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I’m sure most of you, like me, can’t leave the house without your smartphone. At this point, it might as well be a prosthesis.
We use our smartphones for navigation, texting, phone calls (do people still do that?), and a lot of us probably spend too much time on social media. The point is, we use our phones a lot and they’re attached to us for pretty much any and all activities. If you’re reading this, I’m sure one of your favorite activities is riding your motor tooter. So naturally, finding a way to mount this prosthesis we call a smartphone to our bikes is bound to happen.
But, before you just grab the first “universal motorcycle phone mount” you see on the internet, there are several things you should consider.
How to put a phone mount on your motorcycle (and where)
First, the kind of motorcycle you have and where you want your phone to be positioned on the bike will determine what extra components you may need.
If you have a bike with clip-ons, I’ve found it’s generally best to utilize a fork stem mount. This set up uses an expansion plug that is inserted into the fork stem hole. As the plug is compressed, it expands and grips the inside of the fork stem hole, providing a solid mounting location to add a cell phone. It takes a bit more diligence for installation than the standard handlebar mount but it’s still usually the best option for sport bikes.
If your motorcycle has a traditional tubular handlebar, a “universal handlebar mount” will work well for you. There are a few different sizes of handlebars, ranging from seven-eighths of an inch to 1.125 inches. Most phone mounts come with all the accessories to clamp on to different sizes. If you are prompted to select a bar size when purchasing your mount, you can check your owner’s manual, do a quick Google search for your OEM bar size, or you can simply measure the handlebar.
If you ride a modern scooter, you’ll quickly realize a fork stem mounting option won’t work and you’ve got a bunch of plastic covering the handlebar with no good place to attach a mount without crowding the handgrip. I’d recommend an accessory mount that attaches to your mirror. I’ve found this to be the simplest and best solution for most scooters.
If you’re an enthusiast like myself, one motorcycle simply isn’t enough. Most mounting options are easy to transfer back and forth. But, you’ll often find that picking up one extra piece of the “phone mounting puzzle” will allow you to transfer your phone to all your bikes. For example, I’ve used the RAM Mounts X-Grip Handlebar U-Bolt Base for a few years now. It comes with everything you need to mount this system to a handlebar. I typically utilized this on my Triumph Thruxton and by purchasing the RAM Mounts Stem Base I could easily transfer the mount to my Yamaha YZF-R6.
The point I’m trying to make, in case it’s not clear, is that if you have more than one bike you don’t necessarily need to purchase two phone mounts. Generally, you can just pick up another mounting base and you’re all set.
You’ll also want to put some thought into where you place your phone mount. First and foremost, make sure it won’t interfere with any of your controls or your ability to manipulate your bike. Secondly, make sure it’s easily visible without drawing your focus too far from the road ahead. I’ve found that having the phone positioned close to your tachometer is generally best. Most of us take a quick glance at our tachometer every now and again, so having your phone mounted close to this position or easily visible while you're looking straight ahead is best.
Once you know how and where you’re going to put your phone mount, the next thing to consider is your phone case.
Do I need a waterproof phone case?
Back in my college days, I was walking to my bike and chatting with my buddy Chris and went to set my helmet on the tank. Unfortunately, I forgot I'd put my phone in my helmet while I was carrying it by the chin strap. My phone shot out my helmet like a cannon, hit the metal gas tank of my ZRX1100, and ricocheted onto the concrete.
I dropped my head and let out a big sigh. I fully expected my phone to be in a million pieces, but all it had was a small nick on the surrounding frame. The glass screen wasn’t even cracked. My buddy Chris quickly responded with “I hate you.”
Personally, I don’t like waterproof cases or really any case on my phone that adds bulk, but as the story above shows, I’ve been a bit lucky. If you’re not feeling that lucky, a rugged, waterproof case will not only protect your phone from everyday clumsiness but also from the inclement weather that’s bound to find you at one point or another.
Some brands utilize their own proprietary phone cases to mount a smartphone on the motorcycle. Because of that, you’ll find waterproof cases or water-resistant covers available for their phone mounts.
