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Lezyne Classic Brass Bell

8
£13.00

VERDICT:

8
10
A simple but effective bell that's loud enough for the majority of situations
Simple and effective
Small size
Not the loudest
Weight: 
28g

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Lezyne's Classic Brass Bell looks lovely and rings loudly enough to get the attention of most, though it could be a little clearer.

Bike bells no longer need to be the size of a wagon wheel to be effective, like something you'd see on a Raleigh Chopper, and they don't need to break the bank either. This Lezyne bell is a case in point. It is a simple design that works well – a base with two hooks for a rubber band to hold it to the bar, and a spring attached to the hammer that, when flicked, hits the dome to ding – and comes in at a decent price.

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In terms of ring it isn't the loudest – I've been using the Spurcycle and Knog Oi for the past couple of years and both are louder – but it will do the job in most situations. My commute home takes me past the Den and the only time it had any issues cutting through was when I had to warn a group of Millwall supporters that I was behind them. In that situation, in hindsight, perhaps it was a good thing they couldn't all hear me.

Using it is easy enough and it's difficult to get the 'thud' you sometimes can from cheaper bells. It's also difficult to accidentally set it off when going over rough ground or if you accidentally touch it, given the roughly 3mm of required travel by the hammer to ring it.

Attaching it to the handlebar is done with a rubber band that hooks on either side of the mount. On the underside of the mount is a small rubber patch which stops it scratching your bar and also prevents it from moving. The bell measures 3cm in diameter, so doesn't take up much space and can easily be shifted to face forwards rather than upwards if required.

Lezyne Classic Brass Bell  1.jpg

With an rrp of £13, it isn't going to break the bank, but equally isn't the cheapest you can get. The SystemEX Bell is less than half the price at £5.99, though it doesn't produce the same kind of volume. Or you can spend a lot more on high-end bells like the Knog Oi Luxe (£34.99) or Spurcycle (£49.99). It's considerably lighter than either of those, though – the Knog is 47g and the Spurcycle 45g, although they are louder and more complex.

Buyer’s Guide: Ding dong! 12 bells to help you be heard

Overall, I was impressed with this little bell. It doesn't cost much, sits neatly on the handlebar, and although it's not the loudest it does what's required in most situations.

Verdict

A simple but effective bell that's loud enough for the majority of situations

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lezyne Classic Brass Bell

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Lezyne describes it thus: "Compact, classic shape constructed from modern, high quality materials."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Lezyne lists:

- Made from high-polished brass

- Mounted to a machined aluminum base

- The small brass striker provides a sharp, impressively loud ring when flicked, warning others of your presence

- A simple O-ring attaches the bell to a variety of tube sizes and shapes while integrating cleanly with any bicycle

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Seems well made – the materials used seem robust.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Very good in all but the noisiest situations.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Not a huge amount to go wrong here...

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
6/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

You can get cheaper but not as effective, and more expensive but more effective...

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Loud enough for most situations, small enough to not get in the way, easy to use.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Its simplicity – it basically has three elements, so not a lot to go wrong, and still effective.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Not as loud as some.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Its rrp of £13 isn't going to break the bank, but it isn't the cheapest you can get. The SystemEX Bell is less than half the price at £5.99, though it doesn't produce the same kind of volume. You can spend a lot more on a high-end bell like the Knog Oi Luxe (£34.99) or Spurcycle (£49.99).

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A simple, solid bell that's more than loud enough for all but the most extreme situations.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 32  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: CAAD13  My best bike is: Cannondale Supersix Evo

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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2 comments

Avatar
matthewn5 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Rubber band mountings never last particularly well... a better option imo if you want a brass bell is the Cat-eye OH-2400. The fixing is adaptable and solid enough:
https://www.cateye.com/intl/products/accessories/OH-2400/

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

I think brass has the best tone for bicycle bells.

It does look like a classy little number, and Lezyne do make good stuff.

I'm more a fan of the dring dring style, I do find it causes more of a reaction, but that's me.

I also like the way my brass bells, all crane ritans, age and weather.

Sort of a lived in look.

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