Is My Horn Too Loud?

[Charlie Gary]

Saturday I was riding south down the highway pretty much all by myself on a three-lane-wide stretch of I-5 somewhere near Centralia, WA when I came upon an on ramp complete with a car entering the freeway. I was in the center lane, so I figured all was good to go with the merging car. I had my cruise control set on 65 and the car was doing about 60 as it entered the right lane a few car lengths in front of me. She stayed in the right lane until I was even with her back seat when she began to creep over to the left. As her tires crossed into my lane I touched my horn button and activated one of these Ear Cannon Air Horn :: Aerostich/RiderWearHouse Motorcycle Jackets, Suits, Clothing, & Gear She immediately turned her steering wheel to the right, which pointed her car at the wall. She knew that was bad so she turned it back to the left, which brought her back my way. All her turning had slowed her down, so when she crossed back into my lane again she was just behind me. I watched her in my mirror as her car did its best to copy a bike in a tank slapper, all the while going slower and slower. She never turned her head to look, so I don't know if she ever even looked in her mirrors, but I think next time someone does that to me I won't get offended and try to defend my space with the horn. Next time I think I'll grab a hand full of throttle as I move to the left side of the lane and not scare some oblivious drive until I am out of range of their bumpers and fenders. I wonder if she peed her pants?

[kawpaul]

I am always very cautious about coming up on a car's flank. I want either ahead of or far enough behind them so they can see me. When passing I will spend as little time as possible in their blind spot.

[MFolks]

I've got some loud Fiamm horns, It's real funny when a man is shaving while driving(seen that more than a few times), he starts drifting over in my lane, I hit the horn button, and Zip! no sideburns/mustache ! Or women driving with the rear view mirror cranked down,applying makeup, driving with their knees, drift over in my lane, and you'll be going to work with Spock eyebrows!

[kawpaul]

I just checked out the link and must say I like it. Nothing like waking the driving dead.

[MFolks]

Another scarry situation to encounter, is when there's a car full of women, they like to make eye contact when making conversation, so the driver's going to be rubber necking all around when she should be watching the road. Give a car like this at all possible a wide berth, or let them get far ahead of you.

[MFolks]

Griot’s Garage Horns
Car Care, Detail Supplies, Garage Organization, Car Accessories - Griot's Garage 800-345-5789 has some loud horns too.

[aikirex]

A bike horn can NEVER be too loud

[nvbirdman]

Use your horn.
If she had wiped out and punched her own ticket that day you might have saved the next bikers life.

[ALStensby]

It's even more entertaining when Red and I are riding side by side like we usually do someone does that. We BOTH have 139db airhorns on our bikes so they tend to get it in stereo.

[07Ninja250]

I say if they're not going to pay attention, use whatever means necessary to keep yourself from becoming their victim. She obviously needed to have the **** scared out of her. Now maybe she'll start checking over her shoulder.

[Gary - K7GLD]

Use your horn.
If she had wiped out and punched her own ticket that day you might have saved the next bikers life.

ABSOLUTELY - I'll NEVER apologize or feel guilty for waking up a sleeping or inattentive driver - when it comes to a choice between MY life or theirs, THEY lose - and quite possibly, once they get awakened, you MIGHT save some future rider's life as well...

I have air horns as well - and I don't hesitate to use them as situation arises...

[MFolks]

Guy driving truck with REAL train horn! - YouTube

[LTD fan]

Awesome! Where do i get one! Never mind i found them. At $300 to $1000 You have to pay to be loud.

[550Rider]

I agree with the group here. USE YOUR HORN WHEN YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO! My bike is completely stock and does not make much noise. I use my horn when I feel like someone is encroaching... I cant tell you how many times people have looked at me like I came out of nowhere because they didnt see me. I have no problem letting anyone know that they are in my space...

[Gary - K7GLD]

Awesome! Where do i get one! Never mind i found them. At $300 to $1000 You have to pay to be loud.

That video doesn't begin to do the horn justice!

I used to associate with a bunch of Dodge/Cummins truck owners down in central California - several had those real train airhorns - and let me tell you, when they'd apply those horns in a crowded intersection, ALL traffic came to a rapid and immediate FULL STOP!

BUT, the horns and required compressor to operate them, are far too large for a motorcycle, and as you found out, NOT cheap!

[Charlie Gary]

The only reason I questioned whether I should have used my horn or not was the fact she almost took me out when she swerved away from the wall. She missed my back end by only a couple of feet. Up until that moment I, too was a loud horn advocate. Now I think I'll grab a fist full of throttle as I press the loud button. Why do just one thing when both are fun to do?

[TEMAN62]

I would never ride in someone's blind spot (not in my car either) so hopefully would not have to face this situation. Sounds like you got lucky!
Thanks for confirming what I practice.

[outdoorsman310]

my horn is very quiet. a quick rev would be much louder

[Black Dog]

I replaced the OEM horn with a Nautilus mini air horn... very effective in waking snoozing cage drivers.