PIAA vs FIAMM vs STEBEL horns

[Xantee]

For the last few weeks I've been considering replacement horns. I know a lot of people have and recommend the stebel air horns. What I'm looking for is a horn that:

1. Can mount in the stock location
2. Is as loud as a regular automobile horn (as loud as, not louder than)
3. Preferably under $50 for the horn

The wiring stuff I'll consider separately. I don't mind wiring a relay and running a large gauge wire to the battery if I need to.

I think point #2 above is my biggest priority. I don't want a horn that will cause incontinence in the driver next to me (and incidentally blowing my own ears away) but one that is loud enough they should hear. Besides stebel, I've seen some recommendations for FIAMMs and PIAAs.

Also, and I know this is another question, how does the stebel TM80 Magnum fit in with my requirements? and could I get by with 1 horn or would I really need 2?

[STill Fiddlin]

I have the Fiamms (hi/lo pair) and like them. Sounds like a car horn to my ear. Inexpensive and available locally, usually. But, you really need the pair. Just one doesn't cut it - so you'll have to find a spot for the 2nd horn, and so fails your #1.

[Xantee]

Mouting in the stock location is something I'm looking for, but I'm willing to mount in other places if needed. If you have the pair how did you mount them?

[Blrfl]

I have a pair of the Fiamms that I really like for their Buicky sound. Both are mounted in the stock location using a bracket kit I bought from someone on eBay a few years ago. There's not much to it, just a spacer and a bar with a couple of bends in it. I'll snap a picture next time I have the fairing off.

--Mark

[fastflyer20]

I used the hi/lo Fiamm. I was able to mount to stock location with some simple brackets bent to fit. My friend has the Stebel. Nothing official, but it seems like his is slightly louder, but at only one frequency. The Fiamms hit you with the two frequencies.

I would say it is hard to make a bad decision. All are SOOOO much better than stock.

Whatever your choice, make sure you power with a relay as you mentioned. This makes a big difference.

[oldscout1]

I just installed a stebel and like it immensely..installed where old horn was in addition to relay. I ran a wire to the rear of the bike because it's 30 amp, but I bought a power plate and installed it in the rear and hooked the horn to it. I also wired some other farkles to the power plate and cleaned up all the wires to the battery

[Phillyrube]

Don't forget Wolo horns....put them side by side with Stebels and I'll bet they rolled out of the same China sweatshop.

[Mark]

Don't forget Wolo horns....put them side by side with Stebels and I'll bet they rolled out of the same China sweatshop.

Yeah... except they are marked "Made in Italy"...
So that is an EYE-TAL-IAN sweat shop....

[Mellow]

Where's the best place to get a stebel?

[Mark]

You didn't ask; but, the Wolo is from Harbor Freight and they have 15% off any one item coupon on the back of the current flier...

Mark

[UNTMatt]

Stebel is louder than a car horn but the Fiamm sounds like the old Chevy's and Buicks. One of the guys had those installed up a breakfast the other day and I got to hear it for the first time.

Personally, I'd want the one that wakes the BDC up as quickly as possible. At the point that I'm having to use the Stebel, whether or not the BDC gets irritated is irrelevant. My arse is at stake!

Joe, I picked our Stebel up at California Sport Touring (http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?page=CST/PROD/cgid/Stebel11135) but that was almost two years back. Price still seems pretty good, though. When we did my install, the horn seemed a bit higher pitched than the friends Stebel. His packaging was all in English and mine was in a foreign language so we were not sure what the difference was...if there was one.

[ToroGuy]

Xantee,

I have the Piaa on my '03. It mounts exactly the same has the stock horn. Wires plug right in...no shade tree mechanicing required. Sounds like about the same volume as a car horn...tone is a little higher than most car horns. BIG improvement over the stock horn, but not as loud as the Stebel.

Mine was the right price too...Sherob gave it to me!!

[woodybelle]

Here is a picture of my dual Fiamm install.

[Xantee]

Well, after having told myself that the Stebel would be louder than I want, I ended up ordering one myself. Got the Stebel Nautilus Compact coming from California Sport Touring for $40 which included S/H. Ordered a 40-amp waterproof relay from Parts Express for another few dollars.

Not exactly the setup I wanted, but I've heard so many people who praise the stebel that I figured I might as well join the crowd. Now if I can just find an easy mount for it....

[UNTMatt]

Well, after having told myself that the Stebel would be louder than I want, I ended up ordering one myself. Got the Stebel Nautilus Compact coming from California Sport Touring for $40 which included S/H. Ordered a 40-amp waterproof relay from Parts Express for another few dollars.

Not exactly the setup I wanted, but I've heard so many people who praise the stebel that I figured I might as well join the crowd. Now if I can just find an easy mount for it....

Zip tie it in place. Trust me...three good size zip ties and that puppy ain't going anywhere!

Congrats...I think you'll be happy.

[nobody]

What I read on casporttouring it says it comes with relay"Includes air compressor and twin tone air horns, all combined in one compact unit. Includes horn relay. Available in Black Color only. To hear a sound file for this horn go to www.stebel.it click on products, click on electropneumatics, then click on Nautilus. " Do I still need to order another relay or is this all I need.
Thanks

[Xantee]

There are a few posts around here that describe the relay that stebel provides as non-waterproof and prone to failure. So I ordered an automotive waterproof Bosch 40-amp relay to play it safe. You should be able to find something equivalent at a local autoparts store.

[Skywriter]

1. Can mount in the stock location
2. Is as loud as a regular automobile horn (as loud as, not louder than)
3. Preferably under $50 for the horn



Recommend the Stebel --139db wakes them up nicely...

