Review of Quad Lock | Testing of Motorcycle Phone Mount

Review of Quad Lock | Testing of Motorcycle Phone Mount

This review focuses on the Quad Lock phone mounting kit, a well-known device that offers several choices for attaching your phone on almost any motorbike. I've been trying it on a 2019 BMW R1250GS, a 1999 Kawasaki ZX-6R, and a 2001 Honda VFR800 using a Samsung Galaxy S21 and Google Pixel 7 Pro to see how safe, user-friendly, and cost-effective it is.

Advantages

phone may be positioned vertically or horizontally.

dependable and safe lock

MAG containers with strong magnets

Cons

Recognize any possible vibration problems.

A few Google Pixel wireless charging problems (not related to Quad Lock's failure)

somewhat thicker casings compared to rival brands

Case for phone with quad lock

While 10% off is often offered on the website, a Quad Lock phone cover for the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs £22.99 at the time of writing, while one for the Google Pixel 7 Pro costs £31.98. They cost a significant deal of money, but they're well-made, with a plush inside and decent edge protection.

Due to a lack of slots carved on each side of the pushers, the buttons aren't nearly as unrestrictive as those on the SP Connect cases (which cost more than Quad Lock), but they're still better than some other high-end cases I've tried and don't make it difficult to operate the phone.

The SP Connect is on the right, while the Quad Lock Pixel 7 Pro case is on the left.

The Pixel 7 Pro case, a "MAG" cover made for wireless magnetic charging, is a more recent design that adds 4.5mm to the phone's back, while the Galaxy S21 case increases the rear of the phone by 5mm. Although they don't feel heavy on your phone, they stick out more than the typical basic phone cover, which adds around 2mm.

Your finger tends to fall into the about 35mm diameter hole in the Quad Lock fastening mechanism while you are holding the phone. While some people may find this to be a good added stability, I myself find it to be a bit unpleasant. It's not a major problem, however, since I have only seen it when I often transition between scenarios. Additionally, I've discovered that the Quad Lock Pixel 7 Pro case's bottom has a somewhat sharper edge around the charging port, making it slightly less pleasant to hold on to your little finger. Yes, I am being picky.

One interesting feature of the Quad Lock MAG cases is that you can change the magnetic ring's color. It comes in black by default, but you can add some personalization by choosing from blue, green, grey, orange, pink, or red for £7.99.

The magnets in these cases are a bit stronger than the ones used in the SP Connect MAG mounts; in everyday usage, that doesn't really matter, and both will adhere to the refrigerator, but I did notice that the Quad Lock had a somewhat greater grip on the magnetic SP Connect vehicle mount. I'm not sure how well the Quad Lock adheres to the automobile mount since I haven't tried it.

There may be certain limitations when it comes to wireless charging on a normal pad because of the thickness of the casings. As with the SP Connect cases, I only have a cheap 10W wireless USB charger to test with. The Galaxy S21 will fast-charge perfectly well, but the Google Pixel 7 Pro won't charge at all. We'll talk about the Quad Lock wireless bike mount tomorrow.

It seems that the Google phone requires a significant amount of power to charge wirelessly, which is a problem with the phone itself rather than the cover.

Like with SP Connect, it becomes simpler with experience to attach your phone to the mount, but sometimes you may find it difficult to get it to slide into place.

Is Quad Lock a secure and safe product?

When installed on a Quad Lock mount, your phone is really secure. I've never been able to attach it in a manner that makes it seem like it's installed when it's not; once it locks on, it's there to stay.

It takes a push of the lever to release the phone; depending on how the lever is oriented in relation to the phone, it can be a little difficult to get your finger to. Although the lever clicks satisfyingly into place, I wouldn't consider it an anti-theft benefit because if someone was going to snatch your phone off, they'd be happy to rip it away.

The primary benefit of Quad Lock over its primary rival, SP Connect, is that you don't have to select one position and adhere to it while attaching the bracket to your bike; instead, you may choose to place your phone either horizontally or vertically anytime you put it on.

The fact that your phone can be locked in place with only a 45° rotation is also convenient, especially if there is limited room—for example, when placing bigger gadgets directly behind the bike's screen.

All things considered, the Quad Lock is a rather reliable remedy. While there is considerable flexibility in the assembly when using the £15.99 vibration dampener, your phone is still safe and secure.

