Become a Member: Get Ad-Free Access to 3,000+ Reviews, Guides, & More

SP Connect challenges Quad Lock phone mount

SP Connect Moto Mount Pro kit

Austrian SP Connect is taking on Australian-designed Quad Lock in the race for your handlebar phone mount.

Handlebar phone mounts have grown in popularity as more riders use their phones for GPS, music and communication.

Some motorcycle instruments also now connect directly with your phone and, in future, they may be replaced by your phone.

Mount up

X2 phone mount
X2 phone mount charges your phone while riding

There is now a wide variety of mounts on offer. Some are not very secure while some others, such as the RAM mounts, may be secure, but they are expensive and large, clunky, ugly units.

The only ones we know that allow you to charge your phone as well are the Quad Lock (with a $44.95 adapter) and the X2 (pictured above) which we sell in our online shop for $35.

Quad Lock, designed by Chris Peters of Melbourne, has emerged as the leader with its small size, secure fit and ability to quickly adjust from landscape to vertical at the press of a button.

Quad Lock mobile phone mount car app
Quad Lock

Quad Lock costs about $85 for the handlebar mount and phone case, while the Austrian SP Connect Moto Mount Pro kit costs $99.95 – $129.95 for a bundle, depending on your phone.

SP Connect Moto Mount Pro kit
SP Connect Moto bundle

While the Quad Lock is largely hard plastic, the SP Gadgets mount is CNC-machined, aircraft-grade alloy. It feels a little heavier and therefore should be more secure.

However, we have never had any problems with the Quad Lock coming loose and falling off, even over off-road courses.

We have also noticed that vibration is similarly minimal on both.

Like the Quad Lock, you can get an extension arm that makes positioning your phone on your handlebars more versatile.

Easy connectSP Connect Moto Mount Pro kit

Both mounts can swivel from horizontal to vertical, but the SP Connect requires you to use a tool to turn the locking mechanism in the back of the phone case first.

That means you can’t do it on the fly. You have to remove the phone from the mount, then use the special tool to change it, then relocate the phone.

While some people are happy having the phone either landscape or portrait, I like to be able to swivel from one to the other: horizontal because it offers a nicer, lower profile on the bars and vertical when I am following a map.

The only advantage of the SP Connect is that you can also use the special tool as a table rest so you can conduct Face Time calls without having to hold the phone at an angle.

While the Quad Lock videos show people quickly fitting the phone, they can actually be quite fiddly to get on because you have to attach it at exactly a 45-degree angle.

SP Connect connects easily by placing it at a right angle and swivelling it 90 degrees into position.

Both have bundles that come with rubber mounts for all sizes of motorcycle handlebars, bolts and mirrors, as well as on bicycles.

Bundles also come with clear plastic rain covers that are touch sensitive.

SP Connect Moto Mount Pro kit
Rain cover

However, I’ve never needed to use one even in pouring rain as recent iPhones are basically rain proof. However, I have tested them both for touch sensitivity with the rain cover on and they work fine.

SP Connect wins hands down on looks and they have also just released a chrome-plated version!

It is available for most Apple, Samsung and Huawei devices, but if you have another phone or want to keep your own case, there is a universal option.SP Connect Moto Mount Pro kit

 

  1. Hi i wondering about the thickness of the case. i currently use quadlock and would consider a move to SP connect if the case would be slighly thinner as i use this day to day and to remove the case from my phone

      1. Thank you and thanks for the write up. Great job.
        I guess I will stick with quad lock:)

  2. Do they both charge wirelessly ok on a normal charging pad? I was led to believe quad lock doesn’t but SP connect does?

    Thanks

    1. Hi, would love to know the answer to this question as I have heard the same but not clear.

  3. I’ve just started using Quad Lock. While I like the concept, I find it not very user friendly to mount. I’ve actually had my phone fall of twice on small bumps because I didn’t get it lined up properly. Apparently I got one or two tabs lined up, but not all four. I appreciate the mention of the difficulty to line the Quad Lock up properly. Both times of failure, the mount actually clicked when I mounted it as if it were lined up correctly. One fall actually broke my screen protector. I’m looking into a refund to try the SP connect

  4. I liked the versatility of the Quad Lock and acknowledge the comments made about mounting. Having just completed my first long tour with it I thing this is a matter of technique rather than design flaw. The biggest issue for me was that the camera on my iPhone 11 went into a vibration and crackling frenzy after 200 miles and is unserviceable as a consequence. I see that this is an issue may phones with anti vibration mechanisms in the cameras. In response SP Connect have released anti vibration mount (quite expensive) and Quad Lock are just about to release one (price not known yet). I will endeavour to replace my phone under warranty as it shouldn’t go u/s on a modern BMW on normal roads, but will not mount it again until I have an anti vibration mount. Overall I am pleased with the Quad Lock, good design very versatile, easy to change from landscape to portrait on the move and with a small ram mount conversion is mounted on the front brake cylinder, clear of very busy switch gear. (BMW R1250RT)

  5. I have used both quadlock and SP connect and I have to say SP connect is the better product by far. It’s better quality and while quadlock only comes in black SP connect as a new line called design cases which have really cool designs. Overall I highly recommend SP connect

  6. Hi, Just wondering if you tested the rotation on both. I have the SP Connect and my iphone is point over my shoulder on my Indian SCout, I need to rotate it back so I can see it. The mount appears only to rotate on a 2d plane only up or down not left and right. As far as I know I cannot get a rotating ball for it. The mount is useless as is and cannot use it. But it is off good quality

  7. Does either of the cases prevent wireless chrging at home ie do you have to take the case off?

Comments are closed.