We’ve all bought something we never used before, and that might be how you feel about a bike bell. But a bike bell is actually something that can keep you safe, and they can also make riding that much more fun if you use it every once in a while.
Here we are going to help you narrow down the list of bicycle bells worth your attention. We’ll also help you rediscover important features you want to look for when you’re getting a bike bell.
Let’s get started – Ding ding.
Table of Contents
TLDR – Top Pick For Bike Bells
Our top pick for the best bike bell is the Crane Bell Suzu Lever Strike.
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features You Need To Consider
A bike bell can be considered as an old and ugly accessory. But they do keep you safe. You’ll never find a car without a car horn. Although car horns are built-in, and I can’t tell you why they haven’t made a built-in bike horn.
Bike bells can actually be attractive, there’s so many models and colors for you to choose from. They are also definitely useful, if you remember to use them.
Anyway, here are some features you should really consider when you’re choosing a bike bell.
Compatibility & Installation
The most important thing is compatibility. Well, a bike bell you can’t attach to your handlebar loses all its purpose of being purchased.
What bike do you ride? Road bikes have drop bars. And they are usually around 31.8 mm. Some can be as small as 23.8 mm.
If you ride a mountain bike, they have flat or riser bars. Those are 22.2 mm. This is the diameter near your grip, the diameter closer to the center may be 25.4 mm or 31.8 mm.
Your kid’s bike usually measures 22.2 mm too.
If you are ever unsure, it’s safer to measure it yourself, or check out your bike’s specifications.
Once you’re certain that it’s compatible, you want to easily attach it to your bike. What if you want to take it off sometimes? That’s why it has to be easy to install. A clamp is a good idea. But then some clamps may not be tight enough.
A screwed in installation will definitely be stable, but it will be harder for you to take off or on.
A bike bell with an instruction manual is what you’re really looking for, because as hard as it is to install the first time, the next time will definitely be easier.
Ring Ring Ring
Now this is the most important thing you need to check in a bike bell. The ring ring ring. The volume, or the sound.
You don’t want something loud and annoying. You want something that announces your presence elegantly.
For this, you want to look at where you live and where you ride. Are you trying to warn of dogs? Other cars? Or maybe simply warn people walking on the sidewalks.
Make sure that your bike bell can be heard, and warn others that a bike is coming through.
The sound of the bell depends on the mechanism and material. Some bike bells can be made to sound a certain way, while others make noise according to the material that they are made of.
Your Cycling Route
As we said, you want a volume that you need. Are you commuting to work? If you do a lot of city riding, you really want something that’s louder.
If you’re getting a bell for your kids to ride around the neighborhood, then you just need the bell to make a noise.
With a bike bell, you want to be safe. Safe and have your own distinct sound.
Another thing to consider is an air horn. Air horns are cool because they make noise so much louder than bells. They’re great for fun, but not the most reliable. Air horns need to be pumped, and can “run out”. So even if you want an air horn, because you think you need to be really loud, you can still benefit greatly from having a classic bike bell.
Material & Design
Even though a bike bell is not an important accessory. You will still be happy after getting a quality bike bell. A poorly constructed bike bell can ring when you go over bumpy roads. That’s annoying.
Well, it’s annoying if you don’t want to jingle all the way. If you do want to jingle, maybe you’re better off with a bear bell.
You can find a quality bike bell by looking at the material and design. You want a sturdy material. Something that will last you a long time.
The best material is metal, brass. Not only is it durable, it also makes a great sound. Another metal you ought to consider is steel, although it doesn’t sound as great.
Bike bells are not ugly, that is if you can look for the bike bell with the best design. You want a bell that’s not too large, so that your handlebar can still accommodate other accessories. You want a bell that’s designed to be easy to ring.
The Best Bike Bell Reviewed
Here, we’ve gathered a selection of bike bells. All of which are excellent. We’ve broken them down and reviewed their individual features so that you can get a better understanding, even though you can’t try it out for yourself.
They are mostly classic bells, but we’ve also included some unconventional options. Check them out.
1. BONMIXC Bike Bell
Key Features:
- 8 options available
- Easy to install
- Made of brass
- Releases a sweet loud sound
- Compatible with many standard bike handlebar
The Bonmixc Bike Bell is made of brass and you can select from 8 available purchasing choices. It’s very easy to install. It can fit most standard bike handles. Make sure that yours is around 21 mm – 23 mm in diameter. The dome diameter of the bike itself is 33 mm.
