RiDE Magazine tested six smartphone mounts back-to-back including vibration measurements to see which is best

Published: 22 April 2024 Updated: 26 April 2024

This test was performed by the team at our sister title RiDE Magazine – the biker’s champion that guarantees useful advice on buying a new or used motorbike, thorough testing and tips on which bits of gear to buy, from helmets to suits and gloves to boots and more. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram, and in print.

Back in the day, you had a mobile phone for talking to people, a camera for taking photos, a little black book for phone numbers, an MP3 player for music, a dedicated sat nav for directions, and possibly some form of mini-tablet for internet access – to very basic sites. Now, everything is combined in one device – the smartphone – that fits snugly in your hand… and pocket.

The best motorcycle phone holders at a glance:

RiDE Best Buy: Quad Lock – View offer on Sportsbikeshop
RiDE Recommended: Ultimateaddons – View offer on Sportsbikeshop

Many people – this writer included – use their smartphone for everything, and that includes on the bike. There are numerous sat nav apps – from straightforward A to B, to off-road or bike-specific systems. You can play music through a connected headset and make and take phone calls, you can stop for a selfie en route, and you can go online and find the nearest decent café or fuel station.

But experience tells us that using some bikes can cause big problems for phones. RiDE Magazine Editor, Matt found this when his bike-mounted iPhone’s camera died – and numerous more examples led Apple to advise motorcyclists: “It is not recommended to attach your iPhone to motorcycles with high-power or high-volume engines.” Smaller engines might be OK, but Apple suggested: “A vibration-damping mount or a gimbal is recommended to lessen the risk of damage to your iPhone.”

As a result, the aftermarket began to introduce mounts with built-in vibration insulation, so you could carry on using your smartphone without the fear of it being killed by your favourite pastime.

If you want your phone located safely where you can see those directions, you need to fit a phone mount.

Best motorcycle phone holders

We tested most of the latest models on the market in a repeatable and real-world test. Find out more about how we tested them here.

Quad Lock (case, poncho, mount and damper)

Superb quality and super-easy to use

RiDE Best Buy

Price: Build your ideal system, prices vary

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

The bundle priced here comprises a standard case (the images show a MAG case but mechanically it’s the same), a poncho, a Pro machined-aluminium mount and a vibration damper. Quad Lock’s cases have lost heft since they debuted and now the mounting boss on the back is barely noticeable.

The vibration damper fits to the mount with a central-set screw and sits between the arm and the main phone-mounting boss. Once assembled, the phone fits to the mount by offering up at 45° and turning to lock in whichever orientation you want. A lever is then depressed to release the phone or turn it 90°. Quality is lovely and you can fit and release the phone with one hand.

There are loads of options in the range, including wireless charging heads and a host of accessories to go with the MAG case – including car and desk mounts.

In use, it is clear and stable and very easy to fit. But the vibration test result was surprising – the phone saw the highest vibration figures here, both in terms of peak and average acceleration. But we’ve used this system for a couple of years without issue. In the water test, some got past the camera lens cover but none made it any further into the case or phone.

The set-up used in the test comes to around £114 but you can build a system to suit your phone/bike at the link.

Pros

Easy to fit
Easy to use
Huge range of accessories

Cons

Bulky set-up on the handlebar

Ease of fitting

4.0
Ease of use

5.0
Stability

5.0
Features

4.0
Waterproofing

4.0

Overall case weight (including phone)	254g
Overall case size (fitted to phone)	76mm x 150mm x 13mm
Wireless charging supported?	Yes
Phone totally enclosed?	No
Weather cover available?	Yes
Handlebar sizes	22mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm, 35mm
Other mounts	Mirror, ball, stem, brake reservoir, clutch
One-handed operation?	Yes (one orientation)
Cable access?	Yes
Wireless charging mount?	Yes

Time to attach to bike 1 second
Time to change from portrait to landscape 2 seconds
Distance from handlebar centreline to phone screen 69mm
Peak vibration figure 0.29g
Average vibration figure 0.16g

Ultimateaddons Phone Mount and Case

More involved but fits perfectly well

RiDE Recommended

Price: Build your ideal system, prices vary

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

The Ultimateaddons case is based around a solid plastic outer ‘skeleton’ with an internal flexible sleeve to house the phone and insulate it from vibrations. The phone needs to be taken out of any everyday case and fitted into the soft liner, then the main plastic case is then closed around it, enclosing it completely.

