Horn dB's

Hello all and Merry Christmas,
I'm thinking of changing the horn on my sv650sk3 because i just don't think it's loud enough, it doesn't draw enough attention when you need it to. My question, does anybody know the dB level of the standard one that's fitted so i can make sure i buy a louder one and also as long as i buy another one that runs off 12 volts, is it a straight swap?

[timwilky]

Firstly your horn works by switching the negative return. It does not use an earth return as found on most car type horns. So if you are simply going to buy a horn please be careful.

I and many on this forum have used Fiamm horns. they are"low tone" but a few have mounted a pair of low/high for extra noise

Thanks for replying, i am intending to buy a motorcycle horn but wanted to make sure the one i get is louder and that it is just a case of swapping them over, thanks again and ride safe.

[Viney]

Originally Posted by bikerskez

Thanks for replying, i am intending to buy a motorcycle horn but wanted to make sure the one i get is louder and that it is just a case of swapping them over, thanks again and ride safe.

All motorcycle horns are poo. You really need a Pair of the above mentioned FIAMMS. Mount them on the top radiator mounting bolts and bend the brackets so that the horns miss the forks when turning. You will need to wire a relay in there as well, but its really not that difficult.

Just remember that +3db is twice as loud..so 103db will be twice as loud as 100db etc etc.

The Fiamm horns will require a relay to be put in for the extra power they need.

Its a 4-pin Relay looks like this -

[northwind]

And don't use the relays they sell in Halfords, they're mince- I've used them for my grips and for the horns, and never had one last 3 months. DOn't know whether it's the wet, or the vibrations, but they just don't seem to last. One of them basically fell to pieces. So I use the ones Maplin sells now, they're basically the same but more solidly built.

IIRC a pair of FIAMMS is about 132db at 1 metre. That could be nonsense But don't just go by volume, the h-lo horns give a penetrating dissonance that's harder to miss. I had a Stobel Nautilus- too big for me, never fitted it- which was louder in terms of sound pressure, but wasn't as noticable when used.

FIAMM do a neat set of flat horns too, as well as their various humungous air horns. Bit quieter, but smaller. I wouldn't go back to the standard horn.

I got mine relay from some 'other' car accessory place... its now on its second bike and over 3 years old.

Here's one on ebay, though I never paid that much...

I fitted one of the below, no relay needed. Nice and loud too
http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo...em=24&mitem=30

Originally Posted by Razor

I fitted one of the below, no relay needed. Nice and loud too
http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo...em=24&mitem=30

Thats funny I've just been fitting one, unfinished as lost a spade connector and dont have another

Loud enough certainly. Ive heard they fail in wet though so make sure your trumpet is angled accordingly

Was the polarity of the connectors important? I think not.

My trumpet points downward, dunno if that's right. I'm on my second one because I managed to smash the first one