It seems that – no matter when you look – crowdfunding site Kickstarter is consistently rammed with bike-related products set for stellar success or never to be heard of again. One product that looks set for the former fate is this, the Oi bell, from slightly eccentric Aussie firm Knog. Knog has received nearly 46 times its fundraising target with about a day to go in the drive, so let's take a look as to why so many people are getting behind this bell.
Oi, Oi! What do we have here?
The Oi is available in four finishes and a special titanium version, above is the particularly fetching brass versionBest known for its distinctive range of lights and locks, Knog had dreams of a bike bell with a difference – in its own words the company couldn't understand why bike bells had to 'look and sound a bit ugly'.
So Knog got to work to rectify this, designing its own bell from the ground up. What they came up with was the Oi, a bell that doesn't use a traditional dome. Instead, the entire unit is a hollow cylinder that simply clamps around the bar. The result is a much more subtle, low-profile component that is less obtrusive at the handlebar and arguably looks a whole lot better too.
It's available in two sizes; one for 31.8mm and one for 22.2mm bars. The larger size can also be reduced with supplied shims to get 25.4/26mm bars to work too. There's no need to remove handlebar grips or anything else to get it to fit either, thanks to the Oi's single bolt split-clamp attachment.
Related: Is this the world's best bike bell?
The integrated cable tidy is particularly neat
Roadies needn't worry about their cables getting in the way with this design either – an integrated cable tidy simply tucks the cables neatly through the Oi's mount. The smaller Oi adds a claimed 18g to your handlebar while the larger size comes in at a claimed 25g.
As standard the Oi is produced from alloy and comes in four finishes: brushed aluminium; brass-plated; copper-plated; and black. Reserved for those who are comfortable with paying more is a special titanium version.
Okay, so it looks good… but what about the sound?
A black Oi fitted among a very busy cockpit
The bell is actuated by a spring-loaded striker that's built into its mount, with several prototypes being produced in order for Knog to come up with a ring it was happy with. The final sound is composed using several pitch tones, playing a chord rather than a single note. You can listen to its enticing ding, which Knog claims is 'like an angel playing a glockenspiel', right here.
Oi can't live without it
Currently the cheapest way to get your hands on an Oi is by pledging AU$26 or more – that way you should be one of the first people to receive a regular Oi for an expected delivery of August 2016. Pledge AU$47 and you'll be in line to receive one of Knog's fancy pants titanium versions of the Oi. It's worth noting that Knog states it'll ship these bells anywhere in the world too.
