motivation behind the phone mount is not just to check the notifications. Main points imho are: 1. navigation, riding stats 2. GPS computers are too damn expensive for weekend explorations 3. it rains and snows and not all phones are waterproof
For me I want a Garmin radar rear light to use with my iPhone. Trouble is it is -30c in Winnipeg(25min ride). I have a usb plug in my ebike battery to help with cold shutoffs. Sooo, I might lean to the bag bros one.
I'm a bicycle courier and use multiple gps related apps. I screwed a garmin mount to my phone case and have a power bank mounted to the stem which I use to charge the phone via a magnetic connector. The phone is waterproof and the magnetic insert prevents water getting into the charge port.
I love this grading scale style reviewing multiple products. It highlights valid reasons why someone might want any one of the products regardless of your personal opinion on them.
A couple of things to note about the Quad Lock: 1. It's only available for a very limited number of phone models 2. Changing the case would deduct from the "convenience" category, at least for me, as I already have a phone case I am happy with Also, for the elastic type ones, I've also been wary of those, as they don't look very secure. I don't trust a rubber band(s) to hold my phone.
There one called grid lock by spigen that comes with the mount that sticks to the back of your case, you can buy the adapters for your other phone covers, or other items you'd like stuck to your handle bars
regarding #1, they now have a universal adapter, it's basically a sticker you can put on any case, phone, tablet, or whatever it is that you're trying to mount.
Thank you for all your videos, man. I'm from a tropical country and I'm living in italy now and I was worried about the weather, how to ride in winter (I never done that), the bike lanes, the best bike for the city, the best accesories. Your videos helped me a lot. Thanks for been here and share with us!
You missed an important category for judging, longevity. I have tried many of these, and nothing come even close to quadlock in terms of longevity and elegance.
Yes, this is a great point. I will keep using these and report back! (I also like that you described Quadlock as elegant. That is a great description of it).
The problem with quad lock is that you have to buy the phone case that has the quad lock on it. Sure you can buy the quad lock mount that glues to a case but then you still have to buy a case. Either way buying these cases is in addition to buying the bike mount from quadlock. I like using a naked phone so I am ditching my quad lock.
One factor about quadlock is the case. It looks protective but how protective is it is the question. You dont want to be removing from current case and putting on the quadlock all the times
I use Garmin mount in front of handlebars with Garmin lock sticker on case of phone, is neat and low profile and it holds perfectly, superb for navigation on less-known roads.
My local bike shop carries a locking-type mount called Rokform. It's got a mechanical lock, but the mechanism that keeps it twisted in place is a magnet, instead of a latch. It's quick and easy once you're used to it, but it did come off once in a minor crash. Phone was fine.
For anyone who worries about being rained on while riding, but prefers one of the other types of mounts? SHOWER CAPS. Buy a box of them, toss one or two into your cycle kit. It starts to rain? Pull over, whip one out, and put it over your phone. VOILA, shielded from the rain! :D
I'm currently using a quad lock stem mount using the rubber rings. Can use cable ties too, but I chose not to because it would be easier to remove if needed. However I have never removed it even when washing my bike. They don't do a case for my phone (motorola G7 power) so used the universal stick on mount stuck to the included rubber case when I bought the phone which works surprisingly well if a little flexible. After almost a year of use the lock mechanism sticks down so I have to manually pull it up to lock in place probably due to water ingress and the rubber rings holding it to the stem are not quite as tight as when I first installed it, but not so much it will fall off. So in future would probably use the cable ties. If I was to buy another quad lock I would get a clamp on "Out front" version with the handle to make removing the phone easier. I use my bike mostly on canal and river tow paths so it's often bumpy uneven surfaces and the quad lock keeps my phone secure no issue
For me it's got to be the sealed pocket. 1. Like you said, take a break from social media and enjoy/focus on the ride. 2. Though personally I like to roll with 20 year old Nokias ( fun to rebuild and 2 week batteries ) I'm not comfy with the idea of a thousand dollar mobile attached to my handlebars for muggers to see. Nice video, cheers mate.
