Jean Turner | August 9, 2024
Shopping for motorcycle phone mounts will quickly render a lot of familiar options, plenty of good ones, but one standout feature of the new Peak Design charging phone mount might help narrow your search. This is the first hard-locking moto mount system to feature Qi2 (pronounced “chee-too”) charging. What is that and why does it matter?
The Peak Design Wireless Charging Phone Mount kit is an industry-first, and a pretty slick piece of kit for your ride.
Photos by Jean Turner
In the ever-advancing world of electronic devices, the great and powerful Wireless Power Consortium (yes, that’s a thing), recently introduced the new Qi2 standard. The original Qi standard limited charging to 5W, but Qi2-branded devices can now pump the juice at up to 15W. They also feature a Magnetic Power Profile (MPP), basically a magnetic ring not unlike Apple’s MagSafe technology. This MPP ensures the magnetic coils are aligned for optimum efficiency, and in the case of a motorcycle phone mount, also gives a second layer of strong grip to your device.
Wireless charging means no fiddling with wires and connecting your phone to the bike mount before you take off. Just slap it on the mount, it clicks on securely and it’s charging. Peak Design offers a full “eco-system” of phone mounts that can go from your handlebars to inside your car, in your office, at your bedside or anywhere you feel like sticking a mount. The rather small and streamlined mounting square on the back of the case is about the width and depth of a nickel, and you’d be forgiven for doubting its ability to provide a secure mount in such a vulnerable spot as your motorcycle handlebar. Fortunately for you, I’ve done the legwork and thoroughly tested out their latest system. More on that in a minute. First, let me tell you a little about Peak Design.
If you’re not familiar with the small company based in San Francisco, Peak Design got its start in 2010 building photography accessories, and not long after, being motorcycle enthusiasts, too, the sassy, inventive minds at Peak Design began building motorcycle mounts. You’ll find a whole collection of incredibly well-thought-out accessories for photography and smartphones, and might find yourself quickly sucked into the “eco-system,” if you’re anything like me. But a very unique and noteworthy aspect of Peak Design is that it is entirely crowdfunded. Meaning no corporate investors, no outside influence, purely funded, run and staffed by enthusiasts like you and me.
Peak Design is currently in the midst of another one of its crowdfunding campaigns, this one for the Charging Phone Mount. So if this looks interesting to you, head to the Peak Design Kickstarter link to find out more, and to pre-order the Charging Phone Mount at a discounted price. Once they are live on the website in October 2024, they will be full price ($169.95).
You’d be forgiven for having trust issues with such a slim mount, but don’t worry… I crash tested it for you. This will NOT let go of your phone.
Lowdown | Peak Design Charging Phone Mount
LIST PRICE: $169.95
Only hard-locking motorcycle phone mount with Qi2 wireless charging
Streamlined mount is extremely secure
Easy to mount and remove phone, even with gloves on
Orders don’t ship until December 2024
Rider Analysis | Peak Design Charging Phone Mount
I was fortunate enough to nab one of the early units, and try out the latest from Peak Design. The new charging phone mount is available in four different mounts: the Bar Mount V2, Stem Mount, Brake/Clutch Mount and Mirror Mount. I decided to give the Brake/Clutch mount a whirl. This unique system is a universal design that can mount to the existing clutch or brake mount of your motorcycle. The nice thing here is that it doesn’t take up any extra room on the handlebar. So for riders wanting to keep bar tidy, or for riders running extra fat handlebars, this is a great option. Their other options cover all sorts of bases, as well. The mirror mount can clamp onto a slim mirror stem, so that even scooter riders without a handlebar or dash can mount a phone. Like I said, pretty clever kids at PD.
The beauty of the Peak Design mount (with or without the charging option) is that you can slap it on and go. No craning your neck to line up the base with the mount and twisting it into place. It quite literally grabs hold on its own, guided by magnets, and secures your phone with a little click when it seats into place. Compared to something like the Quad Lock mount, and its firm, tactile rotate and lock mechanism, I’ll admit that the design of the Peak Design “SlimLink” system is… less confidence-inspiring. It might seem like your lifeline to civilization is hanging on by fingernails, but as mentioned, I went ahead and tested that out for you.
The Brake/Clutch Mount is a clever design that utilizes your existing brake or clutch mount and keeps your handlebar uncluttered. This is one of four fitment options from PD.
How secure is it? Peak Design calls it “bomb proof,” and I’ll stop short of that claim, but I can tell you that I strapped my iPhone 12 to this mount on a KLR300, and “bombed” down a hard-pack ridge road littered with square-edges, aiming to deliberately smack into as many bumps as possible. Quite honestly, I was trying to knock my phone loose as quickly as possible in order to get my testing over with, but no luck. That sucker did not budge. I even crashed at one point, and while I did damage my phone with a rock to the screen, the mount DID NOT let go. From that point on, I had zero doubt in my mind that the SlimLink mount is up to the task. So there you go—crash-tested and approved. You’re welcome.
The charging mount sweetens the deal by keeping your phone juiced up, especially useful on longer adventure rides where I’d like to keep maps and my music flowing for extended periods. A steady pulse of 15w power means my screen will stay on so maps remain visible, and my phone stays charged up all day. The vibration isolator which sits behind the mounting plate is among the best you’ll find, so that’s another win for Peak Design mounts.
Removing the phone, even with gloves on, is nearly as easy. A press of either button on the rear will quickly detach the phone. Again, it’s hard to believe something that attaches and detaches so easily could be that secure, but just think of my little KLX300 tumbling down a slippery, dusty trail in Big Bear after I knifed the front end, phone still attached, and it will help remind you.
Head to the Kickstarter link for more information on Peak Design Phone Mounts, and the discounts available during the crowdfunding period, which is ending August 13.
To learn more, visit www.peakdesign.com
