No sooner has Apple announced its new iPhone 13 with an improved camera than accessories companies such as Quad Lock and Mujjo have announced accessories that will interest riders.
iPhone 13 will be available in four versions, all of which feature a new camera, a “powerhouse chip,” 5G connectivity and better battery life.
There are several features of the new iPhone 13 that riders should welcome.
Even the two base models come with exclusive-to-iPhone Ceramic Shield protective coating, so they should be better protected from damage when they fall off your handlebar mount or out of your jacket pocket.
And you won’t need the waterproof covering if you mount them on your handlebars with a Quad Lock, RAM or other mounting device as they are IP68 waterproof.
That means they can be submerged under 1.5 m of water for half an hour, so they should withstand a heavy downpour while riding.
They also have a much brighter Super Retina XDR display with high contrast and a 28% increase in maximum outdoor brightness so you can easily see your navigation directions while riding.
Australian-designed Quad Lock iPhone 13 cases will cost $A34.95 and begin shipping later this month.
Quad Lock iPhone 13 cases
You can also get a waterproof poncho for $A29.95, and a tempered glass screen protector, but as we have pointed out, you may not need either since the new phone is better protected.
The case mounts directly to their clever and secure Quadlock system which you can now get with an attachment to power the phone via a cable or with a wireless charger.
Mujjo iPhone 13 leather cases
Meanwhile, touchscreen glove specialists Mujjo have also developed leather cases for the iPhone 13 so you don’t have to remove your gloves to access the screen.
Of all the touchscreen gloves we have used, these are the best, although they are not armoured for rider protection, but they do plan to introduce motorcycle-specific gloves soon.
Mujjo say their craftsman-made leather cases come with added protection on the bottom and a raised bezel around the rear camera to protect the protruding lenses against scratches from abrasive surfaces.
Smart phones have been making navigation easier and safer for riders and keeping them in contact and entertained with the help of handlebar mounts such as the Aussie Quad Lock.
Now the Sydney-based company is keeping pace with the rapid development of smartphones by 3D printing their cases and mounting systems.
This means they will quickly release suitable products for the new era of foldable phones unfolds (lame pun intended).
It’s good news for tech-savvy early-adopter riders (read BMW owners).
Quad Lock has joined forces with Singapore 3D printing companyUltimaker to speed up the development of new mounts such as their award-winning Quad Lock Vibration Dampener.
Imaginables, partner of Ultimaker in Australia, served as a support partner to Quad Lock delivering various types of Ultimaker 3D printers.
Together they Lock developed a flexible research, design and development process that gathered lab and field test feedback almost as quickly as they could design and print the new part.
Various types of Ultimaker printers were used to print prototypes strong enough to withstand hours of testing on a vibration test rig, from which the team gathered valuable feedback and data.
I recently found photos taken on my iPhone 11 were blurry because the autofocus wouldn’t lock on.
The phone was under warranty so I rang to have the camera fixed and was immediately asked whether I rode a bicycle or motorcycle.
When I said yes, they asked if I had a handlebar mount.
So obviously they are aware of an issue where having your phone or camera mounted to your handelbar can cause vibration issues that can damage the delicate workings of your device.
I’d be careful what you admit to as it could void your warranty.
Several handlebar mounting devices for cameras, GPS, phones, etc now come with vibration isolation attachments.
One of the most popular is the Aussie invention, Quad Lock, which offers a vibration mount for just $A24.95.
It’s a small price to pay for the insurance of protecting your expensive device.
I have been mounting my phone to the handlebars using a Quad Lock with a wireless charger for several years without any issues … until now.
Having your phone charged while you are out on a ride is not only a convenience, but also a safety device.
If you get lost, crash or fall ill, having a fully charged phone means you can ring emergency and they can track you.
The Quad Lock is available for motorcycles, scooters, cars, bicycles and runners.
You can buy the mount (RAM, handlebar or mirror), the case to suit your iOS or Android phone, a waterproof covering if required, plus accessories such as the charging units and isolation mounts separately or as a pack to save money.
To mount your phone, hold it at a 45-degree angle until it slots into place, then twist it clockwise to a vertical or horizontal position where it remains securely in place.
To remove the phone, simply push the blue tab (or ring on the wireless charger mount) and rotate anti-clockwise.
That makes it useful if you are riding along and see something worthy of a photo – no fumbling in your jacket for your phone, just grab it and take the shot, then re-attach it. (Obviously, stop first!)
Although it is very secure, it does vibrate which makes it impossible to use the camera or video function on the move.
And as we’ve now found, that vibration can cause damage, especially if you ride on rough roads or off-road.
Quad Lock even lists a variety of motorcycles – mainly twin cylinder models – that can cause vibration issues.
I have successfully used QuadLock mounts on all types of motorcycles over tens of thousands of kilometres and had no problems. However, from iPhone 11 onwards I have heard a few stories of the cameras in these phones failing due to vibration issues from being used on motorcycle phone mounts, particularly on dirt bikes. QuadLock have obviously heard the same and that has led them to develop this new vibration dampener to help protect these fancy new stabilised camera lenses in the latest smartphones.
Compatible with all Quad Lock Motorcycle Mounts, the Quad Lock Vibration Dampener is claimed to reduce over 90 per cent of high frequency vibrations produced by motorcycles, adding further protection to your smartphone.
Featuring a dual chassis suspension system with precision engineered silicone grommets, QuadLock says the Vibration Dampener absorbs vibrations to protect your smartphone’s camera.
