Triumphrat

Tone in't Fens · 04-25-2008, 01:34 PM

About the only disappointing bit of my 955i is the feeble horn, as with virtually all bikes. I learnt recently, in another thread that Aerostich http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/...n-p-19550.html in the US do an Ear Cannon (139dB) for about $60 inc shipping and Top Gear of the UK do a Nautilus (120dB) for £29 - about the same magnitude of price I guess.

I've been having fantasies about how to fit the Train Horns http://www.hornblasters.com/ but I'd need a trailer and a truck battery for some of these beasts.

Any thoughts and handy hints would be much appreciated.

This site seems useful as well: http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/horn-...horn-relay.htm

Derswede · 04-25-2008, 02:10 PM

If your bike has the common "switch to ground" system, you can replace the stock horns with Fiamms or the Ear Cannon (neat item....hmmmm) and use the stock connections from one horn to activate the relay. On my install the relay had 4 connectors....two for the relay coil and two for the contacts. #'s 85/86 are the coil on mine, #'s 87/30 are the contacts.

I connected the coil in place of the horn(s) (wrapped up the other set to prevent shorts), powered up the bike and tested to see if I got a "click," which I did. Then, I mounted the new horns which are internally grounded on one side (i.e., if you secure to a frame member one side will be at ground (negative) potential) and wired up a connector directly from the battery to the relay on one side of the relay contact, and ran a pair of wires from the other contact to the two Fiamm horns. Also, at the battery, I used a 15A fuse inline with the power lead...IMPORTANT TO DO THIS!! Then, I tested the horns....BIG improvement. Sounds like a truck now and alerts the cagers that someone is beside them

I use "heatshrink" on all connections....a good grade of black tape is sufficient (use 3M tape...not "Harbour Freight" tape...) and clean up all the connections with zip ties, etc. to prevent damage to the harness, etc. I have a set of airhorns (Stebals) which I purchased at a local autoshop for the XYL's Miata .....thinking about using those in the future. Had a set on my CB650 Custom and they worked quite well in appropriate situations. PM or email me (my screen name at aol is good) if you need any help.

Derswede

Arrybash · 04-25-2008, 04:19 PM

I have always fitted genuine Fiamm electromagnetic horns to replace the OEM feeble one. You need to buy a pair, i.e. a high note and a low note. You must also fit a relay to power them.

A guy on Ebay sells them (Otto's Grotto), works out about £18 for the pair. The ebay number is 170211228499.

I bought a pair recently to go on my '06 tiger. The original pair had been on my '04 tiger and had seen better days. I fitted then onto the flat bracket on my Touratech engine bars
just below the tank, an ideal location.

I have a pair on my ZX10 which must be nearly as old as the bike i.e. 19 years and still going as well as the bike.

You won't be dissappointed, not quiet as good as a pair of air horns, but a good second best.

There are plenty of copies around, but in my view the original Fiamm's are the best.

Regards

Chris

TucsonBill · 04-26-2008, 01:26 AM

I installed the Stebel Nautilus inside my Thunderbike bars. Fits great and is really loud! The advertising said 139Db, which I believe. I gave one to my assistant at work and we installed it on her Honda Ruckus. You can't help but giggle when she hits the horn. Such a quiet little scooter wth such and ear-splitting horn. The Nautilus is simply a air dual horn rolled up in a coil, hence the Nautilus name.

Tone in't Fens · 04-27-2008, 12:50 PM

I'm very grateful for all the advice, in particular the detailed help from Derswede. I promise I'll check for past threads next time!

It looks like the Ear Cannon and Nautilus are a similar size so I'm now prevaricating between the two.

Thanks again. Tone

Tiger-G · 04-27-2008, 01:03 PM

I've been trying to work out how to get the bull horn on my Fire Engine to work on the Tiger, unfortunately it's 24 volts.

Pity 'cause it gives me a semi everytime I hear it

Tone in't Fens · 04-27-2008, 03:11 PM

Resisted the obvious crass pun on horns. What's the derivation of the term for hooters, and the like? - Where's "horn" come from?

As long as you've go the space for mounting, I feel another double entendre coming on, it'd be worth fitting a separate 24v battery system or use one of these devices (can't think of the name) originally designed for a car socket.

blacktiger · 04-28-2008, 05:49 AM

Firstly, beware of Fiamms. The earth comes off the central mounting stud so you have to isolate the whole thing from the bike.
After coping with that Fiamm problem for a couple of years they finally packed up and I found some "Motrax Hootaz" at £9.99 for the pair. Bloody good value and no need to isolate or fit a relay. They work great.

iansoady · 04-30-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacktiger

Firstly, beware of Fiamms. The earth comes off the central mounting stud so you have to isolate the whole thing from the bike.

Not the ones I got from Vehicle Wiring Products. Anyway, if you use a relay it doesn't matter as you can switch the live side.

28687 · 04-30-2008, 05:23 PM

I had the Stebel Nautilus horns on my GS ( needed to fit a relay ) - they were excellent - very loud!

Pluck