Electric horns/bells
 

I've been doing some research on electric horns/bells for my commuter bike. I'd like to find something that sounds more like a scooter or even a car horn (not as loud, just a similar type of sound) that the traditional bicycle bell.

I've found that most of the horns sold on eBay are shipped from China or Korea (I guess their bicycle market is much larger than in other countries, so they produce more gadgets for it).

At any rate, I was thinking that with the so many chinese stores in Toronto (in Chinatown I and Chinatown II), there has to be someone importing those things. If you have seen any electric bicycle horns/bells around Toronto, I'd appreciate the information.

These are the types of horns/bells I've been looking at:

Thunder Horn 1st generation:
http://gadget.brando.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00451

Thunder Horn 1st generation video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLRpMNRC_VY

Thunder Horn 2nd generation:
http://gadget.brando.com/thunder-hor...3c049d001.html

Avenir L-05 Bike Horn:
http://gadget.brando.com/high-pitch-...9c049d001.html

Megalert Megahorn:
http://www.industrialbicycles.com/megahorn.htm

8 Sound Thunder:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Sound-Thun...-/270824918129

Cyber 8 Sound Thunder:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Cyber-8-...-/260836017788

Bicycle Horn:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=250885362649

BH194 Eight Sound Electric Horn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJWUk49fj60

Bike directional lights and horn:
http://gadget.brando.com/bike-direct...7c049d001.html

Another directional light and horn:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-in-1-...g-signals-3631

Siren horn (probably not legal, but fun):
http://gadget.brando.com/the-6-led-l...2c049d001.html

Electronic Siren:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320804945679

AirZound (compressed air):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYkBHGurj-I

Qbell (this one looks particularly appealing):
http://kjglobal.co.uk/acatalog/Electric_soundbell.html

Qbell video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxdXMdOd-T0

Any information on where to get these in or around Toronto will be greatly appreciated.

Why do you want electric?

http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ducts_id=11334

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...classNum=50497

I want something that does not sound like a bike (e.g., a ding-dong bell), or an emergency alarm (e.g., the AirZound), and that gets over the noise of city traffic. A car horn is designed for that, and a driver would react to a car horn-like sound in a more defensive way (e.g., by stopping, not changing lanes, not opening the door abruptly) than if he/she would hear a ding-dong or a compressed air noise (which could be anything, not necessarily a large-enough vehicle approaching).

I`m running one of those AirZounds myself and its fairly effective when riding in downtown traffic. I`m in Montreal and most of the bike stores here carry them. I`d expect the same in Toronto - no? It sounds really load in an enclosed space (like inside a bike store), but its much like a small car hor in the street. I like!

The others I have no idea. I have heard battery driven personal alarms and they`re 110 db (the legal limit I think) but are pretty shrill. What are these other things like?

I haven't seen the AirZound in Toronto, or any other horns beyond the regular bicycle horns. I only found an incomplete (i.e., with parts missing) horn like number 8 on my list, but it sounded like a door buzzer. For traffic you'd need something that is high pitched. By the way, I found that one in the Annex Surplus store near Chinatown (on Queen and Spadina), so I was thinking there has to be a Chinese bicycle store somewhere that is importing more of these things. Pacific Mall maybe (in Chinatown II)?

I have only seen videos demonstrating the others. They range from door buzzer sound to cell phone sound. The Q-Bell had a tone similar to a car horn, but they don't seem to be manufacturing that one anymore. One of the siren models has the horn that emergency vehicles have, but from the video it seems to cycle through the different types of sirens, the horn being one of them, so you couldn't just have the horn as your default sound.

There should be a fairly important market of city commuters out there that could use a horn like that. Maybe one of these days we'll see one in Dragon's Den.

How do you like the AirZound, by the way? Is it too bulky to carry around? And how often do you have to refill it?

Stop wasting your time and get the AirZound. If you want to get attention, who cares what sound it makes! The Airzound gets the job done. You can get them for $20 at MEC. You need to refill it depending on how often you need to use it. But typically good for 20-30 blasts. I don't take it with me when I lock up (knock on wood). It looks like a pop bottle, so not really a target unless they know what it is. You know it's working when people complain that it's too loud.
I use the AirZound only when I want to get attention from inattentive drivers. I still keep a bell for friendly announcements.

Another device to add to the list on the original post:

The Hornit
http://www.thehornit.com