Darien Lake 2008 - Zamperla Moto-Bike Coaster

January 12, 2008
Prototype MotoCoaster To Open at Darien Lake

Darien Center, NY -- Darien Lake will debut the prototype Zamperla MotoCoaster in May according to an article on the Park World web site. This launched roller coaster will be the first and only ride of its kind at the New York theme park.

According to Park World, the park purchased the prototype that had been assembled and tested at the Zamperla factory in Italy. The ride has since been taken down and is now en-route to Darien Lake for installation.

Zamperla's MotoCoaster is a compact launched steel coaster with a three-layer, figure eight layout. This 1,198-foot long coaster reaches a height of 44 feet and a top speed of 38 mph. An individual six car train seats riders two abreast in twelve seats that resemble a motorcycle.

To accelerate the train the MotoCoaster uses a flywheel and clutch launch mechanism instead of a traditional lift hill. In just three seconds the train is set into motion from zero to 38 mph.

Zamperla is marketing the roller coaster's Flywheel launch mechanism as being very reliable and easy to maintain. It's also a proven system that has been in use on other roller coasters for nearly three decades.

With the additon of the MotoCoaster this summer Darien Lake will now offer guests a total of seven different roller coasters.

Zamperla is also currently busy delivering a second MotoCoaster to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. Pony Express also set to debut this summer will feature a custom layout and trains sporting a horse theme.

Actual link to the online article is unknown at this time. It will be posted when I find it.

Why's almost every company ripping off Vekoma's Booster Bike idea, to bad.

I wonder what what would make people want to choose Zamperla over Vekoma. What makes them better? How is this "flywheel" better? I wonder why parks would just suddenly decide that they want to choose Zamperla? I mean Pony Express looks cool and I've seen the Darien Lake ride on YouTube but where did Zamperla just come from? I didn't even know they existed until now. Strange.

Originally posted by Dyl

I wonder what what would make people want to choose Zamperla over Vekoma.

My best guess? Price.

Originally posted by Dyl

What makes them better?

Absolutely nothing.

Originally posted by Dyl

I wonder what what would make people want to choose Zamperla over Vekoma.

My guess would be price and Vekoma's rather nasty reputation for producing rides that fade drastically in popularity after the first season.

What makes them better? How is this "flywheel" better?

I assume that the "used for more than three decades" part means that it's the same sort of system used in Scharzkopf type II shuttles. If so, that's cool. It has a nice "kick" when it takes off, and for a motorbike theme, that's a lot better than a smooth LIM or LSM launch. It's also MUCH cheaper, takes less power, and doesn't have the down time that the other systems have. "Regular joe" mechanics can fix a flywheel. I'd think you'd need a specialist for a LIM system.

I wonder why parks would just suddenly decide that they want to choose Zamperla? I mean Pony Express looks cool and I've seen the Darien Lake ride on YouTube but where did Zamperla just come from? I didn't even know they existed until now. Strange.

They've been around for a long time. Disk-o, Power Surge, a ton of kiddie rides, a mouse coaster, the Volare flying coaster... all theirs.

The volar sucked. I am not a fan of them but if a get a chance to go there ill give it a try

^ Agreed. I rode the Volare in Vienna and even though the ride op was hot, I still didn't care for the coaster.

Same here. Been on two of them and they both horible.