Submitted by
carlosrbc
a Downhiller
from Indio Ca USA
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2011
Strengths: It is a wonderful product when it works, loud like it is suppose to be, makes people and cars aware you exist.
Weaknesses: weather extremes, sun makes the handle brittle, and useless, cold makes the sound come out as hiss, rather than thunder like it is suppose to.
Bottom Line:
Manufacturer, realize that this is not an item that i carry for looks, I carry it for safety, and if the moment when I need a vehicle aware that I'm there if the sound does not come out, you'll have one less client, and a big problem in your hands, What you charge is not cheap, why can you make sturdier, so it last longer, Realize you have a great product, that needs to be improved, don't let go to waste
Similar Products Used: There is nothing like it that I know in the market
Bike Setup: Recumbent trike
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Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Bloomington,IL
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2011
Strengths: Loud. Easy to fill.
Weaknesses: Mount does not hold all that well. Button fo horn requires you to take your hand off of the brake.
Bottom Line:
If you ride on the street or bike paths, you need this. Joggers, bladers, cyclists, walkers, all wear earbuds or earphones. This gets through. Car drivers look at you before turning into you. It is soo much safer. If unit could be designed to allow thumb activation with hand on brake lever, it would be more intuitive. A deluxe heavy duty version would sell me.
Bike Setup: cross bike set up for suburban commute.
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Submitted by
paramconte
a Racer
from Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2011
Strengths: Loud horn
Weaknesses: Plastic tube is thin and fragile. Pumping air into the bottle is awkward and is a weak spot.
Bottom Line:
A great idea for the vulnerable cyclist in traffic as I am. I have had four but, disappointingly, none have lasted all that long. The handlebar mechanism is badly designed but the manufacturer persists in this design probably because it is cheap and not meant to last. I emailed the company suggesting a change but was not favoured with a response. The whole item is made cheaply and sells relatively expensively which is obviously the way it is meant to be.
Submitted by
acharlwood
a Cross Country Rider
from Cambridge,MA
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2010
Strengths: Very loud. Easy to refill.
Weaknesses: Does not work in the winter -- air hisses but no sound comes out. The mounting clamp is poorly made and the plastic becomes brittle and snaps in the cold winter weather.
Bottom Line:
I've gone through three of these. The first two iterations were the original model of this horn, and worked in all weather, although the mounting bracket snapped on both. The plastic becomes brittle over time, especially after cold winter weather.
The new version simply does not work in cold (<30 degree) weather).
Submitted by
Rcpkustoms
a Cross Country Rider
from Niagara Falls, Ontario
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2010
Strengths: Very loud and will get peoples attention, when useing a bell people will just look at you but with this they'll just jump and get out of your way.
Weaknesses: Nothing really either than needing an emergency pump in case you run out of air
Bottom Line:
Great product very loud and could someday save your live while riding and very much do recommend it
Strengths: LOUD, simple to mount, simple to use, actually WORKs to get cager's attention
Weaknesses: NONE yet
Bottom Line:
This horn is great. It is VERY loud (may not even be technically legal where I am). It gets drivers attention when they aren't paying attention, and can give a little reminder yo those who see cyclists, but don't at the same time.
Submitted by
Gates
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2008
Strengths: Loud, light, and easy
Weaknesses: Horn mount and button
Bottom Line:
I have ridden with my zound for over 10 years - I wouldn't give it up for anything. Scares stray dogs, wakes up most drivers and lets them know where I am. I only wish I could use my presta pump, all my bikes are presta. Don't let your kids play with it.
Similar Products Used: cheap battery powered horn - found it at a flea market.
