 High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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I want to replace my stock horn with a horn cars can hear. This horn will fit in the stock location of my BA with no mods but I don't know whether to get the high tone or the low tone. Horn link - http://ridesafer.com/store/item/fpc1/Horns/Fiamm_HF-90_High_Performance_Horn.html
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Get both 
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jun 2006
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lol, I just need 1.
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Seriously, both will give you a dissonant tone and be more annoying. I've had my two horns in a stacked arrangement before, there's room.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 786
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 786 |
Do you have to install a relay for this horn?
05 TBA Mulberry/Silver, Thunder Bike pipes, K&N single Filter, 132 main Jet's, Snorkles Removed
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 67
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Quote:
Do you have to install a relay for this horn?
nope, just bolt it on and hook up the wires.
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 67
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OP
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Quote:
Seriously, both will give you a dissonant tone and be more annoying. I've had my two horns in a stacked arrangement before, there's room.
I think my Sceptre pipes are annoying enough.
Yeah I agree that dual tone horns are more noticeable and most automobiles use this arrangement but I want to keep my bike looking clean. The horn I linked to isn't much larger than the stock horn and is chrome which will dress it up a bit. I just wonder if the high tone horn sounds like the stock horn only louder and if the low tone sounds like a tugboat. I wish they had sound clips.
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Posts: 5,172 |
The low tone sounds sick and the high tone sounds sick. I have tried about 6 different horns and I'm of the opinion that unless you mount 1 of each, or one of them mini air horns, you will never achieve that "sound" you're looking for... Sick low = "blap" Sick high = "beep" No matter how loud, the sound is the same, blap or beep. Combine the 2 and you get "HONK!" 
More flags
More fun!
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Quote:
The low tone sounds sick and the high tone sounds sick. I have tried about 6 different horns and I'm of the opinion that unless you mount 1 of each, or one of them mini air horns, you will never achieve that "sound" you're looking for...
Sick low = "blap"
Sick high = "beep"
No matter how loud, the sound is the same, blap or beep.
Combine the 2 and you get "HONK!"
I was afraid of that. I have used this trumpet horn before but I don't think it will look right on my bike. They do make a loud honking type sound. I dunno... trumpet on a Triumph? Seems kinda fitting.
http://ridesafer.com/store/item/fpc3/Horns/Fiamm_AM-80_High_Performance_Trumpet_Horn.html
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
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Yes, Yes, Yes. I put it in without one and blew the fuse. It's no big deal though and MUCH louder. I had the freeway blasters (2 of them) for well over a year until I installed the Strebel airhorn, even louder and MORE obnoxious 
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Bot you're not getting much love on your original question are ya? I would say probably high tone because it is different and may stick out more than sounding like another car.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525 |
Quote:
I want to replace my stock horn with a horn cars can hear. This horn will fit in the stock location of my BA with no mods but I don't know whether to get the high tone or the low tone.
Dont know if this hepls but take a look.
Horn info
Erwin
05 America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I had a Fiamm on my bike and it wasn't that much louder than the stock horn. The Stebel I just put in though is 10 times louder....or at least it sounds like it is. IMo most cagers have the radio on or are talking on the phone. Truckers are another problem and you have to have something loud that'll grab their attention. The Stebel does the job where other horns fall short.
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 580
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I also have the Stebel. It is loud and gets attention. I did a simple plug and play thing installing it, very easy.
BA has Freak, 160mains, 44pilots, air mix3 1/2 to 4 turns, BUBS dresser dogs. Never had more fun on any bike - 2nd bike 2008 RIIIT
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 67
Member
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OP
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Quote:
I also have the Stebel. It is loud and gets attention. I did a simple plug and play thing installing it, very easy.
"Guaranteed to make that oh so important cell phone conversation come to a complete stop. If you try it out in a closed garage, your ears will ring for hours. You'll scare bicyclists off the road. Frighten children."
Sounds cool but is it really that easy to install? I don't want any fried wiring on my bike.
Then there is the relay so I would have to run and hide more wiring? Where on the bike did you install it?
-ddb
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 67
Member
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OP
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Quote:
Bot you're not getting much love on your original question are ya? I would say probably high tone because it is different and may stick out more than sounding like another car.
I convinced my friend to buy the high tone for his bike so I can hear what it sound like before making my decision.
-ddb
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Good job!
