When loud pipes aren't enough to alert distracted drivers, you might need to get a louder horn. We know that every motorcycle should have a horn mounted somewhere on the bike. However, most of the time, the horn is small and is tucked away from the front of the bike so it's hard to hear, or the bike may not have one at all. To keep your bike to DOT standards, a horn is required but its size doesn't matter too much (one of the few exceptions). In fact, in some states, a motorcycle horn only needs to be a mere 75dB; you might as well grab the one off your kid's bicycle.
Howard's Hog Horns Dynamic Duo Horn features an onboard air compressor and two large trumpets that push out around 115dB. The company makes a few different styles to pick from and a bracket to fit almost every H-D bike out there. We wanted to see how easy it was to install one of Howard's Horns and how it would look and sound on a bike. We also wanted to see if there was a big gain in sound and maybe scare the crap out of someone on his or her cell phone while driving.
Here is the Dynamic Duo kit,...
Here is the Dynamic Duo kit, which includes the compressor, two-piece trumpets, stainless steel hose, relay, and mounting hardware. We also got a set of trumpet covers to help keep the dirt and water out of the horn. Before we started the install we disconnected the battery and removed the stock horn from the bike, and then the cover cowbell from the horn. On carbureted bikes, you will need to disconnect the choke from the stock horn bracket by loosening the nut behind the bracket and letting the choke hang until the new bracket is ready to be installed.
Next, we installed the stainless...
Next, we installed the stainless hose and clamp onto the compressor and tightened the hose clamp with a screwdriver, and then installed the compressor onto the top hole of the H-D cowbell bracket.
We attached the mounting bracket...
We attached the mounting bracket to the stock rubber isolator, which was in the same location as the stock horn cover was and used the original acorn nut. Then we attached the included rubber isolator to the right side of the bracket (arrow).
With the bracket in place,...
With the bracket in place, we attached the dual trumpets to the back side of the front bracket using two of the 5/16 nuts and washers.
We slid the second hose clamp...
We slid the second hose clamp over the stainless hose and installed it over the barbed fitting on the trumpets and tightened the hose clamp with a screwdriver.
Our final step was to mount...
Our final step was to mount and wire the relay under the seat. Per the install sheet, we needed to run a new ground wire and replace the old horn's negative wire. We ran the wire from the negative side of the compressor to the negative post on our battery. Then we ran a wire from the positive side of the compressor to the relay post.
Once we were all wired up...
Once we were all wired up and the battery was re-connected, we hit the horn button and were surprised at how loud the horns were. We are sure to be heard if not seen with this setup, and it looks good as well as it sounds. Check out the web to hear some samples of all the horns on the company's website.