Wolo Bad Boy Horn (vs Stebel)

Edwub · Post by **Edwub** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:34 pm

It's currently on sale, with free shipping, for $35 from Amazon.

I've read that it's basically the exact same as Stebel's Nautilus Compact. Just cheaper. Especially now that Stebel went under and supplies will start to dwindle.

Reading reviews, it does come with a relay (even though it's not mentioned in the description) but I'm guessing you'd need an extra pair of wires/connectors in order to use it.

If anyone is looking for a horn upgrade, this might be a good time to go for it.

edit: found this on Amazon too

"The Deluxe Wiring Kit for Stebel Nautilus Compact Air Horns contains: - 3 Feet of Red Primary Wire, 14 Ga. - 2 Feet of Black Primary Wire, 14 Ga. - 6 Feet (2 pcs. x 3') of White Primary Wire, 18 Ga. - 2 Bullet Connectors 18 Ga. 0.156 (5/32") Red (Pink) Male - 2 Bullet Connectors 18 Ga. 0.156 (5/32") Red (Pink) Female - 2 Insulated Push-on Blade Terminals, 18 Ga. .250 Red (Pink) - 4 Insulated Push-on Blade Terminals, 14 Ga. .250 Blue (Turquoise) - 1 Spade Terminal, with Brass Sleeve, 14 Ga., (#10) Blue (Turquoise) - 1 Ring Terminal, with Brass Sleeve, 14 Ga., (3/8") Blue (Turquoise) - 1 ea. Heavy Duty Inline Fuse Holder, 20 Amp 3AG Fuse (Included) - Wiring Instructions"

I suppose that would work the same for both horns - probably comes with more than you need though. At $10, it saves you a trip to the hardware store? Do we actually need all that stuff?

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:24 pm

Sweet! I might just do that for my Kymco. After having a loud horn on Yoda, the stock kymco horn just doesn't cut it.

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:30 pm

I've also heard they're similar but have never heard a real-world comparison.

The wiring kit is more than you need, though might just make connecting easier. I thought you needed to add a relay for the horn, but maybe the 20A fuse is all you need.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:41 pm

Hmm. That sounds a lot more authorative than the wimpy TM80 that came on my Buddy 125. Has anyone done a real life comparison between the two?

spr0k3t · Post by **spr0k3t** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:14 pm

The difference is negligible. You can sit both horns side by side... at 10M you will be able to detect a tone difference but there is a very slight volume difference which the human ear will be very hard to discern. I believe the difference is 132db vs 139db when tested at 1W for 1M on a Thermtec certified microphone. The Wolo is almost as loud as the Stebel, and both are much louder than most stock horns which usually ring in anywhere between 98db to 112db.

I've had both side by side... the Stebel sounds stronger... but when it comes to dealing with cagers and oblivious pedestrians, they won't know the difference.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:40 pm

Thanks spr0k3t. So the wolo should be much louder than my TM80. I wonder if it's easier to install than the Nautilus. I heard the Nautilus is a pain in the arse to install.

spr0k3t · Post by **spr0k3t** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:47 am

Installation would be identical to the Stebel. You can wire it up directly to the existing wires, but you would fry your horn button eventually. There's a great install guide for buddys on this forum somewhere. You need a good solid 12V feed coming directly off the battery for the horn to put out enough oomph. I used 12 gauge wire for my positive lead and 14 gauge for the ground. The end result, the Stebel on the RH50 sounds louder than the Internationals.

SuperFlyBuddy · Post by **SuperFlyBuddy** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:23 am

Like spr0k3t said if you're going to install any type of air horn (which will have a compressor) you really need to install a relay with a +12v lead directly from the battery (with a fuse). Use the original horn +12v to close the relay when you hit the button.

For those that don't want to wait for shipping check your local Harbor Freight. I got a Harbor Freight flyer in the mail a couple days ago and they show the Bad Boy on sale for $34.99. Online they're showing $37.99.

http://www.harborfreight.com/bad-boy-ai ... 94117.html