Loud Horn

steveyacht · May 30, 2011

I live in the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina. While a great place to live, as I like the beach, we have a tourist traffic issue. We call them "Tourons" which is a hybride of touist and moron. As a result of thier disconcerting driving patterns I need a LOUD ASS HORN. Currently have an Emgo (I think) mounted to the lower portion of the rear air box (as I have a single Mikuni). This is one pathetic horn, more like a sqeal from a two hour old kitten on it's death bed. Now I have looked at some air horns, but don't really want to have that big honkin' unit takin up valuable space. Therein lies my dilema. Suggestions greatly appreciated. If you don't give a hoot, just pass it on.

:roll:

maylar · May 30, 2011

Go to your local auto parts store like NAPA and ask them. There's all sorts of horns available. I found one that even fit in the stock location that's louder than the old Lucas. The key though is to relocate (as you've already done), since a horn pointing at the ground in front of the rear wheel is lame. I'm not willing to move mine.

rvich · May 30, 2011

I just bought one of these. It is in the mail but I will be happy to report on it when I get it installed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0507708434

Russ

DogT · May 30, 2011

I got one of these but have not installed it yet. Comes with a relay which you will need. Sounds just like a regular car horn, I wouldn't say it's really loud, but much better than the Norton honker. http://www.amazon.com/Wolo-Model-519-Ch ... roduct_top

Dave
69S

bluto · May 30, 2011

I've heard that the Stebel Nautilus is good, but have not installed one myself yet

http://www.amazon.com/Stebel-Nautilus-Compact-Motorcycle-Horn/dp/B000NPRTII

steveyacht · May 30, 2011

rvich said:
I just bought one of these. It is in the mail but I will be happy to report on it when I get it installed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0507708434

Russ

Very Interested in hearing about how this one goes: Where you mounted it, percieved quality, overall size, etc.

Thanks!!!!

jeffdavison · May 30, 2011

I'm in the process of installing a Stebel Nautilus compact also.
I was hoping to mount it either in the original horn position or between the coils up fromt in the frame. Tho it is a very small horn for an air horn, it was still just a bit larger than what the space would allow.
I had almost given up on using it until I came across an article on someone mounting it. It voids the warranty, but gave me the option of an inconspicous installation, and at $35 I can "self warranty".
What the writer of the article did was to split the "horn" component from the "compressor" , and used a hose to connect them.
I have the compressor mounted under the coils, and painted the body black to visually hide it. I did have to fabricate a bracket, and I mounted the horn part in the position of the original Lucas horn with another fabricated bracket. There was plenty of room to route the hose from up front back to the horn, it runs under the backbone of the frame into the batterybox area and then underneath to the horn.
Since the horn is advertised at 139 db, there would not be too much of a loss with it mounted in the original position.

here's the link to the inspirational how to article:

http://www.gadgetjq.com/airhorn.htm

JD

frankdamp · May 30, 2011

That installation separating the compressor and horn trumpet looks very good. I remember the comment in Motor Cycle weekly when the Commando first hit the market. "The horn sounds like a bee under a bucket". Of course, that was something we never tested!

speirmoor · May 30, 2011

I have this one on my Honda and will do the same on the Norton.
Location wise I'm exploring the area under the triple tree above the front fender (practical not purist)
http://www.amazon.com/85112-115db-500HZ-600HZ-Sports
There are actually two pieces in the package wired in series (No Relay).Loud like a Semi definitely an attention getter.

Hobot · May 30, 2011

I got to ride Trixie Combat yesterday 1st time in years, 15 miles and tried to keep faithful to factory issue, including the bee under a bucket horn. but jeeze louise I can't barely hear it over THE Gravel tire crunch and made me feel so vunerable and defenseless against daily deer that need to be scared-shocked out the way not just cocking heads curious and waiting to see what is doing it before bolting in random and switch backs.

So this survey was very helpful to me especially that the combo air horn could be separated from its compressor. Peel will have air on board so wondering what number and size of air horns to shop and where to heck to hang em not to be knocked off or muffled.

