I've never actually ridden an Intamin, but the b and ms I've been on we're pretty good (Intimidator, Afterburn, Vortex) although Vortex isn't the most comfortable, but of course it has been around for about twenty years and it is a stand up coaster. Intimidator is very fun, it has nice airtime, and even styles your hair for you! Afterburn is very fun, it's action-packed, and goes upside down 6 times.

After all, b and m has invented the invert, floorless, dive, and wing coasters.

Intamin has invented the hyper (I think), giga, strata, and zacspin coasters.

Arrow Dynamics invented the Hypercoaster. A full 10 years before Intamin or B&M built their first ones. You haven't heard of Cedar Point's Magnum XL-200? Opened in 1989, 205 feet tall...no inversions...aka, Hypercoaster #1...

http://rcdb.com/11.htm

Intamin didn't make their first hypercoaster until 1999, when "Superman: Ride of Steel" (now just Ride of Steel as Six Flags no longer owns the park) opened...

http://rcdb.com/541.htm

And B&M also made their first hypercoaster in 1999, when they opened "Apollo's Chariot" at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

http://rcdb.com/531.htm

Dangit forgot about magnum

King's Island Construction is my favorite builder - built The Beast, you know!

Im surprised how b&m is winning the votes, i thought alot of people prefered intanim, times have changed...

Some people want to be difficult. Its not a mistake that intamin took 8 out of 10 spots in the last mitch hawker poll.

Some people want to be difficult. Its not a mistake that intamin took 8 out of 10 spots in the last mitch hawker poll.

Just because people have a different opinion than you, does not make them difficult! Love your Intamin's all you want, but let the poll speak for itself!

Now, when it comes to Intamin flats, those seem to be work horses!

B&M is likely to win this poll because this is a KI fan site and there's only one coaster at the park made by the companies in question (Diamondback). Diamondback happens to be world-class coaster which will further skew the vote.

Most of the Intamin vote will be because those folks have been to both KI and Cedar Point where I would argue that Intamin is the better choice. Millennium Force, Top Thrill and Maverick are all lots of fun.

For me it really comes down to three questions:

(1) Which company makes more thrilling rides? Intamin.

(2) If I'm traveling to a park, which company makes rides more likely to be operational? B&M.

(3) Which company makes the most enjoyable rides (including ride experience, restraints, train comfort, how the coaster tracks)? In my opinion, B&M. I only need to look at B&M hyper trains to see the difference in the two companies. Intamin trains are MUCH more difficult to get in and out of and haven't had a comfortable restraint put on any of their coasters since TTD in 2003. The fact that Intamin hasn't come up with a good restraint in years says that they don't have a good handle on some of their designs.

About Intamin's safety record...many of the incidents on Intamin rides have been blamed on operational (park or ride op) error as opposed to manufacturing defects. Even though Intamin wasn't directly at fault in many circumstances it still happened on their watch. My question is this though - why is it you simply don't hear about incidents on B&M rides? Do you hear about people slipping out of B&M restraints? Coasters going down for a month - or worse - two or three months before the season ends?

There have been only 2 new Intamin hypers built in the US/Canada in the last 12 years (I305 and Skyrush) and 7 B&M hypers. The biggest issues on the B&M coasters (chain lift breaks, concrete issues on Diamondback) all took a week or less to fix. Parks take notice of that kind of stuff, and that's why you're seeing more (big) B&M coasters now than Intamin.

B&M actually has at least one coaster in my top 10. Intamin does not. So, given those choices, B&M.

But I'd happily take an Arrow or a woodie over either of them any day.

Some people want to be difficult. Its not a mistake that intamin took 8 out of 10 spots in the last mitch hawker poll.

15 intanims scored in the top 50 steel coasters for the golden ticket awards 23 b&m's scored in the top 50 as well in the top 5 steel coasters for the golden ticket awards intanim scored first and second while b&m scored third and fourth.

Voted for B&M. Whenever I see that style of track, I get a little giddy. Their coasters are beautiful.

Some people want to be difficult. Its not a mistake that intamin took 8 out of 10 spots in the last mitch hawker poll.

The Ford Explorer is the best selling SUV in the market, it doesn't mean it's the best.

Take a cue from newbie TrOy: intelligence without attempting to twist others' opinions.

In my day, it didn't matter who the manufacturer was, whether it was made of wood or steel, went 500 feet up or stayed low to the ground. We just wanted to have a day of fun and share some laughs with family and friends. Because that's the way it was, and we liked it like that!

You forgot to mention it wasn't a day you had to walk 14 miles to school up hill both ways...because that's the way it was for me. Oh it also snowed everyday from September through June.

I voted B&M.

Let's face it, reliability is key. B&M builds very reliable rides.

Not to forget, they make cross over trains!

Last I heard the Psyclone trains are ran backward on Colossus during their haunt season.

Dear God, not the fanny packs

Unfashionable since...forever

They go hand in hand with Crocs...

Dear God, not the fanny packs

Unfashionable since...forever

They go hand in hand with Crocs...

Excuse me? You will not mock my fanny pack nor my Crocs. Fanny packs are totally acceptable at amusement parks, and Crocs are extremely comfortable. I am offended that you would diss my choice of fashion.

(just kidding)

I tell you what...

crocs are some good strong shoes that will last!

Those of you who may work in fast food, ask if you can wear crocs, and buy a pair. They will last you a LOT longer that normal nonskid shoes!

Anyway, back on topic:

* in cheerleader voice * YaY B&M!

If a park has a Roller Coaster built by either one, you know that park is going to be a good park. It's basic fact.

Intamin; I love Maverick!

I like both, so I hope someday KI will have coasters by both.

I simply cannot pick a side in this debate. They both are great, and both have their cons. Intamin comes first and creates an amazing design, but then B&M come along and "tweaks" it to make it even better. As a result, Intamin gets the credit first, but lots of downtime. B&M gets there second, just without the downtime. Unfortunately, preventing downtime as B&M does creates, in some cases, a bit of a less thrilling ride. If Intamin were to prevent downtime and be first, their rides would be the same as B&M's. Lastly, if you decide one is better than the other, so be it. But if you like one better than the other and decide to bash the other, I find you to be a pathetic fool.

*There hasn't been any bashing in this thread, but in others.

I will be getting my 29th and 30th B&M this month! Behemoth and Leviathan. Leviathan will be my 30th B&M!

I love B&M coasters! My home state has 8!!!! (Florida)

Big thrill lucille.

Big thrill lucille.

I think I met her at Conneaut once. She was wearing a muumuu. Said she was going commando.

^ Just the type of girl YoungStud wants...

B&M does have the reliability thing down. They can always be relied upon to make me wish I was doing something more exciting, like reading the dictionary!

Watch it, Buster.

Terp, lexicographer extraordinaire.

The carousel and b&m's ard both reliable and put out the same thrills.

The carousel and b&m's ard both reliable and put out the same thrills.

Not since the organ...uh...disappeared.

The carousel and b&m's ard both reliable and put out the same thrills.

Not since the organ...uh...disappeared.

My toddler loves the carousel. I am saddened that he doesn't get to see the organ playing the music.

--Beatle, who never had to look at a Three Point Challenge as a small child............

I've thought long and hard about this one and I refuse to decide which I like better. Both offer different ride experiences, and both have built some of my favorite coasters (Apollo's Chariot, El Toro, Maverick).

Intamin easily. B&M coasters like Diamondback might as well end at the hammerhead and Raptor could just start at the MCRB. This Intamin family coaster could be more exiting than B&M rides twice its size and speed.