Horn Question

[Welsh1100]

Years back I owned two XS650 specials (78/79). I had heard about a way to adjust the horn volume by turning the center screw in or out. It worked very well..increasing the decibles. However..I have forgotten which direction does which.
I would like to increase the volume on my 79 XS1100f (Standard).

Any clues????

[jmnjrpa]

Those horns are not much good no matter what you do. Best advise is to get an aftermarket horn that puts out some volume.

[natemoen]

http://www.bikerhiway.com/stebel-nau...source=froogle

Here is a pretty popular horn and its quite loud!

[Geezer]

Harbor Freight has some air horns that are very loud and cheap. I have a set for my bike if I ever get around to installing them...

Geezer

[fredintoon]

Years back I owned two XS650 specials (78/79). I had heard about a way to adjust the horn volume by turning the center screw in or out. It worked very well..increasing the decibles. However..I have forgotten which direction does which.
I would like to increase the volume on my 79 XS1100f (Standard). Any clues????

Hi Welsh,
as I remember it, there's a little screw to one side of the back to screw in or out to maximize the volume.
But no matter, I'm with the others, toss those pathetically anaemic stock horns in favour of a Stebel-Nautilus 139dB air horn.
I have one on my bike and it's seriously loud. Even a cell-phone yakking soccer mom can hear it over the surround sound rap music and the carful of squabbling kids.

[MaximPhil]

Harbor Freight has some air horns that are very loud and cheap. I have a set for my bike if I ever get around to installing them...

Geezer

Before buying airhorns have a good look and figure out where you are going to mount the compressor. Can be done but they are not plug and play and will require some thought to locate evrything. I opted for LOUD electric horns.
Phil

[fredintoon]

Before buying airhorns have a good look and figure out where you are going to mount the compressor. Can be done but they are not plug and play and will require some thought to locate everything. I opted for LOUD electric horns.
Phil

Hi Phil,
not all air horns have a separate compressor, for instance the Stebel-Nautilus horn is all one unit. You do need to wire in their supplied relay though, the horn draws too much power for the horn push to handle directly.

[Crazcnuk]

Just loosen the locknut, and turn it both ways, while hitting the button.


The screw isn't really a 'volume' adjustment, a horn is a relay that goes on/off really fast (freq).

By adjusting the screw you are opening or closing the relay gap. This can bring back dead horns, or adjust to max volume.