Replacement Horn

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OldRider2
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Replacement Horn

#1

Post by OldRider2 »

Is there a good replacement horn, reasonably priced and loud, for the the early GL1000s out there? I have collected at least 4 of them and none of them give out much sound and are really pitiful. I'd like one that would bolt in the original spot on the right side on my '77.
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pidjones
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Re: Replacement Horn

#2

Post by pidjones »

Don't know about bolt-up, but the GL1800 horns are louder than most cars, and even smaller than the GL1000 units.
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robin1731
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Re: Replacement Horn

#3

Post by robin1731 »

Scroll down to similar topics.

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OldRider2
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Re: Replacement Horn

#4

Post by OldRider2 »

10-4 Robin. I searched this morning on Horn but didn't find what I wanted. After pidjones post above I then saw lots of stuff I didn't see the first time, go figure. I was trying to keep the original look of the '77 if possible. Pid is right, the 1800 horns are pretty loud as well. I've got a WoLo but didn't want to mount it.
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Re: Replacement Horn

#5

Post by Whiskerfish »

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OldRider2
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Re: Replacement Horn

#6

Post by OldRider2 »

Thanks Whiskerfish, good post. I haven't decided yet on a horn, I know the WoLo is loud I had it on my 82 Standard. I just wish it could be tucked out of site.
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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Replacement Horn

#7

Post by Sidecar Bob »

FWIW, When I took the motorcycle training course in '85 they recommended replacing the wimpy horns that came on most bikes with a car horn. I was one of many that had a full sized snail shell horn sticking out under the tank...

"Snail shell" horns (like the ones on 1800s) are basically the same as ordinary disc type ones except with an actual horn formed into a spiral to match the acoustic impedance of the disc with the air, making it effectively louder for the same electrical power consumed (this is the same principle as horn tweeters in speaker systems). They are great under the hood of a car where they are protected a bit but mounted in the open on a bike where dirt & bugs can enter easily and eventually find their way down the horn to the diaphragm and damp its vibration, I've never had one lasted a full 2 years.

Riding every day in all weather, I have seen a cycle of replacing the horns on all of the bikes I've had every few years (more often on the winter machine, less often on the summer one). These days I've come to understand that a cheap 100dB or louder horn will get their attention just as well as an expensive one and probably last just as long so I buy 2 or 3 at a time when I find them on sale cheap and always have at least one new one on the shelf ready to install when I discover that one on a bike has failed. The ones I have now are FIAMM low tone, something like 105dB and cost $3 each from Princess Auto 4 years ago.
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OldRider2
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Re: Replacement Horn

#8

Post by OldRider2 »

Thanks Sidecar! Those were cheap for FIAMMs at $3, about the cheapest I just found Googling were $11. Did you install a relay?
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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Replacement Horn

#9

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Nope. If I was installing a horn that drew more current than the original I might add a relay but both of my bikes originally came with 2 horns and if Honda's engineers didn't feel they needed relays for 2 they certainly shouldn't need relays for just 1.

BTW: That's $3 CAD so they were even less than you thought. Princess currently has the high tone Fiamms for $7 CAD but I'm not sure if they will ship to the US https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/ ... -p8764011e

These are even cheaper and probably almost as good https://www.ebay.com/itm/362253011862 but they could take 60-90 days to travel half way around the world. That's why I generally keep at least one on hand (same for rad caps - I can usually get 2 on eBay for what 1 costs at local auto parts places).
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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