The handlebar clamp is a fairly straightforward example, with two halves of the plastic mounting around the ’bars and a one-inch ball mount joining to what the company describes as a three-prong mount. This would stay fitted to the bike and the case clips into it. You can leave the case on the bike and fit your phone to it or remove the whole thing if you prefer.

Fitting the case to the mount is easy – place it on and click into place. It releases by squeezing the two buttons either side on the rear – with two hands, as the case is too wide for my hands. If you have larger hands, you may be able to do it one-handed.

In use, it works well; it is stable with a good view and the main cover allows fingers or gloves to work the phone’s screen. It doesn’t work with wireless charging and no option is available for on‑bike charging, though there is a snug, waterproofed aperture in the base for a cable.

The vibration figures seen by the phone were in the middle of the range, while it kept all traces of water out in the soaking test.

The set-up used in the test comes to around £64.99 but you can build a system to suit your phone/bike at the link.

Pros

Completely encases phone
Charging port built-in
Variety of mounting options

Cons

Phone must be removed from day-to-day case to be fitted
Case clips can break

Ease of fitting

4.0
Ease of use

3.0
Stability

4.0
Features

3.0
Waterproofing

5.0

Overall case weight (including phone)	331g
Overall case size (fitted to phone)	95mm x 171mm x 20mm
Wireless charging supported?	No
Phone totally enclosed?	Yes
Weather cover available?	N/A
Handlebar sizes<strong> </strong>	19mm, 22mm, 25mm, 28mm
Other mounts	Mirror, ball, stem, claw
One-handed operation?	No
Cable access?	Yes
Wireless charging options?	No

Time to attach to bike (from normal case to mounted to bike) 29 seconds
Time to change from portrait to landscape 2 seconds
Distance from handlebar centreline to phone screen 90mm
Peak vibration figure 0.20g
Average vibration figure 0.12g

SP Connect (case, poncho, mount and damper bundle)

Decent quality but not very user-friendly

www.infinitymotorcycles.com

View Offer

The SP Connect mount is made from aluminium and has a nice finish, anodised in black. The mount comes with two possible fitments, to cope with older cases as well as the ‘SPC+’ style we were sent. If using the mount on its own, you need to assemble it with the relevant fitting, but the vibration damper came ready to fit to the SPC+ case.

The damper mounts with a single bolt and can be rotated to numerous angles on the toothed ring. The case fits by offering it to the mount at 90° to the desired orientation and turning the phone, at which point it clicks into place. But there is no mechanical fastening, such as a lever or buttons – so you turn it 90° either way to release it again.

If you want to change its orientation, you have to undo the central mounting bolt, turn the vibration damper 90° and refit it.

In use, the low-profile case feels nice in the hand, the mount is stable and the phone can be located in numerous positions by swapping the clamp round on the bars and adjusting the arm’s position.
The vibration figures seen by the phone were middle of the range while the water test saw some moisture collect at the bottom of the cover, potentially because the camera lenses were completely exposed.

The set-up used in the test comes to around £155.81 but you can build a system to suit your phone/bike at the link.

Pros

Quality materials and finish
Versatile fitting options
Easy installation
Good range of adjustability
Convenient case mounting

Cons

Lack of mechanical fastening
Complicated to switch orientation
Potential for water ingress
Not the best vibration damping performance

Ease of fitting

4.0
Ease of use

4.0
Stability

4.0
Features

4.0
Waterproofing

4.0

Overall <strong>case weight (including phone) </strong>	245g
Overall <strong>case size (fitted to phone) </strong>	74mm x 150mm x 12mm
Wireless <strong>charging supported? </strong>	Yes
Phone <strong>totally enclosed?</strong>	No
Weather <strong>cover available? </strong>	Yes
Handlebar <strong>sizes</strong>	22mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm
Other <strong>mounts</strong>	Stem, bar clamp, clutch reservoir, mirror, ball
One-handed <strong>operation?</strong>	Yes
Cable <strong>access?</strong>	Yes
Wireless<strong> charging mount?</strong>	Yes

