Motorcycle phone mounts: 5 mistakes to avoid

Five mistakes keep coming up with motorcycle phone mounts: buying without checking it fits your handlebars and your phone case, setting an angle that hides the instruments, skipping the vibration damper that protects the camera, rushing the fitting, and handling the screen while riding. The first four take a few minutes to put right. The last one costs €135 and 3 licence points in France.

Why is compatibility the first thing to check?

Because a mount that does not fit your handlebars or your phone case ends up at the back of a drawer, or worse, on the road at 90 kph. Most handlebars are 22 mm in diameter (7/8 inch), but tapered bars go up to 28 mm in the centre, and some customs go wider still. The simple method: measure the circumference with a tape measure and divide by 3.14. That gives you the exact diameter at the point where you plan to fit the mount.

On the phone side, there are two families: mounts with a dedicated case, which require a specific case for each smartphone model, and universal systems, either clamp or magnetic. If you ride with a protective case, check that it fits the mount or that an adapter exists. On some bikes the question is not limited to the handlebars: our comparison of a BMW phone mount versus a universal solution shows the pitfalls of model-specific cockpits nicely.

Sportsbike with low clip-ons, handlebars already crowded? Consider alternative mounting points: the fork yoke, a mirror stem or the bar clamps. A quick look at the options:

Mounting	Strong points	Watch out for
Handlebar clamp	Universal, solid, adjustable	Handlebar diameter, bulk
Fork yoke	Ideal for sportsbikes with clip-ons	Diameter of the central nut, viewing angle
Mirror stem	Simple, inexpensive	More pronounced vibrations at the end of the stem
Magnetic mount	Handled one-handed, even with gloves	Choose a model designed for motorcycles

One last check before buying: turn the handlebars lock to lock while picturing the mount in place. If it touches the tank or the fairing, change the position. Quick-release systems also make life easier if you get off the bike often.

What viewing angle keeps your eyes on the road?

The right angle puts the screen in your peripheral vision, without hiding the instruments or forcing you to drop your head. A badly angled mount takes your eyes off the road half a second too long at every glance, which is exactly what a mount is supposed to prevent.

Riding position changes everything. Tucked in on a sportsbike, you are not looking in the same place as sitting upright on an adventure bike or a roadster. So the only reliable adjustment is made in real conditions: sit on the bike, helmet on, visor down, and adjust the tilt until you can read the screen with a simple movement of the eyes. An adjustment made standing next to the bike almost always has to be redone.

Think about glare too. In high summer, a screen aimed at the sky becomes unreadable. Prefer a mount whose ball joint or adjustment screws stay accessible once fitted: you can correct the angle in ten seconds when stopped, depending on where the sun is. And turn the screen brightness up to maximum before setting off, most phones limit it to save power.

Can vibrations really damage your smartphone?

Yes, and it is not a forum myth: Apple confirmed it in an official note published in 2021. High-frequency vibrations transmitted by the engine, especially on singles and twins, can degrade the camera's optical image stabilisation (OIS) and autofocus. The phone still works, but photos go blurry, permanently. Apple explicitly recommends a vibration-damping mount for motorcycles.

The answer is simple: a mount fitted with a damping system, silicone bushes or a dedicated anti-vibration module, that isolates the phone from the chassis shaking. Some brands build it in, with others it is an accessory to add between the mount and the fixing. On a single or a big twin that vibrates hard, that accessory is not optional.

Magnetic mounts designed for motorcycles do well here: the French brand Shapeheart, for instance, built its range around a magnetically attached pouch: the phone is not gripped by any rigid jaws, which spares it part of the shaking from the bars, and the pouch can be handled one-handed, even with gloves. We went through the models worth having in our pick of magnetic smartphone mounts.

A word on weather, finally: a phone likes neither driving rain at 110 kph nor full August sun. A waterproof pouch for the first, a break in the shade for the second: an overheating smartphone shuts its screen down, and with it your navigation.

How do you avoid a fitting that gives way mid-ride?

A reliable installation comes down to three things: the right spacer, the right torque, and cables that get in the way of nothing. The best mount on the market is worth nothing if it turns around the handlebars at the first speed bump.

