The first time I saw a Gremlin Bell I thought it was really cute and wanted one for myself. But then I found out you can’t buy your own – someone has to give it to you. Otherwise it doesn’t work. That’s what the mythology says, anyway.
What is a Gremlin bell?
If you’ve never heard of Gremlin bells – they’re small metal bells that you hang on your motorcycle as near the ground as possible.
The story goes that road gremlins – small, mischievous creatures – like to hitch a ride on motorcycles and cause trouble.
Punctures, engine problems, that sort of thing. A Gremlin bell hanging low on the bike is said to trap them – and the constant ringing drives them mad until they finally let go. And where they land, a pothole forms. (Which might explain quite a lot about the state of the roads in Norway. 😄)
But – you can’t buy one for yourself. It has to be a gift.
Now, I’m not particularly superstitious, but I like the idea behind it. I like the gesture – giving something with a wish that another rider gets good days on the road.
It actually made an impression on me when I received my Gremlin bell. It came from someone I didn’t know very well, and somehow that made it even more powerful. Someone cared about me and wanted me to ride without trouble. I think most riders have felt that worry about mechanical problems at some point – I certainly have!
Sparks of Joy Gremlin bells!
I’ve wanted to make my own Gremlin bells with the Sparks of Joy logo for a long time. And now I actually have! Biker Bells have made some fantastic, beautiful and cool bells.
I plan to give them to people who have given me something real along the way – inspiration, support, or just a genuine cheer from the sidelines. As a thank you, and with a sincere wish that they get to ride safely and without trouble.
As you can see, they’re a little bit special – black, with the logo laser engraved. They make a lovely ringing sound that the gremlins apparently hear – and let go. 😄
Oh, and for the record: you can’t hear the bell yourself when you’re riding. At least I can’t.
Want one?
I only have a small number, so they are going to people I want to give them to. But they’re so nice that I’m thinking about ordering more and selling some – and it would be good to know if there’s any interest.
Would you buy one? I’m thinking the price would be around 250 SEK + postage.
Because at the end of the day, a Gremlin bell isn’t really about gremlins. It’s about taking a moment to say: “I see you. I’m glad you’re out there riding. And I hope the road is good to you”.
If you’d like one – drop me a mail, and we’ll sort it out.
Oh, I even made a short about when we bought a Gremlin bell for Christine in 2025:
Drive safe!
