Viper Review, Six Flags Great America Cyclone Coaster | The One Coaster Six Flags Built Themselves

[@Joypyf]

The back car is where it’s at for this coaster!

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's a decent one.

[@mdf3530]

I was at Great America Thursday and got a great ride on Viper. I rode in the back row and I was getting flung out of my seat diagonally. I havve no problem with the PTC trains, but if they could get some Millennium Flyers or Timberliners on it it would be great.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's running well this year.

[@zsintic]

You forgot to mention that the double down is unique to viper, and the lift used to never slow down (check POV's from the early 2010's). Considering the ride has no mid course or trims you can only imagine the airtime and laterals produced by just a couple extra mph off the first drop. Glad you enjoyed it anyways! I always love grabbing a 5 minute max wait ride when I go.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Makes sense!

[@jtwoolley]

I LOVE THIS RIDE! 10/10

[@CanobieCoaster]

Glad you do!

[@charleskummerer]

Despite having the stats of a pretty major coaster, I think it's the perfect first thrill ride for any young kid just hitting the height requirement. Definitely more enjoyable than American Eagle imo

[@CanobieCoaster]

True.

[@g-pa2023]

The start-up coasters for kids at SFGAm is definitely viper along with the demon and the whizzer

[@jatarian9540]

My sister was complaining the whole time then started fake limping off it lol

[@joetill2994]

Bummer that you didn’t enjoy this ride more! It does seem to be inconsistent, but most of the hills usually give much more air than you described. Hopefully it’s running better for you next time!

[@CanobieCoaster]

It did have a slower lift in 2021 that may have factored in.

[@koalakyle19]

This is probably my favorite ride in the park. I actually get tons of ejector airtime on the first drop if I sit in the back. And yes, I got some night rides on this, and its great in the dark. It sounds like you must have caught it on a bad day

[@CanobieCoaster]

Did you ride it in 2021? Others said it wasn't running the best in 2021.

[@koalakyle19]

@@CanobieCoaster Yes, I did ride it in 2021. That's probably the roughest its been in awhile. Hopefully they've made some adjustments to the trains in offseason that could possible make it more smooth

[@denone5327]

I enjoy Viper for what it is. It’s a fun ride. I will be riding the Coney Island Cyclone this summer so I can’t wait to check it out.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@coasternerd6978]

I am used to riding this thing on 90 degree hot summer days and I got good airtime on every hill. I rode it on a 50 degree day in the morning though and it was considerably rougher and had much less airtime. Still since this is my home park I can easily go on hot days so I can guarantee myself great rides.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I only got summer rides.

[@coasternerd6978]

I’m sorry to hear that :(. I guess that different bodies feel different things.

[@brandoncole5533]

Fr the airtime is insane especially on the double down and the 2nd to last airtime hill

[@bettymac1866]

I've always been so intrigued by this ride.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The original is the really special one.

[@maxhagenauer24]

I remember when I first rode Viper, how much I absolutely hated it. Now, as an enthusiast, it's one of my favorite wooden coasters iv ridden. I think I prefer this to American Eagle. The drop and first turns may hurt sometimes but this ride is full of airtime. The hill after the turn next to the lift hill, the ending hills, a hill in the structure. Those are all great and will give fantastic ejector airtime. It's such a long ride throwing more unexpected airtime at you as it does several laps threw its structure and long layout which makes it probably the best night ride in the park. For all these reasons, I prefer this ride to all 3 wooden coasters at Six Flags St. Louis, which is saying a lot.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I definitely prefer this to Eagle.

[@AirtimeProductions]

Vipers laterals are really good! The pacing needs improvement but it’s fine because you still have fun regardless

[@CanobieCoaster]

True.

[@josephqualtier961]

This has always been a fav of mine, it’s a long ride and has some fun airtime

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's solid.

[@jackkilman8726]

Have not ridden Viper or the original, but I grew up with the Texas Cyclone and it was a monster of a coaster. You had to be a foot taller to ride in the back car because smaller riders risked being ejected by the airtime (this was in the days of buzz bars). I still remember it as one of the most intense and violent (in a good way) coasters I've ever ridden.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That one sounded like one of the better clones.

[@Paolo8772]

I’ve not ridden Cyclone or any if it’s Clones, but since you asked which I think is better I’d say the original for having more airtime

[@CanobieCoaster]

I like that one more too.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Hey, Canobie Coaster! There were other Cyclone clones at Six Flags parks built by Dinn Corporation!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes.

[@Adrians_films]

Best coaster at great America

[@CanobieCoaster]

Not for me.