I installed my horn relay and my driving light relay on the two vacant threaded holes left by the AI valve under the tank. Even used the stocl screws from it.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 580
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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well maybe I have one that others do not have. The one I did get is/was that easy to install and no relay needed. It has been a long time since I got it, but I think this is the one:
Horn link
BA has Freak, 160mains, 44pilots, air mix3 1/2 to 4 turns, BUBS dresser dogs. Never had more fun on any bike - 2nd bike 2008 RIIIT
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
Do you have to install a relay for this horn?
Yes, yes, yes, a hundred times yes! Installing a relay is one of the simplest jobs you can do on your bike... it's easier than pulling the AI off! In fact, if you've pulled the AI off you already have the pefect mounting point for the relay, kindly provided by triumph! And why on earth would you want to avoid so simple a job when it will save your bike at best always blowing fuses, and at worst possibly having it's wiring catch fire?! You don't even need soldering skills for this job - just some crimp-on spade terminals and a cheapy crimper from any auto accessory shop.
The only reason they don't have horn relays when they come out of the factory is coz they have a tiny pathetic little beeper that goes "meep". If you want a horn that goes "GET THE H*LL OUT OF MY WAY!!!" you need a relay.
Fitting them is simple, they've even put numbers on the terminals for you! Bolt the relay in place to the AI mount. Put the two existing horn wires on the two coil terminals (85 & 86, doesn't really matter which way round you do it) of the relay. Fit a wire from the battery's positive terminal to one of the switch terminals (30) on the relay and another wire from the other switch terminal (87) to the horn/s. You might need to also run an earth wire for the horn/s, these can either go to a conveniant mounting bolt on the frame or to the battery's negative terminal. Finished - roughly a 1 beer job for a single horn + relay. If you want to get tricky you can put an in-line fuse in the wire from the battery positive terminal, or simply purchase a relay with a fuse socket built in.
I'm currently running a pair of very loud horns on my foot control bar but I think they've been weather affected from being mounted so close to the road so I'm waiting on a "stebel compact nautilus air horn" to put in the standard horn location. Apparently these things are so loud they've been known to traumatise small children into needing therapy later in life.
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
I have basically the same setup. I have an inline fuse holder wired in too. Real simple job.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,734
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,734 |
The Stebel is especially simple to install if you order one from Bikerhiway.com. Click on that link and you'll see another link for installastion instructions in a PDF file(it's just below the play button to hear what the horn sounds like). They also include everything you need to install it except for the tools. The only thing you have to figure out is where to mount everything. I put mine under the seat since my bike has been Freakenized. The relay also sits under there.
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Most cagers can't see. They are blind to motorcycles. What makes us think they can hear any betterer? No, my horn in not stock. I really only use it for yota purposes and for after the fact, I'll on occasion use it to get the cager to look my way for middle finger purposes. The best horn is actually the act of rolling off the throttle and being prepared for the cager’s erractic behavior.
Moral? Your horn does not emanate a force field.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,025
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,025 |
06BA,-AI,NoBfls,K&NPods,TBS,155/45,2 3/4Out,SidGapPlgs,Wirsnbrs
NawImPrityFknFarFrmOkMan
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
I know a guy who has a retardedly loud airhorn on his Jeep. He need to wait for the compressor to spool up after he turns the car on for it to work! It is train-loud. Unbelievable. I think, on a bike, it would cause more damage than good! It would scare ME, and probably make some caged weave and cause a crash! OH yeah, and it's the coolest thing ever
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,308 Likes: 4
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,308 Likes: 4 |
Quote:
Here http://www.hornblasters.com/products/details.php?item=LTA2
I highly reccomend this one.
$$$$$$$$$$$$
Yumpin freakin Yiminees....$2000!!!!! 
For that much you could hire someone to ride beside you and throw stuff at people to get their attention.
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,933 Likes: 3
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,933 Likes: 3 |
I want one that sounds like rapid repeater gun fire of a 50 cal!!  Followed next by, "Now, I'll shoot your tires out if you don't put the phone down now!" or other appropriate selections of verbal pleasentries!
Last edited by eddy1016; 08/07/2006 4:50 PM.
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 67
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 67 |
Quote:
Quote:
Do you have to install a relay for this horn?
Yes, yes, yes, a hundred times yes! Installing a relay is one of the simplest jobs you can do on your bike... it's easier than pulling the AI off! In fact, if you've pulled the AI off you already have the pefect mounting point for the relay, kindly provided by triumph! And why on earth would you want to avoid so simple a job when it will save your bike at best always blowing fuses, and at worst possibly having it's wiring catch fire?! You don't even need soldering skills for this job - just some crimp-on spade terminals and a cheapy crimper from any auto accessory shop.
