Hi guys - this is an upgrade I did a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was about time to rock out with the camera and share... :thumb:
There have been a couple of times when I'm fairly sure that cagers have been unable to hear my horn - perhaps it was due to distance, their phone, the blaring car stereo, who knows. But I'm sure everyone has encountered the odd occasion when you just want to let someone know that you're there.
And it must be said that the factory horn is fairly gutless. So I decided to upgrade to twin discs - Stebel HF80/2's to be precise. These horns are a discordant pair (340 and 430Hz) and punch out 136dB. They cost me $25.
They arrived in the post and it wasn't long before I realised that they are slightly larger than the diameter of the stock horn. I did a dry-run bolting them onto the existing horn mounting point (one above and one below) - and wasn't really satisfied with the look. They would have worked there fine, but they did stick out and it was a pretty obvious addition to the bike. So I went hunting for a new place for them to live... :laugh:
...Which turned out to be under the oil-cooler. So here's a run-down of how to do it...
First of all you need to make a bracket to the dimensions below. I used 3x25mm aluminium strip bent in a bench vice - this is a couple of dollars at any hardware store.
(http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/uploads/Upgrades/bracket_plan.jpg)
This then attaches to the bracket that supports the underside of the oil cooler. Install the horns in your aluminium bracket, hold it in the correct position, and scribe with a pencil the edges of each bracket on eachother. Then when you come to take the oil cooler bracket and your new horn bracket off these pencil lines will allow you to get them correctly aligned on the drill press for drilling. I used a pair of 3mm bolts to hold them together.
(http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/uploads/Upgrades/bracket_front.jpg)
View of the unpainted bracket from the front (picture above), and the painted bracket from below (picture below).
(http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/uploads/Upgrades/bracket_under.jpg)
A touch of satin black spray-paint will make your new bracket look like it came from the factory. Install the horns to the bracket and the bracket to the oil cooler bracket. Then it's time to wire up your wiring. These horns will draw a whopping 9A (as compared to the stock horn's measly 1.5) so a separate fused circuit activated by relay is really a necessity. Fortunately that is really easy to do using the circuit below - it shows the existing wiring in black and the new addition in blue. I mounted my relay to the frame under the seat and ran the cables forward for a clean look.
(http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/uploads/Upgrades/relay_cct.gif)
I have put this horn upgrade and more detailed information about relays up on the Horn Wiki (http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/Horn)
...oh yeah and it's freeeeaaaaakkkiiiiin loud! :cheers:
...and here's two shots for those wondering how they fit in with the bigger picture.
(http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/16743/thumb_left.jpg) (http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/16743/left.jpg) (http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/16743/thumb_right.jpg) (http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/16743/right.jpg)
(click each for enlargement)
Nice! But where's the sound check?
Quote from: bucks1605 on April 21, 2008, 06:46:26 PM
where's the sound check?
I don't really see the point in taking a recording - first of all they're so loud they'll just run whatever I'm recording with into distortion; and second the level that you hear them at will be totally dependent on your volume settings!
There is a soundbite available on the Stebel website, but again it doesn't do anything to convey loudness.
nice..
:thumb:
Put it where its more out there ... In front under the headlight ... more sound hitting the guy in front of you instead of hitting your front wheel.
Cool.
Buddha.
Philward,
That's a nice idea. I like how you added the wiring diagram as I'm in the process of trying to learn about electrical circuits and familiarizing myself with how to read wiring diagrams. Your example gave me an opportunity to test myself. From the wiring diagram it looks as though the stock horn is still functional, has to be, in order for the new ones to work. Am I reading that correctly?
No, the old horn is removed (that's why it's in a red dotted box and greyed out). Basically the terminals from the old horn are connected to the coil of the relay - that way when the horn button is pressed it activates the relay.