Tests of Quad Lock mounts

The range of mounts offered by Quad Lock is constantly expanding. The basic variants, which are mostly composed of glass-reinforced nylon, include a blue lever that must be pressed down in order to release the phone.

The "Pro" mounts have a black lever and are mostly composed of machined aluminum. Levers in red, white, black, or blue are available separately for £7.99.

With the availability of extension arms, spacers, and a pivoting knuckle adapter, you should be able to use at least one of these mounts to accommodate your phone on almost any motorbike.

The £15.99 vibration dampener, which is described later in this review, is not included with any of the mounts.

Both the machined and anodized aluminum Handlebar Mount Pro (£59.99) and the sturdy, reinforced nylon Handlebar Mount (£34.99) perform essentially the same function, although there are some helpful variations.

In addition to having different construction materials, the Pro version features a black lever instead of a blue one and a tiny slot in the aluminum bar clamp that is filled with a silicone bung. When you remove this, a really nice piece of design becomes visible: a channel through which, if desired, a charging cable may be passed.

The basic version can accommodate handlebars with diameters of 22mm (7/8"), 25mm (1"), 28mm (1 1/8"), and 32mm (1 ¼") thanks to the provided bar spacers. The Pro version can accommodate handlebars with a maximum diameter of 35mm (1 3/8").

The head, which attaches on the opposite end, may also be turned in the same manner as the arm, which can rotate 360° in 10° increments. Although the head cannot be adjusted for pitch, the bar clamp may be turned to your desired pitch.

With the included Allen key, assembly is easy, and the set-screws have thread-lock already applied.

This clamp precisely positioned the head, including the wireless charging head, over the bar risers when I tried it on the BMW R1250GS bars. I have tested it on my pushbike, and it works well there as well. However, there are more affordable and streamlined ways to attach Quad Lock to a bike.

The Mirror Mount is intended to suit stems of 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, or 16mm in diameter, which covers many motorcycle and scooter mirrors, as well as the accessory bar behind the screen of the GS and the fairing brace on the ZX-6R. It is made of reinforced nylon and comes with three spacers and an Allen key.

The screw threads are mostly plastic, but the set screws already have thread-lock applied, and the screw threads are stainless steel inserts.

Simple and small, I find this to be a really helpful solution for the GS since it raises the phone above the dash, and you should be able to align it perfectly if you're mounting it to a mirror thanks to the head's adjustable placement.

Quad Lock Fork Stem Mount Pro: £64.99 | Visit www.quadlockcase.co.uk for more information

The Quad Lock Fork Stem Mount, which fits my 2001 Honda VFR800 perfectly, costs £49.99 for the reinforced nylon version and £64.99 for the anodized aluminum Pro version.

The basic version fits several steering head tubes with a diameter ranging from 12.7 mm to 24 mm and includes a blue locking lever. In addition to having a black lever, the Pro model features a hole in the extension arm that may be used to insert a cable if desired. In order to match the bike, I installed the optional red lever, which costs £7.99. Although it's a needless extra investment, it does offer a little individuality.

Two sets of expanding spacers are included with both mount options; however, the Pros have a somewhat broader range of 12.4mm to 25.4mm due to their unique design. In order for either to function, the tube has to be internally smooth and have a minimum depth of 45mm; any lip inside will prevent it from fitting.

It should not be difficult to locate a decent location for your phone because of the arm's large range of motion and the head's 360° rotation. I was able to get mine well tucked beneath the tank.

There's an Allen key included, and the set-screws are already thread-locked.

While not suitable for all bikes, the Fork Stem Mount is a great choice if your bike has a hole in the fork tube (some may have a cover over the top nut, so be sure to check).

£54.99 for a Quad Lock Brake & Clutch Reservoir Mount | Visit www.quadlockcase.co.uk

This mount is really cleverly designed to replace the screws holding the lid on many motorcycle and scooter brake and clutch reservoirs, giving you even more alternatives.

The main material of construction is reinforced nylon, with threaded inserts and stainless steel pivot pins. The powder-coated steel base expands and contracts between 38mm and 70mm, perfectly fitting the reservoirs on both of my VFRs.

The base is equipped with two screws; a set of 16mm and 18mm long M4s is provided to replace the ones that came with your bike. Use the appropriate length, and if they seem to be bottoming out, don't push them.

