Discouraging Horn Test

[X Ring]

Guy tested 3 motorcycles.  One with a Stebel, one with an aftermarket car horn and one with the stock horn.  The results are pretty sad.  Then when you consider that people don't hear sirens with their windows rolled up, a/c blowing, stereos on and the road noise, it's not surprising.  Kinda blows the whole loud pipes save lives argument out of the water also.

http://home.comcast.net/~twday60/geezer/reviews/horn_test.htm

Marty

[salty1]

At least the Stebel was better than the others, although still not very audible in this test. 

[old2soon]

Soooo what-we are back to square one????? Give my trunk over for the compressor and my saddle bags over to 2 air horns on each side-the loudest S O Bs i can find. Guess i'll take out a really large loan. RIDE SAFE.

[musclehead]

would these help? (hard to find a place to mount)



http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31szE0CrFfL._SL500_AA300_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/Volt-Electric-Train-Grade-Chrome/dp/B002ITX2RE&usg=__x46_BKFGeOM94uyU8q3cHJFnd34=&h=300&w=300&sz=13&hl=en&start=2&zoom=1&tbnid=JPnAVrzcu_riiM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&ei=CFTjT8usF5Ge8gSm-rWGCA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dthree%2Bchrome%2Bair%2Bhorn%2Bbig%2Brig%2Bhorns%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1G1TSHB_ENUS473%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1

[BF]

I have an older model Stebel on mine.  Don't know anything about it.....other than it's probably 15 years old.....it was on the bike when I bought it.  I've plugged in the model number from it on Google and can't find any specs for it.  I thought it was loud. 

ChrisJ CMA showed me his and hit the button.  It was LOUD.....much, much louder than my old Stebel.  I hit my horn button and was embarressed by how anemic my horn sounded compared to his.  ChrisJ's will wake the dead. 

I orderd one like his......the 139db Nautilus model.  Just got it in last week and haven't had a chance to put it on yet, but I will.   

[Michael K (Az.)]

So not only are we invisible but also un-hearable! (sigh)
BTW, I have a set of Big BF's quad horns, been on for quite a while! I sure as hell hear 'em!!

[old2soon]

So not only are we invisible but also un-hearable! (sigh)
BTW, I have a set of Big BF's quad horns, been on for quite a while! I sure as hell hear 'em!!

Us hearing them ain't the same as the idiots in the cage that are trying to do us harm hearing them. Can't or won't see us can't or won't hear us-uuhhhh wait-we are phantoms???? RIDE SAFE.

[Atl-Jerry]

I've not put a DB meter on my airhorns, but they are MANY times louder than stock.  Even my BIL can hear them riding behind me, over his obnoxious HD pipes.  I'm convinced my headlight modulator and airhorn vastly improve my chance of being seen and heard.

AJ

[Valker]

Wonder how my twin, forward facing Stebel Nautilus horns would score.

[solo1]

Truth in advertising!  I checked my Stebel a few years ago with a db meter.  At two feet it was 102 db, a far cry from 139 db.  By the way, 139 db is 14 db higher than the recommended highest sound level with EAR MUFFS.

I heard that horn manufactures check the sound at 6 INCHES!.  Considering that every 3db on the scale is double or half power and that sounds levels drop off fast, for example at 10 feet the levels are 1/4 of sound levels at 5 feet.  You can see the discrepancy.  Then adding where the horns are mounted, which way they face, voltage, dirt, tired horns etc. we can have numbers all over.

I'll stick with my Stebel but I don't count on it to get idiots attention.  

Hella makes a set of diaphragm horns (Supertones) that have an high honest db  and have a loud off beat sound that aggravates people (gets their attention) but they are big and not waterproof. 

[Michael K (Az.)]

There was a Valk rider 6 or 7 years ago in my old Florida stomping grounds (I think), that had a fire dept klaxon about 4 ' long mounted along side his bike. HOLY CRAP!!

