We’ve seen some clever bells, ranging from the classic to the aesthetic, but the Shoka Bell combines a lot of techy features to set it apart.
The Bluetooth equipped bell pairs with your smart phone to save your route, provide GPS navigation and even alerts when you’re approaching a dangerous intersection. It works without your phone, too, saving your ride for later syncing with the app when you do have your phone with you. And the bell sounds ring differently depending on whether you want to give pedestrians a heads up or let a vehicle know you’re coming. And then there’s the clever theft alert…
It’ll come in several colors, all perching on a magnetic base that’s clamped to your handlebar. Simply grab the bell and bring it indoors with your and you’ll have about a 400ft range of security. If someone moves your bike, the base pings the bell to let you know there’s potential mischief afoot.
The bell will remember where you rode on its own, then sync the ride with the app when your phone is in range. But, you’ll need to have your phone present and powered up for the bell to access a pre-planned route and provide turn directions. Social features include the ability to see where your friends are riding, try one of their routes and even post some stuff to Instagram. Ride data can also be synced to Strava, RunKeeper and others.
Battery life is claimed at about 3 weeks of regular use, then you simply recharge the device. The app runs in the background, no need to launch and start it each time you ride. Look for Shoka Bell to debut on IndieGoGo soon; sign up for their email list on their website if you want them to ring your inbox when it’s live.