The only reason they don't have horn relays when they come out of the factory is coz they have a tiny pathetic little beeper that goes "meep". If you want a horn that goes "GET THE H*LL OUT OF MY WAY!!!" you need a relay.
Fitting them is simple, they've even put numbers on the terminals for you! Bolt the relay in place to the AI mount. Put the two existing horn wires on the two coil terminals (85 & 86, doesn't really matter which way round you do it) of the relay. Fit a wire from the battery's positive terminal to one of the switch terminals (30) on the relay and another wire from the other switch terminal (87) to the horn/s. You might need to also run an earth wire for the horn/s, these can either go to a conveniant mounting bolt on the frame or to the battery's negative terminal. Finished - roughly a 1 beer job for a single horn + relay. If you want to get tricky you can put an in-line fuse in the wire from the battery positive terminal, or simply purchase a relay with a fuse socket built in.
I'm currently running a pair of very loud horns on my foot control bar but I think they've been weather affected from being mounted so close to the road so I'm waiting on a "stebel compact nautilus air horn" to put in the standard horn location. Apparently these things are so loud they've been known to traumatise small children into needing therapy later in life.
Well my AI is off.. Will the "Stebel Nautilus Compact Motorcycle Air Horn" mount in the stock horn location? I'm not afraid of wiring up a relay, I'm just lazy...
-ddb
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,839 Likes: 3
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,839 Likes: 3 |
a buddy just put a stainless steel boat horn on his star, NOW!!! you want to hear something loud??? boat supply hahahahahaha less then $20 and S.S. too???
ENJOY!!!!! NEWT!!!!!
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
I've found lots of cool stuff at boat stores!!
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
 This is my Strebel horn. It is mounted in the stock position using the mounting bracket off the stock horn. The horn relay is under the tank on the left side bolted on where some of the AI stuff used to be. As you can see, there is plenty of room and it is well clear of the oil cooler.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216 |
Get the Stebel, mount it at the stock horn location, use the included relay.
Very, very good horn!
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 67
Member
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OP
Member
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Thanks for the pic! That is the horn I will be getting.
I thank all you guys for your input. If I have a question about my BA you guys have the answers.
-ddb
Black 2002 Bonneville America
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223
Big Bore
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Big Bore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223 |
Quote:
I had a Fiamm on my bike and it wasn't that much louder than the stock horn
Dereck, you're kidding right? I have the Fiamm Freeway Blaster and it's a LOT louder than stock. Just ask my wife. When I bought it, I honked the stock and she just stood there, I switched the wires, and honked again. She cringed.
That horn is 125db. The stock is nowhere that loud....
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity" - Robert Heinlein
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Posts: 2,362 |
I just got my stebel in the mail today and fitted it all up - and now my ears are bleeding and everyone's talking so quiet I can't hear em! Man, that thing is LOUD! I did it exactly the same as ladisney - got nothing but good things to say about it.
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223
Big Bore
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Big Bore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223 |
Though all of this thread, I've noticed no comparative data between the Fiamm and Stebel so here ya go! Db:Fiamm - 125db Stebel - 139db Cost:Fiamm - $15-18 Stebel - $33-37 Install:Fiamm - plug and play Stebel - should use relay Sound:Fiamm (high tone) - http://members.cox.net/giaka/horn125db.wavStebel (dual tone) - http://www.bikerhiway.com/images/nautilushorn.mp3
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity" - Robert Heinlein
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216 |
Db numbers can be deceiving. I have the Stebel and would recommend it hands down. And I bought it mostly based on the 139 db (advertised as 140 some places). The tech specs on it say 139 at 6" from the bell, and it drops quite dramatically from there. I think most others would have a similar curve, and if all horns use a db rating at 6" then that's OK.
And yes, use the relay!
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223
Big Bore
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Big Bore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223 |
Just reporting the facts! Same with the soundbites, they are only soundbites and give no indication of loudness of either because as jj_ says, it depends on how close it was recorded (measured)....
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity" - Robert Heinlein
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,734
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,734 |
I didn't buy the freeway blaster, I bought one that looked like the stock horn so I could fit my chrome cover over it. That's probably why it wasn't loud enough.
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Re: High or Low tone aftermarket horn?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 532
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 532 |
I saved a lot of money in shipping and went to AutoZone and bought a car horn for $9.99 that is louder than my F150 truck horn.It fit exactly where the original horn went.
Steve
I will get pictures later!
Last edited by Steve_Sixmil; 08/08/2006 3:27 PM.
Where's my $6 million??
05 TR America;2010 T-Bird
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