[@theluffinater9470]

I love the viper. It's one of the few roller coasters I've been on

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@KalelAvila8185]

SFGA is my home park and I'm happy it ranks # 2 of all six flags .

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's one of their best parks.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I've never ridden the original, but I've ridden this one several times. I rode Texas Cyclone back in 2002, and I knew at the time that it was a mirror image of the original. I remember saying that it was easily better than Zingo, but I certainly don't remember how good the forces were.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Texas Cyclone sounded like one of the better clones.

[@gregorymoore2877]

@@CanobieCoaster By my definition of "clone", it was actually the ONLY clone. That I'm aware of. Best ride in all of AstroWorld, IMO. A close second would have been Greezed Lightnin'. AstorWorld was my home park.

[@chargedonpc9989]

It looks like a solid coaster.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes

[@brandoncole5533]

Just got off it and it was AMAZING

[@CanobieCoaster]

Glad you liked it.

[@uu9rj]

I agree with every word of this when its running cold. Im in the camp a ride isnt elite if you have to play games to catch it running well, but viper is the exception to the rule. In the rain or hot sun with a full train it really comes to life. The double down on a rain ride with an extremely loose restraint is the most scared I've been on a coaster in years. Again though, I agree running in a more average state its nothing too special, a 7 makes sense.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I only have been on this in the summer too.

[@g-pa2023]

Fact: Train 1 (cars 11-15) runs faster than Train 2 (cars 21-25).

[@CanobieCoaster]

Interesting!

[@rollercoasterheaven2170]

This was very rough but it had fun airtime though and actually crazy laterals still not too fun

[@CanobieCoaster]

It was running nice this year.

[@rockingtr1]

I think more of Viper is enclosed than Coney Cyclone. It's dark in the daytime like mine tunnels. With the twisty laterals and shorter drops and chops, it's really snakey like the theme haha. I've never considered it a clone. Also kinda surprised to hear it's still smooth! (Heavy PTC trains and all this time & weather! I remember a smooth Eagle!)

[@CanobieCoaster]

True, it feels more enclosed.

[@gregorymoore2877]

I think some people use the term "clone" more loosely than I do. The Summers & Dinn Cyclone "clones" are very similar but I feel the hill profiles extremely different. Also, the original Cyclone has a station that is tucked into the inner part of the ride's structure. That last curve has a small dip that ducks down back into the structure and pops up into the breaks. The S&D "clones" don't do this. They just have a final turn that leads directly into the breaks and then into a station building that stands apart from the main structure. Not very clone like by my definition of the word "clone." The ONLY true clone that I'm aware of was the Texas Cyclone, which was a mirror image. Bill Cobb was hired to travel to Coney Island to evaluate whether the original Cyclone could be relocated to AstroWorld. (It was threatened with demolition at the time.) Instead, he was able to give advice on how to fix the original to keep it running. In return, he was given plans for the original which he worked from to design the Texas Cyclone. It was made a mirror image to fit into AstroWorld's layout better. I've never actually ridden the original, but I've seen POVs many times. I rode the Texas Cyclone many, many times as it was the best ride at my home park, AstroWorld. Whenever I see POVs of the original, I feel like I'm riding the Texas Cyclone again as all the hill profiles and transitions are nearly exact, including the extra dip after the last curve and the station being tucked into the main structure. When I see a POV of a Summer & Dinn Cyclone "clone", I feel like I'm riding something that was inspired by the original, but is also very different.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's a fair point and I agree with that. I'll update the title.

[@Jfxkxdvrvr]

Still remember waiting over an hour just to not be able to ride because I was 47 inches :( Won a watch in the crane after so that made up for it a little bit

[@CanobieCoaster]

Oh no!

[@djsugarc1075]

my fav seat on this is front row of the back car. i find the airtime more aggressive/abrupt than the very back. might be placebo though, gonna have to test that theory again this year.

[@CanobieCoaster]

A few others said it wasn't running as strong in 2021 due to the lift being slowed.

[@jtwoolley]

viper has scary good laterals

[@CanobieCoaster]

It has some good spots.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

It’s interesting that even though the Coney Island Cyclone coasters are pretty similar the original is the smallest but the fastest

[@CanobieCoaster]

I am skeptical that speed stat is accurate.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

@@CanobieCoaster yeah it would be insane if it is that fast

[@360coasters]

What is the other Cyclone clone at a six flags park that's still operating?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Bandit. The ride was built when Six Flags owned Movie Park Germany.

[@dominodan7933]

I am always Confused because my home Park is Movie Park Germany, including Bandit, what isn't a mirrored cyclone. Very rogh, but always nice for airtime. I rode this Rcca clone about 1100 Times since 2018 :)

[@CanobieCoaster]

I rode Bandit and didn't think it was as bad as its reputation suggested.