When paired with the head's rotation, the extension arm's dual pivot points and rotating junction allow for an unexpectedly broad number of configurations. Even though the screen makes room on the VFR very limited when the bars are rotated, I managed to squeeze the phone in (if only vertically).

One little complaint I had about this mount was that the fasteners' thread-lock was too tightened. This meant that the included Allen key just stripped and I was unable to reverse any of them. With my own tools, I was able to disassemble it, but because I haven't had this problem with any other mounts, it must be a unique defect and fall under warranty coverage.

Price: £54.99 for a Quad Lock Brake and Clutch Mount; Website: www.quadlockcase.co.uk

Fits over the clamp that secures the brake and clutch levers on many motorcycles, this mount has an anodized machined aluminum arm and a reinforced nylon pivot. RAM mounts for sat-navs have long utilized this technique, and the spacers that come with it suit both the VFR800 and my GS, even though they are also mirror mounts.

There are two sets of bolts included to replace the old ones. Before fitting them, carefully compare them to the originals because one is metric (M6 x 1.0 fine thread) and the other is imperial (UNC ¼"). They both appear the same at first glance, so be careful not to force the wrong one in and break your bike.

Although an Allen key is included, a socket set is obviously required to extract and replace the fastening nuts. You may consult your dealer if you're not comfortable doing this, but keep in mind that you should tighten the top bolt before the bottom on repairs like this. You also don't need to use a lot of torque.

I was able to get the Pixel 7 Pro to fit beneath the VFR's screen by turning the handlebars, even with the wireless charging head installed, thanks to this bracket's enormous range of movement despite its small size.

Quad Lock USB Charger | £27.99 | Visit www.quadlockcase.co.uk for more information

Although this USB charger is small enough to fit neatly on the bike, its actual purpose is to be installed right under the head of your Quadlock mount using the longer screw that comes with it. This will allow you to easily plug in your phone.

The USB-A port should be pointed downward to prevent dirt and water from collecting in it. The casing is IP66 certified, meaning it is dust-tight and resistant to strong water jets, and the port is IPX8, meaning it is completely waterproof even when exposed to water. Although you most likely already own a USB cable that works with your phone, one is not included in the package.

The charger features two cables: a 1.5-meter cable that ends in an SAE connector (the same kind used on Optimate chargers) and a 20-cm cable with a set of ring terminals to connect to your battery at one end and the matching SAE connector at the other. If you'd want, you could link this to your bike's auxiliary switched supply, but I discovered that the USB charger only drew approximately 1.5mA when no phone was plugged in, which meant it would take a long time to flatten the battery.

According to the Quick Charge 2.0 rating, the charger can supply up to 2A at 5V, 1.67A at 9V, and 1.5A at 12V. However, in my testing, it provided the Samsung Galaxy S21 with a full 2,000mA. When it comes to charging, the Pixel 7 Pro is an oddball—it only takes 1,300–1,400mA in this instance.

While there are many solutions available for motorcycle USB outlets, the Quad Lock's ingenious design may make it function very well with the mounting.

£69.99 for the Quad Lock Wireless Charging Head; see www.quadlockcase.co.uk

There are two versions of the sturdy Quad Lock Wireless Charging head available: the USB-powered one I own and a hard-wired 12V–24V model. Both models have 5W, 7.5W, and 10W charging capacities; the 12-24V variant additionally has a 15W charging capacity. The USB version comes with 50cm, 1.2m, and 1.5m USB-A to USB-C power cables with built-in seals, and both are perfectly safe to use in the rain. However, since the hard-wired version doesn't need any external connections, it is inherently more completely watertight.

The Google Pixel 7 Pro (which would probably charge faster with a hard-wired version) and the Samsung Galaxy S21 receive charges of between 1,700 and 1,900 milliamperes when the USB wireless head is connected to the Quad Lock USB charger, which provides the necessary 2A minimum power.

Since the hard-wired version will take power, it needs to be linked to a switched auxiliary supply rather than the battery directly. With the USB Wireless Charging Head turned off (via the little button on the bottom), I measured 11.4 mA with the Quad Lock USB Charger; when it is switched on, it pulls roughly 16 mA with extremely brief bursts of about 35 mA.

