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Have you encountered a frustrated pedestrian when you rang your bike bell? Have you been called names for ringing it in heavy traffic? Most cyclists have been there. Although most people outside the cycling community don't get bike bells, we firmly believe that having one is a top priority and can save lives.
Come on a ride with us, and explore the best bike bells on the market today!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Bike Bells
- OUR TOP PICK: Accmor Classic Bike Bell
- RUNNER-UP: JAOK Bike Bell
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: BONMIXC Bike Bell
Comparison of the Best Bike Bells
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Are All Bike Bells The Same?
While bike bells serve the same purpose - to alert that a cyclist is approaching - they differ in build and usage. Although we'll talk about the bell types separately in this article, let's mention a few features you may need to look out for.
Photo credit: images.immediate.co.uk
Bells can be mechanical, electric, or operated with compressed air. Your choice depends on a few external influences. Take into account the noise levels in the surroundings, the bike type you ride, or your repair needs. For example, troubleshooting a mechanical bell is more manageable without assistance, while electric ones have more complicated engineering. On the other hand, air horns are louder and more annoying for park rides vs. busy streets.
How to Choose an Effective, Yet Economical Bike Bell
The best bike bells share a few notable characteristics. During our comparative analysis, we've come to group the best features into the categories below.
Sound Level
How loud your bike bell is is the top characteristic of a decent product. The bells we've tried are loud enough for a passerby to hear at a reasonable distance. You'd also want to consider what sound it makes (ring, ding, ding-dong, ring-ring, etc.).
Installation
These bells use different methods to attach to the vehicle. They might have a clamp, fasten with a screw, need a bike tool, or just wrap around the handle. Whichever it is, you better choose the simplest and most practical solution.
Accmor Classic Bike Bell
Material
The third consideration is the product's durability. All the best bike bells on our list use high-quality materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. Some products will also have parts made of heavy-duty, non-toxic plastic.
Design
While other characteristics are a matter of practicality or quality, the look of the bell is a personal preference. The market is saturated with bike bells of various designs, so you're bound to find one that fits your style.
Review of the Best Bike Bells
During the quest to find the best bike bells, the products listed in this section stood out the most. Below, we'll share our and other buyers' opinions about them. Get ready to read about the pros and cons of the top quality products we chose and summaries for each one.
Best Overall:
Accmor Classic Bike Bell
pros
cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Top comments mention that this bike bell is an excellent fit for any person. First of all, it offers a large variety of colors. Second, it works for lefties as well as righties. It's lightweight and made for the sake of durability and function. Although some users report the bell ringing on road bumps, most of them are happy about the purchase.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This heavy-duty traditional "ring-ring" bell is on our list as one of the top products for a reason: it delivers. It's a great solution if you don't want anything fancy and expect your warning sound to reach people at a reasonable distance.
It works well for noisy cities, quiet neighborhoods, children, and adults. The plastic attachment with a screw gives you the confidence that it'll be an excellent fit for any weather and won't destroy the bike handle.
Bottom Line
Although it looks classic and feels pretty standard, this bell does the job it's supposed to: delivers a crisp sound and fits just about any handlebar.
Runner-up:
JAOK Bike Bell
pros
cons
What Recent Buyers Report
People who've acquired this product recently mention a few positives. First of all, it's easy to install; you merely have to fasten the screw. Buyers like the design and the sound it makes, although some say they expected it to be louder.
Why it Stands Out to Us
First of all, we like that you can adjust the ring to your bicycle handle's size. You'll need to fasten it properly to prevent it from rolling around its axis when touching the ring button. You don't need to go for a bike tool or spend a lot of time installing it.
JAOK bike bell fits mountain, sports, and racing bikes, but most importantly, it's convenient for children's tricycles. Its compact design adds an aesthetic component to your transport and saves space. The product contrasts bulky and cheaply made ones due to its futuristic look.
Bottom Line
JAOK bike bell is an excellent addition if you want to stay safe and in-style. With this one, you can avoid messy installation processes, rust, and road accidents.
