Bike bell
 

Anyone use a bell when riding whether it be simple errand running, leisure, commuting? I was an early adopter for the Spurcycle bell which turned out to be a good bell. While browsing Kickstarter as I always do, I came across a new concept for a bell from Knog. I liked the concept that i ended up pledging for two of these bells because the look is something new and different. It sounds just like my Spurcycle in terms of pitch but sounds like it carries a little longer. Here's the link for who ever wants to check it out.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ke-a-bike-bell

I am against kickstarted projects on principle, and I am especially biased against established companies like Knog using crowd-funding to generate capital by prototyping neat, cool, swag that never sees production. How much of that money gets returned to the want to be early adopters? One source I know of says very little money ever makes its way back to the people that put money into crowd-funded projects that don't make it to market.

I pledged for two as well! I don't necessarily see a problem with established companies using kickstarter. If anything that should guarantee a pretty good product...and hopefully a bit of a lower production cost. They met their finding goal in like 24 hours.
I think one of these will look good on my Fred Sled

I just watched the "bell off," and something is "off." I have the third bell they tested, and the one they have sounded nothing like mine. Mine is loud and rings nicely, and the one they have sounds like it is filled with paper or something. I'm not saying that they altered it, or that their Oi isn't nice, but that bell isn't indicative of reality.

I like it, but already have bells. Double the price of the competition. I'd have to try one in person to make sure it is loud enough. Maybe they will be in stores in the next year.

They aren't that expensive....remember the kickstarter prices are showing the price in Aussie dollars, and not USD.

So, you don't like Kickstarter. Yet, you seem to know nothing about how they operate. You wonder "how much of that money gets returned". Hmmm............I've never been charged the first dime until the funding base was met. Nothing has ever been taken from me until a project was funded and I have NEVER failed to receive the gizmo that I pledged to support. ONCE IT WAS FUNDED AND READY TO GO INTO PRODUCTION.

Knog is not a production giant and I would assume has the items manufactured in China or similar environment. I use one of their locks and love it.

YMMV

To each it's own. I've pledged for multiple items on KS and have gotten all my items that have gotten funded as gregjones mentioned. I think it's ok for companies like Knog to use KS. It's a situation that they just want to see if the interest is there. Some companies have unrealistic goals on KS. I've seen plain items want 100k in funding to launch a product. Knog put their goal at a simple 15k Aussie to see if the interest was there, which translates to 400 bells being made on average. They see the interest is there so that's a good thing. That's my perception of established companies using KS.

I got the Spurcycle bell on Kickstarter, and quite like it, though the price was kind of ridiculous. I haven't gotten around to getting a bell for my second bike. The Spurcycle price is now even more ridiculous ($50 for a bike bell, really?), so that's out. This one looks pretty good. I'm not sure what my handlebar diameter is though...

What kind of bike do you have and I may be able to help you determine which size you need, of course if you pledge.

What kind of bell do you have please?, I am looking for a good old style loud brass long sounding bell, Thanks.

Thanks for the offer to help. It's Tern Verge P20 folding bike. I managed to look up the specs online: 22.8mm center section, 22.2mm grip area. I guess the small would work.

The small size fits on a 22.2mm bar (mountain bike/flat bars) and the large sounds like it adjustable up to 31.8 (road bars)

I have both a Crane and Velo Orange brass bell and both look/sound great.

A bell? I couldn't imagine that a bell would ever be loud enough, so I never even considered one. I want something loud enough for someone to hear from inside a car, so I use an airhorn. The thing works great. I highly recommend it.

I once had an a**hole back out of his driveway, directly in front of me. without even looking. Since I was clipping along at about 25mph, I wasn't willing to slam on my brakes (or ditch the bike into the grass, risking injury). I blasted my airhorn, and it scared the crap out of him so badly that he pulled back into his driveway, part-way onto his own grass.

I mean it isn't like Knog is a multinational brand with sellers in 46 countries....Oh wait...

I bought a red Crane bell at my bike shop because I liked the color. In fact, I liked the color so much that I changed my bar tape and saddle to match it. (I just happened to have a saddle and tape that were the same color.) Although I bought it primarily for appearances, it is actually an excellent bell, the best one I have ever used. You can modulate the volume very well by how hard you spring the clapper. It also has a very pleasant but loud ring that is "friendly" rather than harsh. I like it so much I might buy another one for one of my other bikes.

It does seem a bit odd that an established company is using Kickstarter to fund a new product. Always assumed it was for startups that didn't have a source of capital to do the R&D and initial production. In comparison, I just ordered a product from this company, and they are doing it the old school way, where they do all the work, take all the risk and get all the reward. I prefer dealing with a company that puts it all on the line, rather than asking their customers to front the money.

Tanpan ? wolftoothcomponents.com

Knog ain't the first.

Canonical and its billionaire tech playboy owner, Shuttleworth, crowdfunded $32million USD for an Ubuntu OS phone that never went anywhere. Shell companies have gotten so ubiquitous that no one really knows who is actually on the other end that no one knows or even looks or thinks who it is that is on the other end of the check.

Here is the one I have. http://www.amazon.com/Mirrycle-Incre...le+Incredibell

It works well, although there are many out there that work well. If you want an old style brass bell, they are out there. I have thought about getting one, but this one works well for me. I like the look of the brass bells though. Rivbike.com had them, amazon does too. Here is a link to the bells Rivebike.com carry. Lugged Steel Bicycles, Wool Clothing, Canvas Bike Bags & Brooks Saddles & from Rivendell Bicycle Works

Typically one uses a bell for pedestrians, and fellow cyclists on MUTs, bike lanes, and quite residential roads. I can't imagine ringing a bell at a vehicle on a busy road either. It's simply not the task its intended for, any more than the airhorn would be for an elderly person on a path.

I have the Spurcycle bell, and it's great, although the price tag was crazy. But I would buy it again simply because there is nothing else out there that fits 31.8mm bars and is as loud. I had a look at the Oi bell, and it seems that it has a plastic striker, which I don't like. The Spurcycle bell is all-metal and is built really well.

Agreed. Last year a guy blasted me with an air horn to signal his intent to pass three-wide while I was already passing someone else on a fairly narrow MUP. I made my displeasure abundantly clear, and needless to say, the air horn did not encourage me to make room. You want to pass three-wide? Do it on the grass or in the bushes.

What a great country we live in - if you don't like it, then just don't participate. I've participated in numerous ones and I have yet to be stiffed on anything. I think it's a great source of venture capital for the little guy and for the little guy to participate.

For existing companies (especially small ones), it's a great way to market test a concept and to see if there is market interest.

Agree. It's a great bell.