Best bike bells for commuting, road riding, mountain biking
The best bike bells are the perfect way to alert others to your presence, navigate through traffic, and ride safely on the trails. Most are inexpensive, convenient, and fit almost any handlebar. But others are impeccable, stand out from the crowd, and at the same time get the job done.
You can find shiny, expensive bike bells with a retro look or little thumb pieces that add flair. There are even bike horns, which are loud enough to be heard by cars and alert others as you speed down a mountain bike trail.
Many cyclists find bells off-putting due to their appearance. Still, the latest generation of bike bell technology includes some impressive little gadgets, many of which can almost be hidden behind a cable or under a handlebar. Bells help increase bicyclist safety, both for the bicyclist and surrounding pedestrians. Starting with a few pounds, we’ve put together a list of the best bells for cycling, and then at the end of this article, we’ll help you determine which one is best for you.
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The best bike bells available today
[amazon bestseller=”bike bells” item=”5″ template=”table”]
1. Best Overall: Trigger Bell – Single Bell for Safer Bike
A carefully placed hood for safety and convenience.
Price: £9.99 | Noise: Medium Loud | Weight: 26g | Colour: Black | Size: 4.6 x 3.2 x 2.5 centimeters
convenient placement
Safe
Accessible
The sound is not as loud when wet
Mounting on the left hood of the drop bars, this affordable brass hood is meant to increase safety as much as it makes noise. Ideal for trail rides, city streets or busy bike lanes, the Trigger Bell is said to improve driving safety and be small and unobtrusive. It doesn’t have to go on your hoods either – the mount is designed to fit 20-40mm handlebars and can be attached to your dropouts or even flat bars.
2. Best Cheap Bell: Bonmixc Bike Bell Brass Mini
Affordable, capable and easy to use
Price: £5.99 / $6.99 | Noise: Clear, Loud, Double Clink | Weight: 47g | Colors: silver, gold | Size: not listed (runs small)
Easy to use mounting
great sound
Price
small amount
Bonmixc Bike Bell is an Amazon bestseller for a good reason. The hood does its job well at a relatively low price while being convenient and aesthetic. Its dual chime is loud enough to alert pedestrians and can be installed in less than a minute. Although it can install on the left or right side of the handlebar, the mount can only fit handlebars with an outer diameter of 21-23mm, making it unsuitable for bikes with thick handlebars.
3. Best Road Bike Bell: Spurcycle Original Vintage Bell
A stylish and great looking hood with a premium price tag
Price: £49.99 / $49.99 | Noise: loud, high quality | Weight: 45g | Colors: black, silver, brass | Size : 2.5 cm high x 3 cm wide
variable setting
old school look
noise quality
Price
Mount may scrape on bar
There are a few bells that we have found that are as impressive as the Spurcycle Original Vintage bell. The hood takes up little space, has a vintage design and adapts to various positions and styles. Sounding close to 100 decibels, drivers or pedestrians can even hear the bell in a crowded city. The only limits to the Spurcycle are in its mounts. Only two available (made for 31.8mm and 22.2mm handlebars) can scratch your handlebars. While the price may put many off, those who can afford it will enjoy a high-quality hood that performs as impressively as it looks.
4. The best mountain bike bell: Timber! mountain bike bell
The best mountain bike bell can also use in and around the city.
Price: £24.50 / $24.50 | Noise: Steady bell (can be turned off) | Weight: 69g | Colors: black | Size: not listed (mount + cowbell)
Built for MTB
Continuous Noise Option
stable on handlebar
a bit bulky
heavier than others
You specifically designed for mountain biking and trail riding, the Timber! Mountain Bike Trail Bell emits a continuous chime sound that quickly turns on or off. Its unique design is convenient for mountain bikers and those who ride on busy trails because you won’t have to move your hand or thumb to ring the bell constantly. Instead, the unit works independently, leaving you free to destroy trails while safely alerting others to your presence.
5. Most attractive hood: Lion Urban
A beautiful bicycle bell made of copper, zinc and nickel alloy that sounds as beautiful as it looks
Price: £18.00 | Noise: loud ding, lasts 20 seconds | Weight: not quoted | Colours: brass | Size: 55mm diameter
Handsome
Strong
High-quality materials.
Price
A classic bicycle bell straight out of the 19th century, the Lion Urban is as much a work of art as it is a bicycle bell. The ‘ding’ sound is loud and lasts up to 20 seconds, making it perfect for city driving. There are a few different stainless steel handlebar or stem mounts, and you can even have the bell custom engraved.
6. Best Cruiser Bike Bell: Firmstrong Classic Bike Bell
An excellent large bell option for adults and children.
