SV trains

^No, but my mom always talks about how she used to on Blue Streak when the belts were added (it still had buzz bars and bench seats like it still should have, which very much annoyed my dad who was riding with her (remember, this was one large belt.) (She doesn't do it anymore.) They may have been optional at the time, as the ride had to dispatch quickly and wasn't allowed to set up, as opposed to modern rides that are designed to normalize stacking. Her logic was that the ride didn't need the belts. (Very true. Nor does it need all the crap that was added to it in the 90s. I say we start a campaign to have its ACE Classic status restored :P.)

That's highly against the rules, obviously. If you didn't already realize that.

Not that the thought hasn’t crossed my mind a few times but no I never have and wouldn’t. Being a dad has a profound impact on ones fanciful thoughts, I have overheard it discussed in lines before and wonder how common the practice is.

When seat belts were added to the Blue Streak when it still had the original restraints, seat belts were completely optional. This was even announced by the ride crew. I never used the belt back then and that was completely fine.

Cargo Shorts said:

Anybody have any friends that unbuckle their seat belt on the lift hill? Asking for a friend.

Not unbuckled, but last year at Kennywood I may or may not have loosened the belt all the way prior to the double down. My first "OH $#!&" moment in a long time. That thing is ridiculous.

^I only loosen my seatbelt before buckling, but if the ride op tightens it I don't mess with it.

Example - on Mystic Timbers, they're quite fine with the belt being all the way loose and even tell riders not to bother tightening the belt. And I feel quite safe with a loose belt on that ride. Of course, I have to say the disclaimer that you shouldn't do anything stupid in terms of trying to have the minimum safe restraint, particularly on a ride you're unfamiliar with. (I don't want anybody to die because they misinterpreted my posts as a recommendation to be unwise.)

Also, some parks like Holiday World threaten permanent bans from the park if you interfere with safety restraints, as that park had an accident in 2003 where an enthusiast died after unbuckling her seatbelt on Raven, from what I know. Enthusiasts at HWN still need to sign an agreement that clearly states that interfering with safety restraints will get you banned from the park. Not sure whether scooting around to try to get a few extra clicks of latitude on your ratchet bar is counted under that, but I don't take my chances. One park that does explicitly ban anti-stapling attempts is Six Flags Over Texas; New Texas Giant has signs in the queue saying that any attempt to not have the bar touching your thighs will cause you to be booted from the park. Again, be smart with what you do.

Tony posted a picture, and it appears that Steel Vengeance’s train is on the track.

Are the restraints like the ones on Storm Chaser at KK?
Ok, Looked at the RMC site and they have bars for shin restraints and Storm Chaser has wraparounds.
Are the RMC trains smooth and comfortable in riding?

Storm Chaser is an RMC train, but it’s the first generation. Second generation will be used on SV, as seen on Twisted Timbers

I think the difference in 1st & 2nd generation RMC trains are entirely in the rolling stock... I think the trains are identical above the axles.

Shane Denmark said:

I think the difference in 1st & 2nd generation RMC trains are entirely in the rolling stock... I think the trains are identical above the axles.

The lap bar design is also slightly different. They sort of form a v shape as they attach to the bottom of the train as opposed to a traditional U-bar. Check out some Twisted Timbers photos/videos if you want to see some of the details of the new trains (minus the pickup truck theming of course).

The CP Steel vengeance gallery isn't working though.

Has anybody rode Twisted Timbers this weekend to see how the new restraints compare to the old ones?

What were the 'old restraints' ? I've only been on Storm Chaser and the lap bars are nearly identical to Twisted Timbers.

I found them very comfortable and was great for reriding even with the wild airtime moments that happen on Twisted Timbers. If anything I think the wheel redesign led to a quieter and smoother ride from what I remembered on Storm Chaser.

^Twisted Timbers and SV have slightly different restraints. The construction of the shin guard is a bit different, and most notably, the hinge on TT's trains is in the center, with the bar converging to a point, while Storm Chaser's is a U-bar.

If there’s one thing I don’t like so much about the RMC trains is that there’s nothing to hold on to. Well, there’s a dent in the sides of the lap bars for a grip, but not a good one. They’re low, along where your thighs are. Without a separate grab bar somewhere those rides feel extra precarious. In other words, you really have the feeling that if the lap bar goes you’re surely going with it.

On Twisted Timbers there are grab bars to hold onto, so that’s one problem fixed

All RMCs have seat belts ever since the Texas Giant accident (although I think they technically aren't required, as Outlaw Run opened without them and uses RMC's own trains.) Plus, there are two independent hydraulic cylinders, of which failure of both is highly improbable.

RCMAC- That’s what freaks me out about Skyhawk, too... There is nothing to hang onto. There’s a bump in the middle of the lap at, I was clinging to that for dear life.

Shane Denmark said:

RCMAC- That’s what freaks me out about Skyhawk, too... There is nothing to hang onto. There’s a bump in the middle of the lap at, I was clinging to that for dear life.

Honestly, I feel the same way about Power Tower somewhat. Like yes, there's things to hold on to, but the way it was designed honestly makes me feel like I'm going to fall out of my seat, even with the OTSR restraints.

I never rode a drop tower anywhere where the seat didn’t get smaller the higher I went.