Bike bells are an easy way to ensure pedestrians or other cyclists know you are approaching them. Portland Design Works offers two bike bell options that use a classic solid brass design for a loud and clear ding to notify people you are there. There is a $25 King of Ding II model as well as a $28 Alexander Graham option which offer unique mounting options. The King of Ding II has a traditional handlebar mount design while the Alexander Graham has a clever headset mount design that replaces a 10mm spacer. Both bells have quick-reflex alloy clappers and are offered in different finishes.
The Portland Design Works King of Ding II and Alexander Graham combine a classic solid brass bell with unique mounting options.
| Retail Price | $25 (King of Ding II) / $28 (Alexander Graham) |
| Rating | 9.7 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 78 (King of Ding II), 61 (Alexander Graham) |
| Likes | + Classic brass bell design + Unique mounting options for any bike + Loud and clear ding ensures people hear you |
| Dislikes | – Fairly large with bell and alloy striker |
| Where to Buy (US) | Portland Design Works |
MOUNTING
What differentiates the two bell options are the mounting designs. The King of Ding II uses a standard handlebar mount design that is compatible with 22.2 – 25.4mm handlebars. The bell uses a two bolt clamp with a rubber spacer to secure the bell to handlebars. PDW has designed the bell to be raised above the clamp which helps clear any cables or other obstacles on a handlebar. The Alexander Graham model has a more unique design that replaces a 10mm spacer on modern 1 1/8″ headsets. That lets you place the bell right off your stem and off the handlebars where you might have out-front mounts or other accessories. PDW even has a black mounting bracket version that helps the bell blend into existing carbon fiber spacers.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Portland Design Works Alexander Graham and King of Ding II have a classic brass bell design with a large bell and striker. Both bells look pretty similar with the same 1.75” size domed bell and the quick-reflex alloy clappers to operate the bell. PDW offers the Alexander Graham bell in both an ED black coating or the polished version we have here. The King of Ding II bell is only offered in this polished version which pairs a nice solid brass bell and polished body. With these polished versions you have a nice reflective silver body and clapper with a classic brass color on the main bell. The only branding on the bells is the PDW logo on the clapper handle which gives the bells a nice retro appearance.
While there are a lot of electronic bells on the market and even Garmin computers adding integrated bell sounds, it’s hard to beat the sound of a true brass bell. Both of these PDW bells have a crisp and loud ding that ensures pedestrians or other cyclists will hear you approaching. You really can’t match the sound of the brass bells with electronic speakers as they can’t produce the same range of tones. Operating the bells is quite simple with the long clapper that has a nice wide handle on it. To produce sound you do need to pull the clapper down all the way, otherwise you just get a thud sound.
ON THE BIKE
We installed both of the bells onto our Priority Ace of Spades to see how the different handlebar positions would work. Installation was quick and easy with two simple screws on the King of Ding II to clamp it onto the handlebar, and a slightly more complicated installation for the Alexander Graham which involves removing a spacer and the step cap. The alloy clappers on both models are easy to adjust by loosening the bell and rotating the clappers around until you find your preferred position. On our local multi-use trails, both bells had a nice crisp ding that ensured people heard us coming and moved to the side. There is no real comparison of the brass bell sound to most electronic bells which sound more like fire alarm chirps. Even compared to the aluminum RAVEMEN Q1, the PDW bells simply have a deeper and richer tone to them. Personally, we preferred the Alexander Graham’s headset position as it keeps the handlebars clean and clear for other accessories.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Portland Design Works Alexander Graham and King of Ding II bells to be well made and loud. The classic solid brass bell design produces a crisp and rich tone that ensures people hear you coming and move out of the way. With the polished finish and the alloy clappers, the bells both have a timeless look that compliments commuter or single speed bikes well. We liked the versatile mounting designs with either a traditional handlebar clamp or the clever headset installation with the Alexander Graham. The only negative of these bells is the fact that they are fairly large in size. That said, if you’re looking for loud and premium quality bike bells then the Portland Design Works Alexander Graham or King of Ding II are both excellent choices.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Portland Design Works. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.