Best Bike Bell (Comparison & Reviews)

BELL FOR BIKE COMPARISON

BEST BELL FOR BIKE REVIEWS

Spurcycle Original

Best Loud Bike Bell

PROS: – Loud – Ring is super clear – Easily adjustable with a standard hex key – Easy to mount – Long-lasting – Takes up very little space – Fits standard and oversize, aluminum or carbon handlebar

CONS: – Doesn’t blend into the handlebars – May be expensive for some

TIMBER Bolt-On

Best Mountain Bike Bell

PROS: – Can be turned on and off – Easy install – Continuous sound based on your bike movement for when you are near hikers or around blind corners – can be turned off – Multiple “ding” setting – Loud enough and not irritating

CONS: – Not durable

Knog Oi

Highly Unobtrusive Bike Bell

PROS: – Easy install and use – Sleek design – Doesn’t jiggle and self-ring – Cool design – Two sizes to choose from – Works better with narrower handlebars – Takes a small amount of space – The large size mounts well over the cables on drop bars

CONS: – Not loud enough – Not robust – Spring is weak and can fell apart – Dings nicely only when you really flick the little hammer hard

Knog Oi Luxe

Best Bell for Bike Commuting

PROS: – Super-discreet – Stylish – Sturdy construction – Easy to reach when riding – Fits tight around the handlebar – Sound rings longer than most bells

CONS: – Not very loud – May be pricey for some

Spurcycle Compact

Easy to use Compact Bike Bell

PROS: – Matte black makes it’s barely noticeable – Excellent construction – Good looking – Takes very little handlebar space – Easy installation – Spurcycle’s lifetime guarantee

CONS: – Plastic mount is not durable – May be expensive for some – Does not fit thicker diameter handlebar (only fits 22.2mm) – This non-rubber mount with a fixed diameter tends to rotate on some handlebars

Portland Design Works King of Ding II

Best for Urban Commuter Bike Bell

PROS: – Easy to install – Rings loudly enough to be heard at a distance – Easy to use – Durable built – Competitively priced – Great looking

CONS: – May tarnish because it is brass. – Some found the ring really weak – Take more handlebar space compared to most others in this article – Does not fit handlebars out of 22.2 – 25.4mm – Unreliable – Tends to loosen a bit over time

Electra Domed Ringer

Best Kids Bike Bell

PROS: – Affordable – Great selection of designs – Heavy duty – Reliable – Easy-to-push lever – Easy to install

CONS: – No drain holes in the lower housing makes it rust when water accumulate

BEST BIKE BELL BUYING GUIDE

BIKE BELL TYPES

MODERN CLASSIC:

You can’t go wrong with a modern classic bell, especially if it’s made of high-quality metal parts and is certified rust-proof.

I recommend modern classic bells because they never get out of fashion, and they let you feel the mechanism turn while you use it.

ELECTRIC:

Electric bike bells make a serious competitor to the classic ones because they are less distractible with their convenient button that sits close to your thumb.

Another feature of electric bike bells that challenge the classic bike bells is their adjustable sound style and volume.

Unfortunately, electric bike bells are not durable as the metal alternatives and like most battery-powered gear, they need to be charged, or buy new batteries in order to function.

CLAPPERS:

Clappers are similar to classic bike bells because they use durable metal parts and they operate mechanically.

Even though clappers-type bike bells have an outside ringing mechanism that hit the bell with a little button, I still found them have a low to medium tone.

USAGE

The choice of the bike bell type or model depends largely on your use:

• Commuting: Commuters definitly need something loud in order to be heard during heavy traffic or near people wearing earphones.
• Mountain biking: Because nature is usually quite, a low to medium tone bike bell is enough to be heard, and because other bikers can be unseen in tight turns, you need something that can continually ding in order to inform others of your presence. Dont forget that in mountain biking, tough and durable materials are essential to withstand bumps and falls.

VOLUME

When speaking of the bike bell volume, louder is better, and the bike bell is only good as the sound it makes, because if people away from you with 100 feet can’t hear you coming, then the bike bell becomes useless.

SOUND

The output sound is also something that you should consider while looking for a new bike bell because you will listen to it every time you use your bike bell.

This is why you should choose a bike bell with a sound frequency (or pitch) that suits your style and you are comfortable with.

Some bike bells, usually modern classic ones, make the rotary dial phone ring sound, and others make a doorbell similar ding dong sound.

HANDLEBAR COMPATIBILITY

Even though some bike bells claim they have a universal mount, because bicycle handlebars are of different sizes, it’s better for you to measure the handlebar diameter in order to be sure of the bike bell handlebar compatibility.

MATERIAL

The majority of bike bells in the market are made from steel, plastic, brass, or aluminum.

• Steel: Steel bike bells are known to be strong and durable with a thinner sound output.
• Plastic: Most bike bells made of plastic are cheap
• Brass: Brass bike bells are durable and makes a clear sound.
• Aluminum: Similar to steel bike bells, these are durable with a thinner sound.

DURABILITY

The bike durability is coherent mostly with the material is built with.

Metal bells are often the most durable, and the plastic ones come close in durability if they are made with quality components.

Things that make the bike bell more durable are having UV-resistant materials and being rust-proof.

DESIGN

• Mountain bikers: The wraparound bike bells are better for mountain biking because they fit tight on the handlebar and they are less likely to fall off with aggressive bouncing. Another advantage of the wraparound bells is that they taks less real estate in your handlebar.
• Commuters: If you are a commuter, you are free to choose any type of bike bells because even the big and tall domes that stick up from the handlebar still function for you.

EASE OF INSTALLATION

You can figure out the bike bell’s ease of installation by just looking at the mounting system it has.

EASE OF USE

The bike bell design and the mounting position are what make some bells easy to use while others are not easy to use.

The more close the push button to your thumb and the less effort it requires to use the easier to use the bike bell became.

FAQ

DO I REALLY NEED A BICYCLE BELL?

For the laws, I don’t know because laws differ from one place to another, but if you are concerned about your safety, yes, you really need a bicycle bell.

Bike bells lower the chances of collisions by alerting others around you of your presence.

WHERE SHOULD YOU PLACE THE BIKE BELL?

The bike bell is recommended to be installed on the handlebar on the opposite side of your preferred brake lever (front or rear) in order to let you ring the bell and at the same time hold the brakes tightly if an accident is about to happen.

Updated on March 16, 2022 by Ben