Quad Lock Vibration Dampener
The Quad Lock Vibration Dampener comes with everything you need to integrate with your existing Quad Lock Motorcycle Mount and can be installed in minutes.
You can currently order the Quad Lock Vibration Dampener from www.quadlockcase.com.au now for $24.95 RRP.
Wireless charging is now available with the Aussie invention, Quad Lock, so you can more conveniently mount your phone on your bike and charge it on the run.
Quad Lock already has a $A44.95 charging accessory, but you need to plug in a USB cable which is a little messy and time consuming (like about two seconds!).
It is a bit bigger than the previous charger, but not unsightly.
Wireless charging
Having your phone charged while you are out on a ride is not only a convenience, but also a safety device.
If you get lost, crash or fall ill, your phone will still have charge so you can ring emergency and they can track you.
The company says some of the chargers already sent out to customers have an issue with the O ring becoming detached. They have provided a video of how to easily re-assemble it.
They assure us that future units will not have this issue.
I have been using a Quad Lock for several years and have been using the charger for several months without any issues.
I’m looking forward to getting a wireless charger!
They are easy to fit, discrete, quick to mount and remove your phone, robust and secure.
While the chargers are waterproof, I found with the cable charger that if you get water on the plug end that goes into your phone, it may not work until you dry it off.
The Quad Lock is available for motorcycles, scooters, cars, bicycles and runners.
You can buy the mount (RAM, handlebar or mirror), the case to suit your iOS or Android phone, a waterproof covering if required and the charging units separately or as a pack to save money.
How to fit
They are very easy to fit with just a few allen bolts and they are very secure with the screws tightened.
The charging units sit on top of the mount with a lead that goes to your battery, a USB port or SAE connector.
To mount your phone, hold it at a 45-degree angle until it slots into place, then twist it clockwise to a vertical or horizontal position where it remains securely in place.
To remove the phone, simply push the blue tab and rotate anti-clockwise.
That makes it useful if you are riding along and see something worthy of a photo – no fumbling in your jacket for your phone, just grab it and take the shot, then re-attach it. (Obviously, stop first!)
The wireless charger should make that a little less fiddly as there is no need to remove a cable.
Although it is very secure, it does vibrate which makes it impossible to use the camera or video function on the move.
There are various places you can mount your phone – handlebar, mirror, triple clamp or RAM mount.
The mirror fitting is especially useful for scooters which often have conventional handlebars. It also puts the phone up nice and high so you don’t have to divert your eyes far from the road ahead to see the screen.
There is also an extension arm that you can fit to raise the phone up even higher in your field of vision. And now you can also get a ball mount to match a RAM fitting.
Quad Lock mobile phone mount with extension
It is handy to have the phone in front of you for navigational purposes and being able to rotate it to a wide or vertical orientation is very useful.
However, if you just use your phone for calls and music, most Bluetooth devices allow you to operate the controls without touching your phone.
It can be a bit distracting when text messages flash up on our phone while riding. There is a real temptation to read them! However, you can also turn this feature off or exercise some willpower.
Riders often criticise car drivers for texting while driving, so we strongly advise against using it for texts unless you are stopped.
There is now a wide variety of mounts on offer. Some are not very secure while some others, such as the RAM mounts, may be secure, but they are expensive and large, clunky, ugly units.
However, the Quad Lock, designed by Chris Peters of Melbourne, has emerged as the leader with its small size, secure fit and ability to quickly adjust from landscape to vertical at the press of a button.
Quad Lock
Quad Lock costs about $85 for the handlebar mount and phone case, while the Austrian SP Connect Moto Mount Pro kit costs $99.95 – $129.95 for a bundle, depending on your phone.
SP Connect Moto bundle
While the Quad Lock is largely hard plastic, the SP Gadgets mount is CNC-machined, aircraft-grade alloy. It feels a little heavier and therefore should be more secure.
However, we have never had any problems with the Quad Lock coming loose and falling off, even over off-road courses.
We have also noticed that vibration is similarly minimal on both.
Like the Quad Lock, you can get an extension arm that makes positioning your phone on your handlebars more versatile.
Easy connect
Both mounts can swivel from horizontal to vertical, but the SP Connect requires you to use a tool to turn the locking mechanism in the back of the phone case first.
That means you can’t do it on the fly. You have to remove the phone from the mount, then use the special tool to change it, then relocate the phone.
While some people are happy having the phone either landscape or portrait, I like to be able to swivel from one to the other: horizontal because it offers a nicer, lower profile on the bars and vertical when I am following a map.
Quad Lock
Quad Lock
The only advantage of the SP Connect is that you can also use the special tool as a table rest so you can conduct Face Time calls without having to hold the phone at an angle.
While the Quad Lock videos show people quickly fitting the phone, they can actually be quite fiddly to get on because you have to attach it at exactly a 45-degree angle.
SP Connect connects easily by placing it at a right angle and swivelling it 90 degrees into position.
Both have bundles that come with rubber mounts for all sizes of motorcycle handlebars, bolts and mirrors, as well as on bicycles.
Bundles also come with clear plastic rain covers that are touch sensitive.
Rain cover
However, I’ve never needed to use one even in pouring rain as recent iPhones are basically rain proof. However, I have tested them both for touch sensitivity with the rain cover on and they work fine.
SP Connect wins hands down on looks and they have also just released a chrome-plated version!
It is available for most Apple, Samsung and Huawei devices, but if you have another phone or want to keep your own case, there is a universal option.
