Maurer Rides, a leading designer and manufacturer of roller coasters and transport solutions, has announced that it is expanding its Spike series with two new additions: Spike Train and Spike Tandem.
These models deliver the interactive, software-controlled Spike ride experience while meeting the throughput levels that large parks want from a headline attraction. This positions Spike as a suitable choice for projects where capacity was previously a limiting factor, without sacrificing excitement, interaction, or staging.
Spike Train
Spike Train reimagines the traditional motorcycle riding position. Riders sit as if on a motorcycle, but in vehicles that can be coupled together to form a train.
This design offers the hourly capacity of a large coaster while maintaining the dynamic and interactive elements that Spike represents.
Maurer Rides' Spike Train is the latest addition to the Spike family, using the company's Software-Defined DynamicsImage courtesy of Maurer Rides
With Maurer's Software-Defined Dynamics, the ride profile becomes programmable instead of fixed, allowing guests to actively control and customise their experience. This creates a motorcycle riding sensation that can be scaled to a headline attraction - flexible, programmable, and easily expandable with updates.
Spike Tandem
Spike Tandem is the immersive coaster of the Spike family. Its tandem setup allows more riders per train, increasing hourly capacity. The unique experience blends dark ride immersion with the speeds and accelerations of a roller coaster.
This is achieved through vehicle intelligence, in which drive and ride control reside within the vehicle itself rather than in the track. The complete ride profile — including speeds, stops, reverse sections, and effects - is fully programmable with Software-Defined Dynamics and can be modified via updates.
Maurer Rides' Spike Tandem, seen here with a F1 concept design, combines the immersion of a dark ride with the thrill of a coasterImage courtesy of Maurer Rides
All of this is possible without extra track hardware like friction-wheel drives or brake fins, since each vehicle supplies its own drive and braking forces via the rack.
Proven technology
Despite their differences, the two products share the same foundation: the reliable Spike rack-and-pinion drive, which offers full traction, acceleration at all track points, energy recovery during braking, and a redundant drive layout.
Both are built on the modular Spike platform, which Maurer Rides will showcase in detail this autumn.
For parks, this translates into increased capacity through a proven system used daily across 10 installations worldwide.
“Tandem and Train bring the interactive Spike experience to the capacity level large parks need for a headline attraction - with no compromise on the ride feel," says Jörg Beutler, general manager at Maurer Rides.
Spike Train and Spike Tandem are now available for project inquiries. Interested parties can obtain detailed product information directly from Maurer Rides.
The comprehensive integration of both products into the modular Spike platform will be showcased this autumn, demonstrating how track, drive, passenger carriers, controls, multimedia, interaction, and service function together as an interconnected system.
Maurer Rides recently brought its innovative Spike Coaster concept to Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia, with the park's Sea Stallion coaster.
