Horn access (2019)

concours · Apr 27, 2020

RoadScholar said:
I think of Poe's story "The Cask of Amontillado" when I think about the horn on a Commando and I can't think any place where you can legally ride one where a horn isn't required; I don't use mine.

If you have the time to think about using the horn, you, probably, have wasted the time you could have better used to avoid the situation that provoked the thought processes leading to pushing the horn button, up to 2 seconds I'd guess.

Best.

A good way to make your widow rich.
An audible warning device as part of your defensive driving arsenal is proven good practice.

OP, I used a long slim “tappet wrench” bent to slip in there and tighten without removing a thing. Worked perfectly.
Busy now, film at 11:00.

NPeteN · Apr 27, 2020

I need a horn to tell the phone scrolling idiot in front of me that the light has changed.

They will always be good for something..

RoadScholar · Apr 27, 2020

concours said:
A good way to make your widow rich.
An audible warning device as part of your defensive driving arsenal is proven good practice.

I don't disagree, but my point, simply, is that if an operator has to make a decision between the horn and the throttle/brake to keep his spouse from becoming a widow a time window has shut. If you need to use the horn to get some slug moving after a traffic light has turned green or a dumb ass is texting or becoming emotionally involved with a cell conversation you are already in command of the situation and either stopped or riding at a safe distance; the threat level is low.

I put a higher value on my mirrors than my horn; if someone makes a turn that would have you "T" boning them (your fault BTW) steer for where they are because they won't be there when you get to that point. If you think you are going to crash, you, probably, will; fight until the lights go out, never give up.

Best.

Tornado · Apr 27, 2020

Ive got a standard FIAMM FreewayBlaster horn mounted where the original was. Same horn I use on my modern Bonneville. Very effective in urban traffic. IMHO a horn is mission critical for those moments when you see some idiot doing an unannouced lane change as you are about to go alongside. If you are used to using it, access in heat of moment is more muscle memory than a conscious effort. And nothing prevents performing evasive maneuvers while blasting away.

concours · Apr 27, 2020

Tornado said:
Ive got a standard FIAMM FreewayBlaster horn mounted where the original was. Same horn I use on my modern Bonneville. Very effective in urban traffic. IMHO a horn is mission critical for those moments when you see some idiot doing an unannouced lane change as you are about to go alongside. If you are used to using it, access in heat of moment is more muscle memory than a conscious effort. And nothing prevents performing evasive maneuvers while blasting away.

HI? Or LO tone?
I have the same Buick imitators on all my moderns, together, with a relay. I’ve been thinking of the Cdo, stock location. If I had to choose one.... the low?

concours · Apr 27, 2020

illf8ed said:
Use a lock washer on the horn bolt. Honestly the position is a pain, but it’s completely out of the way. Compared to the pathetic horn on my 2007 Sportster, the Norton’s horn is loud.

Agreed.
My 850 lb. Rocket III had a damned moped horn, that was an embarrassment, besides being USELESS in traffic.

Tornado · Apr 27, 2020

concours said:
HI? Or LO tone?
I have the same Buick imitators on all my moderns, together, with a relay. I’ve been thinking of the Cdo, stock location. If I had to choose one.... the low?

I think they are low tone. At $15 a pop, easy enough to buy both and try them to taste.
Btw, I hear folks complaining these are not loud enough. I suspect they have not used or have modded the mounting bracket included. These are made to be part of the horns resonance. Changing the bracket will affect the horns tuning.
Very happy with output from mine. So loud that folks in big suv on highways shudder in fear when I need to blast them.

trident sam · Apr 27, 2020

concours said:
Agreed.
My 850 lb. Rocket III had a damned moped horn, that was an embarrassment, besides being USELESS in traffic.

Is that what they weigh ? Jeez !

Bernhard · Apr 27, 2020

On one bike I fitted two horns of a Lexus car, they were very good pedestrian awakens. Better than the ones fitted to most motorcycles.

concours · Apr 27, 2020

elefantrider said:
There are advantages to spending hours polishing the chrome on your bike. You can easily determine what has loosened up. It is a constant battle to keep everything tight unless you use blue loctite or lock nuts.

I don't like losing any nuts or bolts, especially original cad-plated ones, so I tend to use a tiny amount of blue loctite.

RoadScholar said:
I don't disagree, but my point, simply, is that if an operator has to make a decision between the horn and the throttle/brake to keep his spouse from becoming a widow a time window has shut. If you need to use the horn to get some slug moving after a traffic light has turned green or a dumb ass is texting or becoming emotionally involved with a cell conversation you are already in command of the situation and either stopped or riding at a safe distance; the threat level is low.

