I can't imagine having Iron Wolf, Demon, and Arrow's Shockwave in the same park at the same time. Early 90s Great America must've done a number on the kids and parents of Chicagoland with that lineup, but at least we got the smooth invert instead of an SLC!
Iron wolf was my favorite coaster growing up, marathoned it front row on its last day. Never got to ride shockwave, but the legends of its roughness are widely circulated. Demon has that one moment going into the corkscrew that’s rough but the rest of it is ok.
It's funny you mention the finale feeling similar to Rougarou, since it's literally the exact same layout. It's just that Rougarou turns to the left into the final brakes and Firebird goes straight on into em. In fact Rougarou is literally just Green Lantern's (SFGAdv) first half but smaller and Firebird's second half but bigger.
Boy oh boy. My ho.e park is Six Flags Great America and everytime I get in line for Goliath, I remember that there was the world's first B&M here. As rough as this thing may be, it means history, Iron Wolf, Apocalypse, now this. They cannot remove this cause it means the start of one of the best roller coaster manufacturers in the world.
The fire effects were working on my 2019 visit. I give the back a 1. I give the front a 0.5 . I know I'm probably being too harsh, but it's just so terrible for me. I have gotten so much headbanging on my 3 rides, 2 of them in the back. For some reason, I just can't avoid getting multiple moments of very painful headbanging. My technique with B&Ms OTSR don't work on Firebird. The 2 inversions are the only parts of the ride that didn't give me headbanging. It's my # 533 out of 533. If Apocalypse was worse, I'm glad I never rode it. I like Vortex at Carowinds, and I like Patriot at CGA. Simple layouts, but smooth & enjoyable for what they are.
I just went to Six flags America for my first time last week! On saturday! And I didn’t know there was a fire effect until I got on the ride. And man you can feel that heat! I was on the end seat and felt like it burned my eyebrows off!
I rode this in its last year as a stand up. I didn't think it was bad at all but then again my expectation with stand ups is "don't put stress fractures in my feet (cough...Green Lanturn) and we'll be fine." When I didn't feel it crushing my feet it had massively exceeded expectations.
I must be the lone soldier who actually really likes this ride. Only once have I ever had a shaky ride on it, and I’ve ridden it 5 times since its conversion, and twice beforehand. I actually find it to be one of the smoother B&Ms I’ve ridden.
i hope by the time i get out to maryland someday they still have this up. I used to ride it all the time back in the day when it was iron wolf (the best looking version of it imo, that track and logo looked awesome!) bc great america was my home park back then. it's sad to hear it has become so rough and unpopular but idk maybe ill still enjoy it. When i was riding iron wolf i never had any comfort issues it actually felt pretty smooth but one of my friends who would ride it with me found it rough, my theory is your height might've played a factor on top of your stance\seat placement as the 2 seasons we rode together i was either shorter or taller than her by at about 2 inches whilst her height stayed the same but she was doing the same stance as me & everything. It's been a long time so my rankings are based on several year old memories but i still have "Iron Wolf" in my top 35% of rides I've personally had the privilege to ride
It's funny how B&M started, but I'm glad they are still around. Or should I say STEEL around. Good riding tip. Love the colors too. I like the way Six Flags (letting it fade) Meanwhile Montu was repainted this year. Someone said it it reminded them of Kraft Mac n Cheese. LOL!
I rode this again today (June 2, 2024). Unfortunately the second train is not on site and more potholes are present. They solved the rattle though, but I would rather have the rattle back and not the half dozen potholes now present on the ride.
I actually ride this coaster multiple times and actually enjoy it when I go to my homepark but I always go the back row since the other rows make it a not good ride tbh..
I always thought this coaster had a unique and intriguing layout with the helixes in the first half, the drop in the middle of the ride and the twister finale
Canobie Coaster would say: Rather than having to adjust each seat to each rider, the floorless trains have just a simple over the shoulder harness plus redundant seatbelt. These harnesses are pretty hard and can cause headbanging, especially if you sit in the wrong row. 99% of the time, on most coasters, the ride is smoother towards the front. But Firebird...
The layout is fine, but this is one of the roughest coasters I have ever ridden. It is surprisingly rough for a steel coaster. It's not just the headbanging that is the issue. There is a severe shaking of the train throughout most of the layout. I came off this ride with a massive headache after riding it in 2020. It is more rough than Mind Eraser and even Roar. I feel like you are underselling just how rough this ride is.