Well I don't use my phone on the Handlebar for social Media. If anyone does, that Person should seriously seek help. However Phones have GPS built in and there are Map Services. I mean you wouldn't need that on your day to day commutes. But I've heared that sometimes People need to go to places they don't know well, crazy, right? I personally was doing deliveries for 2 years via bike and I can tell ya, that a a good, well functioning phone Mount is a blessing. As for muggers: I'd be much more worried about the damn bike. There is a nice handy trick to not get your phone stolen from your Bike: Take it off before you leave. Simple, fast, yet quite effective I'd say.
I like the Quad Lock for all the reasons mentioned, but I also have the windshield mount in my car, which can be plugged in and charge my phone. I know that's antithetical to urban cycling, but when I'm on a long trip, that's a fantastic benefit. I'm hoping that one day they'll have something similar for a power generating hub. ;-)
The main reason I mount a phone on my bike is for navigation otherwise it's in my pocket. If I'm expecting important calls I wear Bluetooth earbuds and take the call that way. Notifications pop up on my watch so I can quickly glance at them and subsequently ignore them. Many phones are still not waterproof so rain protection is still important. I use a weatherproof handlebar mount that an ex Deliveroo courier gave me. It's durable, waterproof and unclips so that you can take the cover and phone with you. Interestingly it uses a standard GPS mount so it can be mounted to other clips. Anyway that's all irrelevant for me now unless I'm riding my old bike because my new one has built in GPS navigation and mapping. Cool. 🙂
I have an elastic one, but found it wanting in regular use. I settled on a bag style one. I wanted a place to put a pump, extra tube. I’m still working on a clip on the inside of my basket. I think that will give best frontwards visibility for navigation.
I was going to buy a quadlock mount (actually the motorcycle type, which is screwed onto the handlebars permanently) but in the end I didn't buy it cause I was too concerned about vibrations. Many quadlock users experienced issues with the phone camera stabilizer due to vibration (most of them on motorcycles, but still..). They also sell a shock-proof adapter for all mounts, but it makes it way less "low-profile" and it also shakes a lot when going over bumps. I think for now I'm going to stick to the (very unsafe) one-handed pocket grab while riding 😂
The problem with the QuadLock is that it doesn't actually lock, if you hit a bump in the right way the spring can depress and release the phone (RIP my Note8).
The Quad Lock does win… it’s just gonna cost more because it is rock-solid, and will last, not stretch out, etc. New o-rings are cheap from the hardware store and can be replaced regularly so you never have to worry about them breaking, stretching, or wearing - and your phone falling out by surprise.
i feel like the one elastic where it goes over your phone and not around the corners is going to be kind of annoying because you can’t really see your screen, especially if you’re using a gps
I started with a clamp-style mount - and it regularly threw my phone onto the road. Or pressed the volume button randomly. I adapted this mount, by adding a small plastic bag over the phone. This held the phone when it slipped out of the mount, and was waterproof - so a big improvement. I recently changed to a Quadlock (new phone, so I also needed a good case), and it works brilliantly. I also got their Poncho - the rain cover - and that isn't great, as the touch screen doesn't work through the cover. I tried a few other touch screen devices, and they did work through the cover, so I'm not sure what's going on. Overall, Quadlock gets my vote.
I currently use a Delta Smartphone Holder XL. The locking mechanism broke a couple of times, but it does have a lifetime warranty. It mounts on the handlebars or with the included stem bolt cap. (I use the stem bolt cap.) It comes with foam inserts to help secure your phone and keep it from rattling. It does take time to install and you probably wouldn't want to remove it. I think they have fixed the problem with the locking mechanism.
I prefer the bag type because I live in a desert and the phone WILL overheat after 10 minutes of direct sunlight and stop plying my music. I’ve had it happen WAY too much! So the tube bag stops that from happening. But honestly I just wear a Fanny pack most of the time it keeps the phone the right temp to keep working
I initially had a "corner elastic" mount on my bike due to price and thinking "looks good enough". Attaching the phone to the mount has you pressing your buttons more often than you like, including the "mute" button on the iPhone (top left). And also takes away from screen real estate, making the phone hard to use as a nav sometimes. Switched to a stem Quadlock that I put on the bars and it's amazing. The case is fine: it's rugged and adds almost no profile to your phone, though they probably don't make as many models as people would like. The lock is so secure I could probably pick up my whole bike by the phone. The clip-unclip of phone from lock takes literally a second once you're used to it. It does cost a bit more, though. Two of my friends have also switched to Quadlocks.
