Replace horn with Stebel?

[FGrella]

I'm not good with electrical but I am handy with tools. If I replace the stock horn with a Stebel why can't I use the exsisting power wire that goes to the stock horn?

[st11ray]

The stock wiring isn't heavy enough to power the Stebel. Get a single horn relay kit from www.easternbeaver.com and then follow the threads on how to install the horn. You'll really like the Stebel.

[gregj]

The Stebel horn needs thicker guage wire due to it's current draw. If you try and power a Stebel with the stock horn wires, you'll be sorely disappointed. Power the Stebel directly from the battery with either a fuse block or an inline fuse, 12ga wire, and a relay. I wired the relay trigger to the stock horn.

[Spotthegerbil]

You'll blow a lot of fuses if you use the stock wiring. +1 on a relay

[RobsTV]

If you have any Autozone near you, see if they have any Wolo Bad Boy's left. Same exact as Stebel, made by Stebel in Italy, but they place a Wolo Bad Boy sticker on it.

Comes with a relay, so all you need is some wire.

Only $23 at Autozone.

[Lou65]

I just used the PIAA horn that works on stock wires...seems plenty loud, but I have not heard a stebel...

[Mellow]

I just used the PIAA horn that works on stock wires...seems plenty loud, but I have not heard a stebel...

Lou... the Stebel 'sounds' about 30% louder in person vs the PIAA. The Stebel air horn has 2 sound frequencies so some of the louder sound might be a perceived difference due to 2 vs 1 frequency. But, if I think it's louder then so will everyone I'm honking at so that's a good thing.

I'm planning on going to the Stebel Air Horn next. Installing the PIAA was easy so the $/effort is low vs the Air Horn but the $/effect is high... just the opposite w/Air Horn... more effort but more effect.

When I get my plastic off to put the air horn on I'll Hook up each of the 3 horns (OEM, PIAA, Stebel) and get a sound file together to show the difference.

[st1300r]

I *think the stock horn is c. 10amp. The stebel is rated at 20amp draw. I assume that is while it is running. There would be a momentary higher (locked rotor) current when the horn compressor is winding up. (As the compressor motor winds up, its back emf reduces the current draw)

The stock wiring being too small means there will be a higher voltage drop in the wiring that results in the compressor not spinning up to full speed. Also the horn switch is going to fail sooner with the heavier load. The relay supplied with the stebel is not sealed and may be prone to failure from moisture.

[killerST6]

If you have any Autozone near you, see if they have any Wolo Bad Boy's left. Same exact as Stebel, made by Stebel in Italy, but they place a Wolo Bad Boy sticker on it.

Comes with a relay, so all you need is some wire.

Only $23 at Autozone.


Did not know this....
Thank you sir. :)

[st11ray]

If you use the junk relay that comes with the Stebel, make sure you put it in a dry location with the contacts pointing down. Like I said before, order a horn wiring kit from easternbeaver. It will cost you around $50 but you get a real relay and it is plug 'n play!

[Mellow]

If you use the junk relay that comes with the Stebel, make sure you put it in a dry location with the contacts pointing down. Like I said before, order a horn wiring kit from easternbeaver. It will cost you around $50 but you get a real relay and it is plug 'n play!

+1... I have one sitting in the garage waiting...

Here's the link/pic of the single horn relay wiring from easternbeaver:

http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/Horn_Kits/horn_kits.html

http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/Horn_Kits/hornkit_single_800.jpg

[FGrella]

Got it, thanks for all the reply's and information. This site was a large reason I purchased my ST. Honda should donate to this site.

[st13fundred]

If you decide to order a horn/relay/harness kit from easternbeaver (EB), you may want to consider specifying custom Trigger and Horn Lead lengths (like 12" or so). If you mount the relay on the right-side fairing strut, it will be very close to the Stebel mounting location, so you won't need the long (24" and 32") lengths that are standard (referring to Joe's photo above). To be safe, make sure the standard 36" Main Leads are long enough to get you from the battery to the fairing strut (where the relay mounts). I may have specified the Extra Long (60") Main Leads (or was it 48"?), to accomodate routing (vs. as the crow flies). Obviously, I don't have my original order handy, but I was happy with the custom lengths I ordered.

Jim's (EB) harness above assumes you will unplug the existing horn and reconnect the factory .250" female wires to the EB male .250" Trigger Leads (causing the horn push button to energize the relay, rather than the factory horn). IMHO, there really isn't a good enough reason to abandon the factory horn, in fact, doing so could potentially leave you without any horn at all if either the Stebel or the relay should fail. For that reason, I left my factory horn in-circuit by parallel wiring the factory horn wires to the original horn terminals and the EB Trigger Leads, using some .250" splitter terminals (FYI.. these splitter terminals have a female part that fits onto the horn terminals directly, and two male parts that the factory horn wires and EB Trigger wires connect to in any order). If you wanted to do this as well, I would ask Jim to install .250" female disconnect terminals on the Trigger Leads, rather than the standard .250" male terminals.

Just some ideas,
Matt

[Schavlan]

I installed a Wolo Bad boy, as stated before, same as the stebel.
I hooked it up using the included relay. Only cost about $15 for additional wire and fuseholder from the auto store.
I get a noticable voltage drop on my voltmeter whenever I honk the thing.

[GRN]

Like I said before, order a horn wiring kit from easternbeaver. It will cost you around $50 but you get a real relay and it is plug 'n play!

I used these (http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/2867/539/) to install Stebel's on both bikes, $30 each... well made, and as plug 'n play as they get.

[trek2120]

Think we could gain a reverse gear on the ST by aiming a Stebel forward?

[GRN]

Think we could gain a reverse gear on the ST by aiming a Stebel forward?

Might take 2, and a lot beefier earplugs :rolleyes:

[peeace]

I replaced my stock (rusted) horn with a stebel recently. Used the stock wires. Initially burnt the 10a fuse, but changed it to a 20a. Will see how it goes....

[Schavlan]

I replaced my stock (rusted) horn with a stebel recently. Used the stock wires. Initially burnt the 10a fuse, but changed it to a 20a. Will see how it goes....

In My Humble Opinion............

You definitely need to run the horn off the relay powered directly from the battery with a new circuit designed properly.
It draws way too much current as you found out by frying the fuse.

Putting a larger fuse in a circuit not designed for it can damage the wires and possibly cause a fire.

Of course free advice is worth every penny you pay for it, but you could be putting yourself at risk.

[Mellow]

In My Humble Opinion............

You definitely need to run the horn off the relay powered directly from the battery with a new circuit designed properly.
It draws way too much current as you found out by frying the fuse.

Putting a larger fuse in a circuit not designed for it can damage the wires and possibly cause a fire.

Of course free advice is worth every penny you pay for it, but you could be putting yourself at risk.

+1.. good advise... the main reason for adding the horn is safety... so, if you overload it and fry a wire you may never know 'til you need to use the horn again and you get a loud silence.