Gonna be doing some courier work. Any recommendations for a phone holder?

[Toner]

My GS came with the European Market GS500 clip-on handlebars. It's the 2000 EY model.
This courier company uses google maps to direct you. 
I don't know the area where I will be working well so it would be nice to have my phone somewhere on the bike to be able to glance at it to check my route.
I'm in Ireland, it's winter. There is gonna be rain. 
Gonna need to bring my phone with me when I'm making a stop too.
I use a Moto G currently.

A tank bag with a phone holder might be a good choice as long as you can take the phone out easy.

Anyone have any suggestions?

gonna need some handle-bar muffs and warmers too. If you have any recommendation for those, throw them at me too. 

[sledge]

Get a cheap tankbag with a transparent front map pocket and put the device in there. No chance of it getting wet or lost.

Loads of them on eBay

I know it works because its how I do it 

[Toner]

Thanks man, checking them out now. 
If anyone wants to point out a good one, let me know. Would prefer a small bag with easy access to the phone for removing as I constantly have to take it out and use it/bring it with me.

[Toner]

wonder how good these small ones are. 



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renntec-Magnetic-iPhone-Tank-Bag-Smart-Phone-Holder-For-Motorcycles-Motorbike-/361533037424?hash=item542d0c5b70:g:qmoAAOSwAvJXDRDL

Also wonder whether the magnet would damage the phone if it's so close to it as it would be on these small ones.

[Toner]

After doing some searching, people might be interested in this.

It's a pouch that has QI charging.  I had heard of that but didn't know what it was called. 
It's where you can charge your phone wirelessly.  You just rest it on a charging plate.
This pouch has one of those plates installed and you plug that into your bike.
Then you can insert and remove your phone from the zipped pouch with out constantly inserting and removing a cable.
Apparently there are cheap addons you can buy for you phone to make them QI charging compatible.
Gonna do some more research but this sounds like a winner.

[TundraOG]

I personally use a knock-off RAM mount that has  2.1 amper charging port that connects to your battery and can be turned on and off to save battery life. Great little mount, even at high speeds and wind.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Big fan of all things Ram.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055PH0XA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1



The Tank Bag idea makes allot of sense, that's how I use to use my GPS until I started using Ram mounts



I think the tank bag idea is prolly the best, your rain gear can fit in it, along with the phone 

[Bluesmudge]

+1 on the RAM X mount. Its fast and secure and can hold many phone sizes horizontal or vertical. I put ram balls everwhere on my bike so I can move phones, SPOT device and cup holders around to suit my needs. RAM is worth the price IMHO.

[lefty1615]

Gonna give another bump for RAM but the I've heard of 3 or 4 people losing their phones to the x-grip on nasty roads.

The adjustable cradle one is way more secure IMO

http://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-HOL-PD3U

[Watcher]

Gonna give another bump for RAM but the I've heard of 3 or 4 people losing their phones to the x-grip on nasty roads.

There's a video of C2W low-siding an R1 which then tumbles.  iPhone in an X-grip.  Didn't move.
I've had nothing but good fortune in my X-grips.  Even so, RAM is now including a rubber bungee gripper thing you can install around the back of the mount.  You pull it over the corners of the phone and it pulls the phone into the mount.  It's incredibly secure.

I can't praise RAM highly enough.  I like using the handlebar mounting screw ball location.  But of course the X-grips is not waterproof.
RAM does make a dry-box version called the AquaBox, but I have no first hand experience with it.
It looks awesome.  Has a soft front so you can still interface with the touch screen even while it's enclosed, and it has a pass-through in the back for charging.  They're around $50 for just the box, though.


One option that is simple and foolproof is a Pelican dry box in a tank-bag.
I have a few that I use on a regular basis (maybe not anymore since moving to the desert...)
I have a small one (1010) that lived in the motorcycle and held the powerlet charger, cables, and insurance documents, and I have a larger one (1040) that can fit my Galaxy Note3, wallet, and some spare keys.
It has a clear top for map directions, but there is an emblem obstructing the view so pairing a Bluetooth device to the phone is the way to go.
But this way the phone is guaranteed protected from water, and Pelicans are crush-proof as well so if you go down, lose the tank-bag, and a truck rolls it over you're good.

