Denali Soundbomb

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I fitted a Denali Soundbomb mini to the Bobber. Then hated the look of it and took it off and bunged it on my Honda CBF workhorse. That's the bike I ride more often and it's quieter so I'm not bothered how it looks.

However I came across something I wasn't expecting. Denali say it is a plug and play replacement for the standard horn. No relay needed, just connect the usual wires.

When installed the horn doesn't work unless the engine is running. With just the ignition on all you get is a clunk and the lights on the bike dim noticeably. So it seems to need a fair bit of current to operate.

I don't understand why this is the case, it says it needs 5amps, I'd have thought a fully charged battery would provide that. Both bike have CTEK chargers connected so the batteries are fully charged.

I have read of other people finding the same issue. Which make me wonder whether it is really a direct replacement or if a relay would be better?

[Gerontious]

that horn is the general go to direct replacement. ive never heard a problem with it such as you describe.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

that horn is the general go to direct replacement. ive never heard a problem with it such as you describe.

 

Neither had I until I'd fitted it. Then I found quite a few people saying the same thing. So it's not just this unit.

[Bender]

Stick it on a relay.

[Snod Blatter]

Clean the contacts in the switchgear? High resistance, low voltage, click..?

[S-Westerly]

I fitted one to my bike and it was literally plug and play. Works just like the OEM, is no more visible but makes a considerably louder noise. The OEM was particularly feeble.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Stick it on a relay.

 

Very true but the point of this one is that it's not meant to need a relay. If I fit a relay I might as well go for the louder model.

It's a deeper note than the original but it's certainly no louder.

[raesewell]

Is it the Soundbomb or the Soundbomb Mini

The soundbomb comes supplied with a relay and draws 20 amps. The soundbomb Mini does not come with a realy and draws 5 amps. So if it is not supplied with a relay they must feel it doesn't need one. There could be a problem elsewhere.

I have a Split Soundbomb and it's 'kin loud.

[Bender]

Stick it on a relay.

 

Very true but the point of this one is that it's not meant to need a relay. If I fit a relay I might as well go for the louder model.

It's a deeper note than the original but it's certainly no louder.

 

I get its not supposed to but if your original works fine then it's drawing a lot less than 5amps and probably the circuit is not rated for 5amps so your easiest option is a relay triggered by the pathetic original feed to your horn.

If you have found folks with similar issues that is telling you your not the only one.

[Tankbag]

I'd also stick it on a relay I have a denali sound bomb & a Stebel Nautilus powered from a relay ( I try to remember to warn the mot tester ) to quote Rommel " If you're going to puke, puke don't dribble "

[MikeHorton]

Resurrecting this threat as I'm looking to change the horn on my Africa Twin as the meep it makes is not great. I've not had the bike long and until people started going back to work and the school run etc I've noticed I've needed to use it more and doesn't give a lot of presence.  Looking for a direct plug in replacement and looked at the Denali soundbomb mini. With some of you posting last year about this a year later what are your thoughts is it good or are there any other possible choices of the standard fit type. 

[Stu]

19 minutes ago, MikeHorton said:

Resurrecting this threat as I'm looking to change the horn on my Africa Twin as the meep it makes is not great. I've not had the bike long and until people started going back to work and the school run etc I've noticed I've needed to use it more and doesn't give a lot of presence.  Looking for a direct plug in replacement and looked at the Denali soundbomb mini. With some of you posting last year about this a year later what are your thoughts is it good or are there any other possible choices of the standard fit type. 

 

If your bike is all can bus then its not always a simple plug and play 

 

Well not cheaply anyway 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

28 minutes ago, MikeHorton said:

Resurrecting this threat as I'm looking to change the horn on my Africa Twin as the meep it makes is not great. I've not had the bike long and until people started going back to work and the school run etc I've noticed I've needed to use it more and doesn't give a lot of presence.  Looking for a direct plug in replacement and looked at the Denali soundbomb mini. With some of you posting last year about this a year later what are your thoughts is it good or are there any other possible choices of the standard fit type. 

I've had it on the Honda for a while now and interestingly it now seems to work better - no louder, just operates as it should which it didn't from new. My guess is that it needed to break in a bit, maybe something was a bit stiff from the factory and it took a while to bed in. Which is maybe why some work and some don't.

 

It does give a deeper tone than the oem horn which seems to get more attention from drivers.

[MikeHorton]

47 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

If your bike is all can bus then its not always a simple plug and play 

 

Well not cheaply anyway 

I may well leave it then I thought the sound bomb mini was a straight swap I'll explore some other options in that case cheers

[MikeHorton]

39 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I've had it on the Honda for a while now and interestingly it now seems to work better - no louder, just operates as it should which it didn't from new. My guess is that it needed to break in a bit, maybe something was a bit stiff from the factory and it took a while to bed in. Which is maybe why some work and some don't.

 

It does give a deeper tone than the oem horn which seems to get more attention from drivers.

Thanks for the update, I'll most likely shelve this idea tho based on what Stu has said and wait until my next service next year and speak with the dealer and see what the best option is.

Edited October 1, 2021 by MikeHorton
Typo

[Stu]

7 minutes ago, MikeHorton said:

I may well leave it then I thought the sound bomb mini was a straight swap I'll explore some other options in that case cheers

 

I can't say whether it is or not but just from seeing people fit them to the BMW's they have had to use all sorts of gizmos which aren't cheap. 

 

Bear in mind this is on canbus systems yours might not be 

[MikeHorton]

16 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

I can't say whether it is or not but just from seeing people fit them to the BMW's they have had to use all sorts of gizmos which aren't cheap. 

 

Bear in mind this is on canbus systems yours might not be 

I see, I've took a look and I don't think Honda do. I know if you have a BMW there is some conversion kit as I think there is only one wire to the horn as well but I may be wrong on that one.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

If you have the standard two wires to the horn I'd have thought it ought to work.

 

 

[Bender]

Even with canbus you should get away with keeping original horn, piggyback the relay switch feed from that and run a fused main to the relay straight from battery, the small extra current to switch relay shouldn't cause any issues.

[Gerontious]

They should ban horns..  they only seem to get used in a retaliatory fashion rather than as intended.

Obviously. the louder you can shout "TWAT"  the better... helps you calm down after a near miss you completely missed.

 

They ruin otherwise highly entertaining 'fail' youtube videos too..

 

try standing up and wiggling your brown stained pants at them... that'll do it. 

 

.

Edited October 1, 2021 by Gerontious

[Pie man]

Pretty easy. I managed to install the Denali Sound bomb on my 2005 1200GS. I also installed a PC8, you just need to know which wire isn't effected by the canbus (and there is one you know) bear in mind it was a 2005. I know it isn't cheap but maybe try looking at the Hex exCan or Denali cansmart. Or buy my PC8   

[Stu]

@MikeHorton reading this it looks like you have it easy 

 

https://www.africatwinforum.com/threads/denali-soundbomb-mini.32559/ 

 

says its plug and play  

[fullscreenaging]

I have one on my bike. It said plug and play but it wasn’t. The fuse wasn’t big enough on the original wires and it blew the fuse the first time I tested it after installation. I bought a loom from eBay with a 30 amp fuse that runs off the battery and plugs to the original wires. All sorted now. 

[MikeHorton]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

@MikeHorton reading this it looks like you have it easy 

 

https://www.africatwinforum.com/threads/denali-soundbomb-mini.32559/ 

 

says its plug and play  

I'll give it a go next month and report back

[S-Westerly]

On my Multistrada it was a totally straightforward plug and play. Worked from the off and is a significant improvement on the original which was a very feeble peep.