I've tried many many different mounts. Functionally (i.e., disregarding price) Quad Lock is the best one BY FAR. It's not even close. Since I'm also a cheapskate, and their products are ridiculously overpriced, I always wait for their annual Black Friday 30% off sale. 30% brings their prices from "what are they thinking" down to "I guess it's not that crazy." They've run that sale for at least three years (as long as I've been paying attention), so I assume they're going to again.
Cool. I’ve tried a few and ended up with the Quadlock. I didn’t like the elastic bands on the stem mount so upgraded to the out front mount. I have a long stem, angled and it is secured on it. Works great, is very secure and indiscreet. And I stopped switching out my old case and quad lock one every time I ride and just leave the quad lock case on all the time. They have a variety of different mounts for things besides bikes, even a small “ring” that acts as a stand or even can be used to clip to a carabiner or key loop. Sorry if this sounds like an ad, but it is a great device.
The only time I use a phone mount is for maps and seriously makes life so much easier. I use an elastic one as they're the cheapest at my local bike shop. Mine feels a little more flimsy than you described but I trust it and like I said- it's only when I need maps which isn't often.
After trying many cheaper and popular options, I surrendered to pay the ridiculous price of Quadlock and I don't think I can go back. If you don't have a phone that fits their case selections, just get the mount itself and either stick it to your current case or just glue it for extra safety. Two years and still works like a charm despite how much I abused the mount and the lock both.
You forgot to mention that the Nite Ize stem mount strap model can be used as a bottle opener. The metal piece that locks the strap is the bottle opener. Nite Ize even promotes this feature.
People who want to mount their phones because they can't resist checking them, shouldn't use a mount. Just because we're slower than a car, doesn't mean mean we can't trigger a horrific chain of events. As another commenter mentioned, I want a mount because I just can't afford a Garmin edge... but I do have an old phone that can be used for basic things like time/date, weather and navigation purposes. Your phone that's used for calls, social, email. That stays in your backpack/pocket.
Pro of quadlock is you can use 1 case and get different mounts for cars, office bike and motorcycle so the 1st one is expensive but if you get more mounts it isn't as bad. Plus you maybe you have a few people who use the same bike you could get the 1 mount and different cases. All the casses go to the same mount.
Quadlock all the way. I got the universal kit and super glued the adapter pad to my favorite case. It's also worth noting that the bar mount version is a bolt on affair that centers the mount either over or in front of the stem depending on which way you attach it, and uses a lever now, making one handed removal possible without sacrificing security.
Q Mount is hands down the best I've used. Holds my rather large phone with case (LG stylo 3) and does not budge. It's one handed release. It's a no brainer purchase. I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned.
Another things about quad lock that is a downer is that it does not support many cases especially gor andriod. You'll have to use the adhesive version which I've heard doesn't work well.
I have the adhesive version for two years now and have zero complaints about it. It's also nice because once you're done with that case/ phone you can take it off and use some double sided 3M tape to mount mount to a new one instead of another wasteful outdated case.
as for rubber holder and its safety. Using it in winter affects elasticity - it may rip apart at some moment. And after switching to slightly bigger phone it also may die unexpectedly. Have had such an experience, fortunately during placing the phone there, so caught it.
Personally I don't like the quadlock because I change phones every other year or so and would have to change the case that I've been using for so long already. I use the Ram mounts for everything and have worked out well for me.
Quadlock with the handlebar mount (out front mount) goes about CAD 130, pretty expensive I must say. For navigation I believe Garmin or Wahoo does better job, using phone for bike navigation drains the phone battery.
Intangible factor missed for the elastic mount: If you leave it on the bike, it is susceptible to theft. Some might say take it off then. To that I say, who wants to carry more stuff with them? When using the bike as your primary mode of transportation, you're already always carry stuff.
must say I don't check my phone every 2mins when I'm on my bike..only for navigation..but if its an easy way i remember how i must go then i store my phone into my pocket and go..I have a good phone holder for bike but I'm scared someone might steal it because it's not securely being mounted.. ohh I got that very elastic stem..one but way cheaper, about 10$ in USA... got one almost like yours but different, didn't do well for me..