I had read a lot of threads where people were confused about how to wire a relay - so I thought I would knock up a diagram to add to the wiki to help clear things up. I figured that by showing the 'old and the new' it would give people a better understanding of the rationale behind it, and help them make the alteration.
appreciate that phil. now when i figure out how to mount my galls police horn to my gs, hehhehehehehehehehehe
Yikes! It
looks loud :thumb:
QuoteAnd it must be said that the factory horn is fairly gutless. So I decided to upgrade to twin discs - Stebel HF80/2's to be precise. These horns are a discordant pair (340 and 430Hz) and punch out 136dB. They cost me $25.
Where is the sound intensity value from (i.e. measured or manufacturer spec)? Just wondering because that value is
loud:
| Threshold of Hearing (TOH) | 0 dB |
| Rustling Leaves | 10 dB |
| Whisper | 20 dB |
| Normal Conversation | 60 dB |
| Busy Street Traffic | 70 dB |
| Vacuum Cleaner | 80 dB |
| Large Orchestra | 98 dB |
| Walkman at Maximum Level | 100 dB |
| Front Rows of Rock Concert | 110 dB |
| Threshold of Pain | 130 dB |
| Military Jet Takeoff | 140 dB |
| Instant Perforation of Eardrum | 160 dB |
info from: http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/CLASS/sound/u11l2b.html (http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/CLASS/sound/u11l2b.html)
Quote from: El motociclista on April 23, 2008, 10:48:18 PM
Philward,
That's a nice idea. I like how you added the wiring diagram as I'm in the process of trying to learn about electrical circuits and familiarizing myself with how to read wiring diagrams. Your example gave me an opportunity to test myself. From the wiring diagram it looks as though the stock horn is still functional, has to be, in order for the new ones to work. Am I reading that correctly?
I think you might like this tool. My electronics class teacher showed us this program. I never needed to use it but it looks promising!!
here is the link:
http://my.ece.ucsb.edu/bobsclass/2C/Simulation/circuit_maker.htm
enjoy wiring :thumb:
btw: philward great job with the horns! I wish the stock horn was louder!
Quote from: beRto on April 24, 2008, 01:07:39 PM
Yikes! It looks loud :thumb:
Where is the sound intensity value from (i.e. measured or manufacturer spec)?
It's the manufacturer's spec.
Like all these things it's important to not get caught up 'measurbating' - sound is such a hard thing to compare anyway.
I had originally bought the Stebel Magnum which is a snail-shell style horn. A single unit is claimed by the manufacturer to put out the same as these twins combined (136). Due to it's larger dimensions I found it difficult to find a place for it on my naked (a naked is not forgiving for hiding things!). As a result I ended up mounting on a friend's faired bike under the bottom triple, really easily - and it's as good as invisible. (you can see the magnum below on the right)
(http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/uploads/Upgrades/stebel_magnum.jpg)
It was interesting to compare the two. The twin-discs sound 'fatter' due to their dischordant pair, whereas the magnum (and stock horn) only produce a single frequency and hence the 'meep' - even though the measured volumes are the same. Just goes to show that sound 'loudness' is also a little bit subjective.
...oh yeah and another thing that I left off - when you hit the horn you can feel the vibration through the handlebars! :2guns:
I've been looking at getting a Stebel Nautilus.........or 2......... ay least that way I'll know I have their attention as they're clutching their bleeding ears :mad: f%$king ohio mini vans
Quote from: spcterry on April 24, 2008, 07:29:41 PM
I've been looking at getting a Stebel Nautilus.........or 2......... ay least that way I'll know I have their attention as they're clutching their bleeding ears :mad: f%$king ohio mini vans
I think I'm gonna go buy a mini van and come on down for a little sight seeing vacation...
so why do u need the extra sound? i doubt people even listen to horns anymore. are you hooking it up to an alarm system? thanks for posting in such great detail.
Quote from: bucks1605 on April 24, 2008, 07:30:55 PM
Quote from: spcterry on April 24, 2008, 07:29:41 PM
I've been looking at getting a Stebel Nautilus.........or 2......... ay least that way I'll know I have their attention as they're clutching their bleeding ears :mad: f%$king ohio mini vans
I think I'm gonna go buy a mini van and come on down for a little sight seeing vacation...
