Ravemen’s latest Q3 bike bell takes a compact metal bell design and adds adjustable strikers to make it easier to use from any position. While it is a more traditional design with a metal domed bell compared to other Ravemen bells, the Q3 features a compact and versatile design. Retail price for the Q3 is $19.95 with the bell producing a crisp 100 dB. To accommodate different hand positions, one of the strikers has a pivoting design that can be rotated between 180 degrees. The bell also uses a zip tie as a mount which allows for tool-free installation and bars between 22.2-31.8 mm.
The Ravemen Q3 is a budget friendly metal bell that has a clever dual striker design with an adjustable position.
| Retail Price | $19.95 |
| Rating | 8.6 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 36 |
| Likes | + Budget friendly + Crisp, friendly and clear ding sound that attracts attention + Flexible zip-tie mount can work any nearly any bar setup including aero bars |
| Dislikes | – Cheap feeling mount that is difficult to get tight without pliers or other tools – Adjustable striker doesn’t add that much value for normal riders |
| Where to Buy (US) | Ravemen |
UNBOXING
The Ravemen Q3 bell comes in a compact orange and black cardboard box with graphics printed onto it. Inside the box you’ll find:
- Q3 bell
- 3x Re-usable zip ties of different lengths
- Silicone cover
- Instruction manual
With the tool-free zip tie mount design, there are no bolts or Allen keys needed with this bell.
MOUNTING
The Ravemen Q3 has a tool free mounting design that utilizes a single reusable zip tie. Ravemen includes three zip ties with different lengths to accommodate different handle bar diameters. The simple mounting design works as the bell is very light so you can place this next to shifters or on top of the bars. Putting the bell on requires just paying attention to the “UP” indicators on the base of the bell and sliding the zip tie through the slot. There is also a silicone sleeve which you have to pull the zip tie through and covers the top of the zip tie for a cleaner appearance. It’s confusing to figure out the proper orientation and is entirely optional.
As you are installing the bell you can easily adjust the striker location by rotating it to your desired angle. Getting the zip tie tight can be difficult by hand without a set of pliers or tools, particularly if you trim it to be short. While the design works, and could even work on zero bars, it feels a bit cheap and flimsy. The multiple lengths of the zip tie are helpful as you can switch between bikes while still trimming the zip tie to specific lengths. Note, the zip ties are re-usable and can be opened by pushing down on the release tab.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Ravemen Q3 has a compact design with a unique dual striker design. It’s a small bell with a metal dome that is only about 1 inch in diameter with a sleek black finish and polished cover. Branding is limited to a simple Ravemen logo on the bell which is surprisingly yellow instead of the brand’s usual orange coloring. What makes this bell unique is that there are two strikers which have a plastic knob and a spring base. The strikers are positioned across from each other with an adjustable bottom striker that can rotate 180 degrees. It’s a clever design that lets you use different hand positions to activate the bell and adjust the position for different mounting orientations. Ravemen claims a 90-100 db sound range and it produces a nice crisp ding that is surprisingly loud for the size.
RIDING IMPRESSIONS
We’ve reviewed a number of bells from compact the Ravemen Q1 to the Knog Oi! Prima to more traditional larger bells from Portland Design Works. The Ravemen Q3’s smaller size compared to other bells means you get more of a “ting” sound instead of the deeper “ding” that larger bells produce. It’s similar to the sound you might hear at a front desk and is something that we would describe as more friendly. That also means the bell isn’t quite as loud and it won’t travel as far as other bells. We found that it still was effective on shared trails and helped us get around slower moving pedestrians. The dual striker design of the bell didn’t really add much value for us though, we tended to always use only one stricker. We expect most people would also primarily use one striker so the feature may not add that much value.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Ravemen Q3 to be a budget friendly and compact bike bell. Ravemen has used a miniaturized metal bell design with dual strikers with an adjustable position. It’s an interesting concept that provides more flexibility to mounting the bell and theoretically lets you switch between hands to trigger the bell if needed. Despite the smaller size of the bell, it still produces a nice crisp sound that helps ensure pedestrians or slower cyclists know you are approaching. The bell is also uses a simple re-usable zip tie mount design that allows the Q3 bell to be mounted just about anywhere including aero bars. As far as downsides, the zip tie mount feels a bit cheap and is hard to really tighten down. That said, the Ravemen Q3 is an interesting and budget friendly bike bell that has versatile mounting.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Ravemen. 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.