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Author Topic: Updated phone holder recommentation  (Read 1412 times)
Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« on: November 19, 2019, 05:25:44 PM »

Since I've replied in several threads in the past asking for recommendations for a phone holder with the Ram Mount X-Grip mount:



I wanted to update.... If you don't use the rubber bikini thing (That's a PITA) then I have to update that I do NOT recommend this mount. I've had 3 times in the last year where the phone either fell out (Thankfully caught by the charging cable) or was about to fall out before I noticed it and adjusted it before disaster...

With a new $1000+ phone sitting on my handlebars, I was on a quest for a more reliable solution, and came across this other mount from RAM Mounts that fits the same mounting system, the RAM Mount Quick-Grip Phone Mount. It comes in at least two different sizes:



It's uglier, but those side arms on left and right can be adjusted to fit your phone, and once adjusted, that phone isn't going ANYWHERE, but still only takes a second or two to put the phone in or remove it.

I've got a few thousand miles on mine now, including a bunch of off road riding and gravel road riding that bounced it all over, as well as just swinging it around off the bike to make SURE It won't budge, and thus far MUCH more solid mounting for a phone.....

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Bighead
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Madison Alabama


« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2019, 06:13:49 PM »

I put my phone in the trunk or saddlebag. Depending on which bike I am on. Dont worry about it falling off of losing it at all angel I dont use a phone while in the car nor will I ever need one on a bike.
« Last Edit: November 19, 2019, 06:25:47 PM by Bighead » Logged

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scooperhsd
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Kansas City KS


« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2019, 06:23:41 PM »

My phone usually rides in my shirt pocket or my jacket pocket (or MAYBE in the pants pockets if I have cargopants on). I never make a call while riding, and my answering is done through my GPS and Sena SMH10 Bluetooth intercom headset.
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Pappy!
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Central Florida - Eustis


« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2019, 07:09:39 PM »

Saw those a while back so knew about them. Nice piece for sure.
I do like my phone on the handlebars. Even though I have turn by turn routed into my Sena I like to see it on the screen when I can afford to take a peek at it.
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2019, 07:15:26 PM »

Thanks for the recommendation Serk  cooldude (those rubber thingies are a pain in the butt)
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MarkT
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« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2019, 04:01:22 AM »

I'm using an X-mount holder like the one Serk shows above.  Not the best but haven't lost a phone yet. Also it's probably a bigger risk of theft so I never leave it on the bike.  Usually leave the Zumo on, if out here, stopping quickly in our small towns, just cover it with my gloves.  Big tempts I suppose, both the Zumo and the Passport could be snatched pretty fast if they know how they are connected.  Even if they don't.  Of course the phone is wired to a USB port as a sort-of tether if the X-mount drops it.  I never do phone calls but mainly use it for MyRadar.  MyRadar is better weather ap than that provided via XM and Garmin but the latter works everywhere and MyRadar needs cell connection. Phone also has worse screen in the sun. Both are weatherproof.  Don't map via the phone either, use the Zumo.  The phone holds all 9500 mp3's in my collection while the Zumo is in 2000 tune chunks, per SD card.  Generally that's enough, and the Zumo has better player control than the phone ap I use.  Of course if I navigated with the phone I wouldn't have to update maps which Garmin has made a royal PITA.
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scooperhsd
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Kansas City KS


« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2019, 05:50:18 AM »

MarkT - personally, I don't find Garmin Express that onerous to use, and I have 5 different Garmins to maintain using it (1 Drive50LM for MIL, then mine - a Nuvi 50LM, a Nuvi 2597 LMT, a DriveSmart 51 LMT-S, and my Zumo 396). YMMV... There are things I wish it would do better when you have a fleet of them like I do, but it gets the job done.
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MarkT
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VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"

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« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2019, 07:50:44 AM »

Almost every update is a hassle and requires some mod(s) to my last procedure to accommodate whatever is the latest change Garmin did to their software.  Granted I only update 2 different Garmin models at this time, but I get tired of having to ramp up yet again, repeatedly.  I've been a steady customer with six(?) different model Garmins since a couple years before they stopped Selective Availability in May 2000.  I have a B.S. in ACS and have kept my hand in since leaving the industry formally 20 years ago, so I'm not unfamiliar with software and hardware and Garmin.  How anyone other than computer scientists (which I have the shingle) and 14 yr old kids handle it, puzzles me.  I note you are in Kansas, as is Garmin.  I think they are in Wichita, however.  Just sayin...
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Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2019, 07:56:55 AM »

I used to have several Garmin units, including a few Zumos and for the time I loved them, but as the tech has advanced, I've found the real time information from a phone based GPS is just too superior to the mostly static (I know there are exceptions) information on a dedicated GPS unit.