I put a higher value on my mirrors than my horn; if someone makes a turn that would have you "T" boning them (your fault BTW) steer for where they are because they won't be there when you get to that point. If you think you are going to crash, you, probably, will; fight until the lights go out, never give up.

Best.

trident sam said:
Is that what they weigh ? Jeez !

Touring variant.

Danno · Apr 28, 2020

<---That has it's horn mounted on an iso exhaust donut on the starter blanking plate.

Nbob · Aug 13, 2021

Guess I'm a year late, that's how my forum luck is. But, my horn just fell off, well, it's not "off" its frickin rattling around in front of my fender! I never use my horn, except maybe to flirt or say hi to a neighbor. I live in OH country, and avoid cities like the plague that they are. But even with no baffle resonator things on my exhaust I can hear that dang p.o.s. rattling around. So, I plan on a relay set and some re-wiring this coming barn season, but I would like to stop the nonfunctional beeper from beating around in my favorite run around bike for 3 months or so. Any thoughts or experience in un bolted horn adventures? Considering bailing wire and/or expanding foam quick & temporary fixes as offered.

Tornado · Aug 13, 2021

Take rear mudguard/fender off its mounting bolts (two or three up front and three at taillight). Then shift it up and rearward, swiveling around tire so the forward lower end clears access to horn. Remove or reattach horn or replace with aftermarket options.

Expanding foam will be much misery to ever remove again, all stuck around frame rails etc.

RoadScholar · Aug 13, 2021

You may be able to get at the horn by removing the 5/16 hex bolt and washers that secures the rear fender to the square support plate, then removing the 2, 1/4-28 nuts and washers near the bottom of the fender that do double-duty by securing the horn to the battery box.

If you get these three fasteners off you may be able to rotate the front edge of the rear fender down giving you the room to tighten up the horn. If this works for you, you may have to muscel the fender so that you will be able to it to accept the, now tight, hex bolts.

If this doesn't work for you then the tail light assembly and the saddle clamp will need to be removed so that the rear fender will have sufficient wiggle room to tighten, replace or remove the horn. Horn surgery or a horn-ectomy is one of the most thankless jobs you can do on a Commando. Many of the members have relocated the horn for this reason; there are many posts on the subject.

Best.

robs ss · Aug 13, 2021

Nbob said:
Guess I'm a year late, that's how my forum luck is. But, my horn just fell off, well, it's not "off" its frickin rattling around in front of my fender! I never use my horn, except maybe to flirt or say hi to a neighbor. I live in OH country, and avoid cities like the plague that they are. But even with no baffle resonator things on my exhaust I can hear that dang p.o.s. rattling around. So, I plan on a relay set and some re-wiring this coming barn season, but I would like to stop the nonfunctional beeper from beating around in my favorite run around bike for 3 months or so. Any thoughts or experience in un bolted horn adventures? Considering bailing wire and/or expanding foam quick & temporary fixes as offered.

I waited until I needed to change the rear tyre then removed the mudguard (fender?) as @RoadScholar says above, the permanently removed the sucker and fitted horns where I can easily get to them.
Cheers

Lineslinger · Aug 14, 2021

For those times when more than a horn is required...

Danno · Aug 14, 2021

When the SS clone was a Fastback, I mounted an actual air horn. It was lots of fun watching blue-haired dawdlers hit the headliner, but two chromed trumpets were a bit too gaudy for my tastes.

Lineslinger · Aug 14, 2021

Danno said:
When the SS clone was a Fastback, I mounted an actual air horn. It was lots of fun watching blue-haired dawdlers hit the headliner, but two chromed trumpets were a bit too gaudy for my tastes.

Dan, did it require an air pump and and tank?
I have fantasies of a true locomotive horn under the hood of my Tacoma, texters while driving would be involved.

gortnipper · Aug 14, 2021

Lineslinger said:
Dan, did it require an air pump and and tank?
I have fantasies of a true locomotive horn under the hood of my Tacoma, texters while driving would be involved.

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joe czech · Aug 14, 2021

i bought this horn off amazon - paid somewhere around $15. plenty loud best part, it fit the horn cavity perfectly and mounted with the provided brackets. before that i had a replacement i got from OB - had to modify it to fit, and it lasted a few months - IMO, a $30 POS. my origianl still works - not very loud, and a very raspy sound.

Horn access (2019)

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