Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Thunderbird Horn

When I rode the new Thunderglide the other day, I did notice something pretty cool. The thing has a real horn. It sounds like a car horn. So, for the $32, I had my dealer order one for me. Like all Triumph parts I should have it in a couple of weeks.

dang...thats cheap.
Ill second Sorens coment about the horn...LOUD! and DEEP!

It looks like a real car horn, but smaller. It should be a direct replacement.

Do you have a part # you could share??

I knew I should have asked Liz for that, but I just had her order it. Took her like 3 seconds to look it up for me.

Dang, and I had the chance to hear the TBird horn at the Nelson Raid and I never even thought to ask. But ummm, I like the sound of this (pun intended). I wonder if it is a two-note horn, which is what good car and truck horns always are. You know... like a C and a B natural sort of thing. This causes discordance and makes the sound more irritating.

Soren, please let us know if there are any mounting issues or if it's a straight fit.

And pictures!!

It sounds just like the one available on Brent's site if you listen to the comparison sound bytes.

I did hear the new TBird horn in Jay Leno's vid the FJ posted. It is a single note, a mono sound. Back in my day and still in some cars today the horn consisted of 2 separate notes. Bwonk, bwonk!!! Really got your attention. That's what I want... if you have a piano or electronic keyboard at home just go over and hit a B and C together. Not a pretty sound but a get-your-attention sound. Now try a C/B flat combination. More appealing to the ear yet still quite aggressive. Horn manufacturers measure their sound in hertz and not notes on a scale but a twin note blast is FAR MORE effective at reaching an audience than a single note blast. It's harmony man, or disharmony depending on the waves produced by each note.

'nuff said... ya wanna scare the deer or the car that just cut you off, get twin notes at the highest decibels possible!!

Quote:

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a twin note blast is FAR MORE effective

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Hey Keith - I totally agree.

You would probably like these - Stebel Twin Magnum - 410hz and 500hz - 115db measured 2 metres from source. They are electromagnetic and cheap. I just fitted them up where the stock horn used to be. I got the pair on ebay for AU$30 (US$24). Get the black ones - not the chrome which is a poor quality plastic chrome.

You can check them out at the manufacturer's website. Look under 'Electromagnetic - TM 80 Magnum'. I was going to go for their air horns this time but poor reviews in Motorcycle News turned me off the airhorns.

I also had a pair on my previous bike. They are truly give straying cage drivers a hellova fright and they swerve quickly back into their own lane.

There ya go... THAT'S what I'm talking about!

thanks for the tip Richard, I've been on the hunt for a descent stebel

The part number is T2505125 and right now Triumph is showing 0 available.

Here's the ebay store in Oz that I got them from. They don't have the black twin Magnum on auction right now but I sure if you gave them a ring they would sort you out.
Stebel ebay page in OZ

Ended up buying these



Any tips for installation Richard???

I used the SRS Chrome dual horn wiring kit which includes a relay, fuse and all the wiring (plug & play). It is excellent - and made in Brisbane.

I forgot that the Stebel horns come with a relay so if you're handy with a soldering iron you can easily make your own. There is wiring diagram on the back of the Stebel box.

INSTALLATION:
Disconnect the stock horn and bracket. Feed the wiring back through the frame to the relay (which I zip tied to the frame under the tank). The power feed comes from the positive terminal on the battery. This wire needs a fuse (20-25amp) on that line (I positioned the fuse connection under the seat and on to the relay. Feed a new wire from the relay to horn A. Bridge from the same connection on horn A to the same terminal on horn B (those are your positive feeds). Connect horn B to earth somewhere on the frame. I used the bolt for the rear brake reservoir. Piggyback the earth feed from horn B to the earth on horn A. That's wiring done.

I fabbed a couple of simple brackets. There are some brackets supplied with the Stebel which could do the trick with some simple mods. I positioned the horns pretty much where the stock used to be. One mounted off the same bolt as stock. The other (with a slightly longer bracket bent in a slight dogleg) monted off the top left oil radiator bolt.

I will take some photos this weekend of the brackets and positioning if you want.

I also painted the silver backs of the horns black.

IMPORTANT: If you have LED bulbs in your dash they MAY flash momentarily when you use the horns because they are on the same earth circuit as the horn switch and these LEDs are sensitive little buggers. This had me freaking out thinking I was about to fry my EMC. But finally, after a few desperate threads on this site, worked out that this phenomenom is harmless - just a momentary miniscule power surge I guess - or electrical backwash (some electrical engineers might like to give a more technical explanation).

Hornology at it's best. THANKS GUYS, and yes pics are appreciated.

Excellent explanation Richard

Who needs instructions when we have you mate.

I'll give the electrics a go myself now without having to buy a kit, so thanks again for that.

BTW, pics would really be appreciated also but only if you get a few moments.

cheers
staffo

Personally, I prefer to pull on my clutch and rev my TORS a few times to alert or get someones attention.

Agreed - loud pipes are stage 1 of the errant cage repellent.

But if the cage is still a problem progress to stage 2 ... a horn that elicits the response: "&%*$#!!! A huge semi is about to turn me into puree!"

And then after they swerve back to their own lane they think: Oh its only a motorbike.

And then you're at stage 3 - you pull alongside glaring at them with that bowel flushing biker look that says: Everything that's comfortable and certain and soft and warm and friendly in your life, as of now, has no meaning - because I ate your pet for breakfast and I'm still hungry.

Of course they will almost certainly stare rigidly straight ahead , refusing to make eye contact and you can smugly putter off knowing the bluff has worked again and satisfied in the knowledge that you have maybe educated a moron into a bit better driving skills.

Hey Staffo & Mountainman. I have posted the pics in a new thread here because this was getting off topic.

Just picked up my Thunderbird horn for replacement. Dealer got it for me in 2 days. Have not had the chance to install it yet and it is definately a horn vs the beep beep OEM. I must say that you may find the same horn directly from FIAAM without the Triumph plastic bag. Looks alot like a Freeway Blaster and has the FIAAM stamped right on it. Thinking of just adding it to the existing horn as many have noted here that two notes are better than one. We will see.

You can get a similar horn from Brent's site for 23.99. Here's a link:

Upgraded horn

Well, I made the install this weekend and can't say that I am impressed. It is a different tone, deeper, but can't say that it is any "louder". I recorded a couple of clips and will see if I can figure out how to post them.

Drag for ya man... after a bunch of time and effort woulda been nice if you liked the outcome. Oh well... ya probably learned something and that is never a waste of time.

So, my thunderbird horn FINALLY arrived. Took about three seconds to swap out and not only is it loud, but sounds good.