[lefty1615]

There's a video of C2W low-siding an R1 which then tumbles.  iPhone in an X-grip.  Didn't move.
I've had nothing but good fortune in my X-grips.  Even so, RAM is now including a rubber bungee gripper thing you can install around the back of the mount.  You pull it over the corners of the phone and it pulls the phone into the mount.  It's incredibly secure.
[/quote]

I don't doubt it but I think the X-grip's performance is highly dependent on what your holding. Because it works on spring tension the bigger your phone the more secure its going to be. I like the model I linked above because it is adjustable to your phone, so you don't see the issue of smaller devices being held less firmly and I've seen phones that don't play nice with the mounting in the X-grip because of button placement. Adjustability takes that out of the equation and ensures your ~500-1000$ device is 100% safe.

Couple of videos of phones popping out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2G3FamLAuQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrQVwKlbgS0

The other thing with the adjustable mount is I find the single slide mechanism to be much easier to pop in and out, I've pulled my phone out of my pocket and slapped it into the mount more than once while riding down a city block.

[Watcher]

I think the X-grip's performance is highly dependent on what your holding. Because it works on spring tension the bigger your phone the more secure its going to be.

Couple of videos of phones popping out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2G3FamLAuQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrQVwKlbgS0

That may be something to consider.  My gigantic Galaxy Note3 is in the large X-grip with the clamps at least half way open.  When I had my old Droid in the standard X grip it was almost the whole way open.  But as a consumer you have to look at that and see that your phone is only held when the clamps are almost completely closed and doubt it.  Different sized X grips were made for a reason.

But one thing that I noticed in common with both of those videos is the phone is placed what looks like near vertical and with direct wind exposure to the rear of the phone.  The first one the wind pushed it out.  The second it fell straight down.

Here's how I arranged mine.



Behind the wind-screen, and although it's low where I'd have to look down at it it's in the same FOV as the dashboard itself so it's not like I'm taking my eyes off the road any more than usual.

Here it is with the security bungee installed.



Admittedly if they even developed the extra security there had to have been significant evidence or risk of phones being dropped.  Still, in my personal experience and the experience of many riders I know who also use RAM mounts the X-grip has never failed us...


But the X-grip isn't the end all beat all.  RAM has a few different styles of phone holder, it's really the mounting ball and arm that makes or breaks the product.

[barry905]

I have been using an Insten Universal Bicycle Motorcycle MTB Bike Handlebar Mount Phone Holder Cradle for some time. I have used it for both an HTC One phone and a TomTom GPS unit and it works well for both. Basically it mounts on the handlebars and hold the phone with a padded side grips and a silicone band which locks the phone in place and it can easily be removed.

I got mine from Amazon Canada, but I'm sure they have it wherever you are. It was only $9 Canadian, so it's not even expensive.

I would have posted a picture, but couldn't. So you can see it at this link:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Insten+Universal+Bicycle+Motorcycle+MTB+Bike+Handlebar+Mount+Phone+Holder+Cradle&tbm=isch&imgil=Duvyr7z_hmjH0M%253A%253ByDE3i50GJI1HMM%253Bhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.amazon.com%25252FiForaa-Universal-Motorcycle-Handlebar-Adjustable%25252Fdp%25252FB01DO8NSK8&source=iu&pf=m&fir=Duvyr7z_hmjH0M%253A%252CyDE3i50GJI1HMM%252C_&usg=__g3qQLjn82uH7-Q_KzKi76Br4BH8%3D&biw=1680&bih=853&ved=0ahUKEwjP65Kq2L7QAhUF7oMKHY9xCt4QyjcIPw&ei=KnI1WM-uDYXcjwSP46nwDQ#imgrc=DEu7rzA6OHu-pM%3A.

[Watcher]

^ Unfortunately that won't work with clip-on bars.  Not enough real-estate for the clamp.

[dread_au]

The clear plastic sleeve is good in theory but your phone will cook and shutdown in sun. That has happened to my Ipad. Not ideal for a courier. I suggest bluetooth on the helmet and phone in a safe place on/in the bike charging so it wont go flat.

[user11235813]

I use RAM mounts for my hand held gps and so I can recommend them as sturdy and versatile. They are modular in design super strong and more importantly infinitely maneuverable. But of course they are open to the weather but if the weather is good I think they are the way to go.