[rrsteer]

As I had put somewhere, the Amritsar - Chandigarh route up north is totally dominated by MB buses. Somehow, to me the Volvo always looked more imposing and menacing than a MB.
But I personally witnessed the prowess of the MB buses this weekend. While cruising on the Amritsar - Chandigarh road in my Safari @ 90kmph, a MB bus just appeared on my RVM out of nowhere. I accelerated to move ahead and create distance between my safari & the bus. But I just wouldn't succeed. Now, 110 kmph is the max that I am willing to touch on Indian roads. So once the needle touched 110, I stayed put and the next instant I see the red mammoth zoom past me. The driver must have been doing 120 -125 kmph, because the bus just disappeared in seconds! Was totally amazed at the pickup and speed of the bus.

Oh & btw I saw a burnt skeleton of a Volvo B7R on the way too, on the same highway. The bus was involved in an accident and later caught fire. I have the snaps on my mobile, will upload shortly.

[julupani]

I do remember the my experience in a Merc bus a few months back, and even I felt the Merc is more powerful than the Volvos. Recently had heard from a friend who was travelling by car from Pune to Mumbai on the expressway and he clocked a Neeta Mercedes consistently staying over 130kph and even taking turns at 120+.

[Trapezio]

Originally Posted by Transsenger

The present day 1512 is powered by 132Hp Cummins engine.
And which was that model (150hp+) they used as suggested?

I think it was a AL Cheetah.

I have heard about the 135hp too. Its better than 120hp for sure. But I thought there is no much difference in real life. Not sure again.

BTW, there was a Hino power AL chassis which was available briefly from 1996 to 1997 briefly. Substantially more powerful than the rest (but less fuel efficient). The engine note was totally different from anything else on the road. I could identify one on the road from at least 200 metres away. Does anyone have any info on this one? Just curious...

Originally Posted by julupani

Also about that school bus, it may be good to look at, but I dont see it following the rules. I think school buses are supposed to have at least 3 railings along the windows to prevent children from putting their heads or hands outside the windows.

It does have the railings and it is concealed inside.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by julupani

While the 16ton rated vehicles are available only in the 6.2m wheelbase.

Sure? The LPO1613 CNG comes with a Wheelbase of 5545mm. There used to be diesel variant of LPO1613 as well - the Super Milo one. Not sure if its still there in the market. They were surely not 6200mm Wheelbase ones.

Originally Posted by julupani

Also was there ever a 150/160hp bus chassis from Tata, other than the present day BSIV ISBe powered 1616s??? I dont seem to remember any.

KeSRTC had, and still has, BSII 1616 buses. The First Generation Globuses were all on a 1616 chassis - powered by a 160hp engine.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Sure? The LPO1613 CNG comes with a Wheelbase of 5545mm. There used to be diesel variant of LPO1613 as well - the Super Milo one. Not sure if its still there in the market. They were surely not 6200mm Wheelbase ones.

KeSRTC had, and still has, BSII 1616 buses. The First Generation Globuses were all on a 1616 chassis - powered by a 160hp engine.

Yes, the 1613CNG is a 5.5m wheelbase. Good Catch.

LPO1613?? I think they too were called the 1612 only and they were 6.2m wheelbase buses. These are still available I think.

Yes, early Globus versions were 1616 chassis based. But I am hearing for the first time that the 1616 as a chassis, which is what I was referring to.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by julupani

LPO1613?? I think they too were called the 1612 only and they were 6.2m wheelbase buses. These are still available I think.

There were 1613 Diesel buses for sure - and they were not 6200mm wheelbase for sure. I'll get pics the next I see one. They were of the "Super Milo" Series.

Originally Posted by julupani

Yes, early Globus versions were 1616 chassis based. But I am hearing for the first time that the 1616 as a chassis, which is what I was referring to.

KeSRTC had buses built on 1616 chassis - the body was built by Popular Mega Motors Limited. KaSRTC has Rajahamsas on the same chassis, IIRC. (I've got a confusion if they were 1616 or 1618).

[julupani]

Originally Posted by binaiks

There were 1613 Diesel buses for sure - and they were not 6200mm wheelbase for sure. I'll get pics the next I see one. They were of the "Super Milo" Series.

KeSRTC had buses built on 1616 chassis - the body was built by Popular Mega Motors Limited. KaSRTC has Rajahamsas on the same chassis, IIRC. (I've got a confusion if they were 1616 or 1618).

You may be right about the LPO1613, which was a 132hp model, compared to the 1512s 126hp one. But I think with the BSIII versions, as the 1512 moved up to 135hp, thus the old 1613 has become a 1612. But I think even then they were only in the 6.2m wheelbase.

I have traveled a 5-6 times in Tata Rajhamsas over past 3-4 and each time it has been a 1618 only. It does seem like the 1616 existed for a small time and was not very popular.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by julupani

You may be right about the LPO1613, which was a 132hp model, compared to the 1512s 126hp one. But I think with the BSIII versions, as the 1512 moved up to 135hp, thus the old 1613 has become a 1612. But I think even then they were only in the 6.2m wheelbase.

