their pre-fabricated design.

From Tyler Bell
Posted August 4, 2010 at 12:33 PM
I agree with nick,but don not forget that hulk is also a B&M

From Elizabeth Gray
Posted August 4, 2010 at 1:03 PM
I tend to lean toward B & M Coasters.

Their Talon at Dorney Park is really underated. However I DETEST Mantis at Cedar Point. But in the end for me it is all about Alpengeist at BGW.

However my favorite modern woodie is El Toro and that is an Intamin.

From michael george
Posted February 11, 2011 at 6:56 PM
by far b&m coasters are the best in the world! intamin has no original ideas and over do it on there engineneering. i know walter bolliger personally and he amazes me still what he does.bolliger and mabillard designed the intamin's space diver when they work for giavonola.b&m never worked for intamin, just did coasters under the firm of giavonola for intamin.there is so much more history of the batman inverted coaster that everybody dont know.intamin has problems replicating b&m's track.b&m are the mastermind of the roller coaster world.it's how they do it!!!

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