What is the story behind the "freedom bell", you place on your bike?

I bought one with ceritfied paper and card showing it had been blessed by a voodoo priestess in Louisiana, every time it rang, it was garanteed to give a La. state trooper the "squirts". yeah, I paid 10 bucks for this conversation piece. I also bought a bell for 5$, standard chrome. Then at Christmas seen the same bell at Wal-Mart, in the decoration section for 99 cents. so I bought a bunch of them and gave them out for Christmas gifts... I just went with it and put one on my bike. but what is the story you have heard about them?

What is the story behind the "freedom bell", you place on your bike?
The tradition of putting a small bell on your bike dates back to the early 20th century. It was there to be heard if someone tried to push your bike off without starting it. The bell was the early alarm system. Later, after WWII it was said to ward off the Gremlins that attack at the most inopportune moments. Others have added their own story behind the bell over the years, and I have seen the story behind the bell you have before while I was stationed at Ft Polk, LA.
Reply:I never heard such a thing about a "freedom bell" on a bike. My guess someone took a bell that they probably paid $1 for, made up some papers to make it look like a blessed bell on the computer, and than selling them to some suckers for $10. It appears to me you became one of his "suckers".
Reply:The gremlin bell stories previously printed sum it up pretty well. The one I received had the same folk lore printed with it
Reply:whoever sold you that should have offered you the brooklyn bridge at a discount as well. i've never heard of putting a bell on a bike.
Reply:Hanging a small bell on your bike for good luck goes back to the 60's or maybe earlier. These days several companies have turned the custom into a way of getting money from yuppies.
Reply:also along with what cuddly biker said......





you dont buy a bell and put it on your own bike....





its like dealing with dream catchers you must give it to someone for them to put on their bike to keep the gremlins away.... otherwise its just a little bell...





so hint at your otherhalf or a friend to get one for you
Reply:I own and ride a MOTORCYCLE! not a BICYCLE, if I need to alert someone to my presence I'd use the darn HORN that is what a bell does on a bicycle; alerts pedestrians walking in front of you that you are approaching and to clear the way.
Reply:I, too have heard the gremlin story. It is said that it dates back in the early 20 th century that riders would attach freedom bells to their motorcycles to ward off evil road spirits. I have one on my motorcycle for several reasons. One is for the superstition of road spirits, two, it seems to alert the deer that the lovely state of Ohio has an abundance of, and three, the most important, for memory of my beloved grandmother. My grandma loved to collect those little souvenier bells you can pick up at almost any tourist attractions. She had a hundred or more of them. I added the bell shortly after she passed away, and it still hangs from the bottom of my floorbard on my Electra-Glide. Every once and awhile I can hear it jingle as I ride. When it does, I always think of my grandma. You may keep it on your bike for whatever reason you wish. It is your motorcycle.
Reply:I've only heard of the "gremlin bell" As the above responders stated, you must receive it from someone else, so good on ya for giving some out.





Gremlins are the leading cause of internal engine malfunctions of all makes of bike, and especially erratic fuel injection mapping on late model BMW boxer twins and Honda Goldwings. You don't want these in your bike.





They work best when they are fixed to the front fender or forks of the bike. The gremlins get picked up off the road by the front tire, get their little heads stuck in the bell cage, and the ringing of the bell blows their head apart into fine pixie dust to be inhaled by some gas guzzling H2 Hummer where it can do some good by wearing away at some plastic surgeon's wallet. The rest of the body gets flung far off the road for consumption by raccoons.