Bike Setup: Cross Woodrup
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Submitted by
Nathan M
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2007
Strengths: Like most of the people posting, I use the Zzounds on the bike when commuting on the roads during rush hour. Some drivers have an aggressive attitude of "cars have right of way at all times, including when turning left at an intersection when a bike is going through on the green." The Zzounds horn will stop these drivers, because it gets their attention. The horn will get you noticed, and keep you safer when drivers try to pull out from driveways or parking lots without looking. Highly recommended for commuting cyclists.... If you mainly ride on pedestrian trails or bike paths, this horn might be overkill, because it is SO loud (nevertheless, you can give short "beep" sounds if you want to politely alert pedestrians)
Weaknesses: Does not work in the winter. To be fair, it seems to be a general problem with air horns. If you bring the horn inside to warm it up in the winter, it will work for a few minutes outside in the cold, but soon enough, it stops working. Even at full pressure, all you hear is a "pssffft" of air, but it doesn't produce any honk sound (we need a physicist to explain this... probably something to do with density of cold air, or the cold temperatures changing the shape of the sound-producing mechanism??) After the Zzounds air horn stopped working in the winter, I bought a boat air horn (with an aerosol can), and it showed the same pattern: blasts a loud sound inside in warm air, but bring it in the cold, and you just have the "pssfft" sound, no honk......About the bracket... it is true that the horn comes off very easily. However, if you take a little mini-tumble, it is an advantage that the horn part "breaks" off from the housing, because then you just snap it back on. If it was mounted very firmly, it would have broken off in my most recent tumble (self-caused...foolishly applied front brake on slick snow-covered road, causing wipeout!)...I am choosing to believe that they made it come off easily on purpose (perhaps I am deluding myself..perhaps it is just a design SNAFU?)
Bottom Line:
Excellent product for city commuters to alert drivers to your presence on busy rush-hour streets...the loud blast of sound gets them to look up, and more often than not apply their brakes. One downfall is that mine won't work in the cold wintery days here in Canada, but that's just one season.
Similar Products Used: Boating air horn (aerosol can), "ding-ding" bell (which barely gets pedestrians' attention,and which does ZERO as far as getting drivers' attention)
Bike Setup: Aluminum frame no-name hybrid 700-style bike...in the winter I use metal studded tires for ice traction when commuting.
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Submitted by
corey jamol
a Weekend Warrior
from east windsor new jersey
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2006
Strengths: I use a rechargable boat horn called eco blast. its very loud. gets the attention of drivers in cars with closed windows.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
The horn is really loud. I love to use this horn to wake people up when they are not paying attention. or just being plain rude. I enjoy This because Every Car I Have To blow It At the people inside swing around in there seats real fast thinking a big truck is comming. this horn has made biking fun.
Similar Products Used: emergency storm whistle (loudest whistle in the world)
Bike Setup: I Have the horn mounted on the handle bar by a re movable clip.
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Submitted by
ron
a Cross Country Rider
from vancouver bc canada
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006
Strengths: Louder than the non-Delta Air Zounds II, but.. see below
Weaknesses: Doesn't stop reckless automobile drivers anymore, unlike the
Bottom Line:
If you are a cyclist or biker using the Delta Air Zounds II air horn AND used the older non-Delta, Made In Toronto, Air Zounds II: Have you noticed any differences in effectivty? I haven't found this in any review, or reviews of the Delta Air Zounds II, but my opinion is that the older Made In Toronto version was instantly effective on reckless drivers, but not the Delta Air Zounds II. I believe that the frequency (pitch?) of the louder Delta Air Zounds is at fault, but this is just my two cents worth opinion. (With inflation, make that 25 cents opinion.) If you bike with Air Zounds II, please chime in. I haven't seen this topic covered in Mountain Bike Reviews, either, so let's talk about it. Biking should be safe, and the older (non Delta) Air Zounds II was excellent.
Similar Products Used: Air Zounds II, non-Delta model (5 of these)
Bike Setup: Heavily modded chain-driven Ego-2 ebike
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Submitted by
rob
a Cross Country Rider
from vancouver BC canada
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2006
Strengths: Works subliminally in "freezing" reckless automobile drivers. There is NOTHING as good as the air zounds for SAFETY. It serves my life monthly or so.
Weaknesses: Can be knocked off its perch, but easily put back on again. (Minor weakness, really.)
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from SoCal
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2006
Strengths: Loud, light
Weaknesses: Cheap construction, poorly designed, don't last, don't hold much air
Bottom Line:
When I first found these, I thought they were great. Now, after going through three of these, my conclusion is that they're poorly designed and too cheaply made for long-term use. The air valve mounting is the worst part. It will quit on you. Do not depend on it. Also, they just don't hold that much "juice."
I now use a rechargeable boat horn called the Ecoblast strapped to my handlebar. It uses a steel canister with an air valve built right into the bottom. It's even louder than the Delta and still very light.
One final point...Use your horn, but not on pedestrians. A bell suffices for that. The horn I use now can literally damage hearing. Don't over-use them. Horns are for the clueless morons behind the wheel of the two-ton rolling phone booths who deserve a jolt of reality when your life is at stake. Get one and feel safer commuting!
