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Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 8:56am
by sloop
Many moons ago I read a review for a small air horn for use on bikes. This consisted of a small CO2 cartridge, the attachment to make the sound and a small u-shaped trigger to activate it. The great thing was it fitted inside the end of a straight mtb-type handlebar in place of the end plug, with just the trigger showing. Very neat, but- I've never seen anything remotely like it since!
Does anyone know of anything similar?

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 8:59am
by Alex L

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 9:16am
by thirdcrank
I bought something similar in a moment of poor judgment in the mid-1980s. Mine was a tad larger than what you are talking about. Apart from any other considerations, the whole point of a horn-type horn is that the horn acts as an amplifier, so a tiny horn isn't much good. I tested it by sounding it behind an unsuspecting colleague and he said it sounded as though my brakes were screeching a bit. This wasn't particularly cheap; I can't remember when I bought it but I don't think it was a bike shop.

PS Mine was broadly similar to what you are talking about, not a pump-up jobbie.

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 9:23am
by [XAP]Bob
I use an air zound - but the horn is a decent size - nothing that would fit in a bar end...

I'd like a remote trigger for it though, I either catch the trigger on my thigh, or it restricts my turning circle by catching on the mudguard.

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 9:29am
by gentlegreen
I'm planning to turn my AirZound into a raspberry - once I've found a way to extend the reservoir hose so I can hide it.

I've decided to put my Fiamm car horn back on as it's much more amusing when used against cars.

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 9:40am
by Mick F
I like the idea of the OP's small CO2 horn..

I'm sick and tired of pedestrians "hearing" my bell and not even reacting! One even said, "I wondered what that tinkling sound was!" This also happens when I'm on Barbarella, and she has a Chinese Bell - the sort that rotates and sounds like a fire engine bell!

Anyone remember that YouTube video of the Japanese chap with a bell in his hand? Everyone moved to one side, even in department stores and on escalators! People in UK have forgotten that a bicycle bell is a warning of approach.

So the idea of a small CO2 powered horn - even though it may not be deafening - has merit IMHO. The Air Zound is too big and takes up precious water bottle space.

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 11:24am
by [XAP]Bob
Mick F wrote:I like the idea of the OP's small CO2 horn..

I'm sick and tired of pedestrians "hearing" my bell and not even reacting! One even said, "I wondered what that tinkling sound was!" This also happens when I'm on Barbarella, and she has a Chinese Bell - the sort that rotates and sounds like a fire engine bell!

Anyone remember that YouTube video of the Japanese chap with a bell in his hand? Everyone moved to one side, even in department stores and on escalators! People in UK have forgotten that a bicycle bell is a warning of approach.

So the idea of a small CO2 powered horn - even though it may not be deafening - has merit IMHO. The Air Zound is too big and takes up precious water bottle space.


The AZ horn itself is a bit larger than I would like, but that's only because of it's location on the bars.
The bottle can be put anywhere with velcro - mine is behind my seat...

I also like the fact that it is rechargeable, if the small containers were rechargeable then maybe....

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 3:08pm
by Ribblehead
gentlegreen wrote:I've decided to put my Fiamm car horn back on as it's much more amusing when used against cars.


I have a set of lights that runs off a 12V battery, and you've just given me an excellent idea!

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 3:25pm
by gentlegreen
Ribblehead wrote:
gentlegreen wrote:I've decided to put my Fiamm car horn back on as it's much more amusing when used against cars.


I have a set of lights that runs off a 12V battery, and you've just given me an excellent idea!


I've repeated this story several times, but I was once filtering past a long queue of cars and my dodgy push button shorted.
While I was stopped, madly trying to yank the wires off the horn, the driver adjacent to me got out and started remonstrating with the car behind - he just wouldn't believe the noise was coming from the knackered old 10 speed adjacent to him. :mrgreen:

It's always a dilemma whether to put the horn on the back to answer back an impatient beeper, or on the front for when they've scraped past you ...

It was always a source of amusement for my girlfriend's daughter when her friends came to call. :mrgreen:

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 3:39pm
by Ribblehead
gentlegreen wrote:It's always a dilemma whether to put the horn on the back to answer back an impatient beeper, or on the front for when they've scraped past you ...


I'm not commuting by bike at the moment, but if I was it would have to be front-mounted.

1. I don't get that many rearward beepers
2. It's mainly people passing too close, and people pulling out in front of me

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 3:40pm
by gentlegreen
Ribblehead wrote:
gentlegreen wrote:It's always a dilemma whether to put the horn on the back to answer back an impatient beeper, or on the front for when they've scraped past you ...


I'm not commuting by bike at the moment, but if I was it would have to be front-mounted.

1. I don't get that many rearward beepers
2. It's mainly people passing too close, and people pulling out in front of me


And of course you might accidentally deafen a following or adjacent cyclist or pedestrian you hadn't seen ...

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 4:04pm
by Ribblehead
gentlegreen wrote:And of course you might accidentally deafen a following or adjacent cyclist or pedestrian you hadn't seen ...


I've already got a rear-mounted gunge-cannon to deal with any cyclist who trys to slipstream me :mrgreen:

Re: Air horns

Posted: 18 Nov 2011, 9:18pm
by byegad
Air Zound is loud!!! You can mount the control under your thumb and the reservoir is velcro mounted almost anywhere. I've woken up sleeping drivers as they tried to turn across my path.

Re: Air horns

Posted: 19 Nov 2011, 4:35pm
by WaitForPete
I used to have one but the police took it off me.

Re: Air horns

Posted: 19 Nov 2011, 4:42pm
by rjb
I had a thought today while out on the bike - you could always modify a personal attack alarm, the ones that run off a couple of AA's or a PP3. They were popular for joggers a few years ago but i haven't seen one for a while. You could replace the pull cord with a push switch to operate it. They were not too large so could easily be strapped to your bars with a couple of elastic bands. :wink: