As a unified route, the 187 was operated by Alperton for many years after its retrenchment out of central London, but tendering saw it pass to Metroline and then in 1999 to London Traveller, marking that company's first and only victory in the tendering game. At that time it was split into 187 and 487 to try and offset the time lost by having to hack across the traffic at both Willesden and Harlesden, but this resulted in a pair of routes that didn't really go anywhere and were of little use to anyone but locals. Some dignity was restored to the 187 in 2000 when it was restored over much of the roads lost to it in 1982 and it now terminates at Finchley Road.

London Traveller was one of the few companies to try the Volvo B6BLE, a short-lived competitor to the all-conquering Dennis Dart SLF, and fifteen East Lancs Spryte-bodied examples in red with stripy decals entered service. However, London Traveller began to falter and suffered a change of management in mid-2000 which brought a new name, Metropolitan Omnibus, and all red as the livery. Five more Volvo B6BLEs were taken for the 187's extension, one of which was VS 517 (W517 CCK, above) seen at the now-demolished Central Middlesex Hospital on 24th May 2003. At the end of 2001 Metropolitan Omnibus sold out to Thorpes, with the B6BLEs gaining wide yellow bands. By late 2003 many of the Volvo buses were replaced by Thorpes' own Darts and moved to Yorkshire Traction, who were London Traveller's parent company.

Instead of Alperton, this time the 187 is operated by First's latest west London garage at Willesden Junction. On the first day back on the route, Dennis Dart SLF DML 428 (LN51 DWM, below) is seen at Warwick Avenue. Alperton operate the 487 with the Thorpes Darts on hire until existing fleet vehicles can be cascaded.