Volvo B9TL - oh the horrors

A few months ago, SBS Transit unveiled its first wheelchair-accessible buses. They're the Volvo B9TL double-deckers. They had 2 previous types of stepless-entry/exit buses, but those were not equipped with ramps.

They are also the first buses (apart from the 1 lone experimental B10TL which is now considered the ugly, deformed bastard child of ComfortDelgro Engineering) to be bodied in Singapore itself, by ComfortDelgro Engineering, which is essentially a different part of the same company as SBS Transit.

It was the first time I boarded this model of bus, as they finally rolled out these buses on the 74 route. Initial impressions: they climbed uphills really well, the interior is furnished very similarly to the previous-generation B10TLs. Which was fine and dandy. The acceleration at higher speeds was poor though.



But 30 minutes into the ride, I was feeling sorta sick. The engine, although rather quiet, was sending vibrations throughout the floorboard. And. Horrid suspension.

I have this thing against bad suspension. Alot of poorly-designed suspension makes you feel like being at sea in choppy waters, allowing the vehicle to bob around like mad, rather than dutifully absorbing the bumps like they should.

While the older Volvo suspensions are too stiff to provide for a silky smooth journey, they do not bob around like crazy. And it's the bobbing around that makes me feel nauseous and sick. Add the B9TL to the list of buses that make me bus-sick.

Mercedes O405G - all bendy buses on SMRT. Sitting in the rear carriage makes me very, totally sick. The trick is to stare out of the window at all times, or to stare at the back of the seat ahead.
Volvo B10BLE - those compressed natural gas powered buses
Volvo B9TL
All Mitsubishi coaches - creaky, bouncy, out-of-control suspension that's more nauseating than a bumboat ride I swear.