Horn upgrade

[Charlie-brm]

Sorry for the misunderstanding.  No, what I meant was... if you put yourself in a position where you need to use your horn, to let cagers know you are there, then you are not riding defensively.  I don't mean to turn this into a riding tutorial; far better riders than I can help you with that.  But basically, don't ride in a cager's blind spot.  Use the inherent strengths of the bike (acceleration, braking, turning) to stay out of harm's way.  Relying on a horn to do that will only lead, someday, to disappointment.   No worries...   
Bill

I think I appreciate where you are coming from. Just yesterday I was considering the very few instances when I could have applied the horn. Mostly it's a tool to express "disatisfaction" after the fact or to claim lane space, which on a motorcycle is a dumb idea. When I am really in peril, reaching for the horn button is about the last thing on my mind. That goes for driving any vehicle. Kinda busy avoiding being killed, you know?

I've had two cars taken out by oncoming cars in my lane. Both drunks. One got away while I evaded and totaled my car (his T-bird against my Corolla - no contest) The other was a 1978 Mercury Marquis against my Toyota Tercel. I've driven a 70's Mercury Marquis. Definitely no contest!! He ripped down my left side bodywork. That driver got arrested on the spot for impaired. That was a nice consolation. Neither of these winners would have responded to a horn in their state.

I had air horns on my hatchback way back when, but I removed them. When they are too loud, I noticed pedestrians freeze where they are instead of moving. Even if they are in the middle of the road. Not the response I am after.
The FJ is getting a new "nautilus shell" style horn but that's about it.