Forum

[JonD]

I've returned to motorcycling after a long hiatus and am thoughtful about the tendency of Australian drivers to ignore or fail to see motorbikes.

I like my Classic, but the horn is anaemic to say the least. Can anyone recommend a horn that is truly loud?

Thanks!


Jon

[nigelphoto]

It not just Aussies who fail to see bikes, its all Audi drivers everywhere in the world! Keep the standard horn and fit a $10 low tone alongside it - piggy back connection no need for a relay as you're not drawing too much power or for too long.

[PeteF]

Air horns are bl**dy loud.

[jefrs]

These - Bosch 0986AH0503 Fanfare Horn (off Amazon, note the part number) were very, very good, until they filled up with water. Bosch fanfare horns as used on Benz limos and emergency vehicles. Very loud, BLARE! I positioned them in the wrong place perhaps so that one day the french horn ends filled up like a pair of buckets. If you have one of the later EFI motors we have a 220W alternator that can easily power a pair of horns without an additional relay, in fact the CGT and the G5 Bullet usually come with two horns now.

[jefrs]

The other thing to do is fit a pair of H's LED into the tiger eyes. This is sufficiently unusual that it seems to make the bike leap out at drivers. I got complimented by a copper on them, he thought they stood out well even though the white ones are slightly blue.



The LED pilot bulb does not work well in the headlamp shell, the bulb is directional and does not illuminate the reflector.

[jefrs]

The Bosch pair were £16

[Exile]

I considered a louder horn. Not so much for the car drivers amongst us but for the idiot cyclists and joggers and pedestrians who are alone in their enclosed world due to those stupid ear-bud things attached to their oh-so indispensible iphones and such. They make themselves deliberately deaf and then concentrate more on looking at a tiny LCD display in their hand than they do on the moving traffic which is all around them.

There should be laws against this... Especcially here in Denmark. If I hit a wayward pedestrian, or cyclist, even if they step or turn out directly in front of me, the law says I am to blame because I 'am not aware of my surroundings while controlling a motor vehicle.'


You can't cure stupidity... but I am, apparently, responsible for it in others..

[Scalyback]

You could try a very loud Claxon. Those are those older things that go... WAAA-HOOOOOOOOOOOO-LAAAA.



They tend to get noticed. Had a Lucas one from a Rolls Royce and tried that out in the shed... Bloody hell!

[jefrs]

Exile, the old adage, "we can prevent stupid but not bloody stupid" applies. I cannot think of a single instance where I've needed to use the horn on a pedestrian or cyclist, and several recent occasions where I've had to use the horn on smidsy cars (sorry mate I didn't see you) to warn of imminent collision (which is the only use of a horn). Mainly because I do watch out for peds and bikes and they are slower moving than cars. With horses I usually like to call out to them and coast past, assume the rider is asleep.



On a bike we have to assume everyone is deliberately trying to kill you and be accordingly vigilant. Cars are sound proof, a loud blast might be therapeutic but useless if it is too late.

[PeteF]

If you've time to use the horn there's no need to.