Motorcycle Guardian bells are in full swing among riders who set off for long, tough journeys on uncharted, curvy roads. They believe that the ringing of bells keeps away evil spirits and ghosts, preventing the bike from running into unknown problems. In simple words, riders consider these bells as a good luck token that keeps their journey safe and prevents horrible accidents.
But have you ever wondered how motorcycle guardian bells made their way into the biker’s landscape? Since when have people been believing that bell sounds fend off catastrophes? We will lift the curtain on these astonishing and covert facts in this blog. So, stick till the end.
What is Guardian Bell For Motorcycles?
As its name suggests, it is a bell usually made from solid pewter and comes with a metal loop or leather cord to hang on the motorcycle. In the USA, it is popular for other names, such as gremlin bell, rider bell, or motorcycle charm bell. It stands as a symbol of brotherhood, safety and love among the rider community. To send good wishes to a rider embarking on a daunting journey, the loved ones give this bell as a gesture of care, wishing evil spirits wouldn’t sabotage the trip. The bikers’ community, in particular, holds a belief in the mythology that misfortune often lurks on the road, and some ghosts usually pounce on the riders and cause a crash.
History Of Motorcycle Guardian Bells
There are different theories circulating about the origins of motorcycle guardian bells, and how they went mainstream— especially, among the biker community. We, however, will shed light on those that are widely believed in.
1- Roots In Religion:
The first theory compels us to dig into religious history from the Middle Ages. In primitive times, bells emerged as a canonical tool to drive away spirits from churches and funerals. Back then, they were called dead bells. The priests would baptize the bells to endow them with the power to combat evil spirits. To enable easy transition of the soul to heaven, these bells would ring, keeping ghosts out of the divine path to the most coveted destination in the hereafter. The gremlin bells have now even expanded into Hindu temples, and ringing them is considered a reward-getting practice.
Some people believe that motorcyclists emulated the concept of dead bells and used them to keep the road clear of misfortune.
2- World War II:
Another theory that has gained recognition among the biker community suggests a more astonishing origin. In the years leading to WWII ( 1939), the pilots blamed invisible creatures— evil spirits— for causing air crashes, which would derail their warfare strategies. Instead of relying on scientific grounds, they advanced a myth that pilots saw horrible creatures that conspired and attacked the corners of the plane. The term “ Gremlin” was coined then, and it is still prevalent nowadays. In an attempt to fend off the assaults of the unknown, they decided to hang bells in the cockpit and believed it would minimize crashes. In addition, they also served to keep them sharp and alert in the demanding scenario of War, where long flights were a norm.
Interestingly, when those pilots got free from the war and returned home, they would set out on motorcycles. A practice they borrowed from warfare was hanging biker guardian bells while riding, believing that it would prevent road accidents. This practice continued and took its roots in the biker community, and is still observed nowadays.
3- The Legendary Old Biker’s Road Trip From Mexico:
Last but not least, this theory is probably the most circulated one about gremlin bells in bikers’ circles. And this is the most fascinating one! A rider was having a pleasant journey in the cold states of Mexico. Suddenly, misfortune intervened in his way!
While rounding a curvy turn, his bike slipped and he fell badly, feeling immobilized on the road. Suddenly, a few gremlins came out of the woodwork and were surrounded by gremlins who were quite infuriated. In an attempt to preserve himself, he pulled his saddle bag and threw the objects at them. When the bag’s contents ran thin, his hand stumbled upon a bell, which he rang vigorously. Providentially, there were two riders camping in the nearby area. They rushed to the beleaguered person after hearing the ringing sound of the bell, and drove the gremlins away, helping the fallen person to recover. As a token of appreciation, the rescued person gave each camper a ball. Extending beyond, he cut his saddle bag into two pieces and used them to hang the bells on their motorcycle.
The attacked rider advised the campers to ring those bells whenever they were in trouble. This tiny piece of advice has translated into a custom that is deeply entrenched in the biker community nowadays. Riders nowadays use motorcycle guardian bells as an efficacious way to keep their road tips smooth and accident-free.
Final Words:
How was the blog? Was it compelling enough to open your eyes? Which theory explaining the origin of motorcycle guarding bells is closer to reality?
Whatever the truth, a valuable lesson for bikers is that even a small invention has an astonishing history that we should never forget. So, go ahead, give gremlin bells to your loved ones, and keep road misfortune away.