Time to attach to bike 1.9 seconds
Time to change from portrait to landscape 19 seconds
Distance from handlebar centreline to phone screen 63mm
Peak vibration figure 0.18g
Average vibration figure 0.12g

Tigra Sport FitClic 2.0 (case, mount and damper bundle)

A capable mount that does what it should

Price: Build your ideal system, prices vary

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

The FitClic 2.0 is a fairly deep system, comprising a lamped ball mount for the handlebar then a bracket that sits atop it to accept the phone case. However, it is not a one-inch ball mount that would be compatible with, say, a RAM mount.

The vibration damper sits between the two halves for the phone mount and needs to be installed before fitting to the bike; it’s not difficult but a bit fiddly.

The case itself is nice, with a smooth feeling and a very slim profile. It features a twist‑to‑lock action – you offer it to the mount at 45° from the orientation you want and twist it clockwise to lock, though it can be tricky to locate in the first instance.

Two buttons on the mount release it but you have to remove the case completely and turn it 90° before offering it to the mount in the other orientation. Alternatively, you can turn the case as it is tricky to get the ball-mount retaining nut tight enough to prevent movement.

In use it is stable, though the height of the mount means it can be quite a distance from the dashboard – so depending on the bike’s design you may need to change your focus between the two, which could cause an issue if you wear varifocal glasses, for example.

With the vibration damper in place, the phone saw acceleration figures towards the bottom of the midrange. With no weather cover provided, the waterproofing score was zero.

The set-up used in the test comes to around £65.76 but you can build a system to suit your phone/bike at the link.

Pros

Innovative mount design
Easy to use
High-quality phone case
Good vibration damping

Cons

Lack of weatherproofing
Very tall on the bike
Limited adjustment

Ease of fitting

4.0
Ease of use

4.0
Stability

4.0
Features

4.0

Overall <strong>case weight (including phone) </strong>	242g
Overall <strong>case size (fitted to phone) </strong>	75mm x 151mm x 14mm
Wireless <strong>charging supported? </strong>	Yes
Phone <strong>totally enclosed? </strong>	No
Weather <strong>cover available? </strong>	Yes
Handlebar <strong>sizes</strong>	22mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm
Other <strong>mounts </strong>	Mirror, stem, bar clamp
One-handed <strong>operation? </strong>	No (one orientation)
Cable <strong>access? </strong>	Yes
Wireless <strong>charging options?</strong>	Yes

Time to attach to bike 1 second
Time to change from portrait to landscape 3 seconds
Distance from handlebar centreline to phone screen 104mm
Peak vibration figure 0.17g
Average vibration figure 0.12g

Oxford CliqR (bar mount and pivot arm converter)

Basic, but more effective without the arm

Price: Build your ideal system, prices vary

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

While a universal waterproof case is available in the range, Oxford’s CliqR system is more commonly based on a small self-adhesive adapter that fits directly to your phone or case – we bought a generic soft case for £5.51 from Amazon. You then choose the mount you want.

We were sent the tie-wrap mounted base since the ‘normal’ ’bar mount didn’t go up to the 28mm necessary for our test bike, and a pivot arm extension for adjustment. We were sceptical about the security of a tie-wrapped mount but it was fairly secure. The main mount requires disassembly to fit the pivot arm, and while this is a bit of a fiddle it’s not too taxing.

Fitting and releasing is easy, as is changing orientation – just turn the phone before fitting or, if using the pivot arm, twist the case.

The system is stable in use, the pivot arm giving a wide range of adjustment for distance and position. The vibration damping is mainly the result of the flexibility in the adhesive pad and whatever case you use. In our test, this gave the lowest vibration figures at the phone of all the products.

However, the mounting piece on the back of your case means the phone may not charge wirelessly; ours was very sporadic. And depending on the case you use, you will have no weather protection.

The set-up used in the test comes to around £49.98 but you can build a system to suit your phone/bike at the link.

