There's one on the Bay that looks uncannily like the Knog Luxe that's about a quarter of the price. The hammer is the only thing different I reckon matey running the factory in China that makes them for Knog has a little side hustle going on ? Or are they crap that don't last 5 minutes?
The copy with the plastic hammer is utter garbage.
Are you considering buying it?
The original was pretty rubbish TBH.
If the original is rubbish and the copy is even worse then shan't bother.
Isn't this the bell that Knog financed the initial manufacturing of via a Kickstarter campaign (despite being an established and solvent business at the time)?
The Knog one is rubbish. The fakes are actually slightly better, but still awful.
Having bought a few real and fake posh bells over the last few years, the cheap ones (fake Spur, Crane and Knog) are all a false economy. The springs go weak and the dings are quiet. I bought a Crane E-NE bell which has just about paid for itself by not breaking in a few months and, particularly the matte black one, is very loud.
Are you considering buying it?
If the original is rubbish and the copy is even worse then shan’t bother.
So you were looking to buy the knockoff.
If the original was that much better that's what I'd have gone for .
I've been through lots of bells on various family bikes, the original Knog Oi didn't last but I get on ok with Knog Oi Luxe which is better made. I've yet to break one, we've bought a few now. it's not the loudest but I like the stealth and it's survived riding from enduros and muddy bike packing. The materials are a problem on copies they often rust, bend or snap.
trail_rat
Free Member
I bought a granite designs cricket. not cheap wish I’d done it years ago. Ace for shared path use.
I second this, great little bell and well made
I found this in the garage, forgot I had it ! So old it probably won't fit the bars but I'll try it tomorrow, makes a proper old fashioned ring .
I've a rotating type bell on the commuter, and its the best bell I've had in a long time. Lovely ring to it, not too harsh, not too soft, but because its got a rotating bit to activate it you can give it a simple chime or two or rotate it a lot for a louder sound.
Operates easily on the thumb so you don't need to loosen your grip too much. They cost about a fiver.
I get on ok with a genuine Knog Oi Deluxe, just about loud enough, very discrete. I broke one with my knee in an innocuous low-speed tumble, that hurt, but once I'd found the bits in the mud it all went back together fine.
We have a genuine Spur Cycle bell in the house and one of the fakes. There's no comparison, the real thing is so much better made, sounds louder with longer resonance and is just a quality thing. The fake very much is not, corrodes, looks and feels cheap after a few months, doesn't do the important bit of making a loud ding quite as well.
I use Timber Bells on mountain / gravel bikes though, just a really nice way of attracting attention without creating dissension, or something like that.
Spur Cycle Bell - Small, loud, fits to anything in a multitude of orientations, made of quality materials and all parts available as spares if you crash - accept no substitutes.
Isn’t this the bell that Knog financed the initial manufacturing of via a Kickstarter campaign (despite being an established and solvent business at the time)?
Is that not allowed? I've seen that done elsewhere e.g. peak design do this for camera products.
I've got the Knog Oi Luxe - echo the comments above, well made and nice compact design but a bit quiet. I like it on my MTB because it's not in the way or likely to get caught on anything and does the job for canal towpath duties. If I was buying for gravel/commuter I'd find something louder.
I have a knog oi and a sort of copy, they both work pretty well. The Knog is a bit quiet, the copy isn't as nice looking.
Do you have a link for that rotating bell? I'd like one, but I've only seen the Crane which would not fit on my bars.
Basic Ping bell here that came with the bike. Works fine.
Also, what's with all the bikes with Ducks with helmets, spinny propellers etc.
Looking at the Granite one seems ideal in cowbell mode as I regularly ride through a nature reserve that's usually full of laser focused twitchers , not necessarily on where they are going!
Do you have a link for that rotating bell? I’d like one
Mine came with the bike, so no actual link. Though they are on ebay under 'rotating bicycle bell'
You might have to look about for a uk seller as the ones i see on there are on a Chinese ebay seller.
I have both a genuine Knog one, and a crap Chinese copy. They’re both a bit pony to be honest. The copy is about 90% as good as the real thing so if you really want that type of bell then save the pennies and get a knock-off one.
If you want an actual good bell then the Granite Cricket is quite a bit better.
I also have a Timber bell, which I thought was a great idea but it does seem to confuse people. Especially old people who just seem to carry on walking on the bike-only trail and are then surprised to find a mountain biker coughing politely behind them.
I found the shortcomings of an OEM ? bell yesterday. Riding back into town on a cycle path I dinged it as I approached a pedestrian. With traffic whizzing by I could hardly hear it myself!
Various bells on various bikes. Spur knock offs on 3: the Rockbros version and they have been working well for 4-5 years I think. Could be longer.
Got a Spa headset bell https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s124p3808/SPA-CYCLES-Brass-A-Headset-Spacer-Bell
on my Audax/rough stuff bike and that’s got a lovely ping although I suspect the spring pinger will snap at some point in the next year. I have a Crane bell; the pink one with the cat, that’s probably the most disappointing.
On the Tern GSD which sees probably the most cycle path/pedestrian interaction we have a Rockbros bell and also a pair of cat collar bells hanging from the cables out front. Works like a timber bell. I tend to call out a greeting rather than ping the bell in the most cases; I find it less offensive. Bells often feel to me to be used with entitlement in the way car drivers use their horns. Saying; move out of my way!
Dont get that so much with a greeting.
@shedbrewed see I find the opposite, good morning/afternoon usually gets a " where's your bell " response .
Bells often feel to me to be used with entitlement in the way car drivers use their horns. Saying; move out of my way!
I find the opposite, good morning/afternoon usually gets a ” where’s your bell ” response .
Basically you can't win, some people will always find a way to moan at you.
I didn't used to have a bell and would say "hello excuse me" when approaching people, but once an old lady obviously couldn't hear very well and by the time she realised I was there she got a real shock and I felt terrible about it. So now I ring a bell and shout hello.
Always surprises me that Lionbellworks don't get more of a mention on these threads.
The only company manufacturing bells in Britain I think, proper brass ones, and cheaper than other boutique brands looks Spurcycle.
I've got one on my singlespeed, have opted to let it tarnish as I think it suits the bike better but it will stay shiny with an occasional polish.
The only tiny downside is some people assume it's a phone notification. Either they check their phone or ignore it thinking it's another walkers phone! Although it's also led to a few amusing occasions where said walker has pissed themselves laughing having checked their phone three times!
https://lionbellworks.co.uk/index.php
@oldfart appreciate the point. When asked I point mine out and ping it and then explain why I prefer not to use it. But yeah. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
@spooky that's lovely!
@spooky.
Need Order placed 🙂
I love that Lion bell, thanks.
I've always bought cheap copies (except for a Knog Lux, which to be fair is good), but that looks and sounds like it's worth every penny.