R65LS Horn

[jgp1854]

Members,

I would like to remove the OEM horn and replace it with FIAMM "high/low" dual horns.  Mounting wise there is ample room to mount both FIAMM horns.  My questions are:

can I run a jumper wire from one positive post on one horn to the other positive post on the second horn?  And one jumper from the negative post to the other negative post on the second horn?  Also, do I need to add a relay?

If the above isn't proper, please advise how I should go about doing it.

Thanks

Jim
Michigan

[montmil]

Dual Fiamm horns reside on both my R65s and they are L-O-U-D. You'll scare folks, I guarantee. neighbor lady was in my shop with her BMW riding husband when I demo'd the horns. She actually ran away. This may not work with every woman but I'm anxious to try it on my ex.

Yes, there's room for the install. You will need to lose the plastic splash guard, if yours is still installed. Many peeps have made this mod. There is a location near the original horn mounting area where you can utilize a single bolt to mount both horns. The Fiamms usually come with a pair of thin metal mounting straps for each horn. This may have something to do with reducing vibration through the chassis or... I dunno. I used them.

Yes, you can run a short jumper to the second horn's positive terminal and 'yes' on the neg terminal.

Strongly encourage the use of a relay as the horns pull more power than the weenie OEM single "horn". You might get by for a little while using the original horn wiring but eventually there may be a burned wire inside the switch assembly. Those small 22ga switch wires will not carry the amps that the horns will pull. A relay permits using the OEM horn button wires to simply trigger the relay. The 12v surge then bypasses the horn button wires.

I have my R65 horn relay wiring diagram I can scan and post if you need something.

Beep, Beep... comin' through.

[jgp1854]

MM

Thanks and yes your wiring diagram would be MOST helpful!  I ordered from Moto-Bins the Bosch relay their PN 76900 anticipating needed a relay to get the horns to work at their peak.

I'm pretty clumsy when it comes to wiring anything short of installing batteries in a flashlight!  So any directions would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

Jim

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

The points models didn't have the plastic splash guard to worry about, so I never saw it.

But this is how mine looked installed.  Even though each horn has two connections, the mount looked like a grounding point as well, so when I went to paint the metal straps, I taped the ends so they could still conduct electricity if needed.



And while I am selling off my motorcycle, I am keeping these horns and installing them in my Honda Civic!

[nhmaf]

I *just* posted up my complete "how-to" instructions on doing this very thing in the technical FAQ section.  I had this in our wiki section for years, but since the wiki done gone wacky on us, I figured it made sense to have a copy in the FAQ section for others to reference.

Enjoy!

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1342832743

[montmil]

Horn Upgrade - DRAFT NOTES
last edited 21 April 2012

BMW Relay Part # 61.31.373.585
                  12V - 30A with resistor
Alternate Relay - VW/Audi Part #141.951.253B
                  12V - 40A with resistor

   Although a single new horn with a higher decibal rating and power requirement may work without a relay in the system, it probably won’t work for long. The higher current requirements of the FIAMM or other similar horns will ultimately burn up the small contacts in the horn switch. As of this article, that’s $100.00/ list from a dealer for 61.31.1.244.420.

   Disconnect Neagtive (–) battery cable prior to beginning any work on the electrical system of the motorcycle.

   12ga wire, with an inline blade-style fuse, required from battery Positive (+) terminal to relay. FIAMM install instructions recommend 10A fuse with single horn installation. For twin horns, perhaps use 25A. For durability, suggest the weather-proof mini blade-style rather than a glass tube or euro ceramic fuse. NAPA part number 784667 - Mini fuse holder.

Relay Terminals and wire routing:
      30 - 12V direct from battery to relay. Use 14ga wire, nothing smaller.
      87 - Change over contact direct to horn terminal. 16ga wire.
      85 - Extend original wire from horn (Green w/Black tracer) to this terminal. 16 ga wire.
      86 - Extend original wire from horn (Brown w/White tracer) to this terminal. 16 ga wire.
   A new wire is required from horn’s second terminal to ground. Ample grounds available near coil. Professional-grade electrical wiring, like coffee and divorces, begins with good grounds.

Space should be available to mount the horn relay just aft of and adjacent to the existing relays.