Running Waze I get traffic, real time constructions, police speed traps and alerts for other road hazards.

I also use the Bluetooth on my phone connected to my Sena headset to play all the music I want.

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scooperhsd
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Kansas City KS


« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2019, 08:41:10 AM »

Almost every update is a hassle and requires some mod(s) to my last procedure to accommodate whatever is the latest change Garmin did to their software.  Granted I only update 2 different Garmin models at this time, but I get tired of having to ramp up yet again, repeatedly.  I've been a steady customer with six(?) different model Garmins since a couple years before they stopped Selective Availability in May 2000.  I have a B.S. in ACS and have kept my hand in since leaving the industry formally 20 years ago, so I'm not unfamiliar with software and hardware and Garmin.  How anyone other than computer scientists (which I have the shingle) and 14 yr old kids handle it, puzzles me.  I note you are in Kansas, as is Garmin.  I think they are in Wichita, however.  Just sayin...

Garmin is down in Olathe - about 10-15 miles from where I live (Willow is not too far from Olathe either), and yes, I also have the BS (CS) shingle.
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scooperhsd
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Kansas City KS


« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2019, 08:50:15 AM »

I used to have several Garmin units, including a few Zumos and for the time I loved them, but as the tech has advanced, I've found the real time information from a phone based GPS is just too superior to the mostly static (I know there are exceptions) information on a dedicated GPS unit.

Running Waze I get traffic, real time constructions, police speed traps and alerts for other road hazards.

I also use the Bluetooth on my phone connected to my Sena headset to play all the music I want.



The newer Garmins with Traffic that can Bluetooth to your phone (using Smartphone Link) have the same advantages regarding traffic / road hazards. Where the phones DO have an advantage is keeping up with map updates. I like to keep the areas I'm most often at on my phone using Offline Maps in Google Maps. Offline maps need updating at least every 4 weeks.
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MarkT
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« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2019, 09:41:19 AM »

Been using the Garmin version of Traffic via XM since I upgraded to the 665 several years ago.  Though I rarely care about it since I no longer commute and avoid dense traffic - Denver that is.  Sometimes use it on road trips when I pass through cities.  I don't need the latest updates very much - again I live in a more rural area - or at least it WAS until the Californicators caused all the growth and brought their liberal politics with them.  Avoid congestion as much as I can, and rush hour times when I can't.  I don't have a large screen phone which I would get if I used it for mapping.  It would have to have a brighter screen and again, via Sprint which I have to use (wife's employer) cell towers are too spotty in rural areas - here, anyway.  Haven't done the offline use thing with it since it's not worth the effort with the screen issues.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2019, 09:47:14 AM by MarkT » Logged


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scooperhsd
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Kansas City KS


« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2019, 09:51:44 AM »

Sprint's cell coverage away from Interstates and urban areas is, to be polite, sucks. Verizon or AT&T are much better coverage, one may have an advantage in an area over the other. That's one reason I dropped Sprint (or Virgin Mobile).
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RainMaker
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Arlington, TX


« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2019, 07:56:19 PM »

I have the RAM X mount with the rubber band.  If you use it without the rubber band, you WILL lose a phone eventually.  With the rubber band, I don't think the phone will fall out without a head on collision.
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MarkT
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VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"

Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km


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« Reply #14 on: November 21, 2019, 09:17:48 AM »

I have the RAM X mount with the rubber band.  If you use it without the rubber band, you WILL lose a phone eventually.  With the rubber band, I don't think the phone will fall out without a head on collision.

Good idea.  I might add a rubber band when I use mine.
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Reb
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Greeneville, TN


« Reply #15 on: November 22, 2019, 07:43:11 AM »

Has any manufacturer made a reliable holder with QI charging functionality?
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Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« Reply #16 on: November 22, 2019, 07:58:37 AM »

Has any manufacturer made a reliable holder with QI charging functionality?