Best for the Money:
Bonmixc Bike Bell
pros
cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The ad for the bell and a lot of customers mention that it's small and mighty. Its size is another point customers like; it doesn't get in the way.
The product has one design flaw that frustrates customers. You need to ensure that you've found the square nut while unpacking. If it's not there, you won't be able to mount the bell.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The compact size and loud chime make this bell a useful addition to your bike for riding in traffic. However, its best characteristic is durability. No matter the climate, the bell rings as it's supposed to.
As it's not bulky and has gold and silver versions, the product blends into your bike style. What stands out about this bell is its practicality, price, and superior quality.
Bottom Line
Although the bell has no size differentiation for larger handles, it fits most bicycles. It's a simple and economical choice for you and your family members.
Best Mountain Bike Bell:
Trigger Bell 5th Gen
pros
cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers make sure to note that the bell has saved their life many times. The product fits oversized and narrower handlebars. Theoretically, it should be easy to install. However, some users had issues with the band length. According to the reviews, the company's customer service is also exceptional.
Why it Stands Out to Us
With a large number of positive reviews, Trigger Bell 5th gen is small and elegant. It's minimalistic and designed to alleviate some pain points for bikers. For example, it allows you to ring and brake simultaneously without moving your hand from the handle. It's also convenient for left-handed people.
Another prominent feature is that it can be mounted under the handlebar, facing down, and it doesn't change the loudness. Trigger Bell also gives out a 5-year guarantee, which is unheard of.
Bottom Line
We've presented this bell as the best choice for mountain bikers for a reason. It has a sturdy build, reasonable noise level, and the usage convenience you need for an off-road ride.
Best Road Bike Bell:
Greallthy Bike Bell
pros
cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The general user experience is one of the more positive ones among the bells of our choice. While some customers had issues with fit and "ding" style, they generally mention that the bell is loud enough. It's also a good value for the money for most buyers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The first thing that stands out for us is the bell's all-metallic build. Although we have some reservations about it oxidizing earlier than other ones on our list, you know build quality when you see it.
The warranty is also an added benefit for the buyers, as not many bell manufacturing companies advertise it front and center. Road bikes are one type that'll benefit from this loud and crisp bell. The riders will be safe, no matter if they use it in traffic, on multilane pavements, or in other urban environments.
Bottom Line
The ads for this bell hype it as a sturdy yet relatively small product that makes a lot of noise. We only have one recommendation if you're considering it as an option: ensure that you measure the handlebars before purchasing this product.
Loudest Bike Bell:
Wowkiki Mini Bicycle Bell
pros
cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Wowkiki mini-bicycle bell doesn't take up too much space on the handlebars due to its small size. A buyer mentions that it's quite loud. However, it isn't offensive to the passersby, making it a useful option for both parks and streets. It also looks firm and won't break easily.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Although it looks like an air horn at first, it's a "ding'' bell. With its universal build, both righties and lefties will be happy, as they'll have to use a similar downwards thumb motion to produce a sound.
This bell's top feature isn't its compact design or minimalistic look, but the level of sound it makes. It's one of the loudest products we've tried out. With the 140 dB, everyone will hear it, no matter how noisy the surroundings are.
Another pro about this product is that it never rings because of road bumps.
Bottom Line
Wowkiki mini-bicycle bell is a fun-looking but efficient bell that'll get the attention of a pedestrian a block away. It'll get the job done with a movement of a thumb. Available in black, it's stylish and blends into your bike design seamlessly.
Smallest Bicycle Bell:
Mirrycle Incredibell Brass Duet
pros
cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers mention that the bell is easy to install, makes a lovely "ding-dong" sound, and is universal for all family members. While it's durable enough, the customers think that a better build quality would benefit the product more.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Compared to other smaller-sized bells, this option is loud enough at 90 dB at about 10 feet away. The sound is what we like the most about this option. While some other products might offer higher decibels, this has a bright and non-offensive tone that captivates (and alerts) people around you.