[9Ball]

The Stebel is just another tool in our safety toolbox that might prevent an accident.  I've had mine for about 6 years or so and it has saved me from lane encroachers and inattentive drivers on many occasions.  Almost made an idiot on his Sportster sitting in front of me revving his engine at a green light in dowtown Lake George jump off his bike....it paid for itself that one time.   

Every little bit helps.

[bassman]

So not only are we invisible but also un-hearable! (sigh)
BTW, I have a set of Big BF's quad horns, been on for quite a while! I sure as hell hear 'em!!

Michael,

I'm surprised you can hear anything at all after spending all of your formative years standing in
front of those twin Marshall stacks with the volume on "11"  !!   LOL !!

I'm very happy with my BigBF Quads but they too suffer from db loss as distance increases.  Keep those eyes and ears WIDE open out there boys and girls.....drive like you're wearing a BIG ole TARDET on ya.....

[Valker]

Just a side note for Stebel owners: I use air tool oil in my Stebels. They work a lot better than previously. Mine can come off in seconds, so I use the oil in the intakes and roll the horns around to distribute the oil. I also blast them a few times on my next ride.

[Michael K (Az.)]

"I'm surprised you can hear anything at all after spending all of your formative years standing in
front of those twin Marshall stacks with the volume on "11"  !!   LOL !!"

@ Bassman: HUH??

[art]

Try the twin electric horns from harbor freight $9.99 and 135 db .I have one on each side mounted where the stock horn was .They are very loud.I even put a set on my car.Heck you can't go wrong for the price.I had a seebel and it was good for about two years then went bad.At least these are cheap enough that I can get a set every year and still save some money.I know a rider in Eugene ,Or that has a horn that is about 4' long and sounds like a train,I just don't know where to put it let alone the compressor.I guess I would need a trailer for it

[salty1]

Just a side note for Stebel owners: I use air tool oil in my Stebels. They work a lot better than previously. Mine can come off in seconds, so I use the oil in the intakes and roll the horns around to distribute the oil. I also blast them a few times on my next ride.

Good stuff! My Stebel could use a little "tune up". 

[BradValk48237]

You need to have 2 Stebels!!

One on each side

Brad

[BigAl]

Two car horns from Advance Auto(HIgh Tone, Low Tone) and a 5$ relay and a few feet of #12 wire and some tape.

I have found this is louder than the so called Rivco Best Horns and will set you back about 50$.

Money is not always the answer.

[BigAl]

Unknown Hinson - Little Wang

[YoungPUP]

So how do we mount this on a valk?Nathan Airchime K5HL Train Horn

[musclehead]

"I'm surprised you can hear anything at all after spending all of your formative years standing in
front of those twin Marshall stacks with the volume on "11"  !!   LOL !!"

@ Bassman: HUH??

did we just have a spinal tap moment?

[olddog1946]

I don't know how any one can honestly say loud pipes save lives,  they still can't be heard when you are in front of them..and pity the poor fella right behind.

I have the big boy horn mounted out front, and even if it isn't as loud as claimed, I know it will scare the heck out of women yaking on the cell and driving (aiming?) down the road while trying to take my space in the fast lane...

[hubcapsc]

Skinhead's bike sounds like a harbor tug or something... I don't know if there is a lag between
"beeps" or not...




-Mike

[X Ring]

Before I put the Stebel on my Tourer I had the Rivco Air Horns.  Looked good but there was a 2 or 3 second lag between pushing the button and horn sounding.  That and the clown car sound are the reasons I went to the Stebel.

Marty

[fudgie]

I don't know how any one can honestly say loud pipes save lives,  they still can't be heard when you are in front of them..and pity the poor fella right behind.

Serously?  ??? You never heard a bike coming at you?

[fudgie]

So how do we mount this on a valk?Nathan Airchime K5HL Train Horn

Seen them mounted on the handle bars b4.