1613s were certainly available in different configurations. Attaching a pic of a Private bus based on a 1613. The badge is shown in the inset image. This is not a rare bus - there are lots of them here.

This bus works an interior route - which is tough even for regular 10.8M buses, forget 12M buses.

1613 still exists, only that the Diesel version is no more.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by binaiks

1613s were certainly available in different configurations. Attaching a pic of a Private bus based on a 1613. The badge is shown in the inset image. This is not a rare bus - there are lots of them here.

This bus works an interior route - which is tough even for regular 10.8M buses, forget 12M buses.

1613 still exists, only that the Diesel version is no more.

The old 1613 still exists, and its is called the 1612 now, with the older 132hp engines. But it seems like it is now sold only in the 6.2m wheelbase. All the other wheelbase options are available as the 1512, which is now equipped with a 135hp engine.

Also it seems like this version was powered by a Tata 697engine and not Cummins. The 132hp 697 engine unfortunately is not available in BSIII standard.

[Transsenger]

Originally Posted by binaiks

1613s were certainly available in different configurations. Attaching a pic of a Private bus based on a 1613. The badge is shown in the inset image.

1613 still exists, only that the Diesel version is no more.

Originally Posted by julupani

The old 1613 still exists, and its is called the 1612 now, with the older 132hp engines. But it seems like it is now sold only in the 6.2m wheelbase. All the other wheelbase options are available as the 1512, which is now equipped with a 135hp engine.

Also it seems like this version was powered by a Tata 697engine and not Cummins. The 132hp 697 engine unfortunately is not available in BSIII standard.

The subject model is actually "LP/LPO1613 Supermilo", a version two (V2) of the erstwhile LP/LPO1510. This model was the same 1510 with slight modifications in 3&4th gear ratios, OE radial tyres, bigger air filters and pneumatic clutch boosters. The engine was same 697TCIC BS2 129Hp. It was launched in 2008 end and there are a lot private buses here in Kerala. This model claimed to offer 10% more fuel mileage than 1510 and hence called Supermilo! It was available in 4200-5900mm wheelbase options. This model no more exists.

The LPO1612, is a 12m lower powered version of earlier LPO1616. Actually it was LPO1610 which was later changed to 1612. It had a 125Hp BS2 Cummins engine earlier and now with the same BS3 132Hp engine used in LP1512BS3.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by Transsenger

The subject model is actually "LP/LPO1613 Supermilo", a version two (V2) of the erstwhile LP/LPO1510. This model was the same 1510 with slight modifications in 3&4th gear ratios, OE radial tyres, bigger air filters and pneumatic clutch boosters. The engine was same 697TCIC BS2 129Hp. It was launched in 2008 end and there are a lot private buses here in Kerala. This model claimed to offer 10% more fuel mileage than 1510 and hence called Supermilo! It was available in 4200-5900mm wheelbase options. This model no more exists.

The LPO1612, is a 12m lower powered version of earlier LPO1616. Actually it was LPO1610 which was later changed to 1612. It had a 125Hp BS2 Cummins engine earlier and now with the same BS3 132Hp engine used in LP1512BS3.

Thanks for the info, but a small correction. The Cummins engine was re-worked before the BSIII rollout and now gives 135hp instead of 132hp. But the major change is in the torque figures, which have gone up to 490nm, over a larger rev-range, from the earlier 430nm. Also the 5+1 speed gearbox is no longer available, only the 6+1GB600.

I just noticed something, there are no Tata 697engine buses available any more. All of them are either the Cummins 6BT, the Cummins 4-cyl ISBe or the Tata 497.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by julupani

Also the 5+1 speed gearbox is no longer available, only the 6+1GB600.

1612 is surely available with a 5+1 GB. The Tata Motors website lists the 6+1 GB as "Optional". The 1512 comes with a 6+1 as standard, though.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by binaiks

1612 is surely available with a 5+1 GB. The Tata Motors website lists the 6+1 GB as "Optional". The 1512 comes with a 6+1 as standard, though.

The 1612 tech specs on the website is a bit outdated. It even shows the older 132hp 430nm engine, which is no longer the case. Most likely it was thought that using the older GBS50 with an engine which produces 490nm of torque was not the best idea, and thus shifted over to the GBS600.

[SAE40 in veins]

Originally Posted by julupani

I just noticed something, there are no Tata 697engine buses available any more. All of them are either the Cummins 6BT, the Cummins 4-cyl ISBe or the Tata 497.

Are you very sure about the 4 cyl ISBe?? All BS III models are with Cummins 6 BT. BS IV CNG is also offered with the 697 block. I do not know of any models with 4 cyl 4.5 liter ISBe which is commercially available as on date.

[Jimmyjosek]

Some interesting buses:

1. Pavit Merc at Bangalore
2. Vijayanand B9R
3. Vijayanand Isuzu (note the posture of driver. Sleeping?)
4. Ksineni Ernakulam-Hyderabad B9R