az1103 Posted August 19, 2008 #1 Posted August 19, 2008 Mounted a Stebel Nautilus today, the"chrome" one. I got to get it off my chest.....Everytime I purchase something made in Europe I feel cheated! Their concept of quality is sub-chinese!! How can yu call this thing chrome? It's made of cheap pot-metal sike aluminum and plastic. All the so called chrome is plastic. The greyish body of this thing isn't even fully covered with it. The cover looks like a tincan from the top! Good thing they gave two of those plastic covers, I used the back one to cover the top so I wouldn't annoy my wife with grumbling and mumbling every time I look at this thing! The one that Harbor freight sells BTW is made by the same company under a differen name - you can also find it at Pep Boys. For some reason I expected this thing to look better. Well, at least it is loud although the tone is a bit high for my taste. When it quits on me - as all Euro-crap soon does I think I will replace it with a set of trumpet type horns. OK,I feel better now.....
Squidley Posted August 19, 2008 #2 Posted August 19, 2008 Not to offend anyone that has them on their bikes, but I couldn't agree more. They look cheesie to me and very cheap, thats why I wont put one on a bike that cost me $16K. When I get a bit of money saved I'll probably get the Rivco as you hide the trumpets on the swing arm so they are hidden....but still heard.
Maritimer Posted August 19, 2008 #3 Posted August 19, 2008 Well, there's nothing wrong with the black one mounted in the fairing. Chrome is not an issue there. Just my 2 cents
Tartan Terror Posted August 19, 2008 #4 Posted August 19, 2008 Im very happy with the Rivoc horns. In addition to that get the Horn cover from Diamond R and it will really clean up the bike from the side. Rivcos are very loud and not in the lightest bit ugly. Ive had mine on for 2 years and even though they are hidden under the swing arm the chorme is great and even being down there is not pitted at all!
pegscraper Posted August 19, 2008 #5 Posted August 19, 2008 I'll agree. They look mediocre at best when they're new, and they don't look even that good for very long. Mine looks pretty cruddy. I tolerate it though, because of the noise they make when you need it. I'll go for accident preventing noise over looks every time. But I would like to find another way to go.
Bummer Posted August 19, 2008 #6 Posted August 19, 2008 Hey Tartan, do you test your Rivcos every now and then? I've had mine a bit over two years also. The hoses checked on the ends and were blowing by. I trimmed the hoses, but I may get a new compressor and some more hose. Just to play it safe. Sooner or later I'll need 'em. I also have a set of Fiamm extra loud electrics inside the fairing. Saved my round end when I went to honk the horn and the Rivcos only went fweep. I don't usually go around honking the horn, so the hose failure took me by surprise. By the way, I still prefer the Rivcos. They look better, mostly because you can't see them.
Tartan Terror Posted August 19, 2008 #7 Posted August 19, 2008 I did have that hose problem but a good clamp solved it. I use my pretty frequently as if I have any doubt if the see me I give a toot!. Been flawless and nice and loud.
Dano Posted August 19, 2008 #8 Posted August 19, 2008 I put the cheap version of the Stebel (WOLO Bad Boys-Autozone-30 bucks) on the "Squidley" mount facing directly out front, finally wired in the relay with 18 guage goin' to the horn. SAVED US coming home Sunday in little town, older gent started to come out on us, gave him 3 seconds of "Full Alert" from the horn, don't know who had to clean up more--- him or the Navigator!!! Dan
juggler Posted August 19, 2008 #9 Posted August 19, 2008 Not to offend anyone that has them on their bikes, but I couldn't agree more. They look cheesie to me and very cheap, thats why I wont put one on a bike that cost me $16K. When I get a bit of money saved I'll probably get the Rivco as you hide the trumpets on the swing arm so they are hidden....but still heard. Oh please show how those would be mounted. I've always like the twin trumpet horns but thought they would look a bit odd mounted to the front fender rail.
Squidley Posted August 19, 2008 #10 Posted August 19, 2008 Oh please show how those would be mounted. I've always like the twin trumpet horns but thought they would look a bit odd mounted to the front fender rail. My Uncle bought a set of Rivco's and put them on his '99. I'll see if I can hook up with him and get some pics of them on the bike.
juggler Posted August 19, 2008 #11 Posted August 19, 2008 Im very happy with the Rivoc horns. In addition to that get the Horn cover from Diamond R and it will really clean up the bike from the side. Rivcos are very loud and not in the lightest bit ugly. Ive had mine on for 2 years and even though they are hidden under the swing arm the chorme is great and even being down there is not pitted at all! I guess I never really looked at your bike closely until now. Really nice ride. If I had the money I'd buy it from you when/if you get your HD Fire Fighter bike. Do you have a photo of how the Rivco Horns are mounted? The V-4 side cover, where did you get that? I've only see one for sale but I thought it was for a different version Yamaha V-4? How do you keep your tool pouch from hitting the fender?
Venturous Randy Posted August 19, 2008 #12 Posted August 19, 2008 (edited) I don't complain about the quality of my air horns. I bought them on sale at Harbor Freight, which is about 1/2 mile from my house. I paid about $9 for them on sale, but I did have to paint the horn part gloss black as they were red. I have been using these for several years and occasionally I will buy another set on sale and since I now have a seperate compressor hooked to each horn, they are loud. Did I also say they were cheap? RandyA Edited August 19, 2008 by Venturous Randy
Hulk Posted August 19, 2008 #13 Posted August 19, 2008 I'll have to agree on the Stebel Nautilus (Chrome) quality issue, had mine delivered yesterday. Was at a 9.5 on the excitement scale, till I took it out the box and then………. dropped…….. to……. a 5? Been looking at it ever since and going by example, if I’m having second thoughts, “there is a problem”. THEN ran a test “toot” and my neighbor 2 houses down, walked out of his house ready to yell at someone for waking up his 3 year old from his nap (he’s an alright guy so I felt sort of bad!). Fact is, that I had intended on mounting the same Hella Horns that I had on my Vulcan 800 till I read the reviews from VR that convinced me to go this route (no!!! not blaming anyone, don’t get all defensive now!!!) But these are sick sounding horns. Now I’m thinking about mounting the one in the fairing and keeping the stock one on the side. I think I’ll just got for ride and play with the stock horns till I get embarrassed enough to make up my mind.
Tartan Terror Posted August 19, 2008 #14 Posted August 19, 2008 I guess I never really looked at your bike closely until now. Really nice ride. If I had the money I'd buy it from you when/if you get your HD Fire Fighter bike. Do you have a photo of how the Rivco Horns are mounted? The V-4 side cover, where did you get that? I've only see one for sale but I thought it was for a different version Yamaha V-4? How do you keep your tool pouch from hitting the fender? Thank you very much. The V4 side covers came from Barons. They make alot of great stuff for these. Ill get a pic of the horns tomorrow or so. Today we have the Rod Stewart concerts so I will be very busy later.
Jethroish Posted August 19, 2008 #15 Posted August 19, 2008 I put the cheap version of the Stebel (WOLO Bad Boys-Autozone-30 bucks) on the "Squidley" mount facing directly out front, finally wired in the relay with 18 guage goin' to the horn. SAVED US coming home Sunday in little town, older gent started to come out on us, gave him 3 seconds of "Full Alert" from the horn, don't know who had to clean up more--- him or the Navigator!!! Dan I was wondering if there are other mounting places/option aside from the factory horn or inside the fairing. But since Dan's is a 1st gen, and I have a second... I was thinking about trying to mount one under the bike where the center stand would go. Yea, it might take a hit from road debris, but there, looks would not matter.
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