Phone mount - will this hold?

Felipearango

New member
New South Florida owner. Thanks for putting together the forum.

Trying to find a good mobile phone mounting position. Have tried ram mirror stem mount but not ideal. Will this hold? Ram plate stuck with 3M extreme mounting tape to plastic handlebar cover. took a 5 mile test ride and looks OK.

CE0F4DBB-6AED-4943-975F-645863A61CC7.jpeg95EEAB4D-D45B-48C9-94E6-DCCA165730BC.jpeg
 

DrCohen

Active member
Thanks. Don’t intend to glue or drill. Just wondering if the 3M extreme double sided tape will hold up.
Removing this tape without damaging the plastic is possible but tricky. I'd be less worried about "ruining the resale value" than losing a thousand-dollar phone, so I'd put bolts through the 4 mounting holes.
If you want to sell the bike later, a buyer may think that the nice secure mount enhances the value. Worst case, it's not that expensive to replace the handlebar cover.
 

wspollack

Active member
Thanks. Don’t intend to glue or drill. Just wondering if the 3M extreme double sided tape will hold up.
1) I wouldn't trust it.

I think that each half of the variants of 3M's Dual Lock (https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/dual-lock-reclosable-fasteners-us/) fasteners (which are issued here with an EZ-Pass, for instance) would stick okay to each other, but I would worry that the adhesive-to-bike plastic would hold up (even with thoroughly cleaning the bike's surface with alcohol). I certainly wouldn't trust my $1,000+ phone to one; OTOH, if you'll be using some mostly obsolete, superseded, phone for, say, a GPS or a music player, then that would take some of the worry out.

2) Another RAM possibility:

In addition to what @rongrimes posted regarding his use of the RAM mirror-stem mount, you might be interested in the RAM ball I added to my C 400 GT: https://rammount.com/products/RAM-B-252U

I put this inboard of the left bar-end weight, no drilling, no cutting, etc., needed:

2022-06-13_12-30-04.JPG

I'm not very familiar with the CE-04, but I'm guessing that they have screw-on bar ends of some sort, correct?

And I realize that there's a certain potential advantage of your system, in terms of a center position, but you shouldn't be looking at a phone that much, anyway.

3) Be careful of vibrations for some phones:

If we are talking about an expensive iPhone here (and perhaps some other brands, but I don't follow them), you might want to be careful about vibrations.

I'm guessing that the CE-04, being non-ICE and all, is probably pretty smooth. OTOH, I've read some posts on the forum here about intrusive vibrations on them, at least under certain conditions.

So, with that said, here's a summary on the Apple issue from a year ago, in RideApart:


And here's Apple's actual note:


Even though I only use my phone for a GPS on my bikes once or twice a year (I don't mind getting lost, during my day trips, but sometimes I visit someone with a very rural address), after I read those articles I promptly upgraded my mount. That is, I already had a Hondo Garage Perfect Squeeze (https://hondogarage.com/collections/phone-mounting-systems-motorcycle), so I then ordered their vibration dampener (which, unfortunately, is fairly bulky).

If I were starting from scratch, I'd probably order a system from Quad Lock (https://www.quadlockcase.com/collections/shop-motorcycle). They have a more compact setup, including their more integrated optional vibration dampener. The downside of their systems -- which, to me, look very convenient and very well made -- is that you have to use one of their cases for your phone, which might be something someone like me does not want to do. (I like my current case, which has room for my license and a credit card, and the whole shebang can be securely mounted in a Perfect Squeeze.)

Another possibility is a setup from Peak Design (https://www.peakdesign.com/collections/mobile#addon-sub). I'm not very familiar with their products, but one of them got a favorable review in Motorcycle.com, as I recall, and their systems have a vibration dampener.

Those are the only three outfits that I'm aware that have specific anti-vibration motorcycle mounts, and I try to keep up with the subject.

In any case, good luck with your project.
 

Felipearango

New member
1) I wouldn't trust it.

I think that each half of the variants of 3M's Dual Lock (https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/dual-lock-reclosable-fasteners-us/) fasteners (which are issued here with an EZ-Pass, for instance) would stick okay to each other, but I would worry that the adhesive-to-bike plastic would hold up (even with thoroughly cleaning the bike's surface with alcohol). I certainly wouldn't trust my $1,000+ phone to one; OTOH, if you'll be using some mostly obsolete, superseded, phone for, say, a GPS or a music player, then that would take some of the worry out.

2) Another RAM possibility:

In addition to what @rongrimes posted regarding his use of the RAM mirror-stem mount, you might be interested in the RAM ball I added to my C 400 GT: https://rammount.com/products/RAM-B-252U

I put this inboard of the left bar-end weight, no drilling, no cutting, etc., needed:

View attachment 3524

I'm not very familiar with the CE-04, but I'm guessing that they have screw-on bar ends of some sort, correct?

And I realize that there's a certain potential advantage of your system, in terms of a center position, but you shouldn't be looking at a phone that much, anyway.

3) Be careful of vibrations for some phones:

If we are talking about an expensive iPhone here (and perhaps some other brands, but I don't follow them), you might want to be careful about vibrations.

