Bike bells are an almost necessary evil when it comes to frequent riding. We love to hate them and hate to love them. They are necessary to keep riders safe when out on the road and to alert unaware traffic that may unintentionally come into contact with them. While a bike bell isn’t the sexiest piece of kit you can invest in Knog is aiming to change all that with its Oi Bike Bell.
The brand is aiming to revolutionize the game with a bell that both looks great and sounds good, like “an angel playing a glockenspiel” (their words, not ours). Knog believes that each bike bell should not only have a beautiful sound but also fully embody the personality of the rider.
This isn’t your average bell, with a stream lined, curved silhouette that slides elegantly across handlebars. The large Oi fits 23.8 to 31.8mm bars such as those with a drop bar road bike and some cruiser and commuter bikes. Knog recommends you know exactly where you want to place your bell, whether on the bike grips or stems, as this will dictate the size of the bell you should order.
As the Oi’s organic design is derived from its intended home, the handle bar, it has a modern and unobtrusive look to it thanks to more than a few design tweaks and material prototyping. As traditional bells usually protrude out or up, the Oi appears like it is circling around the handlebar, almost undetectable. Yet its near pitch perfect ring and volume, with help from a spring-loaded actuator, truly lets you know it’s there.