Hornit DB140 V3

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We've reviewed the Hornit DB140 before, but it now comes with a Garmin-style mount. As Shaun found back in 2015, the horn itself is very loud and noticeable – too loud, really, for cycle paths and pedestrian-heavy areas, even on the quieter setting, though it makes sense for use in heavy traffic. Is it one of the best bike bells you can buy? No, or at least not for all circumstances, though I do like the new mount.

You get two sizes of the mount, to accommodate the vast majority of bar diameters – one for diameters of 22-26mm, with four differently sized spacers, and another for 31.8mm diameters.
2022 Hornit DB140 - mount.jpg

If you have more than one bike, with different diameter bars, you can use both mounts to swap the Hornit between them easily. And if you use a Garmin you can also, of course, use your existing mount for the Hornit, if you don't need to use both at the same time – when commuting in heavy traffic rather than out on a training ride for a few hours, perhaps.

The unit itself is powered by two AAA batteries, and is very light. Build quality isn't bad, and the screw-in battery compartment does make it waterproof enough for all but genuinely underwater use (bog snorkellers take heed).

It uses a separate trigger unit, which means the horn itself can't be accidentally operated in the process of fitting or moving the bike about, which is handy given the volume!
2022 Hornit DB140 - remote.jpg

It takes up very little space on the bar, and the trigger unit is easily positioned to allow for quick deployment, while braking if necessary.
LOUD!

As with the previous model, at 140 decibels the Hornit is claimed to be the loudest cycle horn in the world, and it's certainly louder than the average car horn (between 110 and 115db, apparently).
2022 Hornit DB140 - boxed.jpg

You get two volume settings, selected with a button on the rear of the horn unit: the maximum volume 'road' mode, which delivers a piercing sound similar to a smoke alarm, or a quieter, lower pitched 121db that more closely resembles a car horn. The quieter option is designed for use on cycle paths and where more pedestrians are likely.
2022 Hornit DB140 - 1.jpg

There's no denying this is a loud horn. It's audible from both inside and outside motor vehicles, so it's useful for announcing your presence in urban traffic. However, as Shaun reckoned and I'd agree, it's so loud and piercing a sound that it could potentially aggravate drivers, or even confuse them.

Even the quieter setting is incredibly loud – too loud, I'd say, for use in pedestrian-dense situations, and still significantly louder (121db) than others, such as the Spurcycle, which can achieve up to about 100 decibels.

In fact I found both settings uncomfortable to hear, as pilot. The packaging does state that 'prolonged or reckless use may cause permanent hearing damage'.
1 / 7
2022 Hornit DB140 - side.jpg

It was effective at penetrating headphones, though – but it also frequently caused pedestrians to jump.

Part of the issue, I think, for both drivers and pedestrians, is that the sound is alien, and it startles. Arguably that makes it more noticeable, but it also adds to confusion. There's no denying it achieves its aim of broadcasting your presence, but for all but the most traffic-heavy environments, it's uncomfortably loud.
Value and conclusion

At £29.99 it's quite well priced, particularly given that a single set of batteries should last around a year with 'normal' levels of use (which Hornit describes as six one-second blasts a day).

High-end super-loud bells can cost quite a lot more, such as the Spurcycle (link is external) I mentioned above, which costs £44.99, although they arguably also look a lot more attractive than the Hornit.
2022 Hornit DB140 - front.jpg

If you're not so bothered about the looks, though, and you ride a lot in dense urban traffic, the Hornit DB140 is decent value and worth considering.
Verdict

Well designed and effective, and incredibly loud, but possibly too loud for use on cycle paths and confusing for drivers

https://road.cc/content/review/hornit-db140-v3-297107

[Spike]

