Bike Bells. They might seem like a simple accessory, but for anyone who values safety and courtesy on the road or trail, they are indispensable. Whether you’re navigating busy city streets, sharing paths with pedestrians, or exploring winding trails, a bike bell is your voice – a polite and effective way to announce your presence. In our quest to identify the best bike bells on the market, we put five popular models to the test. Read on to discover our detailed reviews and find out which bell truly resonated with us. Ding ding!
Author Photo
By Logan
PUBLISHED Mar 23, 2017
Why You Need a Bike Bell: More Than Just a Friendly Ding
If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be enthusiastically writing about bike bells, I would have been skeptical. However, I’ve come to appreciate the value of a good bike bell, especially for bikepacking and everyday cycling. For dirt touring and beyond, a bike bell has become a crucial piece of my gear.
The primary purpose of a bike bell is simple: to politely alert others of your approach. This advanced warning is invaluable for preventing accidents, especially when encountering pedestrians, other cyclists, or even wildlife on shared trails. A clear ring can prevent startling unaware individuals, avoiding potential hazards and maintaining harmony among trail users. Beyond safety, a pleasant bike bell chime is a friendly greeting, a universal cyclist’s “hello” that often brings smiles, especially from children who are particularly delighted by the sound.
My personal need for a reliable bike bell grew from my daily mountain bike rides. Living near a bike path that connects to singletrack trails, I frequently encounter obstacles – joggers, leisurely walkers, and headphone-clad individuals seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Trying to navigate past these path users using gear shifts or noisy freewheels proved ineffective and impolite. A bike bell became the obvious solution for a more courteous and effective way to share the path. This realization led me to test a range of bike bells, evaluating their performance in real-world conditions.
Criteria for the Best Bike Bell: Sound, Compatibility, and Ease of Use
After initial research and considering various options, we selected five distinct bike bells for thorough testing. Our evaluation, conducted on both paved bike paths and bikepacking adventures, focused on three key criteria to determine the best bike bell:
- Tone Quality: The sound of a bike bell is paramount. It should be pleasant and effective – not jarring, too quiet, excessively high-pitched, or muffled. A good tone is crucial for being heard without being disruptive.
- Versatile Compatibility: A bike bell must integrate seamlessly with different bike setups. It needs to work with various handlebar diameters, bag configurations, and cable routing without interference.
- Intuitive Operability: The best bike bell should be easy to use in terms of both its interface (the lever or mechanism to ring the bell) and its positioning on the handlebars for quick access.
Based on these criteria, we tested and reviewed the following five bike bells, presented in alphabetical order:
Top Bike Bell Reviews: 5 Contenders Tested
1. Knog Oi Bike Bell
Knog, renowned for its innovative lights and cycling accessories, challenged the conventional bike bell design. They sought to create a bell that was both aesthetically pleasing and audibly effective. The result is the Knog Oi, a departure from the traditional dome shape, featuring a sleek, cylindrical design made from alloy with a plastic clamp that subtly integrates with your handlebars.
Best Bike Bell, Knog Oi
The Oi comes in two sizes: a larger 31.8mm version for near the stem and a smaller 22.2mm size ideal for positioning next to shifters or brake levers on flat bars. Shims are included to adapt the larger bell to 25.4mm or 26mm bars. Installation is straightforward with a single Allen bolt, requiring no removal of grips or controls. We favored the smaller size for mountain bikes, allowing thumb-activated ringing without shifting hand position. On flat bars, the larger size necessitates reaching towards the stem, whereas the smaller version keeps operation within easy thumb’s reach. The spring-loaded lever, though plastic, proved durable over 600 miles of testing. The Oi’s design incorporates a cable channel, making the larger size suitable for drop bars, accommodating cable routing.
Best Bike Bell, Knog Oi
Best Bike Bell, Knog Oi
Best Bike Bell, Knog Oi
The Knog Oi small produces a pleasant, medium-pitched cylindrical ring. It’s moderately loud, the quietest in this test group, yet sufficiently audible. It effectively alerted pedestrians from a considerable distance of 10-20 feet. The Oi is available in various anodized metal finishes: brass, silver, black, and copper.
