Crikey, what happened to the bus fleet (Brum 9 and 12x routes?)

[MW]

When you talk about suspension, the Streetdeck and Gemini 3 will be different.

Same as how a B7TL ALX400 is generallly a smoother ride and a Trident ALX400 is generallly a crashier and firm ride.

It'd be helpful if you didn't mix them all up.

[Mike K]

The B5LH in the picture will be more comparable to 5501-18 at BC, which, incidentally, are quick, have good suspension and generous legroom. The only thing in common with the Streetdeck will be the bodywork.

I can't comment on the Streetdeck as I've not been on one, but one review I read comparing the Streetdeck and B5TL on Gemini 3 bodywork favoured the B5TL. I personally think the Wright / Volvo combination is the best out there and would like to see some B5TL (or the new shape B8RLE) in the NX fleet. The Gemini 3 is a bit of a marmite body but with the right livery, e.g Lothian, Harrogate 36, it can look really impressive.

[John]

I've said it before but I must be the only one to like the Gemini 3/Streetdeck! I do agree though that the livery also makes the looks better, as some do not suit the body. I like then better than the MMCs on the 9, as they seem to be quicker and a lot smoother. I guess they are similar to our OmniCitys as there are only 5 of them only at one garage

I've always found that the ride and comfort in our Volvos and Scanias are superior to ADL buses which I find are awful over potholes and rough road. The MK1 Enviros make up with their sheer power but the gearbox setup in the MK2s are still awful changing up too early lacking acceleration when you need it

You get the right B7TL and you have a lovely day, especially our 44** Geminis, as they fly and are very smooth. The Coventry Geminis are more like the ALX400s because I think they have the same gearbox as each other and our native Geminis have the other. I have no interest in which gearbox they have like others do so no idea what they are

[Jack]

I've said it before but I must be the only one to like the Gemini 3/Streetdeck! I do agree though that the livery also makes the looks better, as some do not suit the body. I like then better than the MMCs on the 9, as they seem to be quicker and a lot smoother. I guess they are similar to our OmniCitys as there are only 5 of them only at one garage

I've always found that the ride and comfort in our Volvos and Scanias are superior to ADL buses which I find are awful over potholes and rough road. The MK1 Enviros make up with their sheer power but the gearbox setup in the MK2s are still awful changing up too early lacking acceleration when you need it

You get the right B7TL and you have a lovely day, especially our 44** Geminis, as they fly and are very smooth. The Coventry Geminis are more like the ALX400s because I think they have the same gearbox as each other and our native Geminis have the other. I have no interest in which gearbox they have like others do so no idea what they are

I like the Streetdecks, guaranteed they may look abit ugly they're nice.
You bounce on the Scania's over potholes.
The 44** Gemini are my favourite batch. Pretty much like all of them apart from 4477 and 4490.

[Mike K]

I've said it before but I must be the only one to like the Gemini 3/Streetdeck!

I'm with you John, took me a little while to get used to it but I think it's a really smart design which, like most Wrightbus bodies, will look modern for longer than its more conservative ADL counterpart.

I don't recall reading a single post from a driver who preferred driving ADLs over Wright/Volvo equivalents.

[Trident 4194]

I'm with you John, took me a little while to get used to it but I think it's a really smart design which, like most Wrightbus bodies, will look modern for longer than its more conservative ADL counterpart.

I don't recall reading a single post from a driver who preferred driving ADLs over Wright/Volvo equivalents.

I have heard a few times drivers moaning when they get given a streetdeck instead of an mmc at stourbridge bus station. Don't know why however, the one thing that I don't like is they have that constant buzzing sound when the doors are open( don't know why this is and only happens on occasions)

[MW]

It does make me wonder when people praise the 44XX Geminis, because the 45XX which are the same batch seem hit and miss at AG. The key difference being the lockdown isn't there and they aren't as smooth. The 46XX batch are much better in my opinion. 4507 is a sluggish one of the top of my head, whilst 4508 is one of the best.

[Jack]

It does make me wonder when people praise the 44XX Geminis, because the 45XX which are the same batch seem hit and miss at AG. The key difference being the lockdown isn't there and they aren't as smooth. The 46XX batch are much better in my opinion. 4507 is a sluggish one of the top of my head, whilst 4508 is one of the best.

I actually like 4507 lol. I rode it at PB when it came back and it is a beast. Whereas you have 4639 which barely moves. 4661 isn't that great either.

