auchencrow

A bell is a useful accessory for almost any bike, especially if a lot of your riding is urban /suburban. - Of course, they don't work very well for pedestrians with their i-pods clogging their ear canals. (Anyone offering air-horns for bikes?)

Anyway, there is quite a variety of bike bells, some very plain, others very novel, available over a wide range of prices.

I've purchased a number of these cheap generic colored bells on eBay (below): I like the colors, but I have to say they are prone to breakage.

I've also purchased a few Incredibell brass duet bells from the LBS. These have a nice double tone, and are more durable. (I'd recommend them over the cheap ones.)

What kind of bell do you use/recommend?

that_guy_zach

I like the Japanese brass bells. Nice, Sturdy and loud.

David Newton

In the 1949 French movie "Jour de fete' our hero, Jacques Tati, rode his postal bike with a little bell on a string under the seat, constantly jingling. So charming.
I've thought of doing the same thing with my bike, it is so silent I scare people on the street, but then I would be looked at as a "crazy" I'm sure.

nlerner

For sound and loudness, I really like the Incredibell: https://www.mirrycle.com/incredibell_bells.php

Not very vintage-looking, however.

Neal

southpawboston

my favorite bell is my loudest one. it's this japanese brass bell with spring-loaded cantilever-style striker. it is LOUD, and produces a lovely tone:



a similar brass bell with simpler striker doesn't ring as nicely or loudly:



and finally this japanese aluminum bell is the smallest and quietest of the three, and its tone isn't as pleasant as the brass ones:

cycleheimer

I'm from NY, we just loudly scream "on your left!!!", or "get the #@&% out of the way!!!" Other than that, I have a stem-mounted bell (silver) on my road bike just like the one in the photo.

Bianchigirll 

I like the "Japanese" style with the external striker too. I have one on most of my bikes, I just wish I could find one with a clamp tha fit the bars rather than the stem.

I also usually carry an "Bobbie" style whistle too, sometimes the unique high pitched tone can be heard by cars, sometimes.....

rhm

I just adjust my brakes so they squeal good and loud. Mafacs are the best for that.

that_guy_zach

Haha. When a click of the levers just wont do, make the brakes squeal.

kingsting

I have a big old Lucas bell on my DL-1. It's one of the torpedo shaped jobbies with the trigger on the back. It sounds great!

I'm also a fan of the Incredibells as they are well made and loud.

HSean

My giant Dingdong bell, sure it's pretty big but it makes very nice sounds,

southpawboston

i forgot to mention this big hunk of steel of a bell:



"china bell" rotating bell. it's quite loud, and it keeps clanging for about 5 seconds after it gets spinning.

ColonelJLloyd 

I use a Japanese aluminum bell with the hammer mechanism. I like it. For my Sports, though, I'm looking for a more appropriate bell. I'd like to have a vintage bell that sounds like it has a rotary system inside like the ones I heard while in Amsterdam. Kind of a "cha-ching ching ching" sound. Can anyone point me to that kind of bell?

edit: That's it SPB! Where do I get one of those?

southpawboston

colonel, that's the kind of bell that i had on my dutch bike. it uses an internal spinning striker that strikes the shell by centrifugal force. the mechanism in mine had gummed up and in cold weather the striker wouldn't strike. i think most older dutch bikes came with this type of bell standard:



not sure where you would find one today...

ColonelJLloyd 

This is it, right?

edit: out of stock. Figures.

runningDoc

i just love that having/using a bell is commonplace now. I remember back in the 90's bells were for touring/cruising bikes. Hell even hipsters on their fixies will have bells (however ironic version of a bell they have).

i just use a simple small incredibell on my commuter. it has that super annoying tinny sound.

southpawboston

i don't think that one has the spinning mechanism for that "brrrrrrrring brrrrrrrrring" sound. i think it does more the two-strike "ding-dong" type sound.

ColonelJLloyd 

That's what I'm looking for, the "brrrrrring, brrrrrrring".

Chris_in_Miami

+1

The "brrrrrrrring brrrrrrrrring" bells are usually quite a bit smaller. The trick is finding a good one, the mechanism is a bit more complicated and they tend to get flaky after a while. I like them though, it's easy to produce a constant stream of rings that usually gets results.

An interesting thing I've noticed about the shrieking brake sound is that it causes pedestrians to scramble for safety before they even turn to see what's coming. Bells usually get a more composed reaction, not as entertaining .

Roll-Monroe-Co

The AirZound horn is bulky and hideous, though lightweight. It's so loud the people playing music inside sealed up cars can hear it easily. Its sound is so grating that it is certain to escalate traffic conflicts requiring audible warnings. Recommended.

https://deltacycle.com/Airzound-Bike-Horn

Chris_in_Miami

This is the type you're looking for Colonel. Possibly not in that color...

OTS 

+1 for the Air Zorn.
The guys @ the LBS love it when I show up with that baby!
You can easily stealth up behind someone hoggin' the trail and let'er rip.

BrianEugene

I've been recently wondering if I could mount a small bell to my wrist like a watch and clear the sidewalk when I'm walking, like this guy in Japan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtv2_-2mHck

StephenH

I used a bell for a while and figured out "Passing On Your Left!" worked just as well or better.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I got one of mine from Niagara, its this one https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ducts_id=61258

its the kind with the spinning mechanism inside so it goes brrrring brrrring!

NLerner just kindly sent me a really cool bell shaped like a cheeseburger