A motorcycle bell, also known as a Guardian Bell, spirit bell, gremlin bell, or biker bell, is a decorative metal bell that is attached below a motorcycle, often given as a token of good wishes while riding. The bell is usually about long, made from

pewter Pewter () is a malleable metal alloy consisting of tin (85–99%), antimony (approximately 5–10%), copper (2%), bismuth, and sometimes silver. In the past, it was an alloy of tin and lead, but most modern pewter, in order to prevent lead poi ...

or other metals, and is given to a motorcyclist as a good luck charm, or a symbolic piece of

protection Protection is any measure taken to guard something against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although ...

to ward off bad luck while riding motorcycles. Dans-motorcycle-bell

History

gremlin A gremlin is a mischievous fictional creature invented at the beginning of the 20th century to originally explain malfunctions in aircraft, and later in other machinery, processes, and their operators. Depictions of these creatures vary widely. ...

is a mischievous creature of

folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...

used to describe malfunctions in aircraft in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

(WW2) and later in other machinery from pilots and technician

A "Guardian Bell" or "Gremlin Bell" was sometimes used by British and American pilots in

, to ward off "gremlins". Roald Dahl. World War II gave a big boost to the motorcycle industry when the U.S. military called on manufacturers Harley-Davidson and Indian to produce more than 100,000 motorcycles for the war effort." When the American Veterans returned home many of them continued riding motorcycles and the use of the bell as a protection charm when riding a motorcycle. This custom is still used by some motorcycle riders today, particular riders of

Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson, Inc. (H-D, or simply Harley) is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression along with i ...

and

Indian Motorcycles Indian Motorcycle (or ''Indian'') is an American brand of motorcycles owned and produced by automotive manufacturer Polaris Inc.

. The bells come in custom designs as well as duplicated

mass production Mass production, also known as mass production, series production, series manufacture, or continuous production, is the production of substantial amounts of standardized products in a constant flow, including and especially on assembly lines ...

designs.

The "Gremlin Bell" has been patented in the United States, and is recorded in the Official Gazette of the United States Patent & Trademark Office, Volume 1290, Number Four. Guardian® Bell is a registered trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

In popular culture

A guardian bell features in Season Two, Episode Seven of Poker Face, when Charlie Cale (

Natasha Lyonne Natasha Bianca Lyonne Braunstein ( ; born April 4, 1979) is an American producer, director, comedian, writer, actress, and artificial intelligence film studio head. Lyonne started her career as a child actress before expanding her career taking o ...

) gives one as a birthday gift to Bill Jackson ( Corey Hawkins).

References

Motorcycling Motorcycle customization Bells (percussion)

History

In popular culture

Further reading

References