I rode it as Iron Wolf. It is my #58 of the 59 B&M I've ridden. I doubt Firebird will be any better. Really just need to ride this and the 2 at Dorney to complete the B&M's in the US. Not really looking forward to Firebird tbh.
It’s a great looking ride. The new color scheme really makes it pop. I’m glad you covered it on a review. When I rode it as a floor-less it had that same head smack effect that rougerour has but that’s obvious from the difference in center of gravity.
Explain here: the history of the technique of how to ride B&M stand up coasters without problems, making the ride more comfortable, not painful, and great. All that of how to have the body well in the bike seat, it has worked you in all B&M stand up coasters except Vortex at Carowinds?
For me, this is a last row/head forward ride. And yeah it does rattle; but it's better than having my shoulders/groin smashed stand up style. As I've said before, Six Flags America is my home park and I have a like/dislike relationship with it: Like it because it's only 40 minutes from where I live, Superman: Ride of Steel; Wild One and Harley Quinn Spinsanity are must rides. Dislike the sometimes slow ride operations, Mind Eraser and Roar (although Road runs better in colder weather) are bumpy rides. I feel they should buy the land of the big paintball place next door and expand. Batwing hardly runs anymore ....
As a local, and employee of SFA, for the past 7 years not a day in my life have I seen this ride have a line even when the park is slammed. I honestly don’t even know if it’s cause of the capacity or it’s popularity likely it’s both
@@bustersales6921 sure, but it was a shame to remove the original B&M from the park that kept investing in their capacity machines. Goliath is a better ride than iron wolf was; I just miss being able to literally marathon iron wolf night rides every summer.
@Sean Christiansen I personally really can’t stand B&Ms, for the most part. They’re a very paradoxical company, as they’re responsible for some of the greatest coasters ever built (Flying Dinosaur, Montu, etc), but their rides, for the most part, are juiced up/glorified family coasters (especially their hyper models). I always thought Iron Wolf coming to 6FGAm was unfortunate, as it sparked the love affair with the park & BnM. As for the ride itself, no one was riding it anymore, it was so painful.
Imagine, you wish you could have ridden those six B&M stand up coasters (before three of them were converted), especially with the correct riding position to give enjoyable rides on all those six coasters that were considered rough and painful by many. Apocalypse at Six Flags America Vortex at California's Great America Vortex at Carowinds Mantis at Cedar Point Green Lantern at Six Flags Great Adventure Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain What would you say, Canobie Coaster? A) Yes, the method would have worked on all those six, making them enjoyable instead of painful as many found. B) The method would have worked on all those six, but Apocalypse was too rough to take the ride. C) The method would have worked on all those six, but Vortex (California's Great America) was too rough to take the ride. D) The method would have worked on all those six, but Vortex (Carowinds) was too rough to take the ride. E) The method would have worked on all those six, but Mantis was too rough to take the ride. F) The method would have worked on all those six, but Green Lantern was too rough to take the ride. G) The method would have worked on all those six, but Riddler's Revenge was too rough to take the ride.
I couldn’t stand the head banging when I first rode it as Iron Wolf, but then I learned to lean forward and it became much more enjoyable. Sad to hear the floorless trains didn’t solve the roughness issues. I’d still like to ride it again some day before it gets scrapped.
If we’re not counting Wilderness Run, considering it’s a glorified kiddy coaster, then Intamin clearly has the GOAT debut coaster, especially considering how absolutely monumental it was for it’s time
I haven't ridden it as Firebird, but as Apocalypse this ride sucked. Too rough for anyone to enjoy, not to mention crotch pain if you don't position the bike seat correctly.
I really don't like this ride. I don't know what happened. It was honestly better as an apocalypse when it comes to head banging. I wish they would have just torn it down. I don't even care that it's the first B&M
I have seen it said that Apocalypse was better, then I see others say that Firebird is better. I have a feeling that I would be Team Apocalypse had I ridden it, because I don't like Firebird at all. I find it comical how bad it is, which might be the only reason it hasn't been torn down.
Smoothest B&M!