Pros

Versatile mount selection with a customizable adhesive adapter
Simple and quick phone fitting, releasing, and orientation adjustment
Wide range of positional adjustments thanks to a pivot arm
Low vibration transmission to the phone due to effective damping

Cons

Does not fit thicker handlebars (over 28mm) without additional tie-wrap mount
Potential durability concerns with tie-wrap mounts under extensive use
Assembly can be somewhat fiddly, especially fitting the pivot arm
Mounting piece may block wireless charging, causing it to be sporadic
Limited weather protection, dependent on the case used

Ease of fitting

3.0
Ease of use

4.0
Stability

4.0
Features

3.0

Overall <strong>case weight (including phone) </strong>	237g
Overall <strong>case size (fitted to phone) </strong>	75mm x 151mm x 19mm
Wireless <strong>charging supported?</strong>	No
Phone <strong>totally enclosed?</strong>	No
Weather <strong>cover available?</strong>	N/A
Handlebar <strong>sizes</strong>	26mm, 32mm
Other <strong>mounts</strong>	Handlebar, pivot, stem, mirror, bar clamp, ball
One-handed <strong>operation? </strong>	No (one orientation)
Cable <strong>access?</strong>	Yes
Wireless <strong>charging options?</strong>	No

Time to attach to bike 1 second
Time to change from portrait to landscape 2 seconds
Distance from handlebar centreline to phone screen 80-114mm (approx)
Peak vibration figure 0.11g
Average vibration figure 0.07g

Mous (case and motorcycle mount)

Good first impressions but disappointing performance

Price: Build your ideal system, prices vary

uk.mous.co

View Offer

Mous promotes itself as very protective cases and its website flags its motorcycle mounts as ‘new’.
The system comprises a very low-profile case with four slots that connect to the pre-installed vibration damper. Two buttons – one on either side – release the case, and it can be rotated 90° and refitted quickly and easily to change orientation. It can be used single-handed when the buttons are to the side, but two hands are needed when the phone is in line with the buttons.

The mount is anodised aluminium for the main body and what looks like a well‑crafted vibration damper. But it is so loose that we would not use it on a naked bike, for example – it was bad enough on a faired bike.

In use, the phone moved around noticeably, especially over bumpy sections.

But the case was the system’s Achilles heel. Once fitted, it was apparent that the plastic case button was constantly pressing the iPhone’s right-hand button. Prying the case away from the phone released the button, but it proved impossible to put the screen to sleep manually. This isn’t necessarily a huge hindrance on the bike, but if you use the case day to day, it’s massive.

We made a warranty claim and were provided with a replacement, but that did the same thing.
On the bike, the phone recorded the second‑highest acceleration figures through the damper, and with no waterproofing cover available it scored zero in this aspect.

The set-up used in the test comes to around £104.98 but you can build a system to suit your phone/bike at the link.

Pros

Features a low-profile case with quick and easy orientation change
Case can be operated single-handedly in certain positions
Anodised aluminium mount with a well-crafted appearance

Cons

Vibration damper too loose, causing instability especially on a naked bike
Phone moves noticeably during rides, particularly over bumpy areas
Plastic case button constantly presses the iPhone’s side button, causing functionality issues
No waterproofing cover available, leading to zero protection from water

Ease of fitting

4.0
Ease of use

3.0
Stability

2.0
Features

3.0

Overall <strong>case weight (including phone)</strong>	246g
Overall <strong>case size (fitted to phone) </strong>	77mm x 151mm x 13mm
Wireless <strong>charging supported?</strong>	Yes
Phone <strong>totally enclosed? </strong>	No
Weather <strong>cover available?</strong>	No
Handlebar <strong>sizes</strong>	22mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm and 35mm
Other <strong>mounts</strong>	Ball
One-handed <strong>operation? </strong>	No (one orientation only)
Cable <strong>access? </strong>	Yes
Wireless <strong>charging options? </strong>	No

Time to attach to bike 1 second
Time to change from portrait to landscape 2.5 seconds
Distance from handlebar centreline to phone screen 69mm
Peak vibration figure 0.24g
Average vibration figure 0.14g

More motorcycle smartphone mount reviews

Over the years, the team here at MCN has tested loads of smartphone mounts. Here are reviews of some of the best we’ve found.

