Thanks Dallara!

[Promethean]

For recommending the Stebel horn.

<story>
On my way back from a movie, I was in the rightmost lane of a 3 lane road (each way) getting set up for a right turn onto my sidestreet. This kid in a car up ahead in a burger shop on my right decides that he wants to roll the dice and floors the gas. The car turns into the center lane.

Not really a big deal....but his buddy behind him reckons that he's gotta join his pal and tries to do the same.

My reaction. Maximum brake and swerve with a liberal application of the thumb to the horn button. (Shameless plug for rider training....read MSF)

The kid slammed on the brakes and stopped short....yelled sorry as I went past. He probably crapped his pants.....:037:

</story>

I swear to god....that Stebel TM-80 is LOUD....makes people jump...at least in city traffic. I don't know how it performs on the highway though. I hope never to find out.

Thanks again!

[BobFV1]

Glad the Stebel worked great! The RR horn is a bit impotent sounding and an upgrade is a great safety enhancement. The RT horn is another great upgrade!

We don't teach honking, but it is effective in these cases. I also really like having my headlight modulator connected to my high-beam switch. When I am approaching a dicey situation such as the one you describe, I flick it on and it really makes drivers hesitate long enough that they usually think twice and end up waiting for me to go by.

Actually, we teach swerve then brake, or if all else fails - maximum braking.

Ride safe!

[Promethean]

Bob,
Thanks.

Perhaps my memory is a little hazy...but one of the things from the BRC that stuck with me was keeping the swerve and brake manouvers discrete. They didn't really emphasize one before the other.

In this case, the only reason I braked first and then swerved was because I was coming to a stoplight and I had no idea if there was a vehicle to the left and there was no time to check the blind spot.

A swerve would have placed me in a situation that had a little more risk. It was a judgement call....perhaps not the best but the one I made.

In any case, I should develop the habit of checking the blind spots more frequently.


Glad the Stebel worked great! The RR horn is a bit impotent sounding and an upgrade is a great safety enhancement. The RT horn is another great upgrade!

We don't teach honking, but it is effective in these cases. I also really like having my headlight modulator connected to my high-beam switch. When I am approaching a dicey situation such as the one you describe, I flick it on and it really makes drivers hesitate long enough that they usually think twice and end up waiting for me to go by.

Actually, we teach swerve then brake, or if all else fails - maximum braking.

Ride safe!

[BobFV1]

Abhijeet -

I think this is a great example of how the street is practical and class is theoretical - you came upon a difficult situation and applied skills you had practiced in a manner which resulted in a good outcome. I certainly "cheat" with my techniques - for example, I am a "no rear brake" guy. I can't teach this in class, but on non-ABS bikes I just back the rear brake off all the way.

ERC's are great this time of year - your story shows how it never hurts to stay current, and how we never stop learning. Too bad you can't make it down to AZ for our Apriil 10 ERC!

[DarthRider]

Good save Abhileet!
I totally agree with Bob..."rules", even safety technique rules, are a great "starting place" to be modified as dictated by circumstances.
You must believe in practicing what you learn too...double kudos.
Can't say I agree with the "no-rear brake" thing, but that's a good topic for another time.

Dave

[Gord]

I gots to get me one of those Stebel horns. I totally agree that the RR horn sounds like a fart being squeezed out of a Canada goose. And a dead goose at that!

Abijheet, I assume you installed it yourself. How easy was it to do? Can you briefly describe what was involved? Was it plug and play? I'm not totally useless with electrics and stuff (I did install my own PIAA 1100Xs without electrocuting myself or frying the bike) but I like to know what I am getting into.

Now if only I can train myself to give a-holes a blast of horn instead of left turn indicator, I would be fine!

[Promethean]

It was dead easy to install. You'd have to get a plate or something of the sort to mount it though. It mounts differently from the stocker....will post pics later.

Plug and play...that's right. All you have to do to wire it up is clip the wires off the stocker, attach spade connectors to them. The spade connectors plug right into the Stebel. No relay required. I have to thank Allan for his excellent instructions. I suck at electrics.

Do let me know if you need any other info.

I wouldn't use the horn in a garage. It's deafening at 139dB compared to the "meep meep" of the stock horn.


I gots to get me one of those Stebel horns. I totally agree that the RR horn sounds like a fart being squeezed out of a Canada goose. And a dead goose at that!

Abijheet, I assume you installed it yourself. How easy was it to do? Can you briefly describe what was involved? Was it plug and play? I'm not totally useless with electrics and stuff (I did install my own PIAA 1100Xs without electrocuting myself or frying the bike) but I like to know what I am getting into.

Now if only I can train myself to give a-holes a blast of horn instead of left turn indicator, I would be fine!

[DarthRider]

What's a Stebel horn?
The horn on my 50R died and I don't want to replace it with the dead goose-fart kind...

Dave

[Promethean]

Dave,
You can get one here
http://www.adventurersworkshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Stebel_Magnum_TM80&Category_Code=Stebel_Air_Horns

or at a Checker Schuck Kragen's store if they have one in your area.



What's a Stebel horn?
The horn on my 50R died and I don't want to replace it with the dead goose-fart kind...

Dave