Disappointd is Stebel Nautilus Compact air horns!

[Motorider]

I bought two Stebel Air horns two years ago. They still sound good but the chrome is flaking off, they look like crap. I contacted Stebel USA. While they were sympathic, they couldn`t offer me any help. I also contacted the manufacture over seas and got no reply. If you want your bike to look good stay away from Stebel!   

[hubcapsc]

They're good horns but a little unsightly even with the chrome
still on sometimes...

BigBF quad horns are loud, and you can't see them 

-Mike

[Chrisj CMA]

I like my Stebel. Had it for years. Maybe six or seven years. The chrome isint perfect any more but it looks ok. I thought about sanding and painting if it gets worse. It's a horn. A good horn. Not necessary for it to be perfect chrome

[Jess from VA]

I had a chrome Stebel mounted to a plate under my interstate swing-arm, so you couldn't see it, but you could hear it good.

After a year or so, it quit working from eating too much road dirt and rain.

I replaced it with with anther (this time a black one as they're a little cheaper), and it died too after about a year.

I replaced it with a car electric horn.  It's louder than the stock horn, but not as loud as the Stebil, but it won't die.  So I'm keeping it.

I use my horn once every couple years. (except I need it every year to pass my annual safety inspection)

I use my middle finger and bad language about twice a year.

Each has about the same effect on other drivers.

So far, the finger is lasting longer.  (but I can't pass my inspection with it)

  

[Grandpot]

I put a plain black Stebel where the OEM horn was mounted on my IS.  Being black plastic it's hardly noticeable and has been working for eight years.

[Firefighter]

Mine are hidden in the pods of my interstate, don't see them very often but hear them every time I ride.

[Bighead]

Mine are hidden in the pods of my interstate, don't see them very often but hear them every time I ride.

+1

[da prez]

  I have been pealing plastic chrome and repainting as needed.

                                da prez

[98valk]

I have two car horns attached to the front lower part of the engine and two stainless steel boat horns installed under the swing arm with a bracket attached to the side stand bracket. all four still working since  '00.

[Motorider]

  I have been pealing plastic chrome and repainting as needed.

                                da prez

That is exactly what I am doing. However, when someone sells a chrome item, I expect to get many years of service from that item, not just two years. This thread was meant to be a heads up about the poor quality of the Stebel chrome.

[Jess from VA]

Moto, I get it, but there is a big difference between chrome plated plastic, and properly chrome plated metal. 

[98valk]

  I have been pealing plastic chrome and repainting as needed.

                                da prez

That is exactly what I am doing. However, when someone sells a chrome item, I expect to get many years of service from that item, not just two years. This thread was meant to be a heads up about the poor quality of the Stebel chrome.

where u using cleaners and/or waxes/polishes that contain the wrong type of petroleum distillates?
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?171-Petroleum-Distillates-in-Rubber-amp-Vinyl-Protectants

[cookiedough]

chrome plastic usually does not last many years, especially something as cheap as the stebel air horn in price.

I do not have a horn on my newly acquired 98 Valk, previous owners took it off.  Instead, I have cobra exhausts that are louder when revved, been looking for an occassion to put in the clutch and rev the snot out of the bike.

Pretty sure the cobra exhaust is louder than the stock wimpy horn to get ones attention..

[98valk]

chrome plastic usually does not last many years, especially something as cheap as the stebel air horn in price.

I do not have a horn on my newly acquired 98 Valk, previous owners took it off.  Instead, I have cobra exhausts that are louder when revved, been looking for an occassion to put in the clutch and rev the snot out of the bike.

Pretty sure the cobra exhaust is louder than the stock wimpy horn to get ones attention..

do u have pictures of the exhaust reversed so the outlets are facing forward? otherwise u are just waking up the people behind you.

[hubcapsc]

chrome plastic usually does not last many years, especially something as cheap as the stebel air horn in price.

I do not have a horn on my newly acquired 98 Valk, previous owners took it off.  Instead, I have cobra exhausts that are louder when revved, been looking for an occassion to put in the clutch and rev the snot out of the bike.