Quad Lock Smartphone Case

Price: £22.99

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

The case you need for the Quad Lock system is specific to the make and model of phone you have, so make sure you get the right one. You'll also need the right accessories to form the rest of the mount.

Tested by Michael Guy for two years, 18,000 miles. Quality 5, Value 4. Quad Lock's system includes a neat and adjustable mount that fits to your handlebars. Your phone goes into a specific Quad Lock case, which has a recess in the back that locks onto the mount with a 45° turn. The case itself isn't much bulkier than a standard phone case.

There's also an optional waterproof cover, which keeps the worst of the weather off. Buy all three parts together, and bundle is not cheap, but in two years of use, it has been faultless, and I expect it to last for many years to come. Plus, it's an awful lot cheaper than having to buy a new phone when yours falls off and gets run over by a car....

Pros

Convenient fitting system
Wide variety of mounting methods
Vibration damper and wireless charging heads available

Cons

Needs separate protective cover for full weatherproofing
Expensive as a bundle

Fit

5.0
Ease of installation

5.0
Quality of materials

5.0

Quad Lock Motorcycle Vibration Dampener

Price: £15.99

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

Some phones have proved sensitive to the vibrations they are exposed to when used with a smartphone mount. iPhones are particularly prone to damage of the camera mechanism. Quad Lock's vibration damper solves the issue.

Tested by Jordan Gibbons, for two months, over 1,000 miles. Quality 5/5, Value 5/5. There's a plethora of phone mounting systems, but when you're attaching your latest big-money smartphone to a bike's bars, you need to be confident it's going to stay put.

With Apple recently warning users to steer clear of motorcycle vibrations as they can ruin the image stabilisation on your smartphone camera, now seems the perfect time to point out that Quad Lock solved this issue a while back.

Sold separately from the case and mounting systems, the damper simply installs between the two and protects your phone from harmful vibrations. If you already have a Quad Lock, adding the damper takes seconds. I've used it for over a thousand miles on my Pan America with zero signs of damage to the phone.

Pros

Well-engineered
Effective
Works with all Quadlock mounts

Cons

Adds to overall cost

Fit

5.0
Ease of installation

5.0
Quality of materials

5.0

Oxford Cliqr Cable Tie Mount

Price: £17.49 (was £24.99)

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

All manner of clever mounting systems offers to keep your fancy smartphone in view while you ride. But few setups are as simple or as affordable as Oxford's Cliqr. Universal application.
Tested by Martin Fitz-Gibbons over three months and 500 miles. Quality 3/5, Value 4/5. Stick one square plastic pad on the back of your regular phone case, clamp the bracket to your 22mm handlebar (one hex bolt), and bingo: one quick-release phone mount. Obviously, it offers no weather protection or vibration insulation, so beware if your smartphone isn't waterproof or if its camera has optical image stabilisation.
Having your precious phone held in place with glue feels a bit disconcerting, but it's held firm so far – though it remains to be seen how the adhesive stands up to time, rain, windblast and varying temperatures. I'm not mad keen leaving that little mounting square on my phone case 24/7 either.

But for folk who don't want the cost or complication of a bulkier, more expensive case-based setup, it's worth a look.

Pros

Universal so works with your existing case
Variety of mounts
Great value

Cons

No weatherproofing
Doesn't instill confidence
No vibration dampening

Fit

4.0
Ease of installation

4.0
Quality of components

3.0

Quad Lock Motorcycle Fork Stem Mount

Price: £48.99 (was £49.99)

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

Some mounts attach to your handlebars, but if you have an exposed fork stem, this mount from Quad Lock can be a really sleek and convenient option.

Tested by Gareth Evans for six months, 3,000 miles. Quality 5/5, Value 4/5. I've been using Australian-designed Quad Lock modular kit for a few years, but this Fork Stem Mount has made it more useful than ever. My R7 has so much to recommend it, but one thing it lacks is any sort of built-in navigation. With this kit, I can use my smartphone's Google Maps, with the phone hidden behind the fairing so it stays out of the wind and rain.

