Horney issues!

[130253]

The impotent horn on my 1974 R75/6 is not worth a "beep", as we all know, and I am tired of not being heard! (I feel so inadequate! :cry) I really believe size does matter in this case! What are the options for a louder horn. Does the electrical need to be upgraded. Can you use a car horn. Or should I just install loud pipes since I heard they save lives.:laugh

[The_Veg]

Mark, I predict that you'll get overwhelming votes for installing a dual-Fiamm setup. I'll be the odd-man and vote for Stebel Mini-Nautilus, which is a dual-tone compact air-horn that is *LOUD*.
Either way, you'll get much better horn-performance if you wire it to the battery via an accessory-relay. Somebody here has the details on exactly what relay to buy and will post a picture of the schematic for wiring it. I've done such an installation and it's easy. If you can strip & crimp you can do this.

[PAGoldsby]

The stock Fiamm "snail" horn on my /7 is quite loud and has a very rich tone. I'm sure you could mount one to your /6.

[JDStone]

I thought this would be about women. :hug :hug

[sumran]

Mark, I predict that you'll get overwhelming votes for installing a dual-Fiamm setup. I'll be the odd-man and vote for Stebel Mini-Nautilus, which is a dual-tone compact air-horn that is *LOUD*.
Either way, you'll get much better horn-performance if you wire it to the battery via an accessory-relay. Somebody here has the details on exactly what relay to buy and will post a picture of the schematic for wiring it. I've done such an installation and it's easy. If you can strip & crimp you can do this.

Perhaps my dual-Fiamm (currently a single-Fiamm, due to a broken mounting bracket) system is not functioning properly, because it is not very impressive. If the aforementioned wiring diagram is available, that would be great. I need to look into the Stebel Mini-Nautilus.

When I was young, my Grandfather bought a 12v electric air horn off of a passenger train at a bankruptcy auction. He initially rigged it up in his '65 chrysler Imperial, which was roughly the same size as the locomotive it came from. During the early '70's gas crisis (remember when gas soared to .50 per gallon?) he sold the Imperial and bought a subcompact Dodge Colt. He sold the Imperial,but kept the train horn, which was then mounted in the Colt. That is what I am looking for. Because when that nut on a cell phone decide to change lanes into me...:brow

[robsryder]

I'd suggest that a relay be used if one isn't already present. The relay is better suited to carry the current to the horn than is the horn button. For my R60/6 I mounted the relay under the tank and mounted the dual fiamm horns as shown in the photos. The location is similar to that for many other airheads, but the R60/6 did not have tabs welded onto the frame. Rather I used ADEL clamps as shown. McMaster-Carr has ADEL clamps. See: http://www.mcmaster.com/ use the search term ADEL.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i283/robsmoto/r60-6-horn2.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i283/robsmoto/r60-6-horn1.jpg

[Polarbear]

I've got'em and they are loud. I mounted the compressor at the existing horn mount and the dual air horns on the left fork leg, pointed down the leg to not catch debris when riding in rain, etcetc. I made my own bracket from sheet metal, for the horns mount, hose clamped them to the leg, ran the air lines and done:). They catch attention and are available at better hardware stores and/or Harbor Freight Tools for about twenty bucks. Relay included. I have not needed a relay on my /7 and have been using the setup for a couple years now. NOT a stock option, but certainly effective and LOUD:) I'm sorry for no picture right now:(. I think they look quite well done and mine(horns) are red, matching my red stripes on the bike. Randy13233 "Blasting Perfection in my Horn":thumb

[130253]

Thanks to all for the info on horns.
Question: With air horns, is there a delay from the time you hit your horn button and the compressor kicks in and the horn fires, or is this a instantaneous process as in a electrical horn. You know how it is, there are times when you want to be heard immediately and not a second or two later!

[ChrisF]

Mark, I put an air horn on my airhead, but it was a /5 rather than a /6. The current draw of the new horn was higher than the 8A fuse that protected the circuit, so I had to use a relay (plus, I was told that the higher current could be a problem for the horn button). I used the two horn wires to power the relay coil, and the common and normally open terminals to send power to the air compressor. I don't recall if I fused the line from the battery, but I should have! I know your /6 has significantly upgraded electrics vs. my /5, but I hope this helps.

It seemed to take slightly longer for the air horn to sound vs. the stock horn, but it was a very small fraction of a second.

