'98-01 horn upgrade / Montreal / Grand Prix

I don't know what inspired Honda to locate the factory horn in its original
location -- a location which interferes with the service stands that
lift the
front by the steering head tube. Countless times I've removed the horn.
My 99's
original horn died a couple of years ago. I replaced it with a pair of FIAMM
hi/lo disc horns, but was dissatisfied with the sound. Two of them in
series on
the factory circuit just didn't cut it. Wimpy. One alone sounded better,
but was
still wimpy.

Cut to yesterday, attempting to renew my state inspection, and the horn
doesn't
work. Chris R. and I spent over an hour dismantling the horn switch --
buried
beneath the turn signals, and a bugger to get out. Verified power on the
switch,
on the output -- but still no horn. Substitute another. It works,
momentarily.
Turns out that the wires -- both ground AND power -- had broken within the
insulation just behind the 90-degree connector, yielding an intermittent
connection.
Cut, strip, install new connectors and -- viola! -- passed inspection.

Trouble is, that scenario would not take long to unfold again, since
every tire
change involves the front service stand and the requisite unplugging and
removal
of the horn. So today I changed that forevermore. Went to a local auto
parts store
and picked up a pair of hi/lo FIAMM snail horns. Ran a new circuit from
my Blue Seas
fuse block up to a Hella relay for the twin horns. Tested them. They
sounded like
a full-size luxo-sedan, instead of a wimpy econobox. Good. Now where to
put them?

A novel solution may be found using the lower radiator supports, which
are tapped
though the block using a 6mm bolt (1.5 pitch). It's a through hole, but
the factory
bolt stops short. Get some long replacements and you've got instant
hangers on the
opposite end. Note that the left side requires a longer bolt than the
right; it has
a thicker boss to pass through. I elected to discard the black plastic
in order to
install these horns facing forward, one on each side. Provided that they
can take
the heat,the only thing remaining is to drill some rain drain holes. The
open mouth
of the "snail" could probably take on water, but the mouth is facing
forward to better
direct the anger!

I wish that I would have done this sooner. I can't wait to see the
expression on the
first deserving moron. While I was at it, I installed a fresh batch of
Royal Purple oil
for the upcoming Montreal trip, together with a new filter, of course.
New tires await
the changer on Monday, and I'm getting antsy. Any listers going to the
F1 Grand Prix?
Dave M., or Fred L.? Our crew, including lister Tim A. and fellow COTU
riders Dave D.
and Gene L., will be up front on the entry into the hairpin (row 1,
seats 4-7). Stop
by if you're in the neighborhood...

Cheers,
Kirk A.
http://users.adelphia.net/~k2a/
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Kirk,
The performance of the FIAMM horns is worth the upgrade alone, but what
I'm having trouble understanding is your steering head stand difficulties
with the stock horn and location on my '99. I use either my old front or
new front Pit-Bull stands with no issues. A little adjustment (bending)
upwards of the horn bracket is all that was required to clear the Pit-Bull.

Denny

-----Original Message-----
From: vfr-bounces@xxxxxx [mailto:vfr-bounces@xxxxxx]On Behalf
Of Kirk A
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 8:47 PM
To: vfr@xxxxxx
Cc: Tim Anderson; Dave Dix; Gene Lauri
Subject: '98-01 horn upgrade / Montreal / Grand Prix


I don't know what inspired Honda to locate the factory horn in its original
location -- a location which interferes with the service stands that
lift the
front by the steering head tube. Countless times I've removed the horn.
My 99's
original horn died a couple of years ago. I replaced it with a pair of FIAMM
hi/lo disc horns, but was dissatisfied with the sound. Two of them in
series on
the factory circuit just didn't cut it. Wimpy. One alone sounded better,
but was
still wimpy.

Cut to yesterday, attempting to renew my state inspection, and the horn
doesn't
work. Chris R. and I spent over an hour dismantling the horn switch --
buried
beneath the turn signals, and a bugger to get out. Verified power on the
switch,
on the output -- but still no horn. Substitute another. It works,
momentarily.
Turns out that the wires -- both ground AND power -- had broken within the
insulation just behind the 90-degree connector, yielding an intermittent
connection.
Cut, strip, install new connectors and -- viola! -- passed inspection.

Trouble is, that scenario would not take long to unfold again, since
every tire
change involves the front service stand and the requisite unplugging and
removal
of the horn. So today I changed that forevermore. Went to a local auto
parts store
and picked up a pair of hi/lo FIAMM snail horns. Ran a new circuit from
my Blue Seas
fuse block up to a Hella relay for the twin horns. Tested them. They
sounded like
a full-size luxo-sedan, instead of a wimpy econobox. Good. Now where to
put them?

A novel solution may be found using the lower radiator supports, which
are tapped
though the block using a 6mm bolt (1.5 pitch). It's a through hole, but
the factory
bolt stops short. Get some long replacements and you've got instant
hangers on the
opposite end. Note that the left side requires a longer bolt than the
right; it has
a thicker boss to pass through. I elected to discard the black plastic
in order to
install these horns facing forward, one on each side. Provided that they
can take
the heat,the only thing remaining is to drill some rain drain holes. The
open mouth
of the "snail" could probably take on water, but the mouth is facing
forward to better
direct the anger!

I wish that I would have done this sooner. I can't wait to see the
expression on the
first deserving moron. While I was at it, I installed a fresh batch of
Royal Purple oil
for the upcoming Montreal trip, together with a new filter, of course.
New tires await
the changer on Monday, and I'm getting antsy. Any listers going to the
F1 Grand Prix?
Dave M., or Fred L.? Our crew, including lister Tim A. and fellow COTU
riders Dave D.
and Gene L., will be up front on the entry into the hairpin (row 1,
seats 4-7). Stop
by if you're in the neighborhood...

Cheers,
Kirk A.
http://users.adelphia.net/~k2a/
_______________________________________________
Vfr mailing list
Vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr


_______________________________________________
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Vfr@xxxxxx
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> I don't know what inspired Honda to locate the factory horn
> in its original location -- a location which interferes with
> the service stands that lift the front by the steering head

The VFR never was sold with track intentions. Service shops would jack
up the chin of the bike and home mechanics can put the bike on its
center stand and strap a box of books to the passenger seat to bring up
the front.

> a pair of FIAMM hi/lo disc horns, but was dissatisfied with
> the sound. Two of them in series on the factory circuit just
> didn't cut it. Wimpy. One alone sounded better, still wimpy.

Two in series mean each gets 6 volts, which means it's remarkable that
the horns worked at all that way. Even one on the factory circuit is
likely to be drawing too much current, which means you chance blowing a
fuse if you hit the horn and tap the brake simultaneously. That current
draw in excess of design parameters means that the wiring ends up
absorbing too much energy, which causes the horn to run on too little
voltage and therefore perform short of its design parameters. Plus the
factory horn circuit does not employ a relay, which means you'll shorten
the reliable life of the horn button because it too will be handling
more current than it was designed for.

> Went to a local auto parts store and picked up a pair of
> hi/lo FIAMM snail horns. Ran a new circuit from my Blue Seas
> fuse block up to a Hella relay for the twin horns. Tested them.
> They sounded like a full-size luxo-sedan, instead of a wimpy

Proper wiring can perform miracles.

> A novel solution may be found using the lower radiator supports

Post pics somewhere if you're able. I'm sure all the listers will find
it useful or at least inspirational.


Ride safe,
-Brad

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