If you’ve read my blog for a while you’ve noticed how often I point out the rougher wooden coasters. Rides like the Cyclone at Six Flags New England and Wildcat at Hershey Park are abusive and terribly uncomfortable. This week, we’ll look at some of the roughest steel roller coasters around. This is a tough Top 3 to pull together. There are rides that have some pretty rough moments like Kings Dominion’s Anaconda during the brake run, but usually roughness is momentary on steel coasters. Thanks to Quil for suggesting this week’s topic.
3 – Mantis at Cedar Point
Mantis, one of the largest stand-up coasters in the World, added a new dimension to roller coaster roughness. During my ride I felt a strong pain in my legs from the g-forces and some unwelcome head banging from a few of the loops. From the comments on my review, others seem to have had similar experiences. For me, Mantis was one of the biggest disappointments in Cedar Point’s lineup and possibly one of B&M’s worst roller coasters.
2 – Ninja at Six Flags Over Georgia
When I rode the Ninja in 2008 it was my worst ride of the year. It looks cool with it’s twisted red track situated on a pond near the back of the park. Unfortunately, the ride is rough, shaky, and has your head bouncing off of the hard over-the-shoulder restraints. Also, other than its appearance there wasn’t anything from the ride that was enjoyable. Ninja makes me glad that there aren’t more Vekoma seated loopers in the U.S.
1 – Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure
Great American Scream Machine is an aggregiously rough Arrow looper sitting on a picturesque parking lot at Great Adventure. Like the other rough coasters on this list you’ll definitely find your head bouncing off the should restraints. But, on GASM there is also significant headbang during the transitions and in places that are usually harmless on other rides. This roller coaster has almost nothing to offer and I can’t believe how some people can look past the rough, jarring, and just unfun ride.
Dishonorable Mention
The Vekoma SLC’s Mind Eraser clones were definitely in contention for the Top 3, but some of them are actually rideable. T2 at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom was probably the roughest of the clones. The Flight of Fear 
at Kings Dominion and Jokers Jinx were both super painful when they had over-the-shoulder restraints. In fact, Flight of Fear would probably take the worst spot if it wasn’t for that change. I remember wanting aspirin every time I got off of that ride.
What’s Your Take?
Do you agree with my list of the roughest steel coasters? What were some of the roughest steelies you’ve ridden? Leave a comment below. Pictures courtesy of CoasterImage.
December 10, 2009 at 19:48
Iron Wolf is much rougher than Mantis in my opinion. Is Ninja at SFOG really that much worse than the one St. Louis Ninja? I found the St. Louis one fairly enjoyable to my surprise.
December 11, 2009 at 03:06
I`d actualy say the Steamin Demon at my home park The Great Escape, is rougher than Scream Machine, but MindEraser@SFNE was the worst i`ve ridden.
December 11, 2009 at 03:54
Yes these are.According to me Iron Wolf is more tougher than anything else.I took a ride on St. Louis and it was great.
December 11, 2009 at 08:16
Mantis is not that rough, especially when compared to Iron Wolf. There have got to be some other rides that are worse than these. Maybe some Arrow rides? Boomerangs?
December 11, 2009 at 12:14
It's really just the roughest steel coasters I've ridden. I can't speak to anything at Six Flags St. Louis or Great Escape.
And I missed Iron Wolf when I was at Six Flags Great America. It was a rainy day and they closed it by the time I worked my over to that ride. I wouldn't be surprised though since it was B&M's first roller coaster.
Mantis was especially rough for me. Some have speculated that height can play a role with regards to the leg pain/pressure. Plus Mantis is so large that the speed will easily generate the force needed to toss your head around especially during the final corkscrews.
The Vekoma boomerangs could join the dishonorable mentions, but I just find all those Mind Eraser clones a little more punishing.
December 11, 2009 at 16:55
Steamin Demon is a Vekonama to all those wondering.
December 11, 2009 at 18:06
It's hard for me to rank these, so in no particular order, my roughest steel coasters are:
Thunderhawk/Serial Thriller at Geauga Lake (much smoother at Michigan's Adventure)
T2 at Kentucky Kingdom (the only ride in the park with a line!)
