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Bells (the noisemakers, not the helmets)

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Bells (the noisemakers, not the helmets)

Old 12-17-19, 12:23 AM
  #26  
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Knog Oi bell or cheaper copy you can find on eBay if you want sleek design...

Best looking, and best sounding IMHO, Crane E-Ne bell, or Spurcycle bell.

Loudest, Crane Suzu, Crane Riten and Lion Urban.
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Old 12-17-19, 02:36 AM
  #27  
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I have bought most of the clone/copy Oi-lookalikes on fleabay but they've only copied the silhouette, none work or sound the same as the proper original.
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Old 12-17-19, 03:26 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by tkamd73
Loud voice better than a bell any day, at least for me. My ears are ringing all the time. But, if you have to get that, inner Pee Wee Herman out, go for it. The ear bud thing negates anything though.
Tim
No its not. Yelling is the worst thing you can do since your voice will just startle people. Or they will freeze like a deer caught in the headlights trying to figure out what all the shouting is about. A bike bell, on the other hand, is instantly recognized as a bike approaching by most of the population. No analysis necessary.

Last edited by KraneXL; 12-17-19 at 09:14 AM. Reason: spelling
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Old 12-17-19, 08:45 AM
  #29  
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I have Incredibells from Mirrycle on most of my bikes. I like the Brass Duet model best. These are relatively inexpensive, but have a nice tone. If you buy on Amazon, be careful. Many of the Incredibells are counterfeit (any ones other than the black, chrome, and brass) and are not of the same quality.

Those Lion bells look sweet.
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Old 12-17-19, 09:40 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by tcs
Lion. Word. Alpha and omega. Sustain into next week. Endorsed by Quasimodo. Suitable for ringing the Nine Tailors. Has a written part in Josef Strauss' Vélocipéde Polka.

I generally hate bells on bikes, but this is a great post!
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Old 12-17-19, 09:46 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by KraneXL
No its not. Yelling is the worst thing you can do since your voice will just startle people. Or they will freeze like a deer caught in the headlights trying to figure out what all the shouting is about. A bike bell, on the other hand, is instantly recognized as a bike approaching by most of the population. No analysis necessary.

You post a variation of this every time the subject comes up, and it's completely the opposite from my experience and really contrary to logic. I've seen person after person have to explain to the pedestrian what to do after they ring their bell, and the vast majority of people I encounter do the right thing when I announce "passing on your left". There's an advantage to the human voice, you can actually use words. Ringing a bell tells the pedestrian you're there, but doesn't tell them what to do about it.
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Old 12-17-19, 01:11 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by KraneXL
No its not. Yelling is the worst thing you can do since your voice will just startle people. Or they will freeze like a deer caught in the headlights trying to figure out what all the shouting is about. A bike bell, on the other hand, is instantly recognized as a bike approaching by most of the population. No analysis necessary.
Who said anything about yelling? A polite, on your left or right, seems to work quite well, although yelling does work quite well with actual deer. With a bell, if I do hear it, I’m wondering what kind of ice cream I want.
Tim

Last edited by tkamd73; 12-17-19 at 01:15 PM.
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Old 12-17-19, 01:16 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by tkamd73
Who said anything about yelling? A polite, on your left or right, seems to work quite well, although yelling does work quite well with actual deer.
Tim
I've had to yell at cyclists on the wrong side of the path engrossed in conversation or whatever, oblivious to the fact that they were about to have a head-on collision with me. Not too worried about tact in that situation. Works like a charm.

Yelling also works with wild turkeys, but best if it's a gobble-gobble scream.
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Old 12-17-19, 02:17 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by JoeTBM
Speaking of Bells

I would like to add an electronic version of a bicycle tingle bell as a second horn on the shop vehicle. Anyone ever seen a 12vdc unit?
I have a car horn on my e-bike. Any e-bike can use one with a step-down voltage module of the relevant voltage.

The problem with it is that pedestrians don't seem to think it's for them, more assume it's a motorist moaning at another one, as i ride cycleways/MUP only. So i also have a classic two-ring bell (not the modern single ping type), and usually get a better response from the right people - seemingly because they know instantly that it's a bicycle..
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Old 12-17-19, 02:23 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by MikeyMK
I have a car horn on my e-bike. Any e-bike can use one with a step-down voltage module of the relevant voltage.

The problem with it is that pedestrians don't seem to think it's for them, more assume it's a motorist moaning at another one, as i ride cycleways/MUP only. So i also have a classic two-ring bell (not the modern single ping type), and usually get a better response from the right people - seemingly because they know instantly that it's a bicycle..
I'm not looking for a car horn to mount on a bike, I'm looking for an electronic version (12v) Bicycle bell (tingle-tingle) to use on my portable shop vehicle when we do charity service work.
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Old 12-17-19, 02:30 PM
  #36  
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Old 12-17-19, 02:39 PM
  #37  
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Are there bells that still work well when they get wet? I've got a Spurcycle, an Incredibell adjustabell, and some random generic cheapos. All of them make more of a thud than a clear resonating ring when it's raining.
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Old 12-17-19, 02:46 PM
  #38  
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It depends on how 'racy' you want your bike to look. The 'Incredibell' (and other similar ones) are great if you want a sleek and unobtrusive bell to satisfy laws (bells are required by law if you ride ont he road in my jurisdiction). They are also generally loud enough to alert your approach to anyone no wearing earbuds.