If you choose the hard-wired option, I suggest connecting the USB head to an outlet that is unplugged while the bike is off. If you have a switched auxiliary supply, you might keep the wireless head turned on and ready to charge since it does "remember" its previous status when powered up.

The Quad Lock wireless charger is taller and less elegant-looking than the SP Connect wireless charger since it lacks vibration dampening and requires an additional £15.99 vibration dampener. Although it is feasible, the 50mm-long screw needed for this is not supplied, so you will either need to purchase the supplementary Pro Screw Set from Quad Lock or find your own. I also installed the USB charger in the stack. The hard-wired version is by much the superior choice in this case; it's not exactly the perfect solution, and to be fair to Quad Lock, it's not what it's meant for.

My mistake was choosing the USB version of the wireless charging head instead of the 12V-24V hard-wired option. Although some setups may work with this option—such as using Quad Lock's £29.99 Smart adaptor, which shuts off automatically when the engine stops—the majority of riders will probably be better off with the hard-wired option, especially if they have a Hex ezCAN or Denali CANsmart power controller.

Although I haven't used it in very hot conditions, I haven't had any overheating problems when riding since air flows naturally over the phone. Wireless charging is a terrific choice for charging your phone conveniently, but be aware that not all wireless chargers are created equal and might cause your phone to overheat and perhaps stop charging. Choose the USB system if you think this could be a problem for you since you can always plug your phone in when necessary.

Will vibrating my phone with Quad Lock cause damage?

To prevent any possible harm to your phone, Quad Lock advises installing the optional vibration dampener, which costs £15.99, onto any mount. An Allen key is included, and because to its ingenious construction, no further fastening are required.

Before I tested it on a Kawasaki W800, the camera began to shake after riding. I had previously had a Samsung Galaxy S20 mounted directly to the bars of other motorcycles using SP Connect. Thankfully, turning it off and on again fixed the issue, however I am aware of other instances where utilizing SP Connect and Quad Lock without vibration dampening resulted in irreversible damage to certain phones' optical image stabilization (OIS). Michael Mann of Bennetts BikeSocial lost an iPhone 11 Pro to a Ducati Hypermotard 950.

When I spoke with SP Connect, they confirmed that the vast majority of issues they had encountered had to do with Apple devices, primarily the iPhone X, 11 and 12 series, but not the 12 Pro Max, which has Sensor-Shift OIS. They also informed me that issues with the iPhone 13 are extremely uncommon, and that none have been reported with the 14—both of which use Sensor-Shift. It appears that iPhones are the primary target of these issues. Additionally, they emphasized that the OIS on Samsung smartphones is turned off when the camera is not in use, in contrast to Apple devices.

In all likelihood, it would be prudent to include in the price of a vibration dampener when purchasing the brackets. Using the Resonance app on my phone, I tested the Kawasaki ZX-6R and found that, in general, both Quad Lock and SP Connect decreased vibration. However, when the dampeners were applied, there were minor increases in vibration at idle, namely around 40Hz. I'll keep testing since there are so many variables involved, but I have to say that the kind of motor your bike has and the phone you're using will be the only factors that determine if any harm might occur.

While riding, I do notice that the Quad Lock dampener is looser and more "rattly" than the SP Connect; both let the phone wander about a little, but the Quad Lock is less controlled.

A dealer informed me, purely anecdotally, that they had heard of a few iPhones (I'm not sure which types) having difficulties while using a dampener, but I haven't been able to confirm them and a lot of others are using them without any troubles.

In the end, it seems that the phone model and the bike's engine have a significant influence on vibration damage. The few people I am aware of who have had issues with their iPhones—using any mounting system—all have older models that were fixed under Apple's warranty.

What I can say is that with a Samsung Galaxy S21 and a Google Pixel 7 Pro installed on a BMW R1250GS with a dampener, I haven't had any issues over many thousands of kilometers.

I asked Quad Lock about vibration concerns, and you can see SP Connect's answer in this review:

Which frequencies seem to be problematic for phones?

Quad Lock has invested a lot of money in figuring out which frequencies may be problematic for phones. Since this material relates to proprietary intelligence that is deemed sensitive, details cannot be disclosed. [SP Connect said that although peak frequencies may change, the greatest problems were found to be caused by 30–60 Hz in their tests.]