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Orp Smart Horn Flashes and Chirps its way to Dealers through Torcano Industries

Written by Zach Overholt
13 Comments
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ORP Lights

When we last checked in with Tory Orzeck and his ORP smart horn, the industrial designer was hoping to obtain funding through Kickstarter to make the combination light/horn a reality. After smashing through the goal set for the Kickstarter, ORPs are now in production and according to Torcano Industries, will be in shops starting next month. Torcano Industries is a new Southern California based sales and distribution company that focuses on what they call “game changers only.” Starting with the ORP smart horn, the company will be expanding their offerings in the coming months.

Want to see how the ORP was born and can sound both happy and angry at the same time? Check it out after the break.


As for the technical specs, the ORP packs in 87 lumens of light as well as either 76 or 96 decibels of sound. Both are powered through a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery with a built in micro USB port. The silicone skin stretches to fit 26-33mm bars, and helps keep the light weather proof and shock proof. Lighting is controlled through the button on the top of the ORP while the horn is controlled by pushing the whale tail either up or down for a friendly or loud blast of the horn.

Offered in a number of fun colors like Asphalt Black, Wail Blue, Safety Cone Orange and Aorta Red, ORPs will retail for $65. If the Kickstarter wasn’t a good enough indicator of how many people like the idea, Torcano Industries mentioned that their first and second shipments are already sold out.
Zach Overholt
5,729 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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NASH
NASH
10 years ago

Great that is all we need more bl00dy noise in built up areas. Also unless the car is a convertible the level of noise exposure to pedestrians and the you the cyclist will be a lot higher than that of the driver of the vehicle you are trying to alert.

Learn to ride a bike safely and limit horns to clowns’ bicycles.

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K11
K11
10 years ago

@ nash – not everyone lives in the concrete jungle.

could scare away wild animals that might want you for a meal. get hikers off the trail.

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Dave
Dave
10 years ago

@NASH Really? “Learn to ride a bike safely…” maybe should be changed to “everybody learn how to drive properly!!” and then there would be no use for horns, yelling etc. 🙂

Almost need a horn for the drivers around here when walking around too and it’s seems to be getting worse!

Anyhow a quick check revealed that many stock and aftermarket motorcycle horns are 80-90dB so this may be more effective than you think.
Also a lower setting to let pedestrians and other riders (whether trail/path/street etc) know your coming is good too.

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Dave
Dave
10 years ago

make that “you’re” not your 🙂

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David
David
10 years ago

Like the overall concept, but needs to be under $40.

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NASH
NASH
10 years ago

@Dave, if you think that a horn on a motorcycle or bicycle increases your safety on a road and lowers your risk of an accident you are gravely mistaken (and use that term it its fullest meaning).

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scentofreason
scentofreason
10 years ago

Actually the most intriguing aspect is the ‘nice’ horn. Would be great for the sections of paved bike trails in my area. Much more pleasant than most traditional bells I’ve heard….

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Mike Ball
Mike Ball
10 years ago

How do we get in the UK please?

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Patrick
Patrick
10 years ago

@Nash– ignorant comment. I have ridden a motorcycle for 20+ years and I can’t tell you how many times the horn saved me from having an accident…or worse. Get a clue.

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WarrenT
WarrenT
10 years ago

I won an Orp during Bike 2 Work Week. Tried it on fairly crowded multi-use paths on two separate rides. Not one pedestrian responded to the “happy” sound. The “loud” sound only got a response from one person during these two rides. I even rode up to a gaggle of Canada geese on the path and the “loud” sound didn’t get a response from them either. I’m rather disappointed and will go back to using my little bell.

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Patrick Garner
Patrick Garner
10 years ago

I have been using the ORP for a month. I like it and will continue to use it but it has some issues. The friendly sound is useless on a bike path. It is unrecognizable as being associated with a bike. People check their phone for a notification or look up in the trees for a bird. The friendly sound is great for acknowledging other riders on the road instead of waving. I think if they could have programmed it to sound like a bike bell it would be more effective.

The loud horn is not loud enough and I think may a decibel level less than advertised. I installed a sound meter on my phone and the friendly horn measures the advertised 75 decibels but the loud one is slightly less than 90.

It was difficult for me to learn how to attach and remove the ORP from my handlebar. In the process I damaged it. Now that I know how it works it is still difficult to attach and remove. It appears you should be able to access the charging port while attached to the bike but I was unable to do so and I have to remove to charge.

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Helder
Helder
10 years ago

in europe where i can buy?
Regards

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rideorgohome
rideorgohome
10 years ago

Just had to give my experience with my ORP, as I have experienced quite the opposite! I purchased my ORP back in May, and have had quite a bit of experience with my ORP. I will NOT ride without an ORP, as literally this product has saved my butt on more than one occasion! The one downfall of ORP, is that every time I use it, people always want to stop and ask me what is that, and where did I get it. To the comments above about others not hearing or looking up in the air, where are you riding? Using it out on the trails, I use to have constantly say on your left, behind you, etc. Now when I use the ORP, it’s like they jump out of the way, and yes this is the friendly sound. ORP is LOUD! If someone is looking at their cell phone, something is wrong with them! I find it interesting to the comments about a bell, as i’ve been using a bell for years, and it’s worthless! I get it, everyone has a preference, and i’m sure those that want it to sound like a bike bell, are the same ones who complained when the ring tones on cell phones changed, as they didn’t know the phone was ringing? I love the fact that they’ve progressed and utilized technology that enables us, as cyclists to alert motorists through rolled up windows in a car, something that a bell would never do! My experience has been nothing but positive with ORP!

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