The Non-Charging, Locking V2 Phone Mount
Editor’s note: With the Holidays approaching, Peak Design reached out to us offering for our review a pair of their newly-created motorcycle mounts for cell phones, one with a built-in phone charger and the other without. Phil G received the charging Qi2 model, which he reviewed last week, and Ken the standard mount without charger. Here are Ken’s comments on the V2 mount.
In my 71 years of life, I have almost always found that spending a few more dollars on buying a quality product is cheaper in the long run, because the product usually lasts longer and will offer conveniences and features that lesser quality products do not. That goes for many items, like large and small household appliances, tools, furniture, and almost anything you view as non-disposable. I seldom regret buying a high quality item. So when a company called Peak Design contacted us about sampling and reviewing their all-new cell phone mounts for motorcycles, we of course were willing to try them out.
The kit elements Peak Design sent me, at least after they sent the phone case separately, which both Phil and I had to request. See his review for the reason why.
The handlebar cell phone mount from Peak Design is clearly a high quality, well designed and manufactured product. In fact, it is the best one I’ve ever seen in all my years of motorcycling. It is made from machined/anodized aluminum, both the mounting head and arm, with a grippy silicone mounting pad, EPDM rubber bar sizing collars so it will fit snugly on any diameter size handlebar, PVD coated stainless steel hardware, silicone vibration dampers, and high-temp neodymium mounting magnets. These work in conjunction with Peak Design’s proprietary cell phone cases with a magnetic and clever locking mechanism, to ensure that your phone will stay put on the mount even if riding off-road on challenging tracks or trails. They make the mount in both a wired phone charging version (that Phil received and reviewed) and a non-charging one, which is what I requested.
The arm pivots, as does the mounting head, for complete adjustability.
The unit is easy to mount on your handlebars no matter where you like to have your phone placed; either at the ends of your bars, on the bends, or in the center. The arm adjusts with a machined set of gear-like teeth and set screw that ensures a precise and tight fit so you can set the angle any way you want. On my bike, I like to have the phone setting in the landscape position, but you can set it to the vertical portrait position if you prefer. There is a ball mount adjustment so you may tilt the phone to get the precise angle you wish to position your phone. It is truly a first class product.
So what is the downside to this mount? The price. The mount sells for a whopping $99.95. And you must purchase the Peak Design phone case separately (designed for your particular iPhone or Android model phone) because it has the magnet and the locking mechanism built into the back. That case, which comes in several dark colors, costs an additional $49.95. So you have to spend over $150 for the total package. I currently have the last generation of iPhone, so when I replace it with the new model, I’d have to buy another phone case from them to continue using their mount.
The locking mechanism, as on the charging version, is a fine feature. My $25 X-81 mount, for comparison.
The phone mount I’ve been using for the last 10 years cost less than $20. It does everything that the Peak Design one does, if not as good looking, nor with the same high quality materials. But it hasn’t failed me in all this time, and I’m completely happy with it. And if it broke tomorrow, I’d replace it with another $25 dollar one (assuming an extra $5 for inflation) which will take me to the grave for phone mounts.
Form and function. It’s a beautiful, quality mount, if a bit pricey. They’re on sale now for the holidays, we found out.
So while I still stand by my opening statement that buying high quality products is a great idea and I’m generally up to spend 20-25% more, in this case, it doesn’t seem to make sense, at least for me. I still applaud companies committed to designing and making high quality, well engineered products, that have value for their price tags. This mount is certainly high quality, if a bit high priced (now on sale). I would urge you to visit Peak Design’s website at www.peakdesign.com to check these out, and decide for yourself. Also check out their range of backpacks, soft luggage, camera bags, and photo accessories. These are items where their unique design features and fine quality are worth paying a bit more for.
Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman
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