Installation couldn't be simpler, but only once you've sourced the correct open-top yoke nut – I got mine from Flitwick Motorcycles, who can sell you the whole lot in a package. The nut is fantastic quality, with the black matching the R7's frame and the Quad Lock mount perfectly. The whole setup looks OEM if you ask me.

So, once you've got your top yoke nut torqued correctly, simply insert the mount into the hole and fasten with an Allen key. This holds the mount in the stem, and then you can adjust the angle your phone sits at relative to your riding position using two other Allen key bolts.

I sandwiched the Quad Lock anti-vibration mount in there, too, to prevent the bike's vibes shaking anything loose inside my phone. Again, it's simple Allen Key fixings, and all the same size too. For a mod that takes minutes to install, it's a very pleasing thing, albeit rather expensive, once you've bought the nut, the bespoke phone case, the damper and the mount.

Pros

Subtle looks
Easy to use

Cons

You need to have a compatible fork stem layout
Expensive

Fit

5.0
Ease of installation

5.0
Quality of materials

5.0

Peak Design Mobile Motorcycle Mount Stem Mount

Price: £95

www.wexphotovideo.com

View Offer

Another option for those looking to mount in their fork stem is this sleek magnetic design from Peak Design. Renowned for their rugged and dependable camera accessories, the brand also makes phone mounts that are beautifully made and designed.

Tried and tested by Group Commercial Content Editor Adam Binnie: "Having previously ridden big adventure bikes with masses of space behind the screen, I've now got a diminutive Triumph Daytona 675 that barely has enough cockpit room for me, let alone a phone or sat nav.

None of my old mounts fit so this very minimalistic clamp from Peak Design looked like the ideal solution. Secured into the hollow centre at the top of the steerer by an expanding bolt, its short arm can be positioned perfectly to ensure my phone doesn't crash into my tank or screen.

Not that this is usual phone clamp criteria for me, but the machined aluminium construction looks absolutely brilliant too, and more importantly, feels rock solid when the bolts are tightened down. There's a rubber damper to stop vibrations from finding their way to the phone, of course.

The device is held on with strong magnets and a mechanical clasp and this system is both secure and easy to use - just line your phone up vaguely with the holder, and the magnets do the rest. It's less effort than a Quad Lock mount, in the sense that you don't need to twist it on to secure it.

Obviously, this means a specific case is necessary, but it's a slim and attractive design with less bulk than the similar Quad Lock offering. I previously had to stick a universal adaptor to my old phone, and this was quite a bulky combo. But I've now got a Peak Design phone case and the user experience is much better - it looks much sleeker and takes up less space in my pocket.

The mount takes up next to no room, can be used with your eyes closed, and its metal construction means it looks like an extension of my motorbike rather than an afterthought. Full marks from me!

Pros

Slim, attractive design
Non-bulky phone case
Extremely easy to use

Cons

No cases for old phones (a stick-on adaptor is available)
Marginally heavier than a plastic mount

Fit

5.0
Ease of installation

5.0
Quality of components

5.0

Givi S954B Universal Smartphone / Sat-Nav Holder

Price: £51.30 (was £57.00)

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

A high-quality, universal holder for devices up to five inches. It is fantastic, featuring a sturdy quick-mount and release system, and the bracket fits bars up to 35mm. Naturally, the cover is touch sensitive and has a cable port on the bottom. It comes with a weatherproof cover that goes over the entire holder and has a window to allow you to still see your device.

It gets great reviews online, and users say that it will happily accept larger smartphones as well as sat-nav devices.

Pros

Weatherproof with cover fitted
Accept any smartphone
Charging-cable port

Cons

Need to open to fit phone, reducing convenience
Limited application for phones (only fits up to 5")

Fit

3.0
Ease of installation

4.0
Quality of components

4.0

Cheeroyal Universal 360° Mount Case

Price: £9.99

View Offer

The Cheeroyal Universal is a cheap as chips and simple option for a phone mount. You get weatherproofing, which some far more expensive items don't include, and the zip access system is really simple to use. Universal fit for 5.3" to 6.2" smartphones.