Oh yeah this would do it! Turn your volume down.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWDqNHbBIjs[/video]

batrider · May 31, 2011

I've been running the Stebel Nautilus for the past 3 years and it has been fine. I have it located in the stock horn location. I made a small bracket coming off the battery box to the single bolt of the horn. The horn is not mounted in the recommended orientation as shown in the instructions. I tried it as an experiment and it has been OK so far. For the $35 price I figured I'd just get another one if it died. Also if I did it again I would probably separate the compressor and the horn part -- easy to do. I am using a relay to keep high current out of the handlebar switch.

I've seen these private labeled as "Bad Boy" horns and Harbor Freight carries them also.

The loudness is crazy.

DogT · May 31, 2011

That's what I got, the 'Bad Boy' but they are made by Wolo. They look a bit different that the Nautilus, but same setup. Electric air horn. I checked the current draw, around 5 Amps as I remember and you better use the relay to get battery power directly to it.

Dave
69S

swooshdave · May 31, 2011

DogT said:
That's what I got, the 'Bad Boy' but they are made by Wolo. They look a bit different that the Nautilus, but same setup. Electric air horn. I checked the current draw, around 5 Amps as I remember and you better use the relay to get battery power directly to it.

Dave
69S

http://www.harborfreight.com/bad-boy-ai ... 94117.html

jeffdavison · May 31, 2011

Looks like the only difference between the Wolo and the Stebel are the stickers. The compressor body, plastic base and airhorn look identical. Pobably uses a common OEM (most likely Stebel) and Wolo just does the rebadge thing.

JD

batrider · May 31, 2011

They're basically the same horn. Just slightly different chrome etc. I think Stebel is the original manufacturer in Italy. Either WOLO buys from them or it is a close knockoff. The relay did come with the Stebel also.

swooshdave · May 31, 2011

Or they are just made in the same Chinese factory...

rvich · Jun 11, 2011

Installed the PIAA Slimline horn today. 500 Hz, 112 db, it measures about 3.5 X 3.5 inches and is about 1.5 inches wide. I was able to mount it between my stock coils. I no longer have a ballast resistor and condenser pack there. It came with a mounting tab that I was able to bend at a right angle and place under one of the bolts that holds the coil bracket to the frame. The forward edge sits between the forward legs of the frame and the body of the horn sits about a half inch lower than the coils. Being black it is near invisible when the tank and coils are in place.

It is LOUD!

Russ

Hobot · Jun 11, 2011

Here's 130 db snail horn like Norton that might fit down there and still startle people/animals, ugh if you can stomach the install task.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/electric-130db ... 09014.jcwx

An improved horn is an inexpensive safety addition that any F owner should be able to install in under 5 minutes. After looking at several brands, I chose to go with FIAMM. The horn I picked fits perfectly in the stock location and utilizes the bikes standard wiring harness with no additional relays. The horn is their "C" model, which is rated at 130 dB and blasts a High Note. And what a high note it is. This horn is infinitely louder than stock and is sure to scare the you know what out of the next cager who cuts you off. You should be able to pick one up at most automotive stores including your local Pep Boys. I got mine for $12.99 plus tax.

Here are a couple of things to consider. First, I originally installed two horns. The only additional work I did was to install one of the FIAMM mounting brackets and a splitter on the wiring harness. The two horns fit side by side. Essentially, the second horn ends up completely opposite to the first horn -- 180 degrees away rotated about the bracket mounting bolt. This produced an even louder sound. However, without wiring a relay, I was afraid of overtaxing the wiring system or horn switch. So, I went back to one horn. I don't recommend two, but that's sort of an off the cuff suggestion. I don't have any calculations to back up my theory. Second, just to get an idea of how loud 130 dB's is, here are some values out of a physics book I pulled off my shelf: Jackhammer (at 1 m) 90 dB; Rock Group 110 dB; Threshold of Pain 120 dB; Jet Engine (at 50 m) 130 dB; Saturn Rocket (at 50 m) 200 dB. Any way you slice it, the horn is LOUD

http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/AftermarketHornsFAQ.htm

shrugger · Jun 11, 2011

I second the Stebel (Or clones). Check out Youtube for some in action. There really is no polite way to use one. :twisted:

steveyacht · Jun 12, 2011

shrugger said:
I second the Stebel (Or clones). Check out Youtube for some in action. There really is no polite way to use one. :twisted:

If I am using the horn, I am damned sure not wanting to be polite!!!

Loud Horn

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