Over the years I've bought numerous versions of these style bell both for me and wife / children but they never seem to last, the main problem seems to be the plastic pinger breaks or breaks away from the spring ...
I wonder if this isn't helped by the bikes being in the garage over the winter and the cold makes the plastic brittle but I end up replacing them virtually annually and they usually snap just when you need them.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bicycle-B...3-u7SkpEOR2T4g

Cateye produce one ..... is it safe to assume they're better quality / will last as they're from a reputable name or will this likely suffer the same end in approximately a year
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cateye-Bike.../dp/B002Z7EDKY

Was tempted with one of these as they're all metal although they seem to be designed for the left side of the bike and I'd prefer the right ... that said left may be more practical as you're more likely to be wanting to change gears with the right
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Retr...GFcn-5bIm_p-og

I wonder if these could be a good alternative again as they're all metal and probably what I'm favouring from a practical point at the moment
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Newest-Ro...vurgjsyutLNFQg

I really like the look of these although again I wonder if the plastic pinger won't last and in which case it's quite a bit to spend if it's just going to break in a short ish period of time ....
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knog-Oi-Cla...LSA?th=1&psc=1

There are other much cheaper copies of the above but I guess they'll just be lesser quality

Very tempted with an air horn which could be fun with pedestrians in cycle lanes

If anybody has some recommendations of something has a "reasonable" level of sound that'll last it'd be much appreciated.

The best way I've gotten around the law of needing a bell on a bike here in Australia is to use one of these things. If one must use a bell it may as well look like you're not using one. It goes under your barfly out front mount and its compatible with all barfly mountable devices. If anyone is wondering my rear light act as reflectors also so two birds down with one stone and no worries from the police about not having a bell or reflectors.

https://hidemybell.cc/en/assortiment/?v=6cc98ba2045f

I'm a big fan of the Spurcycle bell. It's a single dinger and louder than any other I've seen. Also, it's designed to fit on a wide range of tubing sizes.

Must admit I was just looking at those on youtube videos and really like them but £50 Think I'd try something cheaper 1st and if I think that's going to fail stick one of those on a B'day list but it just seems like a ridiculous amount to spend on a bell.

. oops

IMO,

Being LOUD does not necessarily make for a good bell.

Being recognizable and reacting positively is what gets the job done without being obnoxious. Smiles, waves, thank you AND moving out of the way are the reactions to this bell that I have......

Must admit I had thought about one of these which for a slightly portly 54 year old wearing lycra thought might get a few smiles

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yakamoz-Cyc...958293&sr=1-11

Possibly with one of these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CHILDRENS-S...0MRZW8J3PNKSWB

And one of these to go with it

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turbospoke-..._encoding=UTF8

On a lightly more serious note I think I'm going to go with a Rockbros bell ... if anyone knows of any issues with these if they could let me know but seems quite reasonable and all metal for less than £10.

You might want to read the reviews on amazon. There appeared to a lot of negative ones to start off.

https://www.amazon.com/RockBros-Retr...ustomerReviews

I normally look at the reviews but for some reason didn't so thank you for that ... maybe they're cheap copies of the Rockbros

Last year I bought a crane brand bell produced in Japan. I got the suzu model and it produces a lovely ring. It is somewhat large and all metal, cost was about 20 dollars.

I've had this for about a month & it is doing well. Works for my green way riding to move people to side of path.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'd go with the Rockbros as a 2nd choice. It's ok and reasonable price. But Spurcycle is just one of a kind. Harmony and present moment in one ring. It's that good. I ring it at pedestrians, I ring it at crows to get out of the way and I ring it just to make myself smile

I'm not in UK, I got mine from Incredibell, over here . https://www.mirrycle.com/incredibell-bells/

the grip bell on 1 side grip shifter on the other,, or the little Original one on my Quill stem drop bar bikes..

Incredibell: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mirrycle-In...ds=incredibell

I’m 90% sure that I’m going to go with a Crane Suzu as I can’t find a bad 1 or 2 star review of them anywhere … most are 4 or 5 star and at the end of the day I just need something that’s simple and works reliably so fingers crossed.

Thanks for everyone's input … much appreciated and happy riding to all

Buy a Crane suzu and be done with it. Wonderful pleasant sound, long ring, loud, will last a lifetime. It's the Mercedes Benz of bells. Or maybe Lexus is more appropriate since they are made in Japan.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crane-Suzue.../dp/B001MS2KHA

The bad thing about those bells is that they're cheap. The plastic dinger does tend to break off over time. The good thing about them is that they're cheap. I though I bought a couple for $1 apiece from Amazon. However, the last cheap bell I bought was made differently and of better quality. It's one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Mirrycle-Incr...YSJDD3Y3G&th=1

Instead of having a plastic dinger you have to flip with your thumb, and which will eventually break off, you just pull the trigger and it gives you a "ding ding" sound. I took it apart and it has a clapper inside on a spring which, though the bell is cheap, will last a lot longer. Plus this one is LOUD compared to the cheapies I had before.

But it does get noticed a lot easier, especially on busy streets or when people have headphones in.

See my post 1 above yours

Beware of imitations, if it's a Crane it will be have their name stamped on it. Sure a bell is a bell, how much difference does it really make?

I support anyone that takes great pride in what they make. The people at Crane are very proud of the work quality and sound quality of their product.

Hear it:


Buy it:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Soma-Crane-...ss!40203!US!-1

Cheers for that I'll double check it when it arrives, this is the link where I bought it from
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I guess the Die Cut is just a slightly "nicer" mount compared to the steel band with some cushioning to stop scratching but maybe just a few grams heavier??

Think this will become another part of the addiction, can see I'll end up having to have one of every one out there and test one vs the other .... I saw some Lezyne one's I was quite interested in as well and had metal pingers which would probably outlast the cheaper ones.

EDIT: ... Just seen reviews on the Lezyne one's .... maybe they don't look so good after all.

I got one like this for Christmas. Mount it on your bike and you get a permanent Fred card.

I'm Lovin It

I have one too. Specs were developed by bikers for bikers. Spurcycle is the best, and it’s made in America.