Horn at Harbor Freight

[Sailormilan2]

I found a Wolo brand horn at Harbor Freight, that claims to be a direct plug in into a bike's electrical system. Sound is claimed to be about 118 db. How does a sound level of 118 db compare with the Stebel horn's 139 or so db? From what I read of the directions, there is no rewiring needed as is with the Stebel horn. Price is $45 or so.

[wescus]

I think I'd pay more and get a Stebel. Every time I've tried to save money it's ended up costing me about the same amount for something that didn't work as well. Also, you gotta watch Harbor Freight. Some of their stuff is O.K., but a lot of it is junk. Just my 2% of a buck... Steve

[Blrfl]

How does a sound level of 118 db compare with the Stebel horn's 139 or so db?

To give you some idea how loud that is, 0 dBA is the threshold of human hearing for someone with good hearing. Every 3 dB increase doubles the amount of energy being put into the air, those increments are where a change in volume is detectable. As you get higher up, those increments drop off, so by the time you're into the 100+ dB range, you're able to detect a change every 0.5 dB.

My favorite comparison chart:

Jet engine at 3m: 140
Threshold of pain: 130
Rock concert: 120
Accelerating motorcycle at 5m: 110
Pneumatic hammer at 2m: 100
Noisy factory: 90
Vacuum cleaner: 80
Busy traffic: 70
Quiet restaurant: 50
Residential area at night: 40
Empty movie house: 30
Rustling of leaves: 20
Human breathing (at 3m): 10
Threshold of hearing (good ears): 0

From what I read of the directions, there is no rewiring needed as is with the Stebel horn.

Don't believe it. The stock wiring is positively tiny and can't provide enough juice to make that kind of noise. You'll be much happier if you run a separate supply wire and use the existing wiring to close a relay. And you don't want to be pulling that kind of current through the horn switch. You'll burn it up.

--Mark

[nm6r]

You can get the twin air horn from Harbor Freight for less than $20. It fits fine on the ST1300. The trumpets wind up at the oem horn openings and are even louder than the Stebel.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[STindy05]

Price is $45 or so.

The Stebel is cheaper than that! Think I go mine from casporttourning for $33 or something like that.

[STPilot]

I've had the Wolo dual trumpet air horn in my ST for nearly 2 years now. It works great, LOUD and I've had no problems. I just picked up another one to put in the Busa, $24 bucks at Pep Boys.

[HankSTer]

Seems that the majority of these types of threads are more concerned with the additional wiring and the relay.

It's really alot simpler then it might sound. The fairing has to come off no matters what. Expanding the hole for the Stebel is pretty easy with a round file. then attach the relay to the hole the oem horn was.

Now there's 4 prongs on the bottom of the relay. Connect the proper 2 with the oem horn wires. So far, so good.

Run a 12 ga wire from the battery pos to one of the other relay prongs, and then a 12 ga wire from the remaining prong to the pos prong on the stebel horn. The last 12 ga wire goes from the neg prong on the horn to ground (some will go all the way to the neg on the battery to have the best possible connection).

thats it. now go scare the hell outta the idiot driver drifting into yer lane ;)

Regards,

[Mac]

Does the stebel fit well in the oem horn location? Do you need to modify the inner faring?

[SupraSabre]

Does the stebel fit well in the oem horn location? Do you need to modify the inner faring?

No, the Stebel goes above where the old horn was.

18243

No, no other mods other then the mounting hole.

[HankSTer]

Does the stebel fit well in the oem horn location? Do you need to modify the inner faring?

Mac, just like Bob points out, it goes above it and the relay can go where the old horn was.

If you do a search you can find the person that found these postions for everyting a couple of years ago.

It's pretty easy really. Take yer time, dont' panic, relax, have a beer or a glass of vino.

Be proud and happy when yer done, scare the sh**t out of school children with it ;)

ok kidding about the last part ;)

regards,

[Blue STreak]

Decidbels are measured on a logorithmic scale. A 10db increase is a doubling of perceived loudness. So a 128DB horn seems twice as loud, at the same distance, as a 118db horn. Big difference.

But, as others have said, the wiring is key. For electric disk horns use 12 gauge minimum. For air horns, I'd suggest 10 gauge to get full volume. And, of course, a relay. Hooking a high current draw to the stock wiring will a) limit the volume and, b) eventually fry the horn switch.

[ST/SV]

I've had the Wolo dual trumpet air horn in my ST for nearly 2 years now. It works great, LOUD and I've had no problems. I just picked up another one to put in the Busa, $24 bucks at Pep Boys.Man, where have you been?