Loud Horn Recommendations - Plug & Play

Looking to replace the OEM horn with a plug in disc horn that's 100db or louder. I looked into the Natilus by Stebel but too complicated of an install. Can you recommend a brand: make and model? What's the max amount of amps before requiring a relay or complicated wiring install? Can an auto parts retailer like Pep Boys "car horn" to the trick...simple 15 minute replacement?

Trying to keep safe for a long tour and want to make this an easy fix. Thanks for your recos.

 

The Stebel isn't really a complicated installation, just a bit time consuming. It's probably the best of all the options. Maybe you should take another look at the instructions and wiring diagram. There are lots of folks here that have installed one, including me and I'm an electrical dummy, and can help you through it.

 

I was a big fan of the Stebel twins electrics, but their NOT loud enough. I am going to the Stebel Mini air horn now.

Just about any new horn is going to require more amperage than your old horn circuity can provide, so I think a new relay and fuse block is in order, to do it right.

Larry

 

To make things easier there are pre made wiring harnesses that you can buy. Eastern Beaver & Electrical connection come to mind, but I am sure there are others.

 

Is your bike ABS? If it's not, you can install a Stebel air horn where the ABS module would be. A relay from Eastern Beaver Company is plug and play and is easy to install. Interested, any number of us can provide step by step install instructions and of several different locations...

 

I have ABS and have installed the Stebel Nautilus in the stock horn position (using the stock bolt, even). It's a bit of a wrestle to get it in there, but 8,000 KMs later it's still loud.

 

Can you describe how you did it or better yet, pics you can post? I'd like to see how it looks and how you did it. Before mounting mine in the ABS slot, I tried the stock position and was frustrated almost to the point of voting democrat...

 

Sadly, I didn't take photos while doing it, and I so hate the push pin rivets that I am determined to not take the bodywork off again until my Dzus fasteners arrive, so I have no photos. Yet.

A warning: I am no mechanic, but am good at finding a "good enough" solution. This means that the mechanics who read this won't likely approve, but it also means that I've been able to mount this great horn in the only spot I could find that it would easily go. Also: in this position, the horn has had zero contact with the suspension/fender.

Let me draw you a picture: the Stebel has a U-shaped slot in the back, where a machine screw head can slide up and then be tightened with a nut, thus holding the body of the horn tightly against the surface.

What I did was to back off the stock machine screw and nut (after removing the stock horn) so there was quite a bit of free machine screw facing the front of the bike. I then worked the Stebel up past the rad hose, so that I could drop it back down on top of the machine screw (with that screw in the U-shaped slot, remember the U-shaped slot?). That was enough to locate the top of the horn, but everything was pretty wobbly. I was not (and 8,000 km and 12 months later still am not) worried about it moving up and releasing from the machine screw, and I used red Loctite on the nut, so rationalized that the two wires that connect to the base of the Stebel could be routed around the oil cooler pipes, and thereby locate the horn side-to-side.

Getting the horn past the radiator hose and onto the screw was the worst part of the job, and involved temporarily slightly squashing the rad hose.

I found that the bundled relay was a dud, and so bought another and used larger-gauge wire than was strictly necessary, and an inline fuse.

The whole thing sounds and looks like a bodger job (thanks, Junkyard Wars), but it works and the horn has been stable and problem-free.

 

When I had my motorcycle accessory store we use to sell tons of FIAMM horns

and never had a complaint from anyone.

I had them on several of my bikes but haven't figured out how to install

them on my '98 VFR.

One time when I was riding my Yamaha XS1100 on the freeway an older

lady started drifting into my lane so I blasted her with my Fiamm horns and

she almost spun out. I found them to be very reliable if mounted so that

rain water drained out of them. Also had good luck with larger ones on my boat.

 

I had a set of FIAMM but couldn't mount them well enough to keep the water out and the Stebel is louder anyways. Now, most states laws say a horn shall not be "unreasonably loud and obtrusive". Ok, I'm fine with that because where it concerns you average textmessaging, cellphoning, gameplaying, makeupapplying, coffeedrinking, reportreading, lanedrifting, leftturnfromtherightlane, rightturnfromtheleftlane, IlldowhateverthefuckIwant and yesIowntheroad dumbass cager, I consider it completely reasonable to have a horn loud enough to be heard in the next star system.

 

These are 115db and come in three hz ranges.

PIAA

 

As did I, although I twisted the stock mount to get it to face forward. Very tight fit, but it works and is probly the best location for loudest effect. I didn't take any pics either, didn't think it was that big of a deal.

 

I have this Italian style air horn on my car and it works great. They now have an ultra compact version for motorcycles that I plan to install soon. This horn is rated at 139 db at 4'. It scares the crap out of people but wakes them up too.


Compact Italian Air Horns - Exterior Accessories- Griot's Garage

 

I have the Stebel in the stock location. It is a BIG attention getter for those soccer moms in their 7000 lb SUVs on the phone, putting make-up on, etc. The response is usually a physical shudder and then application of the brakes with violent head turns to see where the train is that blew the horn. It works great on dogs and cows too that wander onto the roadway.

 

How often do you guys use the horns? I think ive only honked mine like 2 times since i have mine. Usually im too preoccupied looking at what to maneuver around instead of bleeping a horn.

 

Just used it one time so far while riding to scare the crap out of a soccer mom on the phone and running a stop sign. Rolled up along side her and leaned on it. She about shit. I had a great time. Well worth the time and expense installing it.

I also use it in the garage when my brother is standing in front of my bike daydreaming or otherwise preoccupied. Shatters his nerves every time. Great fun. He now has a permanent tick and is on tranquilizers. What's a brother for?

 

Most of the time things happen too quickly to even have a chance at the horn, and more often then not its too late for it anyways. It would only be useful if you see something that's going to happen before it does, and in a case like that you wont even need to use it since you will already know what to do to avoid it. But then again that;s just the way i see it. Ive only used the horn twice to get some idiot moving cause they are sitting at a green light and holding me up.

 

It's not about how many times you use it. It only matters that ONE time when you really need it. I'd rather have a horn that gets someone's attention than the wimpy little squawk from the stock unit. It's all about what's important to you on your bike. :thumb:

 

I use it all the time, mostly proactively

 

Once as a youth, I saw a bumper sticker that said "Honk if your're horney." I knew then and there I must have a loud horn.