The “gremlin” bell?

[Otony]

I’m sure most of you have heard of the gremlin bell or guardian bell. I’m curious how many of us here ascribe to the notion of hanging a bell from our bike to ensure protection or good luck?

Personally, I had never given it much thought in close to 50 years of riding motorcycles, but I was gifted a bell after picking up my last bike. As I’ve been told, you don’t buy a bell, it must be given to you. I kept mine and will be running it on the CT, not sure exactly where or how I will hang it though.

Any others? Lucky rabbits foot maybe?

 

[bryanchurch06]

I’m sure most of you have heard of the gremlin bell or guardian bell. I’m curious how many of us here ascribe to the notion of hanging a bell from our bike to ensure protection or good luck?

Personally, I had never given it much thought in close to 50 years of riding motorcycles, but I was gifted a bell after picking up my last bike. As I’ve been told, you don’t buy a bell, it must be given to you. I kept mine and will be running it on the CT, not sure exactly where or how I will hang it though.

Any others? Lucky rabbits foot maybe?

Mine is hanging from the front rack

 

[m in sc]

- no

 

[oldskool]

Its more of a Harley community thing. A talisman to ward off pesky gremlins that Harleys seem to attract. It has no power if one buys their own, it must be a gift. A little thing that is given as a token of respect and friendship rather than any real belief it wards off mishap. The bell represents the friend who can be counted on in the event things do go south.

 

[NMCoyote]

I have one on everyone of my bikes, they work for me! That said they need to be mounted at the rear of the bike, or the Gremlins can jump back on! Just Sayin, and you can’t just go out and buy one for yourselves, they have to be a gift from a believer! There you have it

 

[Flash]

Its more of a Harley community thing. A talisman to ward off pesky gremlins that Harleys seem to attract. It has no power if one buys their own, it must be a gift. A little thing that is given as a token of respect and friendship rather than any real belief it wards off mishap. The bell represents the friend who can be counted on in the event things do go south.

When I go South I wind up in Montana... lol

 

[Base Camp]

As most of us know…. Riding a motorcycle is all about risk management. Several years back I was given a bell to put on my new dual sport from a friend … and so far so good considering all the distracted drivers now-a-days. So, when I got the Honda Trail for my birthday last year from my wife… she handed me a bell too… love that gal

 

[Pittsburgh_Bob]

I consider the gremlin bell in the same way as replacing the stock one with a magnetic oil drain bolt lol.

 

[NMCoyote]

As most of us know…. Riding a motorcycle is all about risk management. Several years back I was given a bell to put on my new dual sport from a friend … and so far so good considering all the distracted drivers now-a-days. So, when I got the Honda Trail for my birthday last year from my wife… she handed me a bell too… love that gal

Hell yeah, perfect location! Not only do they fall off the back end, they burn up in the exhaust too!

 

[Flash]

I'm pretty sure they work better once warmed up... lol

 

[Kev250R]

Like someone else said, I think this started as a Harley thing and as such, when I owned a Harley, it had a bell on it (though to be fair it was on there from the previous owner). I never took it off though I've not added one to any bikes I've bought since. I'll admit that it's a neat little tradition (or whatever you want to call it) sort of like the 'Jeep Wave' or the VW Peace sign. If you're into it, cool if not no biggie.

 

[dmonkey]

An audible bell rattling around on any of my motorcycles would drive me up the wall. With occasionally driving a Jeep I will sometimes return to it in a parking lot and find a rubber duck on it. I don't want to end up with a collection so next time I go somewhere I try to move the duck along to someone else's Jeep.

I do have a growing collection of weird little items I carry with me while traveling. All kinds of travel, they go backpacking, on planes, trains, motorcycle touring, etc. Not so much for luck as they are for minor amusement and sentiment.

A National Park Ranger Lego minifig that's been with me since at least 2017 and not camera shy, a green army man inspired by r/GreenDawn sometime before then, marbles from my friend Nate who was always losing them, a bison bison which was a "good luck" gift from someone but I can't recall the circumstances, and not pictured a St. Christopher necklace given to me by my grandfather who was a teamster and put a lot of faith in the guy.

 

[NMCoyote]

I

driving a Jeep I will sometimes return to it in a parking lot and find a rubber duck

I have been "Ducked" 5 times, but I don't do it myself. Me? I leave small plastic dinosaurs in visible spots while riding the Jeep or CT into somewhat remote sites. Just wonder what they may think when they stumble across them. Probably have about 30 of them out there.

 

[bryanchurch06]

What is the rubber duck and jeeps about?

 

[oldskool]

What is the rubber duck and jeeps about?

A sign of envy and respect.

 

[NMCoyote]

What is the rubber duck and jeeps about?

Not really sure why or where it started but the JK series Jeeps started it, and it has moved into other genres of Jeeps now. They can be purchased in bulk on Amazon, just search jeep ducks and you will get more than you bargained for! Jus sayin!
And then there's the what they call " Easter Bunny's" on the TJ series Jeeps, it's a hidden etching from the factory somewhere on the tub, usually a Gecko or Lizard. There you have it.

 

[Kev250R]

An audible bell rattling around on any of my motorcycles would drive me up the wall. With occasionally driving a Jeep I will sometimes return to it in a parking lot and find a rubber duck on it. I don't want to end up with a collection so next time I go somewhere I try to move the duck along to someone else's Jeep.

I do have a growing collection of weird little items I carry with me while traveling. All kinds of travel, they go backpacking, on planes, trains, motorcycle touring, etc. Not so much for luck as they are for minor amusement and sentiment.

A National Park Ranger Lego minifig that's been with me since at least 2017 and not camera shy, a green army man inspired by r/GreenDawn sometime before then, marbles from my friend Nate who was always losing them, a bison bison which was a "good luck" gift from someone but I can't recall the circumstances, and not pictured a St. Christopher necklace given to me by my grandfather who was a teamster and put a lot of faith in the guy.

That's very cool! And might be something I stat doing. I don't get the Duck thing either (must be a Jeep thing). I did once get a sticker from another popular forum for MC riders left on one of my MC's (but not stuck to it) when it was parked at a local College. I thought that was cool.

 

[Kev250R]

What is the rubber duck and jeeps about?

I don't know either. I drive a Tacoma 4x4. Judging by the ones I see just about everywhere I think Tacoma Owners leave Roto-Pak style gas cans on each other's trucks since just about every single Taco in my area has one (or more of them) strapped someplace on them LOL!

My GF even noticed the phenomenon recently while we were passing a group of man-bun, Taco Bro's airing-down at a Trailhead and asked me about it. I told her they must have bought a lower-tier model then mine because mine came with a gas gauge

 

[AZ7000']

I don't know either. I drive a Tacoma 4x4. Judging by the ones I see just about everywhere I think Tacoma Owners leave Roto-Pak style gas cans on each other's trucks since just about every single Taco in my area has one (or more of them) strapped someplace on them LOL!

My GF even noticed the phenomenon recently while we were passing a group of man-bun, Taco Bro's airing-down at a Trailhead and asked me about it. I told her they must have bought a lower-tier model then mine because mine came with a gas gauge

Yep! Nothing better then cooking fresh gas by the gallon in the sun for a few months... And folding up your tent to go for dinner, beer or ice! Like the bummer part of a motorhome but people do it to themselves.

 

[m in sc]

I dunno. gremlin bells are the MC equivalent of a mini dream catcher hanging from your rear view mirror in your car IMHO.