1. Can mount in the stock location
Put the relay in the slot where the OEM horn was mounted
Mount the horn in the mirror stay (extra holes there)

NOTE: there are permanent articles with pix for this process

2. Is as loud as a regular automobile horn (as loud as, not louder than)
The Stebel is about like a Ferrari tritone... loud enough -- but harmonious interval keeps the edge off the blast...

3. Preferably under $50 for the horn
IIRC... about 40 bucks in hand from Casporttouring.com

My two cents...

[v65saber]

The Stebel horn will not wake the dead :(
But it might bring them out of a coma :bow1:

[st11ray]

What I read on casporttouring it says it comes with relay"Includes air compressor and twin tone air horns, all combined in one compact unit. Includes horn relay. Available in Black Color only. To hear a sound file for this horn go to www.stebel.it click on products, click on electropneumatics, then click on Nautilus. " Do I still need to order another relay or is this all I need.
Thanks

Do yourself a favor and order the single horn wiring harness and relay from www.easternbeaver.com (~40 bucks) and throw away the relay that comes with the Stebel.
With the EB harness, it's basically plug 'n play.

[st13fundred]

I just finished my Stebel installation. Bought the Nautilus from casporttouring.com and the horn kit from easternbeaver.com. I like the small sealed relay Jim provides in the horn kit, because it makes for easy mounting with a band clamp (second photo).

I've attached a couple photos that show some variations I made. First, I wanted a captive bolt/nut setup, so I used a hose clamp to hold the works together (first & second photos). I didn't need to reverse the nut and bolt, it just worked out that way. The other change (third photo) shows how I left the stock horn in-circuit w/ the Stebel horn. At the stock horn, I simply parallelled the factory horn wires with the easternbeaver harness "trigger" wires (which go the the relay coil). I used a couple .250" female to two-male blade splitter terminal thingys at the stock horn terminals. You'll want to ask Jim to install female .250" disconnect terminals on the trigger wires instead of the standard male .250" blades that are standard. I forgot to ask Jim to do this, so I changed them myself. In the photo you will see that I added some liquid tape because my heat shrink shrunk back a little too far (that's why you want Jim to install the disconnect terminals :o:)

When you press the horn button, for a split-second you hear the factory horn come on, then once the relay pulls in, the Stebel drowns out the wimpy horn. This all happens within milliseconds of each other.

Why parallel the two horns? 1) I just didn't see a valid reason for needing to remove the stock horn (the relay coil adds little load to the factory horn's current draw) 2) Now I have a back-up horn (as in "spare", not "reverse") 3) You kind of get a two-tone horn sound.

Matt

p.s. During installation, I accidently dropped the Stebel and cracked one of the two 2 to 3 inch diameter plastic side covers. Wanting to replace it, but not knowing where to get a spare cover (other than Italy), I found there is a new US Stebel Representative. A quick call to Joe at www.stebel-usa.com to ask him about replacements, and after some conversation about how good Stebel horns are, he was very generous to send me two replacement covers at no charge!! Thanks Joe.

[Mellow]

Nice....

[STingray]

Woodybelle, thanks for those pics! The Fiamm horns sit quite low, but look like they actually work better there. Hmmm...

I had the dual FIAMMs on my 1100, and got quite used to their sound. Having the Steble for a few months now, I almost miss the "Big Cadillac" sound of the FIAMMs, but a the time I was short on patience with the OEM horn, so the Stebel went in post-haste. Now you got me thinking a change may be coming my way:D

BTW, I recall some having issues with the Stebel relay (supplied). I just recently swapped mine out for a 30amp Bosch. A close inspection of the Stebel relay indicates "Made in EC". Wonder if Bosch is the manufacturer anyway (?) A little RTV if necessary?

The STebel is available in all-Black; part Chrome; and now ALL chrome. CAST had them all in stock last time I was there.

Here's a description of the STebel install: http://www.ridethatbike.com/ST1300/ST%20Air%20Horn.htm

Here's my copy of the procedure:
http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/58/658/8/74/68/2097874680049812074OJSzdd_th.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2097874680049812074OJSzdd)

[Mellow]

Woodybelle, thanks for those pics! The Fiamm horns sit quite low, but look like they actually work better there. Hmmm...

I had the dual FIAMMs on my 1100, and got quite used to their sound. Having the Steble for a few months now, I almost miss the "Big Cadillac" sound of the FIAMMs, but a the time I was short on patience with the OEM horn, so the Stebel went in post-haste. Now you got me thinking a change may be coming my way:D

BTW, I recall some having issues with the Stebel relay (supplied). I just recently swapped mine out for a 30amp Bosch. A close inspection of the Stebel relay indicates "Made in EC". Wonder if Bosch is the manufacturer anyway (?) A little RTV if necessary?

The STebel is available in all-Black; part Chrome; and now ALL chrome. CAST had them all in stock last time I was there.

Here's a description of the STebel install: http://www.ridethatbike.com/ST1300/ST%20Air%20Horn.htm

Here's my copy of the procedure:
http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/58/658/8/74/68/2097874680049812074OJSzdd_th.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2097874680049812074OJSzdd)

Nice write up.

[Xantee]

Got mine mounted today. :D

It was not as loud as I had feared it would be. But then, maybe that's because I tested in out in the driveway and not in a closed in garage. I didn't realize the stebel was polarized until my first test, when it made a wierd buzzing noise :confused: I reversed the connections and then all was fine.

I used Brianm767's picture to guide me. His original description is posted here (http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8574&page=2), and here is his picture (hope you don't mind me linking to your picture, Brian):
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b116/brianm767/IMGP9555.jpg

My installation looks pretty much just like this, except I mounted my relay on a support bar up high and right behind the stebel.