Have a Fear of Heights?

[Ghoulish Delight]

That's a smidge taller and a smidge faster than Knott's Xcelerator. And I guess Xcelerator doesn't have the helix. (eta: actually, looking at photos of the two, I can't really tell if Ka has more of a helix or not. Matt?)

Funny thing is, I'm more willing to go on either of those (would have ridden Xcelerator last time I was at Knott's had it been open) than on Goliath, which is over 100ft shorter. It's all about the slow climb, getting to heights at speed doesn't really bother me.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

That's a smidge taller and a smidge faster than Knott's Xcelerator.

I am going to assume that this was said with tongue in cheek:

HEIGHT:
Kingda Ka: 456 feet
Xcelerator: 205 feet

TOP SPEED:
Kingda Ka: 128 MPH
Xcelerator: 82 MPH

LENGTH:
Kingda Ka: 3,118 feet
Xcelerator: 2,202 feet

Source for Xcelerator stats
Source for Kingda Ka stats

[CoasterMatt]

Goliath at SFMM is actually 30 ft taller than Xcelerator, and although Kingda Ka is taller than Xcelerator, Xcelerator's initial acceleration (from 0-82mph) is actually quicker - just about 2 seconds.
Kingda Ka has a really nasty "shake" to the trains as you roll down the launch track, and it's really just a big climb over a tower, an airtime hill, then brakes.
Xcelerator launches, goes over the tower, then does two overbanked curves before braking. Xcelerator is the prototype Intamin Rocket coaster - it's initial test run clocked in over 114mph (the first run on this video).

I seriously love Xcelerator (So far, I think Xcelerator is the nonDisney coaster I've ridden with the most LoTters - I lost track of how many times Chernabog and I rode it).

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

Kingda Ka has a really nasty "shake" to the trains as you roll down the launch track, and it's really just a big climb over a tower, an airtime hill, then brakes.

Hmm... that is a very different description than the one I quoted. That and Kingda Ka is about 50% longer.

[CoasterMatt]

There's a plaque inside the motor room for Xcelerator that has slightly different numbers from the press release numbers.

My favorite thing about the Xcelerator hydraulic motor is that it generates 10,000 horsepower (ARR ARR ARR!!!)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Weird, I saw completely different stats for Xcelerator. Guess I read something wrong. Post retracted.

ETA: Ah, I see what happened, the site I was reading mentioned Top Thrill Dragster in the next sentence, those were the stats I saw.

[CoasterMatt]

There's no helix on Kingda Ka or Xcelerator - on Kingda Ka, you do a full twist as you're going back down the phallic symbol.

[CoasterMatt]

This video has a good demonstration of the Kingda Ka shake.

Keep in mind, that shake is also more painful because Kingda Ka Ka has over the shoulder restraints.

[Gemini Cricket]

I'm only afraid of heights when I'm someplace high.

[€uroMeinke]

This weekend I found myself being a bit ill at ease checking out the penthouse suites in some of the Long Beach towers. I was distressed at observing how easy it would be to just leap over the rail, and more distressed that that thought entered my mind. When I fly, I always request the window seat, but don't make an effort to get an emergency exit row.