I keep looking for that too..... I did rig an older version of this up to my previous mount, and it worked okay, but kept overheating and shutting off the charging. I see the new version of it claims to run cooler, might give it another shot at some point:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078MGY2S1/

(Basically a slim wireless charging puck, stick it to the mount with sticky tape)
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Reb
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Don't threaten me with a good time

Greeneville, TN


« Reply #17 on: November 22, 2019, 09:04:23 AM »

Has any manufacturer made a reliable holder with QI charging functionality?

I keep looking for that too..... I did rig an older version of this up to my previous mount, and it worked okay, but kept overheating and shutting off the charging. I see the new version of it claims to run cooler, might give it another shot at some point:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078MGY2S1/

(Basically a slim wireless charging puck, stick it to the mount with sticky tape)

Thanks for the link Serk,

I've been using a cheap amazon zipper case on the F6B, I had to modify it substantially to avoid the overheating problem as well. I may Frankenstein something utilizing this Qi pad.
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Jess from VA
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No VA


« Reply #18 on: November 22, 2019, 10:40:40 AM »

Anyone got a handlebar mount for one of these?


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Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« Reply #19 on: November 28, 2019, 10:05:47 AM »

Has any manufacturer made a reliable holder with QI charging functionality?

I keep looking for that too..... I did rig an older version of this up to my previous mount, and it worked okay, but kept overheating and shutting off the charging. I see the new version of it claims to run cooler, might give it another shot at some point:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078MGY2S1/

(Basically a slim wireless charging puck, stick it to the mount with sticky tape)

Thanks for the link Serk,

I've been using a cheap amazon zipper case on the F6B, I had to modify it substantially to avoid the overheating problem as well. I may Frankenstein something utilizing this Qi pad.

I ordered the above wireless charging puck, and it does NOT fit on the mount I listed in OP... Or rather, it will fit, but there's not enough room for the phone to fit as well, so this combination isn't the elusive solution.....
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2KVISRiderDan
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Valrico, Fl.


« Reply #20 on: November 28, 2019, 05:20:02 PM »

Serk, what device are you using as your giant gps?
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Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« Reply #21 on: November 28, 2019, 06:35:34 PM »

Serk, what device are you using as your giant gps?

Currently a Note 10+...
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...



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XVWDVW
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Sparks, NV


« Reply #22 on: December 04, 2019, 04:41:35 PM »

I have used  the RAM X-Mount on my KLR for one season both on and off road (without the rubber corner holder) and have had no issues.  I was mistrustful at first, but I can't get the phone out of it without pulling the arms apart.  I have been lazy at a stop and tried yanking it out with one hand and the whole holder rotates on the mount before the phone moves.  I have ridden on roads rough enough that I cracked my fairing and lost parts, but the phone never moved.  I think part of that is the phone being in a case that mates grips well with the ram-x arms.  I have never tried using it when wet.  My phone is not water resistant.
I am not doubting what others have said about their phones slipping.  I think it must depend on the phone size, shape and the material in contact with the holder.  And I agree that the Quick Grip is much more secure and if I had a $1000 phone I would be reluctant to take any chances either. 
If I were buying it now, I might go with the Quick Grip.
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XVWDVW
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Sparks, NV


« Reply #23 on: December 04, 2019, 04:47:13 PM »

Also, I haven't put a mount on my Valk yet.  I am more curious about WHERE you guys have mounted it and which mount solution you used.  I used the bar clamp on my KLR and it works well, but the u-bolts contact the bar and on the Valk I worry about it marring the finish and or rusting.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Max
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Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« Reply #24 on: December 04, 2019, 05:08:59 PM »

I put the u-bolt inside a piece of rubber tubing to avoid metal on metal contact.

On my Standard it's clamped under the handlebar clamp and comes out from behind it:







On my Interstate mounting it there would have interfered with the fairing, so I put it higher up on the handlebar (Once again putting the U-bolt inside some rubber tubing first):








Hope that makes sense.....

And on the X-Mount, I'd used it for years and it seemed stable to me, until it didn't and I almost lost my phone when I hit a pot hole one day..... To each their own and all that, but I'd be very wary of it now...



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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...



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XVWDVW
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Sparks, NV


« Reply #25 on: December 05, 2019, 01:48:49 PM »

Thanks Serk and great pics!
On the x-mount I have only had mine 6 months and I would not be surprised if the rubber ends that contact the phone harden over time.  I don't know if they are replaceable.
I think I am going to add a Ram Quick Grip to my Christmas Wish List.
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