A case of rider's intuition and an Airhorn tribute

[flyingzonker]

Riding this morning east on a busy 6 lane interurban roadway--huge shopping plazas up and down for miles. Speed limit 40 mph. I am in the outside row. A big delivery truck is ahead of me in the middle. I run to escape his blind spot. I am coming level with his cab and getting ready to pass when I sense that, even though there is no one directly ahead of the truck, there might suddenly appear a car coming from the inside that wants to cross over the truck's lane and get into mine so it can be in position to enter a mall.

AND SURE ENOUGH, a woman in a late model tan coupe swings across the center lane and starts to slice into the space I am just preparing to inhabit. I immediately swerve into a service lane that feeds one of the malls, at the same time sounding a long blast of my most wonderful Stebel Nautilus airhorn. The woman wobbles, shifts abruptly back into the center aisle lifting her right hand as she does in a gesture that seems to indicate confession and contrition all in one.

I think I would have been in deep doo doo if I hadn't somehow smelled that rat coming before it came into sight and chewed me down.

[Bash On!]

Good application of intuition/experience. Around here, a loud horn merely makes them pause for a fraction of a second. Then they keep coming. Every little bit of time helps, though!

[kramnala58]

Good defensive driving on your part. Anticipate what might happen and expect the worst. Anything less is a benefit.

[Mel46]

It is a good thing to have, and listen to, that intuition that keeps us alive. Too many people are in too much of a hurry.
A couple of days ago we were driving in the center lane and a car came up fast on our left, crossed in front of us to the right lane and the exit, and turned into the shopping center. All of this was in heavy traffic doing 45 mph. That car was doing at least 50 mph. All that just to get to the mall a minute earlier?? Imagine what would have happened if a bike had been in that outside lane when they cut across traffic like that to get into the mall! You have to depend on intuition a lot when you are out riding, otherwise you might become the victim of someone in too much of a hurry.

[flyingzonker]

It is a good thing to have, and listen to, that intuition that keeps us alive. Too many people are in too much of a hurry.
A couple of days ago we were driving in the center lane and a car came up fast on our left, crossed in front of us to the right lane and the exit, and turned into the shopping center. All of this was in heavy traffic doing 45 mph. That car was doing at least 50 mph. All that just to get to the mall a minute earlier?? Imagine what would have happened if a bike had been in that outside lane when they cut across traffic like that to get into the mall! You have to depend on intuition a lot when you are out riding, otherwise you might become the victim of someone in too much of a hurry.

You are describing the exact situation in my post, from the point of view of the delivery truck I was preparing to pass. If I had sailed past that truck I think I would have gotten smashed. As it was I lived to strike back--I nailed her with a slug of sound.

[Sandymay]

Riding this morning east on a busy 6 lane interurban roadway--huge shopping plazas up and down for miles. Speed limit 40 mph. I am in the outside row. A big delivery truck is ahead of me in the middle. I run to escape his blind spot. I am coming level with his cab and getting ready to pass when I sense that, even though there is no one directly ahead of the truck, there might suddenly appear a car coming from the inside that wants to cross over the truck's lane and get into mine so it can be in position to enter a mall.

Glad to hear you are ok. Thanks for sharing your experience. it's a good lesson for everyone to listen to their intuition.

[flyingzonker]

Riding this morning east on a busy 6 lane interurban roadway--huge shopping plazas up and down for miles. Speed limit 40 mph. I am in the outside row. A big delivery truck is ahead of me in the middle. I run to escape his blind spot. I am coming level with his cab and getting ready to pass when I sense that, even though there is no one directly ahead of the truck, there might suddenly appear a car coming from the inside that wants to cross over the truck's lane and get into mine so it can be in position to enter a mall.

Glad to hear you are ok. Thanks for sharing your experience. it's a good lesson for everyone to listen to their intuition.

Indeed!

[Rick54]

I love the horn. I looked it up on YouTube and thought it was great. So can you give us some of the particulars around the horn? What kind of bike have you mounted it on? How easy was the installation? Any advice? Where purchased?
Thank you!

[WhiteNoise]

Brighteyes! Good Save Fly! You were aware and your senses were keen! Cheers peep - keep on tootin!

I will take this moment to toss in another Loud aftermarket horn. This one called SCREAMING BANSHEE.
A handfull or so years back, Peter Olt started his Screaming Banshee business through Kickstarter.com (a cool place to kick start your inventions into the real world). I was one of the first to jump in, donate and back his product. You get a good deal owning one that way > Discount!
Peter and I actually conversed several times through emails about his New product. He's a really nice guy with a passion. He resides in Tampa, Florida for those that are wondering.
Long story short, I have one of his first edition screaming banshee's. No, Not installed yet. I know...you ask Why? Because I misplaced it and it's been driving me crazy trying to find it! Sigh.
Not like me!!

Moving along...if interested, here's his new and improved Screaming Banshee website where you'll find several of his useful and well made products.
Warning: Hold your ears then press the video go button

He also has a LED Strobe Light Bar, that you might consider integrating with the horn (as seen in his video) Have a look and Be safe, always

https://screaming-banshee.com

[Bash On!]

Darn horn button. Was riding the PCX after riding the Silverwing most of the time. Lady in a van swerved into my lane with no signal. Hit the horn button and got .....the turn signal button.

Why did Honda have to go and switch the button placement between bikes?

Anyway, as mentioned above, when I did find the horn button it didn't even slow her progress into my lane.

[Mel46]

For those who would like to install an air horn here are some helpful tips:
1. The air horn needs a relay in order to work. The power that goes to the original horn on your bike does not produce enough current. Use the connection wires to the original horn to run the relay instead and hook the main air horn hot wire directly to the battery.
2. Consider keeping the original horn connected as you connect the air horn. The air horn takes a second or two to spin up so you want to have something during that time.
3. Put the air horn where it will be heard the most. Under the seat is not a good place. I installed mine under the console cover, but there is plenty of room within the front side panels, though you have to take the bike apart to get to them.

[WhiteNoise]

Good to know! Thank you much Mel. Tips are blessing's from the experienced

[GlassMan]

Any advice as to how mount my DISITEGRATER BEAM !!!!! LOL!!

[fish]

Think i would have backed out of the trucks blind spot...because as it turns out...you were both driving with blind areas at that point.
Fish