Best Bike Bell, Knog Oi small
Knog Oi Bike Bell – Key Features:
- Weight (small): 17g (0.6oz)
- Tone: Medium to High
- Price: $19.95
- Manufactured In: China
- Website: knog.com.au
2. The Orp Bike Horn
The Orp is not a traditional bike bell; it’s a battery-powered bike horn, a significant departure from the other bells in this review. It generates two digital sounds: a ‘friendly’ “bleep-bloop” reminiscent of submarine sonar, and a louder, more assertive buzzer. In my experience, the Orp proved a bit too intense for everyday use.
ORP Bike Horn
During testing on a busy trail, even the “friendly” 75db setting startled a pedestrian into the bushes – the 96db setting could be truly alarming. While the pedestrian was understanding, it highlighted the Orp’s potentially startling nature. However, the Orp offers features beyond just sound. It includes two integrated 70-lumen LEDs that activate with the horn and feature five modes, powered by a USB-rechargeable battery with a claimed three-hour runtime at full 140-lumen constant output. It’s essentially a combination light and horn.
ORP Bike Horn
ORP Bike Horn
ORP Bike Horn
The Orp’s body and strap are made of a flexible jelly rubber, available in various colors, including the “Snot Green” tested. It also includes a “RemOrp,” a wired remote that can be positioned near your shifter for thumb operation, particularly useful for drop bars. The Orp might be suitable for commuters or cyclists needing a more assertive sound for “defensive” cycling. However, for casual greetings or polite path sharing, it may be too aggressive.
The Orp Bike Horn – Key Features:
- Weight: 89g (3.17oz)
- Tone: Loud! (Digital Horn)
- Price: $65
- Manufactured In: China
- Website: OrpLand.com
3. Spurcycle Bell
Spurcycle aimed to revolutionize the bicycle bell in 2014, addressing issues like unwanted ringing from bumps and bulky designs. Their goal was to refine the traditional bell into a smaller, more effective, and streamlined form. The Spurcycle Bell quickly gained recognition, evidenced by its successful Kickstarter campaign, raising over $330,000.
Best Bicycle Bell, Spurcycle Bell
They succeeded in their mission. The Spurcycle Bell is beautifully crafted from stainless steel, aluminum, and brass, with a rubber dampener for handlebar contact. This all-metal construction is a notable contrast to the plastic components found in many other bells. The dome-shaped bell uses a top Allen bolt and interchangeable metal straps (one for drop bars and 31.8mm bars, another for smaller bars or grip-side mounting) for secure attachment. Its streamlined design integrates well with various handlebar setups and bikepacking bags.
Best Bicycle Bell, Spurcycle Bell
Best Bicycle Bell, Spurcycle Bell
Best Bicycle Bell, Spurcycle Bell
Made in the USA, the Spurcycle Bell is available in silver ($49) and black ($59). It’s arguably the most aesthetically pleasing bell in this group and produces a clear, resonant sound. Its pitch is higher than others, which, while not a major drawback, is something to consider based on personal preference. It’s also the loudest bell tested, excluding the Orp. Sound samples are available on Spurcycle’s website, although online recordings often don’t fully capture the true sound quality.
Best Bicycle Bell, Spurcycle Bell
Spurcycle Bell – Key Features:
- Weight: 42g (1.48oz)
- Tone: Sustained High Pitch (Loudest of Group)
- Price: $59
- Manufactured In: USA
- Website: Spurcycle.com
4. Timberbell
The Timberbell offers a unique approach to trail awareness. Its design arose from a near-accident experience, highlighting the need for continuous audible signaling on trails, particularly on winding singletrack. The Timberbell works using a small metal ball inside a steel bell, suspended by a semi-stiff cable.