This bell is made from quality brass, which is what makes that crisp and loud noise. The bell is also enhanced with anti-oxidation and abrasion resistance to keep it polished. All you need to do is one easy screw, and it’s there to accompany you on your ride.
You can choose between silver and gold, and there’s an option to get both, you don’t even need to choose. It weighs 47g. Very light, it won’t feel like you added anything to your bar handles.
To install, find the small, square, silver nut in the plastic part and fix the screw. It is prepared that way so that you can easily tighten the screw according to the size of your bike handles.
Pros:
- Excellent customer service
- Very loud for its size
- Very durable
- Sounds crips and not obnoxious
Cons:
- Not compatible with bumpy rides
- Issues with setting up the screws
- Rides may cause the bell to loosen
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2. Coghlan’s Bear Bell
Key Features:
- Available in 4 colors
- Equipped with magnetic silencer
- Easily attach to many things
- Perfect for camping
- Keeps you safe against bears
The Coghlan’s Bear Bell is a great bell to keep the bears away. Turns out, bears don’t like the sound of bells. It’s also handy because dogs actually like it, and your dog will easily follow your jingle. You can easily attach it to anything. It’s compatible with clothing, boots, a hat, backpack, day pack, and even your pet’s collar via a hook and loop.
The bell has a magnetic silencer to apply when you’re not using it, so you’ll stop jingling. But it doesn’t always work, and sometimes you can still hear the jingle.
This bell is best used for camping. It can also be a bike bell, but it won’t be too loud. You will constantly jingle along your ride. It’s great if you want to keep on ringing, but if you want to alert or warn any passer byes, this is not the bell for you.
Because it can also attach to other things and not just your bike, you can also use it for a hike.
The bell is quite regularly sized, around 1 and ½” in diameter.
Pros:
- A great bell for dogs
- Great protection against lurking bears
- Easy to attach
Cons:
- May attracts some bears
- The silencer is faulty
- Color in the picture is not the same as the actual color
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Delta Cycle Airzound Very Loud Bike Horn Air Hooter
Key Features:
- No batteries required
- Volume control switch available
- Compatible with 22 – 26 mm handlebar
- Easily refilled with any bike pump
- 115 dB
The Delta Cycle Airzound Very Loud Bike Horn Air Hooter is true to its name. It releases 115 dB of noise. You can control the volume, and that’s just another thing to love about it. You don’t need batteries or even cartridges, you can easily refill the air with any bike pump you use for your bike.
This model is compatible with any 22 to 25 mm handlebars. The horn itself weighs around 227g. You can get a few horns out before you must re-pump. The issue you’ll find with this horn is that, if you’ve re-pumped a couple of times, it might not sound as loud as the first time. You can overcome this by cleaning your disc. If you properly maintain the horn, then it will consistently sound loud for a very long time.
This horn is loud, loud, like very loud. It’s best if you use this during emergencies, I mean, occasionally when you want to be very loud. You can use it to warn off cars, or trucks, or even dogs. But what I’m essentially saying is that if you choose this, you would still need a regular bike bell just because.
Extra warning, do not set it off indoors.
Pros:
- Very, very loud
- Can warn off dogs
- Lasts a long time if the disc is properly cleaned
- Noise is adjustable
Cons:
- Durability is not great
- Plastic is not the best quality
- May leak if mounted incorrectly
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4. CRANE Bell Suzu Lever Strike
Key Features:
- Available in copper and brass
- Made of metal
- Mounts with a clamp
- Retro design
- Made in Japan
The Crane Bell Suzu Lever Strike is a Japanese-made bell. The design is retro and timeless, which makes the bell very “pretty” and shiny once you attach it on your bike. It uses a clamp to mount on your bike, which is very easy to install. I’ve got to say that you will definitely be satisfied with this purchase.
It fits up to a 22 mm handlebar. Any higher and the clamp will not close perfectly. The bell itself measures 55 mm diameter. A reasonable size for an attractive bell. The sound is loud and clear, just what you want on a bike.
Because of its simple design, it looks great with any bike you might have. But you really need to be careful because the metal of the bell may ruin or scratch your bicycle’s handlebars. It really depends on the type of bike you have and how you mount it on the handlebar.