The spacers first: they make up the difference between the clamp diameter and that of your handlebars. An unsuitable spacer leaves play, and the mount pivots under vibration, even with the screws done up fully. Fit the one matching the diameter you measured, then check by hand that nothing moves before trusting it with your phone.

Torque next: too tight and a plastic or nylon clamp cracks; not tight enough and an aluminium clamp slips. Tighten progressively, in a cross pattern where there are several screws, until the mount no longer turns. Check the torque again after the first few rides, vibration loosens anything fitted in a hurry.

The cables last, the point most often forgotten. A badly routed charging cable can catch on the throttle grip or the levers, and at that point we are no longer talking about a broken phone. Once fitted, turn the bars lock to lock: no cable should go taut or get pinched. Secure them along the original loom with cable ties, well away from the engine and moving parts.

Can you touch your phone while riding?

No, never, and the law is unambiguous: holding a phone in your hand while driving is prohibited under French road traffic law, on a bike as in a car. Even fixed to its mount, tapping the screen while riding is still handling it, with the same risks: half a second of inattention at 80 kph means 11 metres covered blind. And since 2020, handling a phone combined with another offence can lead to a licence suspension.

The right method fits in one sentence: everything gets set up while stopped, nothing gets touched while riding. Before you set off, enter the destination, start the navigation, turn off pointless notifications. On the road, instructions come through the intercom by voice, and calls can wait. Need to change the route? Stop somewhere safe, engine off, then set off again. No shortcut is worth skipping that two-minute detour.

That is exactly where a good ecosystem makes the difference: the fewer reasons you have to touch the screen, the more the mount plays its real role, that of a display you look at and do not handle.

What GeoRide brings here

A well-chosen mount settles the question of the display; GeoRide settles the question of handling it. The GeoRide unit and app capture every ride automatically: nothing to start, nothing to stop, the complete ride is waiting for you when you arrive, with the route, the weather and the statistics. No more reaching for the screen to start a recording, as most ride recording apps require.

"It drove me mad to think we were using sound to warn about a problem, when we all have a phone in our pocket." (Thomas, GeoRide founder)

This idea of the phone working on its own goes a long way. With the GeoRide 3s, automatic phone recognition disarms the protection as you approach the bike and arms it again after 30 seconds of inactivity, without opening the app. If you go down while riding, the emergency services are called automatically in under 2 minutes in mainland France, even if the phone is broken or switched off: the tracker works independently. And throughout the ride, the tracker watches over the bike and the people close to you can follow your position, only if you have decided so. To choose the GPS tracker that suits how you ride, our comparison of GeoRide mini or GeoRide 3s covers the ground.

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard diameter of motorcycle handlebars?

22 mm (7/8 inch) on most motorcycles, 28 mm in the centre for tapered "fatbar" handlebars. To find yours, measure the circumference where the mount will go and divide by 3.14. Always measure before buying: a clamp of the wrong diameter will never hold properly.

Can motorcycle vibrations damage my phone?

Yes: Apple confirmed in 2021 that the high-frequency vibrations of a motorcycle engine can permanently degrade the camera's optical image stabilisation. The risk is more pronounced on singles and big twins. A mount with damping, silicone bushes or an anti-vibration module, greatly reduces the problem.

Are you allowed to use your phone as a satnav on a motorcycle?

Yes, provided it is fixed to a mount and you never hold it in your hand while riding. Handling it in traffic carries a €135 fine and 3 licence points in France. Set up the navigation while stopped and let the voice instructions do the rest.

Are earphones allowed for listening to satnav on a motorcycle?

No, wearing earphones or earbuds while driving has been banned in France since 2015, on a bike as in a car. The legal answer: a Bluetooth intercom built into the helmet, whose speakers are not worn in the ear. It plays navigation instructions and handles calls by voice.

Is a magnetic mount safe enough for a motorcycle?

Yes, provided you choose a model designed for motorcycles, with magnets sized for riding, such as those from the French brand Shapeheart. Small magnetic mounts intended for cars are not enough. On broken surfaces or off-road, adding a safety strap remains a good habit.