https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...bell?ref=video

Knog is already making enough off sales of existing products to fund startup of this themselves.

I believe there is a thread about this in the Road forum.

I like it. I'll probably buy some, when they get to market. Cool.

Why does a company like Knog need a Kickstarter? I thought that this was for small businesses just getting started?

Legit question, though we don't know Knog's financial position, but the spirit of the thing seems a bit off. You'd think Knog sells enough units they could leverage their market position for very favorable terms from a large Asia manufacturer...but I didn't read the Kickstarter page, so who knows what they want the money for.

One thing for sure: they're getting a whole lot of money, $340k right now, off a $14k goal! At those volumes, they should be very well positioned to launch the product and make a tidy profit.

I feel like they are testing the waters with it, seeing who would be interested in it before they release it. That is not how this works.

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...road-bike.html

That's what Knog essentially said on the kickstarter page. I agree, that this is not how kickstarter is supposed to work but I guess if it works that good for them then it's ok.

Looks a little too "loopy" for older (pre-2000) bikes. I'd rather go with the Spurcycle bell on my road bike.

I own the Spurcycle bell. Funny thing, I noticed that older people did not react to it. Then I got a cold, and actually lost my high frequency hearing range. I would ring the bell and I could not hear it due to the hearing loss. When I would go to a piano, I found that I could not hear the top six keys as they were too high pitched. When I watched the video of the "oi" bell, I could hear the pitch clearly. I sent in the money to Knog, so I could get the bell as soon as possible.

At last! We can be safe without looking like Freds!
I always thought there was a segment of road cyclists who were elitist morons. Now my suspicions are confirmed.

On the one hand, yeah, this isn't really what crowd funding was for.

On the other hand, I want one anyway.

Now this is a pretty cool bell that also does not take up lots of real estate on the bar. I've backed them for 2 bells.

And with an established company like Knog, you're less likely to have a kickstarter go belly-up. And probably the people that pay through the Kickstarter will get a reduced price over those that wait for retail.

GH

Ahem. I said that in jest.

Also, Morover, my objection to bells has always been aesthetic, not philosophical.

hmm, I have a Spurcycle and haven't found that. There are definitely overtones in addition to the core sound, but it is generally a very loud bell. Also, the core sound it not particularly higher than other bells, but to my ears is certainly more resonant. The Knog does seem to have a lower core pitch.

Aesthetically I find the spurcycle just right. No, I don't work for them and I paid for the bell myself. Here it is - Spurcycle Bell

Video about the development of the bell - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n2LeRyyUoM

Listen to the tests of the spurcycle on youtube and compare it to the sound of the Knog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YekLHo7yP8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBb7AGMrfco

Compare the striking mechanism, it looks as though the Knog may use a plastic striker. I would hope that is not the case.

Get what you want, having said all that, the spurcycle is a LOT of money to spend on a bell. I wonder how much the Knog will cost? It makes a nice ring.

I mounted an early 1980 era aluminum bell on my aerobars with a tone that generally has the walker/bicyclist respond with a wave and/or move over before I get to them. Apparently the tone is pleasing to their ears as it is also with dogs.

Right? But I guess asking for $15k and getting a third of a million.. Apparently there's a market out there for curved metal.

To me, function trumps all other consideration, but I also appreciate form, and prefer to have both whenever possible.

This bell looks like a grand slam on both form and function.

I agree, that bell is so attractive and low profile, I'd buy one when they're available. In fact I tried to DIY based on the general idea yesterday, and it's harder than it looks to get a good ring so I'll keep an eye out for the production model.

Really? Having spent a day of DIY, you couldn't pull it off? Looking at it, I was pretty sure the CAD modeling and different prototype bell metals and sizes were just smokescreens to throw people off how easy it really was.
[/snark]

The right one to ask is the pedestrians. "Would you move away if you hear this sound?"

90% of pedestrians have headphones in anyway. I stopped using a bell and calling out my presence. It is a waste of time.

Didn't have the right piece of brass for a good sound, but I did improve on their striker using a wound steel rod and metal piece in-line with the bell curvature instead of sticking out with that plastic. It's not worth spending time to find a better sounding metal strip though.