Horn dying...

[Arfa]

Think my horn is on the way out, now not very loud and makes a dull parping sound. I've obviously warn it out honking at all the idiots out on the London roads....


Are there any common faults that are easy to remedy?
Anyone got a spare?
Are there any good upgrade recommendations (that don't cost the earth)?

[His Dudeness]

Check that you're getting 12V at the connector when you press the button. You probably are. The horn can corrode a bit or get dirt in them that stops them working properly but there's an adjuster screw on them that might get it working. Try holding the horn button down and adjust the screw you might get lucky.

[Frosties]

It may just be terminals getting corroded fella and then not getting enough current to the horn. It's where I'd have a look see and clean/tighten first. Cheaper......

[darrsi]

I've got the Stebel Nautilus horn on mine and it's LOUD.


But for some strange reason they seem to be difficult to get hold of now in the UK, not sure why?

[fazersharp]

I too have a stebel but I think its one down from the nautilus but still way louder than the OEM, I had to mackel a bracket so it fits nice still under the fairing I think I used the origional mounting points for my bracket.
when you see them side by side you think no wonder the OEM is crap!

[mtread]

I too have a stebel but I think its one down from the nautilus

I think that's the Stebel Magnum, which I've got. Also LOUD, and I managed to fit on the original mounting.

[fazersharp]

I too have a stebel but I think its one down from the nautilus

I think that's the Stebel Magnum, which I've got. Also LOUD, and I managed to fit on the original mounting.

Yeh thats it I remember now, its funny watching the MOT man jump every year

[Rikki]

Do people actually use their horns? (Fnar fnar!) I don't recall ever having done so. If a cager falls asleep at the lights I usually wake them up with a few revs. It just seems like a pointless feature on a motorcycle.

[fazersharp]

Pigeons !!!

[Arfa]

Do people actually use their horns? (Fnar fnar!) I don't recall ever having done so. If a cager falls asleep at the lights I usually wake them up with a few revs. It just seems like a pointless feature on a motorcycle.

A lot! Almost every evening the A13 is in gridlock, I'm filtering for 10 miles odd. Get no end of idiots trying to swap lanes, cause I'll get them home a good 5 seconds sooner. Always giving them a good honk, or even just a preemptive honk if do actually flick on indicators, just to be sure they've seen me. I'd rather they go 'what 'iz problem?!', as it means they know I'm there...

[andybesy]

Parp!

[darrsi]

Do people actually use their horns? (Fnar fnar!) I don't recall ever having done so. If a cager falls asleep at the lights I usually wake them up with a few revs. It just seems like a pointless feature on a motorcycle.

Every morning i get people getting off a bus then just casually crossing over a road to Greenford Station under the iron train bridge.
Even though there's a proper crossing about 40 metres away they simply don't give a shit and just walk out on you.


I've lost count of the amount of times i've made people do a funky dance, and deservedly so, and as it's under an iron bridge the horn noise sounds like a lorry.   

[Rikki]

A lot! Almost every evening the A13 is in gridlock, I'm filtering for 10 miles odd. Get no end of idiots trying to swap lanes, cause I'll get them home a good 5 seconds sooner. Always giving them a good honk, or even just a preemptive honk if do actually flick on indicators, just to be sure they've seen me. I'd rather they go 'what 'iz problem?!', as it means they know I'm there...

To be fair I've never experienced the delights of the East London rush hour - not quite as chaotic up my way.

Btw darrsi, hope you don't do that to old ladies!

Wonder if there's a modification you can do to replicate the sound of a lorry jack-knifing? That would certainly wake up dopey cagers.

[fazersharp]

I've lost count of the amount of times i've made people do a funky dance,

 

[Punkstig]

I've got the Stebel Nautilus horn on mine and it's LOUD.


But for some strange reason they seem to be difficult to get hold of now in the UK, not sure why?

I had one on the T'cat, but that melted in the great Cally fire!

I have the generic Steibel copy from Halford's on the fazer and they're about £25, just as good as the Steibel IMHO, just about fits under the fairing infill panel with a little metal bracket.

Remember if you go for a horn like this you must connect it with a relay with a direct wire to battery to get the full 120+ dbs!!!

[Punkstig]

I still want one of these though-
The Moped Train Horn!:

[fazersharp]

My magnum was a straight fit (power wise ) whats with the relay malarky is that for the naughty-lus

[darrsi]

A lot! Almost every evening the A13 is in gridlock, I'm filtering for 10 miles odd. Get no end of idiots trying to swap lanes, cause I'll get them home a good 5 seconds sooner. Always giving them a good honk, or even just a preemptive honk if do actually flick on indicators, just to be sure they've seen me. I'd rather they go 'what 'iz problem?!', as it means they know I'm there...

To be fair I've never experienced the delights of the East London rush hour - not quite as chaotic up my way.

Btw darrsi, hope you don't do that to old ladies!

Wonder if there's a modification you can do to replicate the sound of a lorry jack-knifing? That would certainly wake up dopey cagers.

What d'ya think they'd prefer, an early dance class or tyre tracks up their back?
Remember, they walk out on me without a care in the world as if they own the road, if i was a BMW car driver busy on my phone whilst smoking a fag and adjusting my radio they wouldn't be so lucky!
I was brought up as a kid with constant advice at school and on tv about crossing roads safely, i can only presume that doesn't happen any more?
I have 2 headlights on, a rumbling exhaust, a hi-viz jacket, and a loud horn to fall back on as a final warning to get the foc out of my way.
Can't do much more than that can i?

[darrsi]

I've got the Stebel Nautilus horn on mine and it's LOUD.


But for some strange reason they seem to be difficult to get hold of now in the UK, not sure why?

I had one on the T'cat, but that melted in the great Cally fire!

I have the generic Steibel copy from Halford's on the fazer and they're about £25, just as good as the Steibel IMHO, just about fits under the fairing infill panel with a little metal bracket.

Remember if you go for a horn like this you must connect it with a relay with a direct wire to battery to get the full 120+ dbs!!!

Yep, looks identical, doesn't say if it comes with the relay or not?


http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_787885_langId_-1_categoryId_165704#tab3

[Punkstig]

Assume that it doesn't then, A harness and relay should only be about a fiver or so!

Fazersharp- the bike doesn't provide enough power through the horn wires to power the horn to its full potential, without a relay it will still work but will only be about as loud as a normal horn!
The relay attaches directly to the battery providing the extra power needed to Un restrict the horn!

[HarryHornby]

I still want one of these though-
The Moped Train Horn!:

Love it!


Rather than a horn, could we just stick a lazer (Laaaazzzerrrrrrrr) on the front of the bike that vapourises people, dogs, cages etc.  Don't warn them, zap them! 

[fazersharp]

This is just like mine apart from a different design horn bit http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_787877_langId_-1_categoryId_165704
Have stebel been brought by ring or somthing

[Skippernick]

OH just found my next mod then, thank you.

[darrsi]

OH just found my next mod then, thank you.

Joking aside, it is a very good mod, especially when cars suddenly go to change lanes in front of you, it does tend to put them back into line.
 
I do remember one day though when this woman decided to change lanes just in front of me, i saw what she was doing and i was totally in control but i held my finger on the horn button but she still kept coming, so now my bike sounds like a freight train yet she still drove straight across my path as if i wasn't even there.
I was totally stunned, it was one of the worst pieces of driving i've ever seen and if i was in real danger it would've been nasty.

[Arfa]

Cool, thanks for all the replies. Will double check wiring at weekend, possibly followed by a trip to Halfrauds (unless you know of somewhere cheaper online).