In Maryland
@@CanobieCoaster airtime Myke would be proud
I sure love riding a Vekoma SLC with it's original trains:. Said no one ever
I can't imagine having Iron Wolf, Demon, and Arrow's Shockwave in the same park at the same time. Early 90s Great America must've done a number on the kids and parents of Chicagoland with that lineup, but at least we got the smooth invert instead of an SLC!
True!
Iron wolf was my favorite coaster growing up, marathoned it front row on its last day. Never got to ride shockwave, but the legends of its roughness are widely circulated. Demon has that one moment going into the corkscrew that’s rough but the rest of it is ok.
It's funny you mention the finale feeling similar to Rougarou, since it's literally the exact same layout. It's just that Rougarou turns to the left into the final brakes and Firebird goes straight on into em.
In fact Rougarou is literally just Green Lantern's (SFGAdv) first half but smaller and Firebird's second half but bigger.
Interesting!
I had no idea B&M very first coaster was this long! That's quite the debut
True!
Hey, Canobie Coaster! The fire effect has a reference to Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America, the B&M that started it all!
How does it reference that ride?
There is a statue of a wolf!
Boy oh boy. My ho.e park is Six Flags Great America and everytime I get in line for Goliath, I remember that there was the world's first B&M here. As rough as this thing may be, it means history, Iron Wolf, Apocalypse, now this. They cannot remove this cause it means the start of one of the best roller coaster manufacturers in the world.
I agree it's historic.
nice review on firebird roller coaster at six flags america !!!!
Thanks!
The fire effects were working on my 2019 visit. I give the back a 1. I give the front a 0.5 . I know I'm probably being too harsh, but it's just so terrible for me. I have gotten so much headbanging on my 3 rides, 2 of them in the back. For some reason, I just can't avoid getting multiple moments of very painful headbanging. My technique with B&Ms OTSR don't work on Firebird. The 2 inversions are the only parts of the ride that didn't give me headbanging. It's my # 533 out of 533. If Apocalypse was worse, I'm glad I never rode it.
I like Vortex at Carowinds, and I like Patriot at CGA. Simple layouts, but smooth & enjoyable for what they are.
I get why people dislike this ride. I'm surprised it was bad for you even in the back.
I just went to Six flags America for my first time last week! On saturday! And I didn’t know there was a fire effect until I got on the ride. And man you can feel that heat! I was on the end seat and felt like it burned my eyebrows off!
Nice!
I rode this in its last year as a stand up. I didn't think it was bad at all but then again my expectation with stand ups is "don't put stress fractures in my feet (cough...Green Lanturn) and we'll be fine." When I didn't feel it crushing my feet it had massively exceeded expectations.
It can get rough on your feet.
I must be the lone soldier who actually really likes this ride. Only once have I ever had a shaky ride on it, and I’ve ridden it 5 times since its conversion, and twice beforehand. I actually find it to be one of the smoother B&Ms I’ve ridden.
I just ride it in back.
i hope by the time i get out to maryland someday they still have this up. I used to ride it all the time back in the day when it was iron wolf (the best looking version of it imo, that track and logo looked awesome!) bc great america was my home park back then. it's sad to hear it has become so rough and unpopular but idk maybe ill still enjoy it. When i was riding iron wolf i never had any comfort issues it actually felt pretty smooth but one of my friends who would ride it with me found it rough, my theory is your height might've played a factor on top of your stance\seat placement as the 2 seasons we rode together i was either shorter or taller than her by at about 2 inches whilst her height stayed the same but she was doing the same stance as me & everything. It's been a long time so my rankings are based on several year old memories but i still have "Iron Wolf" in my top 35% of rides I've personally had the privilege to ride
Makes sense it's high based on nostalgia.
It's funny how B&M started, but I'm glad they are still around. Or should I say STEEL around. Good riding tip. Love the colors too. I like the way Six Flags (letting it fade) Meanwhile Montu was repainted this year. Someone said it it reminded them of Kraft Mac n Cheese. LOL!
B&M rapidly improved.
was Apocalypse rougher than the Vekoma SLCs with the traditional trains?
No
The roughest coaster in the world for you was Mind Eraser at Six Flags America?
No, but it's close.
I rode this again today (June 2, 2024). Unfortunately the second train is not on site and more potholes are present. They solved the rattle though, but I would rather have the rattle back and not the half dozen potholes now present on the ride.
That's unfortunate it has some more potholes.
