Booster Bike
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2010) |
- Note: For 'Booster bicycle' see Electric bicycle
| Booster Bike | |
|---|---|
 The horseshoes of Booster Bike | |
| Toverland | |
| Location | Toverland |
| Coordinates | 51°23′51″N 5°59′03″E / 51.39750°N 5.98417°E |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | July 27, 2004 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Motorbike – Launched |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Designer | Vekoma |
| Model | Motorbike Coaster (600m) |
| Track layout | Out and Back |
| Height | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Length | 594 m (1,949 ft) |
| Speed | 75 km/h (47 mph) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:08 |
| Acceleration | "0 to 46.6 mph (0 to 75 km/h) in 3 seconds". |
| G-force | 2.5 |
| Height restriction | 55 in (140 cm) |
| Trains | Single train with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 16 riders per train. |
| Layout |  |
| Booster Bike at RCDB | |
Booster Bike is a steel roller coaster located at Toverland in the Netherlands. It is the prototype of a motorbike rollercoaster, built by Vekoma.
Design and construction
[edit]In 2003, Vekoma premiered the Motorbike Coaster at the IAAPA Expo. The reception was good, as it received the Award for "Best Idea Euro Amusement Show 2004 – Paris" at the Euro Amusement Show in Paris.[1] The major difference with the normal sitdown rollercoaster is the positioning of the rider. Instead of the normal sitting seats, the rider takes place in a seat that is more leaning forward, like an actual motorbike. The rider can hold on to the 'steering wheel', and the rider is secured using a harness that pushes down on the back of the rider.
Ride layout
[edit]The ride layout is Out and Back, characterized by the long, stretching launch and the hills parallel to the launch. The ride starts with an S-curve, after which the train will be stopped before the launch. When the train is launched to 75 km/h (46.6 mph), it takes a stretched hill, which is followed by a turn to the right and the horseshoe. Then the horizontal loop and a left turn follow. The last part consists of two hills. After those, the ride ends with a brake run and a corner left.
Similar rides
[edit]After this motorbike coaster, two more were built. A clone of Booster Bike was built in China, in Chimelong Paradise. In Flamingoland, a custom model was built, with a different positioning of the helix parts.
Merchandise
[edit]In July 2024, to promote the coaster's 20th anniversary, the park offered a handful of special items for sale. These included customized airbrushed motorcycle helmets for €1,495 each, plastic riding motorcycles for children at €94,95 each, and a selection of used coaster wheels, which are occasionally sold off by the park when in stock.[2][3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Booster Bike (Press Release)". Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ "Win exclusieve Booster Bike souvenirs". Toverland (in Dutch). July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ "Toverland viert twintigste verjaardag Booster Bike met souvenir van 1495 euro". Looopings (in Dutch). July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.