Phone mount for handlebars?

Zascar

I want to mount my phone on the handlebars so I can use Satnav the odd time. Looking for a decent mount. They dont make ones for my phone - a OnePlus 5T - so I need a universal one - but it needs to hold it tight. Id like to get it wired in for power also. I don't need any waterproof cover - just a mount. Phone is splash proof but if it rains heavy I''d take it off. Any suggestions?

KT10

You can get an X Mount to just hold the phone in place and run a cable to it for power, but for a more 'full-on' solution, lookup Ultimate Addons from the UK, they make powered tough cases to mount to motorcycles, I had one for my Galaxy S5 and while it was a bit bulky, it was 100% secured.

draycottgirlz

They have mounts for bicycles in Aldi at the moment, I strapped one onto my handlebars about a week ago and placed my phone in to test it out and it has worked very well. I only need it the odd time when I might need directions to collect something on my way home form work, but so good so far.

Zascar

Thanks lads. This one seems to have good reviews:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MOTOPOWER-MP0609B-Motorcycle-Holder-Smartphone/dp/B01MEFY91C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526468784&sr=8-3&keywords=motorcycle+phone+mount

mecanno37

I got one of these for my S6 edge, touch screen works fine in it, it's waterproof and you can run a cable to charge it. It has an easy removal connection, and position can be adjusted.

https://www.holdersandmounts.co.uk/waterproof-samsung-galaxy-s5-motorcycle-bike-handlebar-mount-by-herbert-richter.html

Colm17RvB

Check out quadlock for mounting your phone to your bars.

PS, new oneplus 6 coming out soon

listermint

But the 5t is not waterproof

Colm17RvB

Splash-proof is best you're gonna get with those phones. The 6 is more durable water wise, supposedly.

colm_c

Careful of where you mount it and the mount you use, the vibrations on a bike can destroy a phone.

You'd want something with shock absorption.

frozenfrozen

Be worth getting a cheap android phone and using something with offline maps like sygic

Zascar

Yeah good point about the vibrations. Any way around it? It would just be fore very occasional use when I need directions. I could definitely get a waterproof sleeve if it was raining but I don't see the need for a full waterproof unit really.

neildyr

I have this one https://www.gearbest.com/other-motorcycle-accessories/pp_364659.html?wid=1433363my fire blade and wired up. I have a 5.5" phone and it is held in nice and snug. the springs in it are really strong. not unlike the one you showed from amazon.
Absolutely no issue with vibrations, that's what the front forks are for.

ED E

I have this on a road bicycle. Pfft you say, bicycles. But its held fine at up to 68kph on a frame with zero suspension and no wind shielding of any sort. The large rubber piece between phone and bars absorbs a fair bit. Just my 2c.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smartphone-Patented-Universal-Compatible-Motorbikes/dp/B01N4X0HUS/

Del2005

neildyr wrote: »

I have this one https://www.gearbest.com/other-motorcycle-accessories/pp_364659.html?wid=1433363my fire blade and wired up. I have a 5.5" phone and it is held in nice and snug. the springs in it are really strong. not unlike the one you showed from amazon.
Absolutely no issue with vibrations, that's what the front forks are for.

Vibrations on a bike come from the engine not the road, the forks or shocks can't do anything about it.

Zascar

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Be worth getting a cheap android phone and using something with offline maps like sygic

http://www.sygic.com/gps-navigation - Looks good I'll give it a go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_38Kkfx1rM8

I do actually have my old OnePlus 3 doing nothing so I could definitely use it for this. Screen has a crack but still works fine.

Del2005

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Be worth getting a cheap android phone and using something with offline maps like sygic

You can download offline maps with Google, you don't get traffic if offline but you if you have the map already downloaded then traffic information won't consume much data.

listermint

colm_c wrote: »

Careful of where you mount it and the mount you use, the vibrations on a bike can destroy a phone.

You'd want something with shock absorption.

Tbh if there was vibrations coming up through the bike your arms and wrists would get it long before the phone.

You'd be wrecked riding it

colm_c

listermint wrote: »

Tbh if there was vibrations coming up through the bike your arms and wrists would get it long before the phone.