I have the handlebar Nite ize. I like it a lot actually! Very easy to load and unload the phone. It was like $6 on Amazon, so really cost effective. It blends in perfectly on my bike so it doesn’t give the handlebars the busy appearance. Only complaint is that if I have a case on my iPhone 13 pro max, the corner straps come off at times.
I have a couple of the stretch elastic ones from Alibaba that cost me ~$4 each and they are definitely inferior only to the Quadlock, which is currently not in my budget, but having seen them, I really want one.
How does your cell phone do in the heat/sun with the Quad Lock since it is facing straight up? Does your phone heat up? or does that cover help with that?
I've got a elastic mount with the corner straps and I'm a bit conflicted about it. Mine kind of blocks the bottom edge which make navigating on an iPhone quite difficult. My other gripe is that while I know its secure it still looks dangerous when it's bouncing around while riding over these big cobblestones. I also wouldn't use any of the mounts shown, except for maybe the bag, when riding in a tight group or mountain biking. Crashes happen and when a phone hits the pavement or a rock its probably done for.
I'm trying to choose the best bicycle handlebar phone holders I should get but I don't know the names of them.I have different phones that's different sizes.But I do know I want the best ?
Quadlock wins hands down. No way would I use the others. Quadlock mount stays on my bike permanently, is unobtrusive and simple to use. I have a non Quadlock case with a Quadlock locking component attached by 3M tape, which I use almost all the time, whether or not I'm biking. Right where I need it when on the bike, I can quickly check my maps or whatever else I need, as I can access my fingerprint or face sensor. Solid as a rock and worth the money.
I'm not a fan of those at all, because it's overpriced (it is, even if it's very good), I don't (nor will I ever) own a supported Phone, and somwhat I wouldn't ultimatively trust 3M Tape to hold my phone in place in all conditions. With 99% certainity, the 3M tape would fall right off after 2 weeks of week (very active work and quite dusty). I have finally found the perfect Mount for me. You can adjust the width of Mount with a Screw (you do that only once). Once that's done, you can just slidethe phone in and out easily. And to actually fix it, all you do is push a quick release leaver, the sides close and the phone sits in there TIGHT. I have picked it Up with the phone inside and tried to violently "shake out" the Phone without success. Since it's mounted tight on the handle bar as well, there is no way the phone could fall out. Wish I found this Mount a few years before, when I was doing delivery rides with my bike. That mount would have been a lot better then any other I've had before, since it's as quick, easy and painless as the quadlock. Which makes a difference as a delivery rider, when you do that up to 50 times a Day.... After I found that Mount, the only benefit I see for the Quadlock is, because it is small and the handles look more clutter free. But I don't think that's worth 4 times the asking price.
After this video I got a nite ize and it worked great for a few months and then started falling off. Fortunately this was always at home but I'm afraid to use it now--can't afford to have my phone fly off along the road somewhere!
I have a bag that had issues staying nicely straight upwards between the legs. Often my legs came against it. My phone is too big to get in there behind the window because of the protective cover. Even when taking the cover off, it is a tight fit. Then there is the issue of where to store the cover during the ride. Also the issue of the bag fogging up. The phone case with locking has the problem that those elastics can tear. It happened with one of my lights.
my number one reason for a phone mount is maps my city's bike network is pretty disconnected and without good signage so a map (or a helpful stranger) is pretty much required to navigate a new route
The Clamp version that you reviewed: In initially you said you got it at the Dollar Store, but then at 4:13-16 into the video you said "... this thing cost like 9 bucks...". You threw me for a loop.
not everything is a dollar in a dollar store and never has been. Just like when there were five and dime stores that preceded them every thing was not five or ten cents. They may sell alot of merchandise for $1 but what they are really selling is cheap stuff.
Just going to say that I don't really like anything in my pockets when riding my bike. I actually use one like the rockbros and just put my wallet and crap that is normally in my pocket just gets emptied into there and pulled out at the destination. :)
I got the bag style and have found I don't like it. It is bulky, the phone is hard to get in the plastic bit and the phone overheats in it. Now I simply use it for tools and mount it on the seat stay.