Timber Mountain Bike Bell
When “unlocked,” the ball moves freely with trail vibrations, producing a pleasant, cowbell-like “ding.” A lever allows you to “lock” the bell for quiet riding or adjust the ringing frequency. On winding trails or descents, the Timberbell provides continuous warning to others. It’s particularly useful on multi-use trails, promoting responsible trail sharing.
Timber Mountain Bike Bell
Timber Mountain Bike Bell
Timber Mountain Bike Bell
The Timberbell produces a pleasing, full-bodied sound. It’s available in bolt-on and quick-release versions for around $20, both easy to install without grip removal. Even on smooth terrain, the bell can be rung by slightly shaking the handlebars.
Timber Mountain Bike Bell
Timberbell – Key Features:
- Weight (O-ring version): 70g (2.47oz)
- Tone: Cowbell-ish / Pleasant / Full
- Price: $20
- Manufactured In: China
- Website: mtbbell.com
5. Van Nicholas Titanium Bike Bell
Van Nicholas, known for their high-end titanium bikes, created a unique bike bell crafted entirely from titanium. While not the most user-friendly in terms of operation, it excels in design and aesthetics. It features a four-piece titanium construction: the bell welded to a threaded rod, a two-part mount with a spring lever, and a single T20 bolt. The design is elegantly minimalist and visually striking.
Van Nicholas Titanium Bike Bell
Van Nicholas offers two sizes; we tested the larger version, designed for the 31.8mm handlebar section or drop bars. A smaller 22.2mm version is available for grip-side mounting on flat bars.
Van Nicholas Titanium Bike Bell
Van Nicholas Titanium Bike Bell
Van Nicholas Titanium Bike Bell
The Van Nicholas bell produces a pleasant, medium-high pitch sound that isn’t overly loud. A slight buzzing from the spring lever is a minor detail. Priced at 89 Euros, it’s the most expensive bell in this test, justified by its all-titanium construction and premium design.
Van Nicholas Titanium Bike Bell
Van Nicholas Titanium Bike Bell – Key Features:
- Weight: 34g (1.2oz)
- Tone: Medium-High / Not Too Loud
- Price: 89€
- Manufactured In: The Netherlands
- Website: vannicholas.com
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Bike Bell for Your Needs
So, which bike bell emerges as the top choice? In terms of pitch, the Spurcycle Bell rings highest, followed by the Van Nicholas, Timberbell, and the Knog Oi small, which has the deepest tone. The Spurcycle and Timberbell offer the purest sound quality. While both metal bells, the Spurcycle’s ring sustains longer, whereas the Van Nicholas’ lever introduces a slight vibration. The Oi’s plastic clamp slightly dampens its sound, yet it remains pleasant and effective.
Regarding bag compatibility, the Oi, Spurcycle, and Timberbell all offer versatile mounting and are generally bag-friendly. The Orp’s positioning is limited to the 31.8mm handlebar section, while the Timberbell (clamp version) and Spurcycle can be mounted closer to the grips. The Oi and Van Nicholas are available in two sizes, catering to both 31.8mm/drop bars and grip-side mounting.
Initially, the Knog Oi small was my favorite. At $20, it’s lightweight, has a pleasant and effective tone, looks stylish, and is unobtrusive, working well with bags and cables. However, after more extended use, the Timberbell has become the most frequently used and appreciated bell, particularly for trail riding. Its continuous ringing is excellent for trail etiquette and even deterring wildlife. The Spurcycle remains an excellent choice for those prioritizing classic aesthetics and a high-pitched, loud ring. One consideration: the Oi might be less effective in loud urban environments. For city cycling requiring a louder bell, the Spurcycle might be preferable.
Ultimately, the “best bike bell” depends on your individual needs and riding style. Whether you prioritize sleek design, loud projection, or trail-specific functionality, there’s a bike bell in this review to suit your cycling adventures.
We acknowledge that this isn’t an exhaustive test of every bike bell available. If you have a personal favorite, we encourage you to share it in the comments below!
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