Post by ***@gmail.com
We've reviewed the Hornit DB140 before, but it now comes with a
Garmin-style mount. As Shaun found back in 2015, the horn itself is very
loud and noticeable – too loud, really, for cycle paths and
pedestrian-heavy areas, even on the quieter setting, though it makes
sense for use in heavy traffic. Is it one of the best bike bells you can
buy? No, or at least not for all circumstances, though I do like the new mount.
You get two sizes of the mount, to accommodate the vast majority of bar
diameters – one for diameters of 22-26mm, with four differently sized
spacers, and another for 31.8mm diameters.
2022 Hornit DB140 - mount.jpg
If you have more than one bike, with different diameter bars, you can use
both mounts to swap the Hornit between them easily. And if you use a
Garmin you can also, of course, use your existing mount for the Hornit,
if you don't need to use both at the same time – when commuting in heavy
traffic rather than out on a training ride for a few hours, perhaps.
The unit itself is powered by two AAA batteries, and is very light. Build
quality isn't bad, and the screw-in battery compartment does make it
waterproof enough for all but genuinely underwater use (bog snorkellers take heed).
It uses a separate trigger unit, which means the horn itself can't be
accidentally operated in the process of fitting or moving the bike about,
which is handy given the volume!
2022 Hornit DB140 - remote.jpg
It takes up very little space on the bar, and the trigger unit is easily
positioned to allow for quick deployment, while braking if necessary.
LOUD!
As with the previous model, at 140 decibels the Hornit is claimed to be
the loudest cycle horn in the world, and it's certainly louder than the
average car horn (between 110 and 115db, apparently).
2022 Hornit DB140 - boxed.jpg
You get two volume settings, selected with a button on the rear of the
horn unit: the maximum volume 'road' mode, which delivers a piercing
sound similar to a smoke alarm, or a quieter, lower pitched 121db that
more closely resembles a car horn. The quieter option is designed for use
on cycle paths and where more pedestrians are likely.
2022 Hornit DB140 - 1.jpg
There's no denying this is a loud horn. It's audible from both inside and
outside motor vehicles, so it's useful for announcing your presence in
urban traffic. However, as Shaun reckoned and I'd agree, it's so loud and
piercing a sound that it could potentially aggravate drivers, or even confuse them.
Even the quieter setting is incredibly loud – too loud, I'd say, for use in
pedestrian-dense situations, and still significantly louder (121db) than
others, such as the Spurcycle, which can achieve up to about 100 decibels.
In fact I found both settings uncomfortable to hear, as pilot. The
packaging does state that 'prolonged or reckless use may cause permanent hearing damage'.
1 / 7
2022 Hornit DB140 - side.jpg
It was effective at penetrating headphones, though – but it also
frequently caused pedestrians to jump.
Part of the issue, I think, for both drivers and pedestrians, is that the
sound is alien, and it startles. Arguably that makes it more noticeable,
but it also adds to confusion. There's no denying it achieves its aim of
broadcasting your presence, but for all but the most traffic-heavy
environments, it's uncomfortably loud.
Value and conclusion
At £29.99 it's quite well priced, particularly given that a single set of
batteries should last around a year with 'normal' levels of use (which
Hornit describes as six one-second blasts a day).
High-end super-loud bells can cost quite a lot more, such as the
Spurcycle (link is external) I mentioned above, which costs £44.99,
although they arguably also look a lot more attractive than the Hornit.
2022 Hornit DB140 - front.jpg
If you're not so bothered about the looks, though, and you ride a lot in
dense urban traffic, the Hornit DB140 is decent value and worth considering.
Verdict
Well designed and effective, and incredibly loud, but possibly too loud
for use on cycle paths and confusing for drivers
https://road.cc/content/review/hornit-db140-v3-297107

[[e-mail]]

I'm not in a busy city (Midlands town of 50k), and sleepy /distracted drivers still exist there - and the priority is to perhaps the need to cut through the radio, the mobile phone, the argumentative co-passenger, the tiredness or the screaming kids.

Or indeed the lorry driver that has not looked in the mirror.

It is a collection of isolated incidients that hurt multiple people on bikes, and driver education or reduced conflict (when we separated get infra in 2378) or whatever may reduce the risk but does not eliminate it.

And so tactical answers are still necessary. One of which is the Hornit.

[JNugent]

Post by ***@gmail.com
I'm not in a busy city (Midlands town of 50k), and sleepy /distracted drivers still exist there - and the priority is to perhaps the need to cut through the radio, the mobile phone, the argumentative co-passenger, the tiredness or the screaming kids.
Or indeed the lorry driver that has not looked in the mirror.
It is a collection of isolated incidients that hurt multiple people on bikes, and driver education or reduced conflict (when we separated get infra in 2378) or whatever may reduce the risk but does not eliminate it.
And so tactical answers are still necessary. One of which is the Hornit.

Is the idea that contestants rearrange the words so as to make sense?

[Simon Mason]

I had a NightSun horn, very loud, but incredibly skreechy, and did not make divers aware of me as the strange noise didn't register with them that it was a vehicle that was making the noise.

Then I got myself an airzound 2, very car hornish, much more on the errant drivers wavelength. Fitted on my Good Bike, the Getting to Work Bike had no room on the handlebar. Shame, as more useful.

Replaced when broke, but unfortunately it takes up a water bottle space and so used it less. Tried to fit the spare fitment to the new Ultimate Commuter, but it broke and of course you cannot just get the fitment. Might buy the metal bottled version.

My question about the Hornit reviewed woul be, is it skreechy, or more horn like?

[JNugent]

Post by Simon Mason
I had a NightSun horn, very loud, but incredibly skreechy, and did not make divers aware of me as the strange noise didn't register with them that it was a vehicle that was making the noise.

What sort of vehicle?

A motor launch?

[[e-mail]]

I wonder how one of these might work rear-facing. You'd need a remote button, and a rear view mirror too (who doesn't have one?), plus the sense of timing to give a good blast at any impending close passers. I suppose there's always the risk that the shock of being awoken would send them careering into you, but if you were toast anyway possibly worth the gamble?