I actually ride this coaster multiple times and actually enjoy it when I go to my homepark but I always go the back row since the other rows make it a not good ride tbh..
It's shocking how the back row is the smoothest.
@@CanobieCoaster That’s sfa for ya it’s always full of surprises in both good and bad ways 😭
Before i went to SFA in 2020 I literally forgot this park has this coaster
It's not one of their top ones.
I always thought this coaster had a unique and intriguing layout with the helixes in the first half, the drop in the middle of the ride and the twister finale
It is different than other B&Ms.
What do you think about Georgia Scorcher at Six Flags Over Georgia and Apocalypse at Six Flags America?
Apocalypse was bad. Georgia Scorcher is good.
What differences are between Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Apocalypse at Six Flags America, in the ride experience?
Apocalypse was way rougher.
What do you think about the old Vortex and Apocalypse?
Old Apocalypse was brutal.
Did you got ride in the stand up coaster at Cedar Point before it was converted to floorless?
No, I never rode Mantis.
What causes the headbanging? Is it like a rattle that intensifies, does the train feel like it’s jerking around, sudden slamming etc?
There's one bad spot by the corkscrew, so there must be some sort of profiling or track issue.
Why was Apocalypse rough unlike all other stand Up coasters?
It was B&M's first coaster and it was relocated.
Canobie Coaster would say:
Rather than having to adjust each seat to each rider, the floorless trains have just a simple over the shoulder harness plus redundant seatbelt. These harnesses are pretty hard and can cause headbanging, especially if you sit in the wrong row. 99% of the time, on most coasters, the ride is smoother towards the front. But Firebird...
Is smoother towards the back.
What means "and it has worked on all B&M stand ups except one, Apocalypse"?
My technique didn't work on Apocalypse.
Do you like rough rides or smooth rides equal?
Prefer smooth.
Vortex at California's Great America was the roughest stand up coaster for you and did the restraints bang against heads?
I didn't ride that with my current method so I can't compare it as easily.
The colors are definitely nice
Yes
The layout is fine, but this is one of the roughest coasters I have ever ridden. It is surprisingly rough for a steel coaster. It's not just the headbanging that is the issue. There is a severe shaking of the train throughout most of the layout. I came off this ride with a massive headache after riding it in 2020. It is more rough than Mind Eraser and even Roar. I feel like you are underselling just how rough this ride is.
The back is oddly the smoothest seat.
Looks are this ones most deceptive
Why do you prefer smooth rides to rough rides?
They're more comfortable.
Did you like Roar less than firebird?
Roar in the front is better than Firebird.
How many other B&M coasters did you find unequivocally, easily, undoubtely, back row rides?
A lot of the hypers are better in back.
Was firebird faster than Wild one?
Technically but it doesn't feel like it.
I rode it as Iron Wolf. It is my #58 of the 59 B&M I've ridden. I doubt Firebird will be any better. Really just need to ride this and the 2 at Dorney to complete the B&M's in the US. Not really looking forward to Firebird tbh.
Firebird did improve from when it was a floorless.
I think some people still like and liked stand up cossters
I like them. I just need to be in the right position.
Why the front can create headbanging while the back is smooth, weird.
Usually it's the opposite.
It’s like a fake out mid-course
Pretty much.
It’s a great looking ride. The new color scheme really makes it pop. I’m glad you covered it on a review. When I rode it as a floor-less it had that same head smack effect that rougerour has but that’s obvious from the difference in center of gravity.
It's the park's best looking coaster.
@@CanobieCoaster dare I say only … lol
Also I would want say this ride in rough at all, just very tame and mind! I could have ate a 4 course dinner on that ride.
It can rough you up in some seats.
Explain here: the history of the technique of how to ride B&M stand up coasters without problems, making the ride more comfortable, not painful, and great. All that of how to have the body well in the bike seat, it has worked you in all B&M stand up coasters except Vortex at Carowinds?
I made a video explaining it better than a standalone comment.
For me, this is a last row/head forward ride. And yeah it does rattle; but it's better than having my shoulders/groin smashed stand up style.
As I've said before, Six Flags America is my home park and I have a like/dislike relationship with it: Like it because it's only 40 minutes from where I live, Superman: Ride of Steel; Wild One and Harley Quinn Spinsanity are must rides.
