Ducati Monster Forum

I was in Autozone this morning picking up some odds and ends when it occurred to me that I would like a more substantial horn tone on my bike.  I picked up the horn shown in the image below for $15, and a 40A relay for $5.  I already had a variety of connectors and wires, but if you don't, you might need to spend another $5 or so.  The horn has a zinc plated metal housing which I spray-painted black.  The task went fairly quickly, but I have K&N pods...someone with the stock air box might have to spend more time.  I mounted the horn in the stock location, but it could have easily been mounted elsewhere.  I wired the relay to be operated by the horn switch, then wired the horn directly to the battery through the relay.  Sounds pretty good!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/orangelion03/horn1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/orangelion03/horn2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/orangelion03/horn3.jpg)

Loud horns are great! [thumbsup]

Horn-y!  [evil]

Nice. BTW: I've run horns like this without a relay, with nary a problem.

For giggles, I picked up the low tone version to compare the sound.  My Autozone had some labeled at 113dB, like the high tone I bought, and one with the same part number on the card, but stating 125dB (I bought the higher marked one).  I do prefer the lower tone, though hard to tell if it is all that much louder.  With the airbox removed, I do have room to run BOTH horns which might sound even better.

Great upgrade!  Thanks for reminding me to do the same.

Best part about the whole thing is that the new horn is - MADE IN ITALY.

That's some serious pride to "bold" that on the package!


Great find!  [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

+1

That just means that when it breaks, it'll take 3 weeks to get a part for it, unless it's that weird month where they take 4 weeks off  [laugh]

Nice work on the horn, I've got a stebel that is awaiting install on my ST...

I call BS on the "made in Italy" part. Italians aren't allowed loud horns, so it would be strange if they made those.
Of course, I could be wrong. Not important though. Very big + on loud horns [thumbsup]

maybe the package itself was made in Italy.....  [laugh]

I have this Italian horn 
(http://www.twistedthrottle.com/ezimagecatalogue/catalogue/variations/8893-500x600.jpg)

Hmm... Italians do make loud horns. Double-hmm.... I was wrong.

Thoses Italian Really know there  bikes and horns. here is my imitation stebel finally installed(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4523913453_6e0a43efe5.jpg)

Any downsides to an "AhOOOOga" horn?

http://www.harborfreight.com/100-db-old-fashioned-sound-ooga-air-horn-96291.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/100-db-old-fashioned-sound-ooga-air-horn-96291.html)

(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_3525.jpg)

isn't there a horn that's louder than stock that's a direct replacement with no additional wiring?

AFAIK, all louder horns are larger.  I have two horns on the Bandit, because I can hide them behind the fairing.

The Monster gets the OEM horn.  If I need something louder, then I yell.   ;D

Or just rev the engine  [evil]

Yup.  I use a single (low tone) Stebel TM80
http://www.stebel.it/stebel2009/products.asp?IDserie=3&uso=&tipologia=ELECTROMAGNETICS (http://www.stebel.it/stebel2009/products.asp?IDserie=3&uso=&tipologia=ELECTROMAGNETICS)

Most standard car horns you can buy off the shelf are louder and take no more electricity.  The stock horns, like stock headlight bulbs, are weak.  Also, you can get the low tone so you sound like a big old Chrysler instead of a moped.  Anything air powered, notably larger, or dual horns usually need more juice and it's best to wire up a relay.

Scott

 Had to Sunday. I'm behind two cars going down mtn twist. Slower front car pulls onto shoulder, second car passes, then first car decides to re-enter road via going through the right side of me and bike. The termis paid for themselves in that moment.



I like the Nautilus compact and think I can fit it behind the oil cooler. Assuming no relay ect is needed. Thanks

I read a test of horns and the nautilus was DOA twice.

Made me stop my checkout process at twisted throttle. Now im thinking about the Hella Supertones.

This is for a bike on which I was nearly killed once, and seriously annoyed a second time. I had an escape route, I just chose not to use it. Anyways....it needs a louder horn.

so you don't need to wire any relay etc, just figure out where you want to mount it?  the connectors on this one look like they would be the same also...  http://www.stebel.it/stebel2009/products.asp?IDserie=3&uso=&IDprodotto=56&tipologia=ELECTROMAGNETICS (http://www.stebel.it/stebel2009/products.asp?IDserie=3&uso=&IDprodotto=56&tipologia=ELECTROMAGNETICS)

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-horns/motorcycle-horn-comparison.htm  (http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-horns/motorcycle-horn-comparison.htm)

Yup.  I even mounted it in the same place since I removed the emissions canister.

hmmmm... i'm really liking the sound of that magnum TM80/2.  i wonder if that red magnum moto 1/2 sounds the same... and has the same electrical specs.

The /2 is two horns (high and low) and will need a relay.  The single horn (which is what I have) draws more current than stock (louder), but not so much that you need a relay.

Though it's not a direct swap, I installed a Stebel Nautilus. I completely recommend the mod. My horn will wake the dead.

i'm really digging the tone of the magnum twin tone setup...  http://www.stebel.it/stebel2009/products.asp?IDserie=3&uso=&IDprodotto=14&tipologia=ELECTROMAGNETICS (http://www.stebel.it/stebel2009/products.asp?IDserie=3&uso=&IDprodotto=14&tipologia=ELECTROMAGNETICS)

is it pretty straightforward to find/wire the relay?  or let me rephrase that...is it easy enough for someone with basically no electrical knowledge to wire this up?  or should i just stick to the single plug-n-play low tone stebel magnum?

It's cheap enough to be a great thing to start with (in terms of soldering). There are enough tutorials around on how to wire this, that you've got a good shot of figuring it out.

I say go for it.

I mounted up my Stebel Nautilus last night. Sounds awesome, I have one on my car as well and its obviously louder on the bike. I ran new relay and such and they was plenty of room in the stock location, I just hacked the bracket and bent it to a decent angle. Hid the relay right behind it. you can barely notice it, until I use it!

Worth the $40 IMO.

Anyone have any photos of the horn upgrade installed on their bike?

Good luck with that.  I had enough trouble getting one to fit my M696 with no oil cooler.  A relay is required.  Here's how it went on my 696 >> http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=21649.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=21649.0)

I'm thinking about fitting a pair of Hella Supertones.......  but I do like the soud of that Stebel Nautilus.....