I want a louder horn: Difference between revisions

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You can get a '''LOUD''' FIAMM horn for about $15 at a regular car-parts store (e.g. O'Reilly, Advance Auto Parts, etc.) Places on eBay have them, as well as [http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Search?catalogId=10101&storeId=10101&sku=fiamm+horn&searchbtn.x=0&searchbtn.y=0 JC Whitney], [http://ridesafer.com/store/item/fpc3/Horns/Fiamm_AM-80_High_Performance_Trumpet_Horn.html ridesafer.com], and [http://www.amazon.com/FIAMM-72112-Note-Universal-Bracket/dp/B000DINKPQ Amazon].

Get the low-tone; The 125 dB [http://www.fiammamerica.com/Product.asp?ProductID=154 AM80] is popular, as is the 132 dB [http://www.aerostich.com/~~catalog~~/US/~~Fiamm-Freeway-Blaster-Horn-p-17137.html~~ Freeway Blaster]. They're way louder, and are a bolt-in replacement for the stock horn. Point the bell of the trumpet down so it doesn't collect water, and cover your ears before you test it in an enclosed space. Even with it pointing down, it is loud and can be heard by cars and other motorcycles easily.

Get the low-tone; The 125 dB [http://www.fiammamerica.com/Product.asp?ProductID=154 AM80] is popular, as is the 132 dB [http://www.aerostich.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=freeway+blaster&dir=desc&order=relevance Freeway Blaster]. They're way louder, and are a bolt-in replacement for the stock horn. Point the bell of the trumpet down so it doesn't collect water, and cover your ears before you test it in an enclosed space. Even with it pointing down, it is loud and can be heard by cars and other motorcycles easily.

If you look at the catalog you might be overwhelmed by the amount of choices FIAMM offers. So don't look at the catalog. It's generally the same product in different packaging to meet the needs of the retailer. Here are your criteria:

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[[Image:horn1890.jpg|150px]] [[Image:IMG_1891.jpg|150px]]

To install the new horn, start off by loose fitting it, with the wiring reattached, so you can figure out the best angle. Make sure that the mouth of the horn is pointing downwards, so as not to collect water, and that the existing wiring is not stretched.

To install the new horn, start off by loose fitting it, with the wiring reattached, so you can figure out the best angle. Make sure that the mouth of the horn is pointing downwards, so as not to collect water, and that the existing wiring is not stretched. Most aftermarket horns will say something to the effect that they are "polarity-free", meaning that it doesn't matter which of the two horn wires you hook to which terminal. Check the instructions for your particular model.

Secure the bolt to the bracket, then tighten the bracket to the bike.

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==Using a relay to power your horn==

To provide the most power, and thus get the most noise, you can wire a relay to power your horn. This isn't necessary~~; some people do~~, ~~some don't~~. The OEM harness runs the horn power through a mile of wiring and a dozen different connections until it gets to the horn switch. There are lots of places for voltage drop. ~~So, with~~ [[How do relays work?|a relay]], you use the OEM wiring to power the relay, and then put in new wiring for the horn. The relay uses a small amount of power (the original switch circuit) to turn on and off a bigger amount of power (the new heavier wire) to the horn. This is true for bigger headlights or any other higher-current-draw accessories you want to add to your motorcycle.

To provide the most power, and thus get the most noise, you can wire a relay to power your horn. This isn't necessary, but it is a good idea. The OEM harness runs the horn power through a mile of wiring and a dozen different connections until it gets to the horn switch. There are lots of places for voltage drop. With [[How do relays work?|a relay]], you use the OEM wiring to power the relay and then put in new wiring for the horn. The relay uses a small amount of power (the original switch circuit) to turn on and off a bigger amount of power (the new heavier wire) to the horn. This is true for bigger headlights or any other higher-current-draw accessories you want to add to your motorcycle.

====Stuff you'll need====

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:[[image:heat shrink tubing.jpg|80px]] [[image:heat shrink.jpg|130px]]

:Or the kind of ~~[http://www.whiteproducts.net/splices.shtml~~ connectors] that already have heat shrink on them.

:Or the kind of connectors that already have heat shrink on them.

:[[image:heat shrink crimp.jpg|150px]]

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First, study the schematic. This may be all the directions some people need.