Steel Phantom at Kennywood (now the loopless Phantom's Revenge)
HyperSonic XLC at King's Dominion (caused a 2-hour headache)
Whirlwind at Knoebel's (OUCH!)
Great American Scream Machine at Great Adventure (Yep, I, too, love that scenic view!)
Wait, I lied … the one that beat me up the MOST was Toboggan at Lakemont Park this past summer!
December 12, 2009 at 03:55
I actualy enjoyed Scream Machine.
December 12, 2009 at 10:08
my roughest steel or wood are:
gwazi tiger
Lohness Monster
December 12, 2009 at 13:49
My roughest steel and woodie are:
Viper at SFMM
Cyclone an SFNE
December 12, 2009 at 15:11
Mine are:
Mind Eraser@SFNE
and a tie between:
ROAR@SFAm
and
Cyclone@SFNE
December 14, 2009 at 14:06
With GADV as my home park, I must agree with you about GASM! Which is why I hope for '11 they tear it down, plant some grass, and replace it with a dive machine.
December 14, 2009 at 14:06
Sorry for the double comment, but I really think you ought to ride Wildcat again. It's very smooth and fun!! It did used to be rough, though.
December 14, 2009 at 17:04
That'd be great if Great Adventure did that. I doubt they will because Six Flags is moving to more family friendly attractions, but you never know. They could at least tear down GASM and put something better there.
I've heard Wildcat may been rehabbed so I may try it again when I make it back to Hershey.
Thanks for reading!
February 8, 2010 at 08:23
I rode Wildcat on Halloween after having not been to HersheyPark for a few years. I'm usually a backseat rider, but I thought Wildcat was best when I sat in the middle. The ride was pretty smooth when I was seated there (back seat was rough, front seat was boring). Add to that, they would let you have repeat rides as long as no one was in the queue line for your seat. Everyone was lined up for the front and back seats, so I just stayed in the middle, happily buckled in and riding over and over again.
December 14, 2009 at 17:27
I'm usually a back seat rider, but I got my best rides on Wildcat on Halloween near the center of the train. No lines, so repeat rides were allowed. It was good, but Lightning Racer, especially Thunder, was much better.
December 15, 2009 at 02:46
Wildcat? isn`t that a copy of ROAR.
December 15, 2009 at 16:03
It's not a perfect clone, but Wildcat & Roar are very close in design. Nearly identical I think.
December 17, 2009 at 04:11
i thought i got a cuncussion after getting off of that thing. if wildcat is smooth then i`ll be able to enjoy a ride like that whithout having to clutch at my head for the rest of the day.
February 8, 2010 at 08:07
Actually, the Exterminator at Kennywood I remember being a death machine. My friends and I were really banged up after that ride, especially if you were on either the inside or outside, I can't remember. But wherever that was, that was a bad place to be.
But strangely enough, the darkness made getting banged up kinda fun. Kinda like a mosh pit I suppose.
February 8, 2010 at 08:19
I've learned not to sit next to "bony" people. When they get tossed up against you, it can be pretty painful. I think my most painful experience was on Galaxy Spin at Cypress Gardens when I was wedged between my skinny brother and a hard, sharp edge on the corner of the seat. When we started to spin, I thought my ribs were going to crack!
May 27, 2010 at 07:57
My roughest steel was the Vekoma Death Machine Mind Eraser @ Elitch Gardens. It should be called Headbang: The Ride.
June 24, 2010 at 18:12
The original Cyclone at SFNE (Riverside Park at the time) was absurdly rough and rickety back in the eighties. It was simulateously awesome and awful as you honestly felt like you were going to die on the first drop every time. Even the last turn was way too rough, you felt like the train was going to fall off the tracks. They're tamed the first drop now, but back in the day that Cyclone was ridiculous.
I'd say Iron Wolf is easily the roughest coaster I've been on that's still around. Riding that ****ing thing is like going a few rounds with Butterbean. It bashes your skull against a rock-hard restraint on every turn. Mantis does its best to crush your balls and head simultaneously, but nothing can compare to the shots to the head that Iron Wolf gives you. Iron Wolf's the only coaster I've been on that I'd call truly unridable.