Pros:
- Very simple
- Loud, clear tone
- Sturdy
- Easy to install
Cons:
- It can scratch up certain types of handlebars
- Bell may break with improper care
- If broken, it will no longer ring, it will just click
- Difficult to control loudness
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5. Firmstrong Classic Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bell
Key Features:
- Classic ringer bell
- 9 colors available
- Easy to mount
- Easy to take off
- Includes attachment hardware
The Firmstrong Classic Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bell comes in 9 different colors. All of which you can then match with your bike frame. Or you can even choose a contrast color so that the bell will stand out from the rest of your bike. It’s made for Men’s, Women’s, and Kid’s bikes. Be warned that this bell will not be compatible with fairly large handlebars.
Upon purchase, you will get the bell and the attachment hardware. It’s up to you to assemble it. Putting it together might be a challenge, but once you overcome it, taking it off and moving it to another bike will be easier.
The sound of the bell is fairly loud, you can cover a great distance and people can still hear the bell. It will keep you safe and warn others of your presence. The bell works well, although if you don’t take care of it, it can still break.
Pros:
- Bell sounds amazing
- Easy to remove
- Great price
- Thumb lever is impressive
Cons:
- Bell can break
- Not compatible with bigger handlebars
- Difficulties upon installation
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
6. Kickstand Cycleworks Classic Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bell
Key Features:
- 90-day guarantee
- 55 mm dome
- Easy installation
- “Ring ring” sound
- 19 colors available
Kickstand Cycleworks Classic Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bell offers up to 19 colors you can choose from, which makes it compatible with many bike frames. You can try to match it or choose another color that contrasts your bike. It also makes this bell great for kids, let them choose their favorite color, so they can enjoy it so much more.
It is easy to install, all you need is a standard Phillips screwdriver. The bell is compatible with most handlebars, sizing up to 22.2 mm. The bell’s diameter itself measures 55 mm. The noise is loud and clear, perfect to stay safe on the road.
They offer a 90-day money-back guarantee so you don’t need to worry if you get a faulty product. The bell is made of plastic, so the parts are not as durable as metal bells. That’s something you have to be aware of. But other than that, the bell works great and sounds just like metal bells.
Pros:
- Sounds great
- Easy to install
- Sounds just like a metal bell
- Great for kids and adults
Cons:
- Thumb push piece can break
- Made of plastic (not as durable)
- Mechanism has issues
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
7. E-Ne Bicycle Bell – Crane
Key Features:
- 9 choices available
- Resonant sound
- Versatile
- Premium Japanese bell
- Easy installation
The Crane E-Ne Bicycle Bell is a premium Japanese bell, which is compatible with most bikes. It’s fairly compact and can pair with bars measuring 22.2 up to 31.8 mm diameter. The bell itself looks great, complete with a matte finish. It’s made of brass, which makes it durable and gives it that clear loud sound you want in a bike bell.
Crane Bell Co. LTD produces premium Japanese bells who prioritize quality above all else. It’s versatile and will sit compact on your handlebars. You can easily fit other accessories without disturbing the bell. The bells are very easy to install and will not scratch up your handle bars. It has a stainless steel mounting strap which can be adjusted. The stainless steel has been dipped into vinyl in order to reduce slipping.
For the easy installation, all you need to do is this. First you want to remove the clam band from the bell. You can do this by squeezing and pulling it out of the lots. Next, you want to determine the area of the handlebar you want to dedicate for your bell. Next you just have to reinstall the clamp. Adjust the hex bolt and you’re good to go.
Pros:
- High quality
- Looks modern
- Sounds great
- Easy to fit on compatible handlebars
Cons:
- Difficult to mount at the end of the handlebar
- Can break
- Sometimes it won’t ring
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our Top Pick
The Crane Bell Suzu Lever Strike looks like the winner this time. It’s made of metal, durable and retro. It’s easy to mount with its strong clamp. You can choose between copper and brass, a classic color that will pair well with most bike frames. Last but not least, it produces a loud, clear tone.
You want a bike bell that will work for you. Maybe you enjoy jingling along the way with the Coghlan’s Bear Bell, or you want to blast a loud noise with the Delta Cycle Airzound. It’s all up to you. All the bells in this list will announce your presence, and most of them have a variety of colors to choose from. Take your pick and ring on your ride.
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:53 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