   Solder, crimp, solder. Avoid the possiblity of future corrosion and degraded performance. Strip the wire end, twist and pre-solder the wire.  Crimp the terminal in place using proper tools. Solder the crimped connection. Add shrink tubing to include covering the entire fitting on female blade connections. Use dielectric grease during assembly to insure long-term reliability of the junction.

Materials and Supplies:
      One or two horns- Meyle, Fiamm, Freeway Blasters...
      Relay- 12V30A with internal resistor (Resistors in relays supresses voltage spikes)
      Quantity of male and female spade connectors for 14ga & 16ga wire
      Shrink tubing, various diameters
      In-line blade fuse holder and appropriate 20A blade fuse
      Soldering supplies
      Crimping tool
      14ga and 16 ga wire (color to suit application)

Relays reduce the load, heat and wear generated on contacts and switches. Rather than forcing high amperage through a lightly constructed switch, use the existing switch to turn on & off a relay that can handle higher loads. Driving lights, horns, heated seats, hand grips and clothing are a few items that can benefit from the installation of a relay. If all these items were added, you would need to address your charging system capacity as well.


Horn relay installed adjacent others. Number '53" was on the VW/Audi relay I used.




      

      










      

[Dave 2]

65LS Horn
Reply #5 - 07/21/12 at 08:15:53  



Horn Upgrade - DRAFT NOTES
last edited 21 April 2012

BMW Relay Part # 61.31.373.585
                 12V - 30A with resistor
Alternate Relay - VW/Audi Part #141.951.253B
                 12V - 40A with resistor

  Although a single new horn with a higher decibal rating and power requirement may work without a relay in the system, it probably won’t work for long. The higher current requirements of the FIAMM or other similar horns will ultimately burn up the small contacts in the horn switch. As of this article, that’s $100.00/ list from a dealer for 61.31.1.244.420.

  Disconnect Neagtive (–) battery cable prior to beginning any work on the electrical system of the motorcycle.

  12ga wire, with an inline blade-style fuse, required from battery Positive (+) terminal to relay. FIAMM install instructions recommend 10A fuse with single horn installation. For twin horns, perhaps use 25A. For durability, suggest the weather-proof mini blade-style rather than a glass tube or euro ceramic fuse. NAPA part number 784667 - Mini fuse holder.

Relay Terminals and wire routing:
     30 - 12V direct from battery to relay. Use 14ga wire, nothing smaller.
     87 - Change over contact direct to horn terminal. 16ga wire.
     85 - Extend original wire from horn (Green w/Black tracer) to this terminal. 16 ga wire.
     86 - Extend original wire from horn (Brown w/White tracer) to this terminal. 16 ga wire.
  A new wire is required from horn’s second terminal to ground. Ample grounds available near coil. Professional-grade electrical wiring, like coffee and divorces, begins with good grounds.

Space should be available to mount the horn relay just aft of and adjacent to the existing relays.

  Solder, crimp, solder. Avoid the possiblity of future corrosion and degraded performance. Strip the wire end, twist and pre-solder the wire.  Crimp the terminal in place using proper tools. Solder the crimped connection. Add shrink tubing to include covering the entire fitting on female blade connections. Use dielectric grease during assembly to insure long-term reliability of the junction.

Materials and Supplies:
     One or two horns- Meyle, Fiamm, Freeway Blasters...
     Relay- 12V30A with internal resistor (Resistors in relays supresses voltage spikes)
     Quantity of male and female spade connectors for 14ga & 16ga wire
     Shrink tubing, various diameters
     In-line blade fuse holder and appropriate 20A blade fuse
     Soldering supplies
     Crimping tool
     14ga and 16 ga wire (color to suit application)

Relays reduce the load, heat and wear generated on contacts and switches. Rather than forcing high amperage through a lightly constructed switch, use the existing switch to turn on & off a relay that can handle higher loads. Driving lights, horns, heated seats, hand grips and clothing are a few items that can benefit from the installation of a relay. If all these items were added, you would need to address your charging system capacity as well.


Horn relay installed adjacent others. Number '53" was on the VW/Audi relay I used.

Hi, I am in the process of mounting twin Fiam horns. I found this posting from Monte to be very helpful because he details mounting the horns without a aftermarket harness. I think this could be added to the FAQ area to compliment NHMAF's posting on mounting the horns with the harness. Regards, D2