Review: Crane E-Ne Bicycle Bell. Best bike bell on the market?

Today I’m reviewing the “E-Ne” bicycle bell from Crane.

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Crane is a Japanese company based in Osaka, Japan that specializes in bicycle bells. Cycling is ingrained within the Japanese culture and you can rest assured that these bells have many miles behind them.

Since Crane only manufactures bells, they are specialists in their area of expertise and the quality of their products is evident.

Short story: You can’t go wrong with a Crane. Is it the best on the market? Probably, when you consider function and value.

Long Story: Read on.

I purchased two Crane E-ne bells out of necessity for both my wife and I. I purchased the matte all black aluminum one for me and the copper brass model for her.

Let me get this caveat out of the way:

Their Amazon link does not adequately depict what these bells are made from. At present (8/9/20), it makes no mention that the all black model is made from aluminum, nor does it mention the copper version is made from brass. I won’t call this “deceptive” advertising, however it is clearly not the most descriptive and is a bit misleading. If you think -by reading their Amazon link- that any of their bells are made of actual copper, then you have been misled. Please read their Amazon listing (https://amzn.to/3gHKPaW) and report here your thoughts.

They don’t make any out of copper and it may be obvious by now that their copper model refers to the color of the bell.

When they arrived I took my all black version out of the packaging and gave it a quick flick and dag-on, that thing sung. It is a distinct, almost ear piercing tone that resonated like crystal. I already knew this would work great on the trails in and around Washington DC.

Unfortunately, my wife’s copper bell showed up with the entire bell piece missing. All that was delivered was the box and metal strap. The bell itself attaches to the strap and mounting clip by an Allen-type screw. The screw clearly backed itself out sometime prior to shipping. We have started the return process with Amazon and will report back later. *Sad face :(*

Update 8/9/20: I’ve received my wife’s replacement bell. I put in the request early in the morning and received the item the same day. That is utterly, mindbogglingly, preposterously insane!

Performance:

The E-Ne bells tone can clearly be heard 50+ feet away. Most people in DC are accustomed to hearing a bell and know what it is, however we do get folks that don’t know it’s a bike and we have to give a polite hollar. We (all) just have to ride safe and be aware of our surroundings and walking trail-goers have every right in the world to be there. Just note that; whether or not it’s obvious to you, not all people yield to the tone, but they certainly will hear it. There are some electric bells with completely ridiculous tones that I’m sure will garner more looks simply because people are more curious of what the sound was. If you want the maximum yield ratio possible, buy an electric bell that makes a loud farting tone.. Get where I’m going?

OK, let’s get back on track.

Installation:

To mount the bell, first unscrew the Allen screw from the bell. Then select a mounting location and place the wire around the handlebars/frame and affix it to the mounting plate. Then place the bell on the front and screw the Allen screw on tightly and then give it a good flick.

Note that the bell comes with no tools and you will need an Allen wrench to mount it.

I have a Diamondback Haanjo Carbon frame and my handlebars are fatter than normal bikes. I was concerned that I may have issues mounting it but it worked just fine. Unless you have an abnormally large surface you plan to affix the bell to, then rest assured that you are fine.

Technically, the bell will install on bars with a circumference from 22 to 31.8 mm.

Conclusion:

I like the fact that Crane makes a specific product and doesn’t try to make too much stuff. I tend to stay loyal to such companies and will continue to use and recommend them to others. I do hope however that they try to make an electric version. I tend to ride pretty gnarly trails sometimes and when others are riding on the trails, it may be hard to hear a single mechanical bell. The ability to hit a single button once and have it ring X times in Y seconds, I believe, is a better scenario for trail riding. I don’t think Crane will lose their bell creds or “mystique” if they make such an offering. The electric models on the market that I’ve heard sound ridiculous.

If you want a mechanical bell, you will not go wrong with Crane. You will find the tone of the E-Ne models more than adequate and will find reasons to use it, I suspect.

The price for the version I bought is $28.35 and while it’s more expensive than some others, it’s clearly built to last. I suspect this will last as long as my bike. I feel like I purchased a quality product at a great value.

As for me, as long as their products suit my needs, I will continue to patron Crane. Stand by for head to head comparisons!

If you want or need a bell or want to gift it to others, you will not go wrong with Crane products. Buy it.

So, is this the best bicycle bell on the market? I’ve done quite a bit of research on the subject and when you consider the price of Crane products, the build quality, and their performance, you will not regret purchasing one. Crane bells are the best for me and my family and I will certainly recommend them to you and yours!

Purchase links:

If you decide this product is for you, I’d appreciate you using the affiliate link below. Affiliate links give the author a few pennies on the dollar and incentivizes them to generate quality content. Thanks!

https://amzn.to/3gHKPaW