Top 5 compared
The best bike bells
A quick ring is the friendly way to say ‘bike behind you’ on a shared path.
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The top 5 at a glance
A bike bell is a small dome on the handlebar, rung with a thumb to let people walking ahead know a bike is coming, on towpaths, shared paths and cycle lanes. The Highway Code recommends fitting one. Most are a compact dome with a sprung striker and a short ping; the retro kind has a brass dome and an old-fashioned ring, and some are pressed down rather than flicked.
Each bell here fits a range of bar diameters, given in the table, and a round clamp won’t sit on aero or flat-topped bars. The small Greallthy suits a child’s bike or a scooter with narrow bars. Loudness figures are each maker’s own and aren’t measured the same way, so treat them as a rough guide.
What matters
- Measure the handlebar beside the grip before picking a size.
- A striker the thumb reaches without letting go of the grip.
- A wide thumb pad is easier to find in gloves.
- Spacers or rubber pads, so it doesn’t creep round the bar.
#1CatEye OH-1400 FlexTight Aluminium Bell
Under £10
A tiny 33mm aluminium bell, 25g, that clamps to bars from 22 to 32mm, so it suits a road bike, a commuter or a child’s bike alike. CatEye rates it at 87.7dB, a figure it gives against the ISO standard for bike bells.
What owners say: Owners like how firmly it stays put once fitted and how loud it is for its size, and several mention it suits oversized bars.
A closer look: Fit it just inside the brake lever, where a thumb reaches the striker without letting go of the grip. It can also sit on the same FlexTight bracket as a CatEye light or computer, which saves room on a crowded handlebar.
- 33mm bell
- Weighs 25g
- Shares a CatEye light bracket
Best for: Any bike, small bars to oversized
- Style
- Compact dome
- Handlebar fit
- 22–32mm
- Material
- Aluminium
- Loudness (maker’s figure)
- 87.7dB (ISO-based)
#2ROCKBROS Retro Copper Alloy Bike Bell
£10–£20
A retro metal-domed bell rung by pressing down on a non-slip pick rather than flicking a lever, with two spacers so it fits round bars from 22.2 to 31.8mm.
What owners say: Owners say it rings out loud and clear, keeps ringing after a light press, and has a solid metal feel; a few had one break within days.
Heads up: It’s made for round handlebars, so measure the bar before buying: aero or flat-topped bars won’t take it.
A closer look: Match the spacer to the bar, so the bell sits snug and doesn’t turn when the pick is pressed. The pick is on top, so set it where a thumb rests beside the grip; a gentle press is all it needs.
- Non-slip pick
- Two spacers in the box
- Stainless steel screws
- Four colours
Best for: A loud ring with a light press
- Style
- Retro dome, push-down
- Handlebar fit
- 22.2–31.8mm
- Material
- Brass dome, nylon base
- Loudness (maker’s figure)
- 120dB
#3Greallthy Full-Metal Bike Bell
£10–£20
An all-metal bell of brass, aluminium and stainless steel with an old-fashioned ring, a 30mm dome and two aluminium brackets in the box, for bars from 22.2 to 31.8mm.
What owners say: Owners love the old-fashioned ring and the solid, all-metal build, which feels made to last, though some say theirs stopped ringing within a few months.
Heads up: The colour options also name a bar size, so measure the handlebar first and choose the option that matches it.
A closer look: The brass dome looks right on a town bike or a classic steel frame, where a plastic bell would stand out. Fit the bracket that matches the bar and tighten it before the first ride, so the bell doesn’t creep round when it’s struck.
- Old-fashioned ring
- Two aluminium brackets
- 30mm dome
- About 50g
- Seven colours
Best for: Town bikes and classic frames
- Style
- Classic dome
- Handlebar fit
- 22.2–31.8mm (pick size)
- Material
- Brass, aluminium, steel
- Loudness (maker’s figure)
- Over 80dB
#4Greallthy Aluminium Bike Bell for Narrow Bars
Under £10
A light 25g aluminium bell for narrower bars, 19 to 25.4mm across, which takes in most children’s bikes, folding bikes, scooters and standard mountain bikes. A spring-loaded striker gives a clear, loud ping, and rubber pads and a hex key come in the box.
What owners say: Owners find it loud and clear enough for walkers to hear, and like how it looks and how easily it fits; some found it wouldn’t go on their bars, and a few think it flimsy.
Heads up: It fits bars up to 25.4mm only, so it won’t go on thick carbon road bars, e-bikes or fat-tyre bikes: measure the bar first.
A closer look: Fit it on the narrow part of the bar beside the grip, with a rubber pad underneath so it doesn’t turn, and set the striker where a thumb reaches it. Being small, it suits a child’s bike or a scooter, where there’s little room between the grip and the brake.
- Spring-loaded striker
- Weighs 25g
- Rubber pads and hex key
Best for: Kids’ bikes, folders and scooters
- Style
- Compact dome, striker
- Handlebar fit
- 19–25.4mm
- Material
- Aluminium, polycarbonate
- Loudness (maker’s figure)
- –
#5toptrek Q-Series Bike Bell (Q06)
Under £10
A compact bell with a polycarbonate shell over an aluminium sound chamber and a wide, grid-textured thumb pad that’s easy to find with gloves on or in the wet. Soft pads fit it to 22.2, 25.4 or 31.8mm bars.
What owners say: Owners find its ring clear enough to get noticed in traffic, and like how neatly it sits on the bar; a few report it breaking after a few weeks.
A closer look: Its small, rounded shape sits close to the bar, which keeps it out of the way on scooters and children’s bikes as well as adult bikes. Fit the soft pad that matches the bar before tightening the screw, so it doesn’t rattle or slip round.
- Grid-textured thumb pad
- Weighs 42g
- Soft fitting pads
- Hex key included
Best for: Gloved hands and wet rides
- Style
- Compact dome, thumb pad
- Handlebar fit
- 22.2–31.8mm
- Material
- PC shell, aluminium chamber
- Loudness (maker’s figure)
- Up to 110dB
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1CatEye OH-1400 | #2ROCKBROS retro | #3Greallthy full-metal | #4Greallthy aluminium | #5toptrek Q06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best classic ring | Best with gloves | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Price | Under £10 | £10–£20 | £10–£20 | Under £10 | Under £10 |
| Style | Compact dome | Retro dome, push-down | Classic dome | Compact dome, striker | Compact dome, thumb pad |
| Handlebar fit | 22–32mm | 22.2–31.8mm | 22.2–31.8mm (pick size) | 19–25.4mm | 22.2–31.8mm |
| Material | Aluminium | Brass dome, nylon base | Brass, aluminium, steel | Aluminium, polycarbonate | PC shell, aluminium chamber |
| Loudness (maker’s figure) | 87.7dB (ISO-based) | 120dB | Over 80dB | – | Up to 110dB |
| Best for | Any bike, small bars to oversized | A loud ring with a light press | Town bikes and classic frames | Kids’ bikes, folders and scooters | Gloved hands and wet rides |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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