R26 horn placement

[BSA Bob]

My R26 doesn't have a horn fitted but I'm thinking of putting it back on. In its standard position it looks like it may block some airflow to the top of the cylinder head. Is this regarded as a problem? The bike is currently weathering a hot Australian summer.

[BSA Bob]

[Heiko]

No problem. Original position is fine.

[Taz]

Hello Bob,

as Heiko already said this should be fine...they do have some pretty cosy days in Germany during summer as well without R26s reported to fail.

The only option would be if you swap the headlight housing for the R25/3 one like the earliest R26 came with, this one has a dent at the lower back allowing the horn to be mounted to the lower yoke and out of the air stream for the engine...but this might be hard to find in Australia...

All the best, Ute

[strichzwojan]

Aftermarket horns: cheaper, smaller und not so heavy (big difference!)

[BSA Bob]

Thanks for the replies. I've put the horn back in its standard position. I've never really used motorcycle horns as I find screamed obscenities more emotionally satisfying. I originally took the horn off because its connections continually broke due to vibration but I wanted the bike to be legal again.
I didn't know that the first R26s had a recess in the headlight shell for the horn. And if the connections break again I will indeed get a cheapo small horn & use that. I should be able to mount it so there's less vibration.

[Heiko]

The recess was not for fitting the horn... only to ensure the movement of the fork with the horn mounted on the 25/3.

[strichzwojan]

BTW   The mounting of a cheap and small one will brake too someday...

[Fred]

I've never really used motorcycle horns as I find screamed obscenities more emotionally satisfying.

[Herculestom]

I find screamed obscenities more emotionally satisfying

fucking awesome comment.    "satisfying", yes and way more effective than a bloody horn.

[Taz]

The recess was not for fitting the horn... only to ensure the movement of the fork with the horn mounted on the 25/3.

I beg to differ...if the horn (mounted to the lower yoke of the R25/3's fork) would start moving relative to the headlight, this would be a good time to check whether you have paid the insurance premiums and made sure that all of the gods you are believing in are actually on your side (you may disregard any random fluctuations in the space-time-continuum, though)...
The dent is there to give the horn room to be mounted there, and the horn is supposed to stay in place until explicitly told otherwise.

Common understanding in the forum says that BMW sometimes used parts meant for the preceeding or succeeding model, be it for supply issues or stock deemed too excessive to be kept (or any other reason)...
Using the R25/3 headlight housing will require some creative thinking to find a spot where to attach the horn to on an R26, but it will open up space to do so...

[Hans Otté]

"fucking awesome comment:  "satisfying", yes and way more effective than a bloody horn."


Not very shure of the outcome if used on german or europeen traffic lines or routes. A good and loud horn may be somewhat cheeper in the end!! Best choice to you, *****

[4Taktix]

There were horns and there were horns.
The ones that kindly ask: "Excuse me - would you mind letting me pass ?"
and the ones that yell: "Get outta my way !!!" 
Serious: The trick is the spring-steel-blade-package to mount the horn !
(not the mild-steel crap, sold with universal cheapo-horns )
Not only keeping most frame vibrations away from the horn, but also to allow the entire horn to 'swing'.
If the horn is adjusted decent, this allows more loudness, compared to a rigid mount.

[Heiko]

Ja... wenn der Original Hornhalter nicht abgebrochen ist bei R26/27.

Yes, if the original hornbracket on R26/27 is still there.

[Eppo]

To get as loud as possible the horn has to go into resonance.
So not only install them on a swing arm (e.g. spring metall blade), additionally a good horn can be adjusted by screws to reach this working point where it gets into resonance.
And of course a good power supply

[BSA Bob]

The horn on my bike is some sort of replica made for older BMWs & looks OK when mounted. It has a spring steel mounting plate on the original R26 frame bracket. It's a "Hello, I'm here..." sort of tone. But the fractures in the wiring always occur at the soldered joint between the wire & the connecting tab & I wonder whether the spring steel's vibrations cause this.

And it was a fair bastard of a job to get the horn back on without taking the tank completely off.

[4Taktix]

try just crimping the joint, no solder ! ( prone to vibration-breakage )
additional shrink-tube to reinforce is also a good idea.