If you already have a waterproof, rugged phone case that you like, the smartphone mounts that don’t require their own proprietary case, such as the RAM Mounts X-Grip Handlebar U-Bolt Base I mentioned earlier, might be the way to go. I’ll get into some of my favorite brands below.
If you’re like me and utilize a very slim case or none at all, you can keep your phone in your jacket pocket during inclement weather and rely on the voice commands via Bluetooth. This certainly isn’t the best solution, as road noise and the never ending distractions encountered on the road can make you miss a voice prompt, it still gets the job done.
Speaking of keeping your phone protected, there’s another topic of discussion I found to be important.
Will my phone’s camera be destroyed by the vibrations of my motorcycle?
Quite a few Zillans I’ve chatted with about phone mounts reported their phone’s camera being destroyed after miles of use on the bike. Personally, this is not something I’ve ever encountered, but after further research I found it’s fairly common. Reports are a mixed bag. At first it seemed as if it was more specific to iPhones, but I found plenty of reports with other types of phones, too.
Fortunately, some brands now offer vibration dampener accessories to isolate your phone from the shaking. If you ride a bike that vibrates a lot, this is something to consider when sifting through your mounting options.
Brandon’s top motorcycle phone mounts (and one cheap option)
Easily one of my favorite options for motorcycles. Not only can you use their products to mount your phone, but you can also mount cup holders, a GPS device, mirrors, or even a tablet. I don’t think anyone needs to ride around with a tablet or iPad strapped to their bike, but you could.
The RAM Mounts X-Grip Handlebar U-Bolt Base is the most commonly purchased option as it comes with everything you need to mount your smartphone to your handlebar. You’ll find two sizes, which refers to the size of the X-Grip. If you don’t see your smartphone listed in the specifications, simply measure your phone and compare the dimensions to the width and depth range provided for each size to make sure you're getting the right X-Grip.
- SMALL: Width range (1.875 inches to 3.25 inches) • Depth (0.875 inches max)
- LARGE: Minimum width (1.75 inches to 4.5 inches) • Depth (0.875 inches max)
While I’ve enjoyed using my RAM Mount and I think it’s a great option for most, there are two things I don’t like about the X-Grip in particular.
First, I have an iPhone and the volume and power buttons are on either side. The X-Grip tends to press those buttons and you have to continually finagle your phone so it sits in the X-Grip just right. Not a huge deal but it can get annoying pretty fast. Yes, you can find alternative phone holders other than the X-Grip but the X-Grip is by far the most commonly purchased so it’s something worth noting.
Secondly, I don’t know why or how but I always seem to lose the RAM Mounts Universal X-Grip Cell Phone Holder Tether. This little piece of rubber is like a security blanket for your phone and ensures it doesn’t just bounce out of the X-Grip… which will ultimately lead to the death of your phone if you're riding a motorcycle. I’ve seen a lot of riders who don’t use this and I’m sure that one day they’ll hit that pothole that’s big enough and they'll regret it.
Another brand that is worth your consideration and also happens to be compatible with RAM mounts is Tackform.
Tackform mounts are often a bit more economically priced than RAM mounts and I don’t think they’re lacking in quality. These brands share a lot of similarities with their mounting options, and don’t forget about that rubber tether to ensure your phone doesn’t go anywhere it shouldn’t.
Previously, I mentioned the X-Grip with RAM and how it can smash the buttons on the side of your phone without proper finagling. From my experience, the Tackform phone holder can do the same but it’s a bit easier to finagle than the X-grip.
Just another note worth mentioning, as that slight annoyance ultimately led me to seek out alternative mounting options such as Quad Lock.
I first found out about Quad Lock via Instagram. I get a lot of gimmicky marketing stuff via social media. Sometimes it’s relevant and sometimes I have no clue who they think I am or what dumb Google search I did in order for them to think I want X, Y, and Z.
With that said, the Quad Lock case intrigued me. It’s incredibly simple and clean, and how quickly it mounted and unmounted drove me to investigate further. I ended up purchasing this mounting system for my Triumph and it’s easily my favorite phone mount for motorcycles.
This system uses a bracket that mounts to your handlebar or to your fork stem for you sport bike riders out there, and attaches to the proprietary Quad Lock case designed specifically for the model phone you're using.
