FIAM Horns are the BOMB!!

[CatatonicBug]

I wonder if they'd fit in the Vetter fairing, where the Vetter horns were supposed to go... The hole in the fairing is only about 2" diameter though, so it may block the sound too much.

Would they fit between the frame rails? My OEM horns are there, just above the cross bar.

[Cobia]

Bug,
If I understand you correctly, your OEM horns are mounted on the OEM original bracket ? If so, that's where I mounted mine. You just need a long enough piece of standoff metal. Mine had them already because they cameof the J, same bracket kind of.

[CatatonicBug]

Bug,
If I understand you correctly, your OEM horns are mounted on the OEM original bracket ? If so, that's where I mounted mine. You just need a long enough piece of standoff metal. Mine had them already because they cameof the J, same bracket kind of.

My OEM horns are mounted to that bracket, but they are just about touching each other between the vertical frame rails. They do not sit outside the frame rails like the picture above. Will the fiamm horns squeeze in there too, or must they sit outside the frame rails like little ears?

[MaximPhil]

Hi Cobia,
I have been wrong before Mounted the way you have them, when it rains, water will be pushed up into the "works" of the horn.
Maxim Phil

Here's how mine look. They mounted right on the existing factory horn bracket.





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Nicely tucked in and don't contact the turn signals either at either end of the turning range.

[MaximPhil]

Nice, those look sharp! I think I'll put mine in the same spot.

Anyone only run one or generally the pair?

Hi Bassman,
Best to run a pair. The horns are different notes. One hi one low which adds up to more then just double the sound. (insert huge technical discussion here
Maxim Phil

[Cobia]

Bug,
I don't think they will fit in there considering the limited space in that area, witht he coils above and all. These are not flat as the OEM ones are. They'd have to be mounted like "ears" as you say.

Phil,
I don't think that's a concern because just as in the OEM horns, the water will only travel up to the diaphram which is basically a seal. I'm sure the FIAM folks took that into consideration in their design. Additionally, I don't ride in the rain much, call me a wooosss..
And you're right about running them in pairs and the dual tone arrangement.

[CatatonicBug]

I just realized that since mine is an LH, the cross-bar between the vertical frame rails is a little different. I has a bracket welded to it to support the brake line coming from the rear, and that is where the horns attach. With the right bracket, I may be able to make the FIAMM horns work there. Then again, I may be able to put them inside the fairing. We'll find out next week when they arrive!

[Cobia]

You're right Bug, with the right bracket you may be able to fit them in there. It looks as if you have enough room. Just make sure you'll have no contact with the forks when you turn all the way on either side.

[CatatonicBug]

Got my Fiamm horns today, but they didn't come with a relay or any kind of mounting bracket. Anyone know what kind of relay I should be looking for to add to this circuit?

I did find half of the original mounting instructions for putting FIAMM horns in a Windjammer, but it appears that Vetter sold them in '79 as a kit with a special bracket attached to them. It looks like I'll have to re-engineer that bracket myself.

[webbcraft2150]

Check out Wholesale Marine for there piezo electronic horn. I was going thru a "normal" horn every season for my boat. I bought one of these and installed in the same hole as the regular horn. Pretty ear spliting sound similar to the electronic horn on a cop car. Fact its dam painful if you standing too close to it. Been in since 2005 and still going strong and I know its been submerged several times with waves and wakes hitting the boat broadside let alone the washing it survives thru. Super low amp draw. Been plannin to buy pair and graft into the horn spots in the Vetter. One is pretty loud and I can only imagine what two would sound like. With a little bracket work, one could mount them on a naked bike.

[Cobia]

Sorry Bug, but I don't know what relay it uses. Mine has a 10 amp draw with a post for the straight 12v feed, a common ground post, a post to feed BOTH horns (you have to make a split harness), and a post to trigger it with the horn button. The original horns on my G were a two wire feed so I made sure the horns were well grounded during the installation because the horn button only grounds the circuit to fire them off. The horns only had one connection for the hot positive.
I'm no electrical guru by any means but I googled it and found the wiring diagram.
You'll have to make the brackets based on where you plan to install them.
I can't believe all you got were just the horns.

[CatatonicBug]

Well, I went to Autozone and got this relay. Part number 19899. It was the only 4-post relay they seemed to have in stock. It worked though! Here it is, installed under the tank:



I decided against puting the horns in the fairing, since I would have had to run a new 10g wire for both power AND ground, since the stock plug/pigtail in the fairing only has a single, thin orange wire for the horn and a single, thin shared ground for everything in the fairing (12v socket, radio, turn signals).

It worked out though, since I didn't have to change the mounting brackets at all! The hardest part was locating a 1/4-28 nut to mount the horns to the brackets. I think they turned out quite nice! The sound makes me fee like a super-duty pickup truck!

[Cobia]

Rock and roll, Bug...!!!
They make a big difference, don't they ??

[Diskman01]

For cheap relays, go to the nearest "pick-n-pull" junkyard and molest any GM sedan from 1992 - 1999 possibly higher. There is a relay panel under the hood at the base of the windshield. Grab the relays AND the sockets. 80s and 90s Dodge Caravans have a relay bank of 7 along the drivers side under the hood mounted on a removable holder. Just snip the wires LONG and grab the whole shebang.

I was able to stuff a BUNCH of relays and sockets into a "feedbag" for $2.50 once. lol. Been using em for quite a while for foglights and aux lighting on the Jeeps.

NICE 14-16 GA wire can be found in extension cords. Its WAAAY cheaper than buying the expensive ROLLS of copper wire. Just get a 25 foot 14 GA cord at the local home center for about 15 bux. Lop off the ends, slice the PVC/vinyl sheath and tear it off. You will have 3 lines @ 25 feet each of nice stranded soft copper wire that works EXCELLENT for any simple 12v application. Your colors are limited to white, green and black tho so mark accordingly. I use it mainly for aux lighting again. Green for the relay signals, white for + and black for ground.

[Tat2demon]

Just ordered mine. Will be here tomorrow.