~~[[image:~~Aftermarket Horn Schematic.pdf]]

{{pdf|Aftermarket Horn Schematic.pdf|Aftermarket Horn Schematic}}

Next, wire up the relay. Do this before you install it, so you don't have to take stuff apart if it doesn't work.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 You can get a '''LOUD''' FIAMM horn for about $15 at a regular car-parts store (e.g. O'Reilly, Advance Auto Parts, etc.) Places on eBay have them, as well as  [http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Search?catalogId=10101&storeId=10101&sku=fiamm+horn&searchbtn.x=0&searchbtn.y=0 JC Whitney], [http://ridesafer.com/store/item/fpc3/Horns/Fiamm_AM-80_High_Performance_Trumpet_Horn.html ridesafer.com], and [http://www.amazon.com/FIAMM-72112-Note-Universal-Bracket/dp/B000DINKPQ Amazon].
-Get the low-tone; The 125 dB [http://www.fiammamerica.com/Product.asp?ProductID=154 AM80] is popular, as is the 132 dB [http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Fiamm-Freeway-Blaster-Horn-p-17137.html Freeway Blaster]. They're way louder, and are a bolt-in replacement for the stock horn. Point the bell of the trumpet down so it doesn't collect water, and cover your ears before you test it in an enclosed space. Even with it pointing down, it is loud and can be heard by cars and other motorcycles easily.
+Get the low-tone; The 125 dB [http://www.fiammamerica.com/Product.asp?ProductID=154 AM80] is popular, as is the 132 dB [http://www.aerostich.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=freeway+blaster&dir=desc&order=relevance Freeway Blaster]. They're way louder, and are a bolt-in replacement for the stock horn. Point the bell of the trumpet down so it doesn't collect water, and cover your ears before you test it in an enclosed space. Even with it pointing down, it is loud and can be heard by cars and other motorcycles easily.
 If you look at the catalog you might be overwhelmed by the amount of choices FIAMM offers. So don't look at the catalog. It's generally the same product in different packaging to meet the needs of the retailer. Here are your criteria:
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 [[Image:horn1890.jpg|150px]] [[Image:IMG_1891.jpg|150px]]
-To install the new horn, start off by loose fitting it, with the wiring reattached, so you can figure out the best angle. Make sure that the mouth of the horn is pointing downwards, so as not to collect water, and that the existing wiring is not stretched.
+To install the new horn, start off by loose fitting it, with the wiring reattached, so you can figure out the best angle. Make sure that the mouth of the horn is pointing downwards, so as not to collect water, and that the existing wiring is not stretched. Most aftermarket horns will say something to the effect that they are "polarity-free", meaning that it doesn't matter which of the two horn wires you hook to which terminal. Check the instructions for your particular model.
 Secure the bolt to the bracket, then tighten the bracket to the bike.
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 ==Using a relay to power your horn==
-To provide the most power, and thus get the most noise, you can wire a relay to power your horn. This isn't necessary; some people do, some don't. The OEM harness runs the horn power through a mile of wiring and a dozen different connections until it gets to the horn switch. There are lots of places for voltage drop. So, with [[How do relays work?|a relay]], you use the OEM wiring to power the relay, and then put in new wiring for the horn. The relay uses a small amount of power (the original switch circuit) to turn on and off a bigger amount of power (the new heavier wire) to the horn. This is true for bigger headlights or any other higher-current-draw accessories you want to add to your motorcycle.
+To provide the most power, and thus get the most noise, you can wire a relay to power your horn. This isn't necessary, but it is a good idea. The OEM harness runs the horn power through a mile of wiring and a dozen different connections until it gets to the horn switch. There are lots of places for voltage drop. With [[How do relays work?|a relay]], you use the OEM wiring to power the relay and then put in new wiring for the horn. The relay uses a small amount of power (the original switch circuit) to turn on and off a bigger amount of power (the new heavier wire) to the horn. This is true for bigger headlights or any other higher-current-draw accessories you want to add to your motorcycle.
 ====Stuff you'll need====
@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 :[[image:heat shrink tubing.jpg|80px]] [[image:heat shrink.jpg|130px]]
-:Or the kind of [http://www.whiteproducts.net/splices.shtml connectors] that already have heat shrink on them.
+:Or the kind of connectors that already have heat shrink on them.
 :[[image:heat shrink crimp.jpg|150px]]
@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 First, study the schematic. This may be all the directions some people need.
-[[image:Aftermarket Horn Schematic.pdf]]
+{{pdf|Aftermarket Horn Schematic.pdf|Aftermarket Horn Schematic}}
 Next, wire up the relay. Do this before you install it, so you don't have to take stuff apart if it doesn't work.