[Dom]

I have heard a few times drivers moaning when they get given a streetdeck instead of an mmc at stourbridge bus station. Don't know why however, the one thing that I don't like is they have that constant buzzing sound when the doors are open( don't know why this is and only happens on occasions)

Because they take the handbrake off with the doors open.

[MW]

I actually like 4507 lol. I rode it at PB when it came back and it is a beast. Whereas you have 4639 which barely moves. 4661 isn't that great either.

4639 is an anomaly lol. It revs really slowly until around 1500 rpm and then it's fine. You really had to plan when moving in that bus. Camp Hill was scary in that. Can't remember 4661. 4507 was sluggish and it vibrates a lot. It may have been fixed since then, I don't know. The other slow one is either 4509 or 4510. 4511 is one with no lockdown, and 4522 is another slow one.

[Jack]

4639 is an anomaly lol. It revs really slowly until around 1500 rpm and then it's fine. You really had to plan when moving in that bus. Camp Hill was scary in that. Can't remember 4661. 4507 was sluggish and it vibrates a lot. It may have been fixed since then, I don't know. The other slow one is either 4509 or 4510. 4511 is one with no lockdown, and 4522 is another slow one.

Camp Hill Circus is dangerous. Especially coming off Camp Hill. I think the Island needs to be traffic signaled. I haven't ridden 4511 since 2015. 4507 was a good one at WB. Then AG ruined it. When it came back to PB it felt better. Haven't seen it since it went back to AG. 45** Gems aren't too bad. I'm fond of 4500-4507. Especially the '03' plates AG now have, 4500-4505. 4506 is good one. It would howl while coasting down hills. When the Presidents were on the 31 and 37 they would often struggle to get onto Camp Hill Circus as they were really slow.

[MW]

Camp Hill Circus is dangerous. Especially coming off Camp Hill. I think the Island needs to be traffic signaled. I haven't ridden 4511 since 2015. 4507 was a good one at WB. Then AG ruined it. When it came back to PB it felt better. Haven't seen it since it went back to AG. 45** Gems aren't too bad. I'm fond of 4500-4507. Especially the '03' plates AG now have, 4500-4505. 4506 is good one. It would howl while coasting down hills. When the Presidents were on the 31 and 37 they would often struggle to get onto Camp Hill Circus as they were really slow.

Lol the AG has ruined them politics is funny. According to an engineer at AG, as the 45xx and the handful of 46xx were returning to AG, he said West Brom have ruined these buses. Some had incorrect steering wheels fitted, and others had kickdown removed. They were immaculate when they left AG. The AG Geminis that have remained here since new are the ones that are fine basically. It's the ones that have spent time at WB that appear to be the less desirable ones.

[Jack]

Lol the AG has ruined them politics is funny. According to an engineer at AG, as the 45xx and the handful of 46xx were returning to AG, he said West Brom have ruined these buses. Some had incorrect steering wheels fitted, and others had kickdown removed. They were immaculate when they left AG. The AG Geminis that have remained here since new are the ones that are fine basically. It's the ones that have spent time at WB that appear to be the less desirable ones.

I never liked 4639. 4643 is a favourite of mine. AG's Presidents weren't the best but WB's were in wonderful condition. Tbh AG's 45** aren't the best. 4526? I think that's got no kickdown. But the ones that were at Walsall were great. 4529 is a good one. But the 11 branded 45** are quite generic. Pretty much why the 44** are more loved by people. Same for the 46**.

[Lukeee]

You get the right B7TL and you have a lovely day, especially our 44** Geminis, as they fly and are very smooth. The Coventry Geminis are more like the ALX400s because I think they have the same gearbox as each other and our native Geminis have the other. I have no interest in which gearbox they have like others do so no idea what they are

Correct, the cov gems have voith boxes, same as the ALX400 B7s, PBs other gems have ZF boxes

[MW]

I never liked 4639. 4643 is a favourite of mine. AG's Presidents weren't the best but WB's were in wonderful condition. Tbh AG's 45** aren't the best. 4526? I think that's got no kickdown. But the ones that were at Walsall were great. 4529 is a good one. But the 11 branded 45** are quite generic. Pretty much why the 44** are more loved by people. Same for the 46**.

Try 4508. That's the best 45xx I've driven. It's a screamer if you get the right driver.