Pretty sure the cobra exhaust is louder than the stock wimpy horn to get ones attention..

do u have pictures of the exhaust reversed so the outlets are facing forward? otherwise u are just waking up the people behind you.

In the split emergency second, the guy in the car won't even think about
some other vehicle that happens to be loud.

The guy in the car will think LOOKOUT! WHAT? when he hears a loud horn.

-Mike "I hope you get a loud horn"

[Fazer]

+1 on Big BF quad horns.  So loud they scare ME.

[Motorider]

  I have been pealing plastic chrome and repainting as needed.

                                da prez

That is exactly what I am doing. However, when someone sells a chrome item, I expect to get many years of service from that item, not just two years. This thread was meant to be a heads up about the poor quality of the Stebel chrome.

where u using cleaners and/or waxes/polishes that contain the wrong type of petroleum distillates?
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?171-Petroleum-Distillates-in-Rubber-amp-Vinyl-Protectants

The only thing I ever used on them is Turtle wax "Dry and Wax" Bottom line is, they are cheaply made.

[98valk]

  I have been pealing plastic chrome and repainting as needed.

                                da prez

That is exactly what I am doing. However, when someone sells a chrome item, I expect to get many years of service from that item, not just two years. This thread was meant to be a heads up about the poor quality of the Stebel chrome.

where u using cleaners and/or waxes/polishes that contain the wrong type of petroleum distillates?
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?171-Petroleum-Distillates-in-Rubber-amp-Vinyl-Protectants

The only thing I ever used on them is Turtle wax "Dry and Wax" Bottom line is, they are cheaply made.

I guess all plastics are cheaply made if one puts the wrong chemicals on them.

[Motorider]

  I have been pealing plastic chrome and repainting as needed.

                                da prez

That is exactly what I am doing. However, when someone sells a chrome item, I expect to get many years of service from that item, not just two years. This thread was meant to be a heads up about the poor quality of the Stebel chrome.

where u using cleaners and/or waxes/polishes that contain the wrong type of petroleum distillates?
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?171-Petroleum-Distillates-in-Rubber-amp-Vinyl-Protectants

The only thing I ever used on them is Turtle wax "Dry and Wax" Bottom line is, they are cheaply made.

I guess all plastics are cheaply made if one puts the wrong chemicals on them.

Are you implying it was the "Dry and Wax" that caused the chrome to flake off, and not poor quality chrome. I find that difficult to believe!

[Harryc]

Can't add much here except to say I've had the chrome Stebel Nautilus for a year and it looks like new and is loud. I use Honda cleaner on all chrome surfaces...been doing that for years. Ask Meathead of others who have seen it how my bike looks. I buy several cans at a time.  https://www.amazon.com/HONDA-08732-SCP00-Spray-Cleaner-Polish/dp/B004FSEJZA

[98valk]

  I have been pealing plastic chrome and repainting as needed.

                                da prez

That is exactly what I am doing. However, when someone sells a chrome item, I expect to get many years of service from that item, not just two years. This thread was meant to be a heads up about the poor quality of the Stebel chrome.

where u using cleaners and/or waxes/polishes that contain the wrong type of petroleum distillates?
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?171-Petroleum-Distillates-in-Rubber-amp-Vinyl-Protectants

The only thing I ever used on them is Turtle wax "Dry and Wax" Bottom line is, they are cheaply made.

I guess all plastics are cheaply made if one puts the wrong chemicals on them.

Are you implying it was the "Dry and Wax" that caused the chrome to flake off, and not poor quality chrome. I find that difficult to believe!

good possibility, the link and other info on a material compatibility search indicates such.  Certain PDs cause the ABS (or whatever the plastic is) to flex/warp more than the chrome will, causing the chrome coating to pull away from the substrate.
 I've posted before that the main cause of oem valve stems EPDM material which by fed law all are required to be made from degrades in the presence of PDs which are in just about all cleaners and waxes.