Once you have the mounting base and arm in place, it’s a simple press-and-twist motion with your phone and you’re ready to roll.
For those of you concerned about your phone's camera being rattled to death, as I mentioned before, you can purchase a vibration dampener for the Quad Lock phone mounts. Additionally, once you have the case for your phone, you can pick up accessories to mount your phone in your car, cycling, on a sports armband, etc. and you can pick up a one-inch ball adapter that is compatible with any existing mounts you may already have, such as the RAM or Tackform.
Quad Lock might be one of my favorite motorcycle mounting options on the market right now for the versatility, ease of use, and the price, but there is one more brand you should strongly consider.
If the Quad Lock mounting system sounds ideal for your riding needs, the ROKFORM mounts share a lot of similarities and benefits previously mentioned with Quad Lock but the build quality is much better.
Not only are the mounting brackets stronger, the ROKFORM cases are also much stronger than what you’ll find from Quad Lock. If you’re an ADV rider looking for a phone mount, I would strongly recommend giving ROKFORM a closer look. The ROKFORM phone mount will better withstand the abuse of the rugged terrain ADV riders often encounter.
The ROKFORM phone case features a twist lock mounting point, much like the Quad Lock case, but with the addition of a magnet. The magnet provides greater versatility for mounting and charging your phone in used beyond two wheels.
You can purchase these mounts on Amazon for about $20, but keep in mind you get what you pay for. I used this mount for a few months on my Thruxton and it was just OK. For riding around town, considering the cost, it’s not bad. If you’re using it at highway speeds for any prolonged amount of time, it’s not the most secure option I’ve tested.
The only real benefits with this particular mount are the price and the simplicity. Personally, if I only had $20 to spend on a phone mount, I would wait until I’d saved up a few more bucks and get something of better quality.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I use a magnetic phone mount on my motorcycle?
A: I feel like this one is pretty obvious but just in case, you really shouldn’t rely on magnets as your main mounting point if you’re planning to use your smartphone on your motorcycle. The magnets are simply not strong enough to prevent the phone from bouncing free at the first bump in the road. Sure, there are magnets that are strong enough to prevent that but you don’t want that attached to your phone.
And yes, the ROKFORM case discussed earlier has a magnet incorporated but it’s not the main point of contact to secure the phone to your machine. The magnet is more or less secondary and more beneficial for applications that don’t involve two wheels.
Q: Where is the best place to mount a phone on a motorcycle?
A: First and foremost, you’ll want to mount your phone so it won’t interfere with any of your controls or your ability to manipulate your bike. Secondly, make sure it’s easily visible. Your focus should always be on the road in front of you. I’ve found that having the phone positioned in a location that is close to the tachometer is generally best. Most of us take a quick glance at our tachometer every now and again so having your phone mounted close to this position or easily visible while you're looking straight ahead is best.
There are a lot of different bikes out there all with different restrictions and challenges when adding accessories such as a phone mount. Ultimately, you’ll need to find what works best for you and your particular ride.
Q: Do I need a ⅞-inch bar mount or a 1 ⅛-inch bar mount?
A: Most phone mounts will come with all the accessories to accommodate both sizes. If you are prompted to select a bar size when purchasing your mount, you can check your owner's manual, do a quick Google search for your OEM bar size, or you can acquire this info the old fashion way by simply measuring your handlebar.
Q: Where is the best place to add a phone mount for my scooter?
A: If you ride a modern scooter, you’ll quickly realize you’ve got a bunch of plastic covering the handlebar down to the grip. Not really any space to use a handlebar mount unless you mount it to the grips, but speaking from experience, that’s not the best option. It crowds the grip and is very uncomfortable. Additionally, you won’t find a fork stem mounting option either. I’d recommend picking up an accessory mount that attaches to your mirror. I’ve found this to be the simplest and best solution for most scooters.
Hopefully this info will get you pointed in the right direction and give you some additional things to consider that you may not have thought about.
When you consider how expensive smartphones are these days and how much less even the most premium, easy-to-use, vibration-dampening motorcycle phone mount costs, it seems like an easy choice to me... follow your heart.