Price: £18.00 / $18.00 | Noise: loud chime | Weight: 1.6oz | Colors: Many Including Blue, Chrome, Black, White, Red, Yellow, and More | Size: 9.3 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
The noise is loud and clear
attractive design
riding versatility
Big
Price
This hood can do it all. Fits road bikes, mountain bikes, kids’ bikes, beach cruisers and more, the Firmstrong Classic Bike Bell is an excellent choice for any rider. It’s a bit larger than other models on this list, so it won’t be as inconspicuous (in case you’re trying to hide the fact that you have a bell on your road bike). You can choose almost any colour, although the price will be off-putting to some.
7. Best Retro Bell: Coil Embossed Ring Bell
A classic looking hood at an affordable price
Price: £7.95 | Noise: Ring ring | Weight: not quoted | Colors: silver, pink, yellow, “duck egg” | Size: 55mm diameter
vintage look
Price
Easy
Bulky
Unlike previous high-end bells, the Coil Embossed Chime Bell is a retro bell at a fraction of the price. It comes in a wide range of styles and colours and easily fits various bikes. Simplicity is key here, and these hoods are perfect for commuters and first-time hood buyers, though they may be a bit too big for road or mountain bikers.
8. Second Best Value Bell: RockBros Stainless Steel Handlebar Bell
Versatile hood that’s loud, stylish, and affordable
Price: £9.99 / $9.99 | Noise: loud | Weight: 47g | Colors: black, silver, gold, copper, bronze | Size: 4.1*3.6*2.7cm
Value
Retro style
One size frame
Practic sense
RockBros bells look and feel similar to the Spurcycle Vintage Bell but are only a fraction of the price. While Spurcycle leads the charge in originality and quality, RockBros offers a valuable option in many colours and a one-size-fits-all mount that fits almost any bike. The only downside is that RockBros Bell’s lever can be hard to reach, making it better for adults than kids and not the best for a high-speed or traffic-heavy setting.
9. Best Bike Horn: RockBros Electronic Bike Horn/Bell
Loud bike horn for maximum alertness
Price: £8.99 / $8.99 | Noise: 90 decibels | Weight: 33g | Colors: black, blue, red, green, purple | Size: 3.5*3cm
Strong
Neat
Accessible
Replaceable Battery Cost
Stepping away from bike bells for a minute, we have the RockBros electronic bike horn. This little gadget is a beast and has three different tone levels that can be heard by busy cars and pedestrians. The unit is simple and easy to install, waterproof, and has a replaceable lithium battery.
10. Best Value Bell: Nutcase Thumbdinger Bell
A small and affordable bell for all ages.
Price: £8.99 / $8.99 | Noise: polite | Weight: 0.95oz | Colors: black, orange, blue, green | Size: 3 5/8″ x 4 7/8″
clear sound
Little
Accessible
Noise may be too low
Thumbdinger is a pretty good description of Nutcase Bell. Instead of a loud horn, ‘dong’ or chime, the Nutcase Thumbdinger is much more subtle. It can alert walkers in the bike lane without startling them, and they’re cheap enough to buy for the whole family. The bell is small and stylish and can fit a variety of adult and children’s bikes.
What to look for in a bicycle bell
Now that we’ve covered the range of the best bike bells and horns, we’re going to help you find the best one for you. There are a few things to consider when shopping for a bike bell, so let’s get started.
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How loud does my bike bell need to be?
Depending on where you drive, you may need a friendly bell that is just a reminder or a horn that alerts others to your presence. Either way, you’ll want a hood that fits the location. In other words, don’t bring a 90db speaker on a bike path, or you’ll end up scaring a lot of people, and a quiet sound won’t cut through the noise of a busy city. But if you’re tearing up mountain bike trails by cruising through city traffic, a loud horn is precisely what you need.
How much should I spend?
Some options on this list cost ten times more than others, so it’s worth keeping your budget in mind when shopping for a bike bell. The more expensive options are usually higher quality, made from better materials, and look much better. Functionally, they don’t offer more features than the cheaper options, but they are much more attractive.
Do I want it to be hidden or shown?
Do you want to hide the bell of your bicycle or make it known? Some of the earlier bells stand out like a sore thumb, and coloured orbs smacked into the top of our handlebars. While others are slim and sleek, they fit just below or above the bars, and if you route the cables a certain way, it would be tough to spot them. Casual commuters won’t mind the looks of a bike bell, but others will want to keep it hidden on their local ride.
Make sure your bike bell fits.
Before you make your final decision, make sure the bell you want will fit your bike’s handlebars. The bells and horns on this list fit standard handlebars, but some are more limited than others. If you’re buying a kids’ bike, make sure the mount is small enough to fit securely around the handlebars.
Be aware of the durability.
Bike bells can be cheap, under £10/$10 as we’ve seen, but that means some of them are replaceable. A cheap hood won’t be made from top-quality materials, so it won’t last as long if you use it for daily commutes in the rain. A more expensive bell made of steel or brass, for example, will cost a bit more upfront but will probably last you a long time. If you’re shopping for kids, go for the cheapest bell if they break it.
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