SuzukiSavage.com - Want to replace stock horn with a loud one

NorCalRider

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Want to replace stock horn with a loud one
02/05/13 at 12:56:46

I am having trouble getting attention from the cars so am considering getting a loud horn.

I would love to hear what others on this great board have done. Will also appreciates comments, recommendations, gotchas, etc.

A quick search turned up two candidates:

PIAA 85115 http://www.amazon.com/PIAA-85115-Superior-Bass-Horn/dp/B0060ZB43G, and
Wolo Bad Boy http://www.amazon.com/Wolo-Model-419-Bad-Horn/dp/B000F5DQWY

Thanks, as always.

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houstonbofh Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 420 Houston, TX Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #1 - 02/05/13 at 13:00:35 Check the current draw. You may need a relay for both...
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NorCalRider YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 47 SF, California Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #2 - 02/05/13 at 13:10:41 The reviews mention a need to add relay and a 20 amp fuse; apparently 10 amp fuse is not sufficient. Will that much current draw have any negative impact on the rest of the electrical system?
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Gyrobob

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Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one
Reply #3 - 02/05/13 at 14:37:17

Horns like that do draw a lot of amps, but usually for less than a second at a time, so it won't hurt your system if you hook it up directly to your battery with a fuse.

Use a relay,....
-- The horn switch would get fried with that much current.
-- The horn will be a lot louder because the wiring for the original horn has too much resistance.

Of your two choices, the Wolo air compressor horn will be waaaaaayy louder.

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Digger Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ya gotta be tough to ride singles! Posts: 1604 Colorado Springs, CO Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #4 - 02/05/13 at 18:45:56 Here's a rather off-beat suggestion: I replaced the standard cheapo horn on another bike of mine (an '01 ST1100) with a 6 volt VW horn of the same design. That 6 v. horn really seems to scream when hit with 12 of those volts.....and no relay was needed on that bike! YMMV!
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thumperclone Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline PGR rider riding with respect Posts: 6847 Grand Junction Colorado Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #5 - 02/05/13 at 21:23:37 i got a low tone auto horn from auto zone no relay needed
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jgrandmont YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 39 Buzzards Bay, MA Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #6 - 02/06/13 at 14:49:08 I added a second horn. Had to relocate the stock horn to the right-hand side of the bike to accommodate the design of the second one.
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RidgeRunner13

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Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one
Reply #7 - 02/06/13 at 15:10:08

jgrandmont wrote on 02/06/13 at 14:49:08:

I added a second horn. Had to relocate the stock horn to the right-hand side of the bike to accommodate the design of the second one.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/578735_3488446246412_1574155307_n.jpg

You need to turn that horn over & mount IT on the other side so any water getting in it can drain out. The way it is now any water that gets in will be trapped & ruin it.
DON"T ask how I know, you can screw up a lot of things in 45 years of riding, maintaining, & modifying bikes! Cool

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Gyrobob Serious Thumper Offline Posers ain't motorcyclists Posts: 2571 Newnan, GA Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #8 - 02/06/13 at 17:18:21 thumperclone wrote on 02/05/13 at 21:23:37: i got a low tone auto horn from auto zone no relay needed Use a relay and the horn will be louder.
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NorCalRider YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 47 SF, California Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #9 - 02/06/13 at 17:31:08 jgrandmont wrote on 02/06/13 at 14:49:08: I added a second horn. Had to relocate the stock horn to the right-hand side of the bike to accommodate the design of the second one. http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/578735_3488446246412_1574155307_n.jpg Which horn is it and how loud?
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jgrandmont

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Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one
Reply #10 - 02/07/13 at 18:11:43

Don't remember exactly where I got it. Somewhere overseas, I believe. Maybe Taiwan? It's not super loud, but it is a bit louder than the stock horn -- more of an air horn sound instead of the "beep beep" sound of the stock one. I think the two of them together sound pretty good. It doesn't need a relay. If you're interested, I could try to dig up the info on where I bought it.

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Cavi Mike

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Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one
Reply #11 - 02/07/13 at 22:07:18

Stay away from the PIAA horn. It won't be anywhere near worth the $50. I recommend getting the "Low tone" horn as well from AutoZone/Advanced. Every time I buy a Japanese vehicle that's one of the first things I do.

This one:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Blazer-Low-tone-replacement-horn...

You gotta get the one with the physical horn on it. The one that looks just like stock won't work as well even though they're identical underneath. It's that horn (the coiled shell) that focuses the sound and gives it that blast that grabs attention.

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Gyrobob

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Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one
Reply #12 - 02/08/13 at 19:06:27

If you want cheap, just go to an auto junkyard and get any horn that has a "trumpet" on it, coiled or otherwise.

Any horn needs lots of amps for a very short time.
-- The compressor horns need a lot of amps in short bursts. Restrict the amperage and they will work, but the compressor turns over more slowly, pumping less air, delaying the noise, and making less noise.
-- If you don't use a relay, you are using several feet of skinny wire that goes up to and back from the switch.
--- All that resistance lowers the amperage some, so set up a relay where the main feed that goes from the battery to the relay to the horn is as short as possible and is a fairly thick wire.
--- You'd be amazed at how much louder any 12v horn is when it uses 2 feet of 12 gauge wire to get the juice from the battery to the horn rather than 8 feet of 16 gauge wire.

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« Last Edit: 02/09/13 at 06:13:37 by Gyrobob »

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Dj12midnit Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline If you'r here and I'm here isn't this our time? Posts: 1036 Lynden Wa. Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #13 - 02/08/13 at 19:40:45 I dont use the horn, I find I get more attention is I roll up next to them and kick the door.
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Boofer Serious Thumper Offline Nearly too old. Posts: 1760 N Ms Gender:	Re: Want to replace stock horn with a loud one Reply #14 - 02/08/13 at 23:23:32 I got the Auto Zone horn for less than $20 a couple of years ago. Drilled a small hole in the trumpet so water could drain. Spent more time hunting drill bit and opening horn claw package than actual install time. Bolts up and hooks right on spade terminal.
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