It houses the phone inside a water-resistant case with a transparent window to allow you to see it. There are several pieces of foam included to insulate the phone, and the screen window is also touch-sensitive, so you can control the phone as well (though the manufacturer does state iPhone home button operation isn't supported).

Several strips of plastic are supplied to cater for different sizes of mounting tubes, and a quick-release bracket allows it to be removed from the bike easily.

Pros

Great value
Effective
Universal fitting

Cons

Not the best-made product
Questionable waterproofing
No vibration dampening

Fit

3.0
Ease of installation

3.0
Quality of components

3.0

Givi S920M Smart Clip

Price: £60.00

View Offer

This expanding mount from Givi will house almost any smartphone, according to the manufacturer, through the applications list goes up to iPhone X in size. It comes with a handlebar mount and is super-easy to fit the phone to.

The screen and cameras are exposed, so use is easy, but this does mean the phone is exposed to the elements – to protect it, an optional (£21) waterproof sleeve is available.

Pros

Universal phone fitting
Super-convenient
Well-renowned brand

Cons

Weatherproofing via an optional protector
Bulky installation

Fit

3.0
Ease of installation

4.0
Quality of components

5.0

Spada Suction Tank Bag

Price: £37.49 (was £49.99)

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

View Offer

Admittedly this isn't purely a phone case, but this suction-mounted (there's a magnetic version for £5 more too) three-litre tank bag will hold your phone in front of you in a transparent case next to a couple of zipped pockets. It will also give you some handy storage space for all sorts of useful bits and bobs, such as wallet, keys or essentials like visor cleaner.

The large pocket will fit most smartphones and it comes with a hi-vis cover in case of exceptionally heavy rain - although the zips are described as 'waterproof'.

Pros

Adds useful carrying capacity
Phone compartment on top
Water-resistant with waterproof cover

Cons

Holds phone very low, out of sightline
A lot of baggage for a just a phone holder

Fit

4.0
Ease of installation

5.0
Quality of components

4.0

Jumkeet Bike Phone Holder

Price: £7.99

View Offer

The cheapest one. Admittedly perhaps more relevant to cycles than motorcycles, nonetheless, the manufacturer says this wraparound holder is suitable for motorcycles as well as bikes. It uses a flexible silicone mount to grip the phone, then clip into the holder on the handlebars and won't interfere with either fingerprint or facial recognition, according to the manufacturer.

The major issue here, though, is the phone is completely exposed to the elements.

Pros

Inexpensive
Easy to use
Small when not in use

Cons

Phone completely exposed; security worries

Fit

3.0
Ease of installation

4.0
Quality of components

3.0

How we tested the best phone holders

We asked manufacturers for a case for an iPhone 13 Pro and any relevant waterproofing system, plus a mount to suit 28mm ’bars and a vibration damper if the functionality was not present in any of the components.

We attached the mount and went for a road ride to assess how easy it was to view satnav instructions. We also recorded the vibrations apparent at the phone on an app, but did not include this as a scoring criterion as no data was available to specify either the harmful frequencies or the amplitude of the vibrations that can cause damage.

We also doused each system with water for a set time (where weatherproofing was supplied), despite the iPhone 13 Pro being IP68-rated – safe for immersion to six metres for 30 minutes.

What we judged them on

Ease of fitting Was a high degree of assembly required or does it simply mount to the ’bars? Did the phone feel secure?
Ease of use How easily does the phone fit to the mount? Can you keep any usual case on the phone? Is it easy to release and change the orientation?
Stability How stable was the phone when fitted? Any movement (notwithstanding that from the vibration damping)?
Features An assessment of additional features; access for charging cables, adjustable angles and solid locking/release mechanisms, for example.
Waterproofing How effective is any weatherproofing?

Remember, it is still illegal to hold a mobile phone (or sat nav)

You must have hands-free access, such as:

A bluetooth headset
Voice command
A dashboard holder or mat
A windscreen mount
A built-in sat nav

The device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.

So choose and locate your motorcycle mobile phone holder properly to avoid any issues with the law.

How MCN tests products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.
Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one. If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.
To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

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