Dislike the sometimes slow ride operations, Mind Eraser and Roar (although Road runs better in colder weather) are bumpy rides. I feel they should buy the land of the big paintball place next door and expand. Batwing hardly runs anymore ....
At least lines are manageable most days, which is nice for a home park.
As a local, and employee of SFA, for the past 7 years not a day in my life have I seen this ride have a line even when the park is slammed. I honestly don’t even know if it’s cause of the capacity or it’s popularity likely it’s both
The park tends not to be super busy in my visits to begin with.
That’s Because it is a piece of garbage
What do you think about the back row of Firebird at Six Flags America?
Not too bad minus the transition after the corkscrew.
In airtime mykes words, super smooth, definitely not a headbanger. That was a lie
Back row is fine.
I always loved this thing as Iron Wolf; I'll never forgive RMC for pitching Goliath to replace it. Goliath is fun but it's like 20 seconds long.
I prefer Goliath easily.
Iron wolf was horrible, aside from its stellar name . Goliath despite its short length is still immeasurably superior
@@bustersales6921 sure, but it was a shame to remove the original B&M from the park that kept investing in their capacity machines. Goliath is a better ride than iron wolf was; I just miss being able to literally marathon iron wolf night rides every summer.
@Sean Christiansen I personally really can’t stand B&Ms, for the most part. They’re a very paradoxical company, as they’re responsible for some of the greatest coasters ever built (Flying Dinosaur, Montu, etc), but their rides, for the most part, are juiced up/glorified family coasters (especially their hyper models). I always thought Iron Wolf coming to 6FGAm was unfortunate, as it sparked the love affair with the park & BnM. As for the ride itself, no one was riding it anymore, it was so painful.
Imagine, you wish you could have ridden those six B&M stand up coasters (before three of them were converted), especially with the correct riding position to give enjoyable rides on all those six coasters that were considered rough and painful by many.
Apocalypse at Six Flags America
Vortex at California's Great America
Vortex at Carowinds
Mantis at Cedar Point
Green Lantern at Six Flags Great Adventure
Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain
What would you say, Canobie Coaster?
A) Yes, the method would have worked on all those six, making them enjoyable instead of painful as many found.
B) The method would have worked on all those six, but Apocalypse was too rough to take the ride.
C) The method would have worked on all those six, but Vortex (California's Great America) was too rough to take the ride.
D) The method would have worked on all those six, but Vortex (Carowinds) was too rough to take the ride.
E) The method would have worked on all those six, but Mantis was too rough to take the ride.
F) The method would have worked on all those six, but Green Lantern was too rough to take the ride.
G) The method would have worked on all those six, but Riddler's Revenge was too rough to take the ride.
I believe B
Kind oflike Firework by Katy Perry but: But baby you're a firebird 🤣
Lol
I'll ride it. Doesn't matter if it's rough.
It's fine in back.
I couldn’t stand the head banging when I first rode it as Iron Wolf, but then I learned to lean forward and it became much more enjoyable. Sad to hear the floorless trains didn’t solve the roughness issues. I’d still like to ride it again some day before it gets scrapped.
The back is decent.
For the first B&M, it seems decent. I usually prefer airtime focused rides though.
Same.
Only RMC and the Gravity Group have better first coasters, not bad at all for a prototype.
True, it's decent considering that.
If we’re not counting Wilderness Run, considering it’s a glorified kiddy coaster, then Intamin clearly has the GOAT debut coaster, especially considering how absolutely monumental it was for it’s time
why did you not give it a higher score? Lol
Some seats are rough.
This layout doesn’t speak Floorless
It's certainly weird.
I haven't ridden it as Firebird, but as Apocalypse this ride sucked. Too rough for anyone to enjoy, not to mention crotch pain if you don't position the bike seat correctly.
I'm glad they converted it.
I really don't like this ride. I don't know what happened. It was honestly better as an apocalypse when it comes to head banging. I wish they would have just torn it down. I don't even care that it's the first B&M
I have seen it said that Apocalypse was better, then I see others say that Firebird is better. I have a feeling that I would be Team Apocalypse had I ridden it, because I don't like Firebird at all. I find it comical how bad it is, which might be the only reason it hasn't been torn down.
I think the headbanging got way less after it was transformed.
It's eh. I don't think it deserves all the hate it gets but it's definitely not a good coaster either
It's fine.