I'm guessing that the CE-04, being non-ICE and all, is probably pretty smooth. OTOH, I've read some posts on the forum here about intrusive vibrations on them, at least under certain conditions.

So, with that said, here's a summary on the Apple issue from a year ago, in RideApart:


And here's Apple's actual note:


Even though I only use my phone for a GPS on my bikes once or twice a year (I don't mind getting lost, during my day trips, but sometimes I visit someone with a very rural address), after I read those articles I promptly upgraded my mount. That is, I already had a Hondo Garage Perfect Squeeze (https://hondogarage.com/collections/phone-mounting-systems-motorcycle), so I then ordered their vibration dampener (which, unfortunately, is fairly bulky).

If I were starting from scratch, I'd probably order a system from Quad Lock (https://www.quadlockcase.com/collections/shop-motorcycle). They have a more compact setup, including their more integrated optional vibration dampener. The downside of their systems -- which, to me, look very convenient and very well made -- is that you have to use one of their cases for your phone, which might be something someone like me does not want to do. (I like my current case, which has room for my license and a credit card, and the whole shebang can be securely mounted in a Perfect Squeeze.)

Another possibility is a setup from Peak Design (https://www.peakdesign.com/collections/mobile#addon-sub). I'm not very familiar with their products, but one of them got a favorable review in Motorcycle.com, as I recall, and their systems have a vibration dampener.

Those are the only three outfits that I'm aware that have specific anti-vibration motorcycle mounts, and I try to keep up with the subject.

In any case, good luck with your project.
Thanks for the very comprehensive reply! Leaning towards abandoning the 3M approach.
 

Felipearango

New member
Just a question as a noob. Why not use the nav on the tft screen?
I’m not very excited about the onboard navigation system: (1) I find it difficult to navigate with the wheel and menus, (2) I don’t like the wifi approach to the connection between phone and bike, (3) I find the voice directions annoying and (4) I think Google/Waze offer much better guidance tan TomTom.
 

Rootctrl

Member
I’m not very excited about the onboard navigation system: (1) I find it difficult to navigate with the wheel and menus, (2) I don’t like the wifi approach to the connection between phone and bike, (3) I find the voice directions annoying and (4) I think Google/Waze offer much better guidance tan TomTom.
Makes sense.
 

DrCohen

Active member
Ram makes a mount that screws on to the brake reservoir in place of the cover I have used for my iPhone on the c650 2013 for years.
I have also used the brake reservoir mount on my C650 for years. I mounted mine on top of the stock reservoir instead of replacing the stock part, as I was not confident about the fluid seal.
 

wspollack

Active member
Hey guys anyone have a Ram part number for the resivioir tank.

Mike
I think Tortise (post #7 here) meant "on top of" instead of "in place of." Once upon a time, a company called Motorcycle Larry (now defunct, after the owner died a few years ago) made actual REPLACEMENT reservoir covers, with options for one or two RAM balls off to the side, for a few different bikes. I bought some of these when I had two Burgman 650s.

So, back to your question. I don't believe RAM made any replacement reservoir covers; I'm certainly not aware of any. In any case, their "on top of" version is this the B-346U:


I don't have that cover, nor do I have a CE-04, so I obviously can't guarantee that it fits. However, you'll notice that the screw holes are elongated, i.e., to work with assorted stock screw positions.

Incidentally, if you buy this, my suggestion is to NOT use the included spacers, unless you absolutely have to, as that will only unnecessarily increase the torque moment on the small screws, once you add an extension and some device. From my reading over the years, it's my understanding that the spacers are provided ONLY to deal with some older Beemer reservoirs that had recessed screw holes in the reservoir covers.
 
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Low On Cash

Active member
Ok thanks I’ll check it out. On one of my bikes you could not install the holder since the top was rounded so you had to use the spacers to keep the center from touching. I noticed the CE brake cover also has a rounded top.

Mike
 

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GreggWilliams

New member
Ok thanks I’ll check it out. On one of my bikes you could not install the holder since the top was rounded so you had to use the spacers to keep the center from touching. I noticed the CE brake cover also has a rounded top.

Mike
I just purchased the SP connect for my RT and CE04…
it’s absolutely amazing on the CE04. I purchased the unit that goes on the mirror. Left side.

I will send a photo later

SP CONNECT
 

wspollack

Active member
I just purchased the SP connect for my RT and CE04…
it’s absolutely amazing on the CE04. I purchased the unit that goes on the mirror. Left side.

I will send a photo later

SP CONNECT
I see that SP Connect lists two mirror mounts for motorcycles:

$30: https://sp-connect.com/collections/motorbike/products/mirror-mount

$50: https://sp-connect.com/collections/motorbike/products/mirror-mount-pro

Did you also get one of the vibration-dampening add-ons?:



I'm thinking about getting one of those mirror mounts, plus that first anti-vibration add-on. I have a Hondo Garage Perfect Squeeze and their anti-vibration device, but that latter piece is very large and clunky -- takes up a lot of cubby room.
 
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