I do food delivery on my bike so need to have my phone on a mount. Mine is mounted on an outfront garmin mount. I screwed the garmin adaptor onto the case for my phone since the sticky stuff isn't sticky enough
If it's anything like the universal mount from quadlock, which I didn't trust the 3M sticky stuff on that, either, you can also rough sand (like 100 grit) the pad and the case and superglue it. Mine's been on there for months and doesn't have even a hint of separation.
If you have one of those big battery phones or a rugged phone that are like twice the thickness of regular phones, most of those won't do at all, with exception to the bag style. You'd be surprised at just how many of these phone mounts that don't accommodate thick phones. I use the claw style mount that extend and retract with four arms. They're the only type that will actually hold my thick rugged phone securely, let alone fit in at all. I don't trust the elastic phone mounts. My phone is way too heavy to have a stable experience and I would hate to have the elastic snap on me. A lot of the clamp styles hit the buttons no matter the position and if you like riding with phone in portrait position, it may easily slide out the bottom. The lock on type doesn't come with a compatible case for my biffy phone. Some of them come with a suction cup you install on either your phone or your case. But that only works if either have a nice flat surface. Mine has ridges and bumps on the back.
I have a 6,000maph Samsung Galaxy M31 and it works just fine with the Quadlock. It does not move at all, regardless of whether I am riding over rocks in the forest or grates/grills/potholes in the city. Not an issue for me.
I’m enjoying the bike so far ru-vid.comUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA My only real complaints are the brakes and the pedals. I feel like a bike designed for bigger people should have much larger pedals and more heavy duty brakes. I’ve only gotten two really good rides out of it, minimal downhill action, and the brakes feel like they’re already going out. A larger person has more momentum, so I think this wasn’t thought through very well. Also, I wear size 13-14 wide shoes. My feet cramp up on these pedals that are clearly made for smaller feet. Since I’m not a pro rider (and I don’t think many are who purchase this bike) I don’t think that the straps on the pedal are necessary at all. None of this takes away from the enjoyment I get from riding, however. I’ll just head to a bike shop to improve on a few things.
Your evaluation is a little flawed. You should test the phone while riding to see if the device really does its job. For example, the elastic type where you stretch the twin strip over the phone screen might obstruct your Google map if you're looking for directions, or something else. (For that reason, I might prefer the other stretch-over-the corners type.) The bag one would probably be the least preferred, unless you like to ride in the rain all the time...
I found this review very superficial, and the scores rather arbitrary. I am most concerned with functionality: how easy is the phone to see and use when mounted to the bike? I didn't really see these points addressed.
you shouldn't be looking down and reading your phone when you are riding your bike. I see the mount as a way to carry my phone instead of in my pocket or clipping it on my clothes. You can even use the camera, video, or GPS functions as long as your eyes are on the road.
Agree, I think more consideration of functionality would have been more worthwhile. Convenience factor is a bit of a laugh when you're thinking that having to undo a zip or place your phone in a particular way is a bit of an imposition. The ride test was not worth the airtime, would have been better to show how you can use a phone when housed in whatever unit was being reviewed. Or try riding over rough roads/terrain to test security, etc.
I have problems with all of those 1) Camps: To flimsy. 2) Bag (owned one of those): Completely useless in sunlight, as the glare makes it impossible to see trough. The phone becomes unuseable when it is inside. It's inconvenient, if you need to stop often and take out the phone. 3) Rubber: To flimsy again. God damn it's a phone mount, I want that phone fixed SECURELY on my bike 4) Great Solution - but only if you have supported device and want to use this case. This "Solution" is 200% unusable for the VAST Majority of People, as they wouldn't have the right Phone. I have found the perfect Phone Mount to me. I can adjust the lenght of mine Phone. Once that is set, I can fix / release it with a leaver. It holds the phone in place VERY secure. You can use it, when it's mounted. It's universal. And it literally takes only 1 Second to mount /dismount your phone. Not important (at all) in day to day live, but I was doing bike deliveries for over 2 Years and if you have to mount/dismount your phone up to 50 Times a Day, it's not neglectable.
@@brunzmeflugen Mine is made by a "brand" called "Grefay". They have some designs I consider bad in terms of useabillity as well. The one I find so useful has a quick release leaver on the right. There are some other "brands" that offer this design. Tough I've had one before and while the phone was secure in the holder, it would move around a lot.