While it won't be very efficient in noisy traffic and competing with cars, this is a lovely and bright choice for kid and adult bikes. It's also going to work in a park or sidewalk setting.
Bottom Line
This Japanese-made bike bell is one of the smallest and lightest options on the market. Its quality brass dome rings well, and the installation is straightforward. While the design closely resembles the classic and modern-classic variations, the plastic "crown" sets it apart from other fully metallic products.
Pros and Cons of Having a Bell on Your Bike
Bike bells are a useful accessory. They are also a great way to inject proper cycling manners in our society. Although we believe that advantages outweigh the disadvantages, let's look at both sides of using an alert system on your bike.
Pros
Adhering to Proper Bike Etiquette
Although there is no code for cyclists that demands them to have a bell, it's common courtesy to let passersby know that you're approaching. You might shout or wave hands to notify them, but it's easier and safer to ring.
Photo credit: hips.hearstapps.com
Safer Rides
If you've placed the bell in the right spot on your handlebar, ringing it shouldn't require you to move your dominant hand at all. The convenient usage makes a bike bell a safer alternative to waving or shouting.
You can also ring during turns to prevent crashes with unexpected pedestrians or cars.
Fulfills a Legal Requirement
Many states and cities have laws about bike bells, and others don't. If you're riding a bike in a town where you're not sure about those, having an alert in place will relieve additional frustration and ensure you don't get into trouble.
Cons
People Get Annoyed or Offended
Although alerting people is considered "good biking manners," some people think bicycle bells are annoying. Many cyclists mention the amount of discouraging and sometimes offensive comments they get from pedestrians and drivers.
Photo credit: ketuba-art.com
Types of Bike Bells Available on the Market
Choosing your bell type is a style- and preference-oriented endeavor, but it's also a practical solution. Below are some varieties you can choose from.
Classic
Classic bike bells are open mechanisms that feature a round dome and a trigger. When the latter touches the former, it makes a pleasant "ding" sound. This structure dates back to the 1800s, and the bells look like they're out of an old movie.
Modern Classic
These are quite similar to the previous type. However, the mechanism and the lever are closed under the round dome. These bells make a characteristic "ding-dong" sound and are among the best-selling ones. Due to the design and materials used, they are rust-resistant and easy to fix.
Q-Shaped
This version boasts a minimalistic and even futuristic form. If you don't like the look of bulky, dome-shaped bells, these are an excellent alternative. The Q- or O-shaped product is a relatively new invention but has a steady following among cyclists that prefer sleek and stylish solutions for their vehicles.
Air Horn
While it's not technically a bell, an air horn is a go-to alert system for those who prefer louder and more abrupt warning sounds. Most pedestrians hate these, but they're very efficient for busy streets and in traffic.
Photo credit: ilovebicycling.com
Conclusion
As you can see, having a bike bell can be a showcase of style and might. However, it's a security measure first. Whether you're on pavement, in a park, or on a lively street, a good bike bell is a friend, no matter what others say.
People Also Ask
We may have covered a lot in the article above, but here are a few additional questions you might need answers to before buying the ultimate bell for your vehicle.
Should a Bicycle Have a Bell?
Although there's no federal law about bike bells, separate states and citywide laws exist regarding this issue. Still, no laws exist that ban them. If you're not sure what to do, go for a bell to avoid trouble and be safe.
Where Do You Put the Bell on a Bike?
As a general rule of thumb, the bell should be under your thumb (pun intended). More seriously, you need to have access to it without moving your hand from the brake lever. The market also has options with remote control. They allow you to place the bell body and the control button in different spots. Alternatively, you can buy a smaller one to make space for it closer to your hand.
Photo credit: static.standard.co.uk
Is it Illegal to Sell a Bike Without a Bell?
The law requires all new bikes to have a bell on. However, there's no legal requirement that states you should keep it on used vehicles.
How Loud is a Bike Bell?
The best bike bells make a sound that ranges from 80 to 115 dB. The loudest ones are enough to be heard among the traffic sounds in a city.