Other bells mentioned here, like the Lion pictured, can be a beautiful accessory for a more casual looking and riding bike, or for a touring or vintage-styled bike. And the clear "Brringg-Chinnng" of most more elaborate bells is like an international signal for 'BICYCLE COMING!', compared to the 'PING!' of simpler bells that is heard but sometimes not immediately recognized as a bike.

Whatever bell you get, I expect you will find you use it much more often than your might think, especially on MUPs.
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Old 12-18-19, 07:56 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by Wilfred Laurier
...bells are required by law if you ride on the road in my jurisdiction
Different jurisdictions and locales have different requirements for bicycles, but for international cycle tourists, there are just three requirements to ride your bike into another country: a brake, a bell and a headlamp & rear red reflector.

International Convention on Road Traffic

Vienna, Austria November 8, 1968

Chapter V

CONDITIONS FOR THE ADMISSION OF CYCLES AND MOPEDS TO INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC

ARTICLE 44

Cycles without an engine in international traffic shall:
(a)Have an efficient brake
(b) Be equipped with a bell capable of being heard at a sufficient distance, and carry no other audible warning device;
(c) Be equipped with a red reflecting device at the rear and with devices such that the cycle can show a white or selective-yellow light to the front and a red light to the rear.
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Old 12-18-19, 08:09 PM
  #40  
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I had a bell once and ended up hardly using it... then it fell apart. I usually just say "on your left" or make funny noises like Taz or something. People tend to notice something going "glurgity blechooha" coming up behind them. I am thinking if I can get this ratrod build together; a small klaxon horn.
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Old 12-18-19, 08:47 PM
  #41  
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Long ago, I had bulb horns on my bikes, but you can't get a well-made one anymore. The good ones worked great.
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Old 12-18-19, 09:01 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by BobbyG
I love that. I bet it makes all people above a certain age look for a phone ringing.
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Old 12-19-19, 07:59 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by tcs
Different jurisdictions and locales have different requirements for bicycles, but for international cycle tourists, there are just three requirements to ride your bike into another country: a brake, a bell and a headlamp & rear red reflector.

International Convention on Road Traffic

Vienna, Austria November 8, 1968

Chapter V

CONDITIONS FOR THE ADMISSION OF CYCLES AND MOPEDS TO INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC

ARTICLE 44

Cycles without an engine in international traffic shall:
(a)Have an efficient brake
(b) Be equipped with a bell capable of being heard at a sufficient distance, and carry no other audible warning device;
(c) Be equipped with a red reflecting device at the rear and with devices such that the cycle can show a white or selective-yellow light to the front and a red light to the rear.

Look, ma, no horns!
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Old 12-19-19, 08:02 AM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by FiftySix
I love that. I bet it makes all people above a certain age look for a phone ringing.

Honestly, if I heard one of those behind me, I'd probably think it was a ring tone.
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Old 12-19-19, 08:38 AM
  #45  
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Old 12-19-19, 09:06 AM
  #46  
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SpurCycle. Get the genuine article....the knockoffs invariably suck in either sound, or in durability, or both.

People with air horns make me want to put a steel pipe in their front wheel. And equally, no pedestrian likes being yelled at--whether legally correct or not.
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Old 12-19-19, 09:50 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
SpurCycle. Get the genuine article....the knockoffs invariably suck in either sound, or in durability, or both.

People with air horns make me want to put a steel pipe in their front wheel. And equally, no pedestrian likes being yelled at--whether legally correct or not.

I don't "yell at", I speak loudly, and pedestrians often thank me for it. If it weren't possible to make one's self audibly loud without being unpleasant, there would be no theater.
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Old 12-19-19, 11:36 AM
  #48  
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Get the cheap round Bell that all bike shops and even places like Kmart sell. It sounds like bring bring, pedestrians universally understand that Bell. They will move over without even looking backwards because they know there's a bicycle in back of them and it's not an obnoxious air horn or some other contraption that idiot bike riders have =13pxAnd you don't an artisanal, curated very expensive Bell.
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Old 12-19-19, 11:47 AM
  #49  
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I'm a Spurcycle fan, but for your purposes a Rockbros copy would be a good choice.

I have both, & the copy has held up fine. Not quite as good a ring as the original, but still substantially better than Crane, etc. etc. etc..

Last edited by woodcraft; 12-19-19 at 11:51 AM.
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Old 12-19-19, 11:56 AM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
I don't "yell at", I speak loudly, and pedestrians often thank me for it. If it weren't possible to make one's self audibly loud without being unpleasant, there would be no theater.
People expect to be yelled or exclaimed at/to in a theater show.

People on a quiet walk on a secluded MUT don't. Purely anecdotal, but I get far more waves and smiles with a bell-ding than I ever did shouting. And what is more...people don't leap to their left like they do if you say "on your left" or "passing left". In My Fair City, of 300,000 or so, in 10 years, I've had a grand total of one grumpy old fart shout "ON YOUR LEFT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE PAL!" after a bell ring.
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