You'd be wrecked riding it

Every bike has vibrations through the handlebars, even at tick over.

Your arms can deal with a lot of it without even noticing. Your phone is not used to these vibrations and so can reduce its lifespan.

listermint

colm_c wrote: »

Every bike has vibrations through the handlebars, even at tick over.

Your arms can deal with a lot of it without even noticing. Your phone is not used to these vibrations and so can reduce its lifespan.

I disagree. I would be interested in some examples of motorcycles destroying phones though.

Your arms would develop sore wrists and tingling in the hands of you had vibrations coming up through the bars. The shocks are designed to prevent this

Del2005

listermint wrote: »

I disagree. I would be interested in some examples of motorcycles destroying phones though.

Your arms would develop sore wrists and tingling in the hands of you had vibrations coming up through the bars. The shocks are designed to prevent this

The vibrations are coming from the engine so the shocks have nothing to do with it. Place a glass of water on your tank and give the bike a few revs and see what happens. When riding you aren’t constantly holding the bars so your wrists get a break from the vibrations, your phone will be solidly mounted.

colm_c

listermint wrote: »

I disagree. I would be interested in some examples of motorcycles destroying phones though.

Your arms would develop sore wrists and tingling in the hands of you had vibrations coming up through the bars. The shocks are designed to prevent this

Shocks are to absorb the road. The vibrations come from the engine.

https://www.bksv.com/en/about/waves/WavesArticles/2017/Easy-rider-Measuring-motorbike-vibrations

Some bikes are better at dampening it than others, but it's still there.

As for damaging phones:
https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/76ezfz/psa_motorcycle_vibration_can_damage_cell_phone/

I certainly wouldn't risk a 600 euro phone.

frozenfrozen

Sygic is good because you can put it into heads up display mode it just shows an arrow for next turn, distance to next turn, and the speed limit of the road

I have a dodgy version I got for free


Vibrations killing phones is a real thing I wouldn't put my nice phone onto a solid mount like a ram mount

listermint

Has anyone evidence of vibrations killing phones or is this one of those bar stool things ?

AlAlkovitch4

I’ve travelled all over Europe on plenty of occasions with both phone and sat nav mounted, on all types of bikes, never had an issue

Zascar

Quick update lads - I bought this one in the end: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MOTOPOWER-MP0609B-Motorcycle-Holder-Smartphone/dp/B01MEFY91C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1529401682&sr=8-3&keywords=motorcycle+phone+holder

Works great, the phone sits nicely and easy to use the satnav. It held the phone well - however the rubber strap did fall off once - but the phone still held no problem. The only thing is that I purposely did not get one that did not have a waterproof housing - thinking it would be behind the screen and not get wet. I was wrong. I got stuck in a monsoon and the raindrops keep activating the phone - and knocking off my satnav every few mins, very annoying. Going to try to find a cover that keeps it dry and I can still use with this mount.

Cienciano

listermint wrote: »

Has anyone evidence of vibrations killing phones or is this one of those bar stool things ?

I'd say it could happen alright. It all depends on where on the bike you mount it and what you mount it with. I mounted one on a bar across the dash that was used to hold the screen. A lot less vibration than on the handlebars and mine had rubber mounts to dampen vibration. I'd imagine a rock solid mount at the middle of the handlebars would be pretty bad. Closer to the edge of the handlebar would have lower frequency vibration, might be better, might be worse for your phone.

http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/74364-Vibration-from-cell-phone-mount-on-handlebar-is-destroying-phones

https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/6io0p0/heads_up_for_anyone_who_mounts_their_phones_to/

https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/60gf8v/vibration_killed_my_iphone_camera/

https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/76ezfz/psa_motorcycle_vibration_can_damage_cell_phone/


Overview of few different mounts here: https://ourgreatproducts.com/top-ten-best-motorcycle-cell-phone-mounts-reviews/

Zascar

I actually have an old phone with a cracked screen that I used - I dont mind so much if it gets wet or risking it bouncing down the road if the mount fails. I just got a new phone so no way I'm risking that... On mine the vibration is not bad I didn't notice any shaking of the screen etc - seemed fine. But definitely something to consider. Maybe putting some extra rubber on the mount could lessen it?