[soldemall]

Years ago, driving an old (well, new then) Bugeye Sprite, I wanted some extra sound. With its 12v system, I put on a 6v VW horn. It was quite loud, and you don't use it often enough to hurt it. Used them for years.

[sumran]

[IMG]You'll fit right in here.

Maybe I don't fit in here. I love the motorcycle discussion, pictures and conversation, but try to avoid this stuff. It isn't hard to find on the internet or anywhere else. I may be the only one that feels this way, but I doubt it. I am not trying to tell what you can hang in your gargage, just one small forum voice placing a vote.

[sumran]

And so it will be so.
My bad.

Your kind and gracious response is much appreciated!

[535is]

The OEM Fiamms on my RS are loud enough to give me pause before hitting them. After all, I'm inside that fairing, too. :uhoh

Essentially identical FIAMM horns are easy to find (with red bodies and cool chrome grilles!). They run about $40 for a pair and they work lots better than the twin 'beepers' BMW put on the E28 535is. So if you hear me honking, you have to turn around to see whether I'm on two wheels or four ... :wow

[Polarbear]

NO, so very little delay at best. The tiny compressor works very well and sounds the trumpets nicely and quickly. My wiring has been no issue(/7), as the horns are used so briefly anyways and never for long periods, where a load on the wiring/switches could bear any resistance. The horn kits, however, do come with relays in the package. Good luck, Randy13233.

[The_Veg]

Here is the installation on my 1995 R100R:

http://vegomatic.smugmug.com/photos/75641272-M.jpg
http://vegomatic.smugmug.com/photos/75641276-M.jpg
http://vegomatic.smugmug.com/photos/75641279-M.jpg

As you can see, there is no hose from compressor (the cylindrical device, and about 80% of the size of a soda-can) to the trumpets. *NO* delay!
Also it was a pretty tight fit getting it above the compressor. I used a bastardised-version of the original horn-bracket. I bought the horn at the Lima rally after hearing it demonstrated at the Adventurer's Workshop booth. The guy warned people walking nearby before blowing the horn, and it lived up to that warning. Mine has made a few cagers jump. I've got it wired through a relay, with the power from the horn-button being used only to activate the relay (which then switches on current right from the battery to the horn).

[sumran]

I stopped by the local auto parts store and picked up a relay and a in-line fuse. This weekend, I am going to rig up the dual Fiamm's with the relay and see how much difference the direct feed makes. I have to get some wire. They wanted $5 for a small roll. As an old electrician, I couldn't stand paying that much for a few inches of wire.

Based on comments here and other things I have read, the Fiamms should be much louder than they are. I don't think the stock horn wiring is delivering enough juice. If I still need to change horns the wiring will already be done. I'll report back on the results.

[Isamemon]

I like the 6 volt vw idea,
anyone else tried this

[co_g30]

I installed the 132db fiamm dual horns from the local autoparts store...louder than the stock horns that came with my 2004 1150RT, which had not been loud enough apparently during a recent "incident".

I then got the dual horn relay wiring kit from easternbeaver.com and they're now getting juice from proper gauge wiring I believe so more voltage is reaching the horns. They sound even louder but really, it's such a subjective thing, loudness.

Get the relay kit, I like the one from easterbeaver but there's also others. The one from easterbeaver was very well made, reasonable in price. Not affiliated with them, just a happy customer. Too me longer to take the dang fairings off than it did to hook up the relay kit!

Horns are so loud now, I sometimes scare myself when I accidentally hit the horn button instead of the left turn signal button! :)

[130253]

Thanks everyone for sharing your info on the horns, it is very much appreciated:thumb . I'll see what is available locally and make this my weekend project. Well, maybe not .........since it is supposed to be a fantanstic weeked weather wise! Perfect riding weather is here!:brad

[sumran]

I finally got around to installing the horn relay on my dual Fiamms. I was planning on getting a Stebel air horn until I read this thread. After reading some of the posts I decided the Fiamms might not be getting enough power.

I ran a direct feed from the battery (with in-line fuse) to the relay and closed the relay with the existing horn wire.

I am no longer in the market for an air horn. The Fiamms are very loud now that they are wired correctly. Cost of the relay was $4. Thanks for the savings!

[beemerguru]

The Stebel air horn can be bought for $39 on the net..and when you hit the button, the response is immediate. I use them on all the G/Ss using the stock wiring..no relay...no problems and I use them a LOT.