There's a good possibility you'll either end up owing Beaufort county a thousand bucks or so or you'll get shot by some pissed off guy on a bike :thumb:
Quote from: spcterry on April 24, 2008, 07:33:33 PM
Quote from: bucks1605 on April 24, 2008, 07:30:55 PM
Quote from: spcterry on April 24, 2008, 07:29:41 PM
I've been looking at getting a Stebel Nautilus.........or 2......... ay least that way I'll know I have their attention as they're clutching their bleeding ears :mad: f%$king ohio mini vans
I think I'm gonna go buy a mini van and come on down for a little sight seeing vacation...
There's a good possibility you'll either end up owing Beaufort county a thousand bucks or so or you'll get shot by some pissed off guy on a bike :thumb:
Wonder who that would be?? :laugh:
:icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: That or you'll get a blast of like 3 Stebels right in your ear and be permanently deafened
Quote from: spcterry on April 24, 2008, 07:47:38 PM
:icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: That or you'll get a blast of like 3 Stebels right in your ear and be permanently deafened
All my kids will be yelling and fighting in the back, so I probably won't even hear your stebels.
We've got great things here for dealing with problem children...............they're called sharks.
Quote from: spcterry on April 24, 2008, 07:59:02 PM
We've got great things here for dealing with problem children...............they're called sharks.
:laugh:
Thanks for the writeup and pics. The stock horn definitely needs help!
I cannot find anyone here in the states selling these horns. I have an email in to a guy in Kentucky who sells Stebel and was reported to be stocking these in the near future. When he answers, I'll post again. You can buy them from Online Auto Parts in Australia, but the shipping to the US costs a lot (compared to the price of the horns) and takes a long time.
Quote from: trumpetguy on April 25, 2008, 08:45:09 PM
You can buy them from Online Auto Parts in Australia, but the shipping to the US costs a lot (compared to the price of the horns) and takes a long time.
Yeah I bought from them - but again, I'm local (...ish - in a country this size! ;)).
Lets face it you could do this mod with any high volume aftermarket twin discs. I believe Fiamm do a set of horns called the Highway Blaster or Freeway Blaster (something like that). I'm sure that Hella do something similar too. Just get a dischordant pair with the highest specs on offer 8) :icon_mrgreen: - all the mounting and wiring will be the same. :thumb:
Quote from: philward on April 26, 2008, 05:13:12 AM
Lets face it you could do this mod with any high volume aftermarket twin discs. I believe Fiamm do a set of horns called the Highway Blaster or Freeway Blaster (something like that). I'm sure that Hella do something similar too. Just get a dischordant pair with the highest specs on offer 8) :icon_mrgreen: - all the mounting and wiring will be the same.
True enough but the Stebels seem to be a bargain, and we have you to vouch for their quality (or at least volume).
Hella discs are about $55-65 for the pair. These Stebels are $25 or so for the pair.
The FIAMM horns are reasonable -- maybe slightly less than the Stebels -- but I don't know of anyone who has used them, so I'm a little hesitant. On the up side, the FIAMMs are made in the USA, not China, and I can get them on Amazon with free shipping.
If I don't hear from Murph's Kits (http://www.murpskits.com) in June (when he expects to get them) I'll go with the FIAMM horns.
Quote from: kml.krk on April 24, 2008, 01:45:37 PM
Quote from: El motociclista on April 23, 2008, 10:48:18 PM
Philward,
That's a nice idea. I like how you added the wiring diagram as I'm in the process of trying to learn about electrical circuits and familiarizing myself with how to read wiring diagrams. Your example gave me an opportunity to test myself. From the wiring diagram it looks as though the stock horn is still functional, has to be, in order for the new ones to work. Am I reading that correctly?
I think you might like this tool. My electronics class teacher showed us this program. I never needed to use it but it looks promising!!
here is the link: http://my.ece.ucsb.edu/bobsclass/2C/Simulation/circuit_maker.htm
enjoy wiring :thumb:
Hey thanks. Haven't had a chance to check out the site yet but will soon.