sbc coach

[christopher]

is there such a bus manufacturer  as sbc coach or something like that?
i saw one today and it looked like an mci but had sbc badges
thanks
chris mci5c

[Busted Knuckle]

Well I ain't heard of an sbc but  there is a company called BCI which look identical to the new MCI's made in China, and sold here in the states.
Also I have seen a new
Chinese knock off being recently advertised in trade publications. It's not an exact MCI replica, but very, very close! I don't know what the name was, I didn't pay attention to it as it was not a SETRA!

  BK 

[christopher]

bci,  your right saw one the other day looked nice
i wonder how the quality is
chris
mci5c

[Dreamscape]

I heard BCI stood for Bad Chinese Invention, that's what I heard!

Paul

[Busted Knuckle]

I heard BCI stood for Bad Chinese Invention, that's what I heard!

Paul

In the bus industry it's referred to as "Bad Chinese Imitation!"

  BK 

[Dreamscape]

Works for me!

[cody]

If I remember right, a few years ago I was hearing the same thing when the first honda's and subaru's wer appearing on our turf, the toyota's were kinda scary too at that time.

[CrabbyMilton]

I'm glad someone brought this up. There is a company called SBM(Specialty Bus Manufacturing)http://www.sbm-us.com/. I live in Milwaukee, WI. and have seen their double decker sightseeing buses in Chicago over the last few years.  It took me quite awile to figure out who built these things but found their site by accident. They have an MCI front end so that is what made them stand out.
I saw my first BCI Falcon 45 when I was at MILLER PARK. I was taking my pregame walk around all of the concourses while on the top level looking out toward I94 and Hwy. 41 one can get a great view on many buses coming in to the park. Well one was the BCI. I could not figure out what is was as I had never seen it before. At first I thought it was a SETRA S417. However, I came across BCI's site by chance too. http://www.bcibus.com/about.html It would appear that they are indeed built in China. I don't like that idea but they use American components and a handsome coach at that so a few grains of salt are in order.

[Jeremy]

Those SBM's look very 'home-made' somehow, but good to see another builder nonetheless. Given some of the comments in this thread it's ironic to see photos on SBM's site showing one of their '100% American' buses being operated by a Chinese company (albeit in NY).

Jeremmy

[cody]

My comment meant that back a few years ago a bunch of foreign cars hit our shores that were pretty cheaply built and really not much of a threat to any companies here, now our companies are trying to catch up.

[Busted Knuckle]

I'm glad someone brought this up. There is a company called SBM(Specialty Bus Manufacturing)http://www.sbm-us.com/. I live in Milwaukee, WI. and have seen their double decker sightseeing buses in Chicago over the last few years.  It took me quite awile to figure out who built these things but found their site by accident. They have an MCI front end so that is what made them stand out.
I saw my first BCI Falcon 45 when I was at MILLER PARK. I was taking my pregame walk around all of the concourses while on the top level looking out toward I94 and Hwy. 41 one can get a great view on many buses coming in to the park. Well one was the BCI. I could not figure out what is was as I had never seen it before. At first I thought it was a SETRA S417. However, I came across BCI's site by chance too. http://www.bcibus.com/about.html It would appear that they are indeed built in China. I don't like that idea but they use American components and a handsome coach at that so a few grains of salt are in order.

NOT EVEN CLOSE!

I have personally had to go to a service call on a BRAND NEW BCI FALCON 45 that the new owner was trying to make it home from Lost Wages (Las Vegas where he & his wife picked it up). Very nice appearing coach (beautiful!), very well thought out, nice new features. But it had been a night mare from the time he tried to leave BCI's Vegas facility, and was obviously haphazardly thrown together!
I have since talked to the gentleman, and even though BCI did come to his place and correct the MANY issues it had, when I asked if he'd buy another one or reccomend them to anyone else he said and I quote! "NOT ON MY LIFE!"
FWIW   BK 

PS since then he and his family have purchased 3 new Van Hools! (not my choice but it say's something about BCI!)