Author Topic: Louder Horns II (Read 8870 times)

B6Matt · « **on:** March 24, 2005, 12:12:17 AM »

I did a comparo between the stock horn and the $11.00 high tone horn you can get at Autozone (Italian-made, snail-shaped "Blazer" horn). The Autozone horn is not louder than OEM. The stock horn has more of a "Herbie the Love Bug" sound ("MEEEP"

) versus the a "BAAAA

" sound on the Autozone horn.

I'm going to opt for the Autozone low tone horn, which is about $4 more. It's supposed to be louder. We'll see.

Could go with the dual horns, but they'd have to be mounted up in the fairing, where some of the noise will be muffled.

Red01 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2005, 01:15:00 AM »

I don't remember which horn I had (high or low tone), but it was made by Fiamm and is sold in blister packs with Lord knows who all's name on it. (Horns still have Fiamm logo on them though.) I've seen 'em at WalMart, CSK, NAPA, etc.

One thing though, it was certainly louder than the stocker... but it doesn't like rain! Within a year it was toast. Even though I live in rain country, I try to keep riding in the rain to a minimum, so it's not like the horn saw a lot of wet conditions.

B6Matt · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2005, 10:10:09 AM »

I had hoped with the horn bell pointed downward and tilted back toward the engine that it wouldn't get water up into it. I was exploring locations under the fairing too and I think I may have found one.

I couldn't find "Fiamm" anywhere on this horn.

Paul, that's not just "rain country," it's "God's Country!"

99er · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2005, 02:26:50 PM »

I don't know how much you're fixated on this type of horn but is the original option of buying a similar style replacement from Hella out of the question? That was the way we did it in the olden days (1999).
Marc/Atl

From the old FAQ:
The only mod you will have to do is clip the tabs between the wire leads for the horn connecter cause the blade terminals are father apart on the Hella horn, they plug right in. I drilled another hole in the horn mounting strip to bring the horn up in the fairing and put a slight "s" bend in it to clear the edge of the fairing. I don't know if you can mount it with the fairing on,I had mine off along with the forks so it installed easily. Longevity- I've had one in my Honda for about 5(tundra) years and it still keeps blasting. The silver dulled a little but I didn't want a chrome one either."
Available from Performance Unlimited Motoring Accessories at a discount for Bandit-Talk list members. Ask for Paul and tell him your from the Bandit E-mail list. $25.75 (20%off) +shipping - no tax Hella part# is 66006

B6Matt · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2005, 03:05:07 PM »

Quote

clip the tabs between the wire leads for the horn connecter cause the blade terminals are father apart on the Hella horn, they plug right in.

That's about all you have to do with the Autozone horns.

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2005, 04:38:06 PM »

Didn't even have to do that for the Fiamm horn. Plugged right in.
Cost $9.95 at Wal-Mart.
Just gotta keep water out of the darn thing.

txbanditrydr · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2005, 04:51:55 PM »

The B6 was plug and play.... the oil cooler is in the way on the B12.

Anybody got some bracket ideas they are willing to share??

Red01 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2005, 04:58:15 PM »

With the Fiamm, it came with some generic brackets. One of them was a strip, which was long enough to clear the cooler. If yours didn't come with one, something like it would be simple to make.

txbanditrydr · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2005, 05:32:51 PM »

Oh yeah.... I remember that..... now where in the heck did I put it....

Guess I must be stressed.

B6Matt · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2005, 11:01:23 AM »

I bolted it to one of the fairing braces, out of the wet. The horn opening is pointed toward the fairing, so it shouldnt' be taking on any water. Doesn't seem to reduce the sound at all.

Red01 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2005, 06:34:56 PM »

Nice location! I like that.

Don't know if I can use it though... my heated grips switch is mounted there.

tribal_bandit · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2005, 12:50:54 AM »

speeking of horns i was thinking of putting an air horn in my bandit.
something like this one off ebay. i havent done it yet because i dont know if it will work well and i think the price is a little high. what do you guys think?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33704&item=7964013982&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Jacknife · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2005, 05:14:22 AM »

Are you going to paint you bike Orange and have 01 on the side. Live in a hick villages and do some CRAZY stunts!

If you answered yes to any of the above get the horns!

tribal_bandit · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2005, 03:40:05 PM »

well the orange paint and the 01 are a given, but i will not move to a hick town, as for stunts i will try to learn a wheelie

Red01 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2005, 05:46:16 AM »

I think you'll have a hard time finding a place to tastefully mount four trumpets and a compressor.