[@thequackenscoasterchannel2927]

Spot on with this review based on how it ran for me in 2021. The first half is pretty forgettable, but the second half is where it gets good. A little bumpy in the back car, but tolerable.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I know a ton of people who love this ride, but I've always found it decent.

[@Asshat237]

As a Brooklynite i have ridden the cyclone at least 25 times. The way they turned the drop to the left on Viper seems to be where it goes wrong. I am assuming the had to do it to make it fit into the plot of land sfga put it in.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The original Cyclone's drop sort of turns to the right so that alone isn't a dealbreaker.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Was Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia rougher than Viper at Six Flags Great America? The roughest coaster for you were the SLCs with the traditional SLC trains?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Great American Scream Machine is rougher than Viper. Coaster Express is the roughest coaster.

[@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239]

Based off my 2019 rides, it was excellent. However, after my 2021 ride, it was not very good

[@mmocken]

I agree!!! In 2021, they slowed the chain just before first drop. Before 2020, it was a fantastic back row ride...now best row is #2(off wheel) and it is ok. Was 8.5, now 6.5

[@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239]

@@mmocken I thought the airtime was nonexistent in 2021, and it was really rough

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's a bummer it wasn't as good in 2021.

[@certifiednucci6315]

Aska was the best cyclone clone

[@CanobieCoaster]

I never rode that one, but I still like the original.

[@zachcoastercrazy4032]

What is the other Cyclone clone at a six flags park?

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Psyclone at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Texas Cyclone at Six Flags Astroworld and the old Georgia Cyclone at Six Flags Over Georgia

[@CanobieCoaster]

Bandit. That one was built when Six Flags owned Movie Park Germany.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

@@CanobieCoaster Forgot about that one

[@zachcoastercrazy4032]

@@CanobieCoaster That's the one. Thank you

[@mateoalvira3514]

Was this better or worse than American Eagle at Six Flags Great America? Was this roughest wooden roller coaster you've ridden?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Better

[@davidnevolo4402]

Dang nothing ur saying sounds like the viper i used to ride. 2000-2008 viper was all ejector

[@zsintic]

It's because they slowed down the lift once you reach the top. I get they want to preserve the ride by lowering the forces but it's just not the same experience now.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish I could've experienced that version.

[@jtwoolley]

you should review desert storm at castles n coasters

[@CanobieCoaster]

Maybe in the future.

[@jtwoolley]

@@CanobieCoaster okayyy

[@mateoalvira3514]

was Viper better than all other coasters at Six Flags Great America for you?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Not all of them.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Was this worse than American Eagle also at Six Flags Great America for you?

[@CanobieCoaster]

No

[@MrJimmy527]

I guess Jimmy's Whirligig at All-Star Flags Great America didn't like us anymore. I don't care about updating, changing and replacing attractions and the rest of parks and fairs from around the world anymore.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Wasn't that rethemed?

[@MrJimmy527]

@@CanobieCoaster It sure was.

[@jaredlucas4815162342]

It has pacing issues. I don’t dislike it. But it can never keep its speed.

[@CanobieCoaster]

True

[@dytamic]

they should rmc it :troll:

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wouldn't mind!

[@jtwoolley]

i have ridden this....

[@CanobieCoaster]

Me too.

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

Having this as top 4 in a park with 15 coasters is kinda weak ngl

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's a solid supporting coaster.

[@tdog8600]

Viper is very meh in my opinion

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's decent.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

As seen in the review videos, Canobie Coaster, would say: I would give Viper a 7 out of 10, and Bandit a 3 out of 10. What are the differences between the 3 and the 7 on roller coasters? What do you think? A) 3 is liked and enjoyable, 7 is exceptional B) 3 is good, 7 is bad C) 3 is not particularly good, 7 is liked and enjoyable D) 3 is an abomination, 7 is ok

[@CanobieCoaster]

C

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Imagine you going again to Six Flags Great America, what do you think about American Eagle, Demon, and Viper?

[@CanobieCoaster]

They're fine.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What do you think, of the Cyclone clones, did most people and enthusiasts like Viper at Six Flags Great America and/or the original Cyclone at Coney Island (Luna Park)?

[@CanobieCoaster]

People seem to like both. I much prefer the original.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Would you like to go again to Six Flags Great America?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What do you think, did most people and enthusiasts prefer Viper at Six Flags Great America, or the original Cyclone at Coney Island?

[@CanobieCoaster]

The original Cyclone. It's more extreme.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Do you know a Cyclone cloned wooden coaster in Europe?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes, Bandit.