Apple Says Motorcycles Break iPhones

[dduelin]

My iPhone 6 and 6S must have not gotten that memo. I must have put 100,000 plus miles on those models mounted on a Ram X-Grip attached to handlebars or handlebar risers. To be fair a lot of those miles were on the smooth running ST1300 but 65,000 were on the NC700X which has a prominent low frequency pulse or vibration. It's 270 degree crankshaft mimics the feel of a V-twin. I remember reading in the past that vibrations were not kind to the iPhone 10 and 11 with their dual lens motion stabilized cameras.

 

[STumped]

I use a ruggedized & waterproofed smartphone (Kyocera) on my bike. It is built for high vibration/temp environments. Don't do any video with it though; currently use it only for navigation and playing music. I didn't have to install a SIM card and I can use the apps on it when connected to WIFI. Since the Kyocera doesn't have a data connection, I can't get real-time traffic updates on the navigation app; if I wanted that, then I would have the option to install a SIM and pay for a data plan. My regular smartphone stays in the left hand storage pocket rolled up in a microfiber towel to help damp vibrations.

What app do you use for GPS and are you happy with it?

 

[wjbertrand]

I think "high powered motorcycles" means big shaking Harleys in applespeak. Most motorcycle lay people I've met consider Harleys to be high powered. I've used a Ram X-Grip for thousands of miles with my iPhone XS with no issues on my Super Tenere, which is a surprisingly smooth runner for a big twin. The ST is smoother still so I doubt these bikes will cause problems. I wasn't completely happy with the x-grip though as it was a fiddly two-handed affair to mount and then secure each corner, one at a time, with the rubber holder. It was also difficult to position the grips so as not to press the side buttons on the phone. I've since upgraded to the Quadlock system with the damper mount and wireless charger. I've put 10s of thousands of miles on this system with the same phone and am very well pleased. One handed quick mount, very secure, good phone protection and charging on the go. Apple also refers to large amplitude vibrations, not something most modern Japanese road bikes produce.

 

[TipSTer]

So no iphones are used on Harleys?

That's correct..! any phone..!

 

[spiderman302]

I wonder if the real problem is counterfeit parts. Since a lot of component manufacturing got sent over seas. There are many spin offs that try to get into the business that take short cuts. With the parts shortages, how are they keeping up with demand...
OIS has been around for a long time and if done right very tough. I smell a QC problem.....

 

[Larry Fine]

I have never mounted a phone on a bike. I have a GPS for that, and I can answer calls by yelling.

Plus, I'd rather have the phone on me if I'm ever "forcefully" separated from the bike, just in case.

 

[SMSW]

News flash — any phone using OIS could be at risk.

OIS has been around for a long time and if done right very tough. I smell a QC problem.....

Are you guys talking about iOS? Apple's oper

Below article is an even better one. If true, it would seem that Apple is straying from their security and privacy superiority that they held up as a major claim of supremacy over other cell phone platforms. In time, I wonder how different from this other phones platforms will be.
The All-Seeing "i": Apple Just Declared War on Your Privacy

In the face of overwhelming pushback, Apple declared a delay in implementing their new software to crack down on child porn. To be fair, there are a lot of mainstream groups who endorsed Apple's approach before it hit the media. This tends to be a contentious issue, and might be fodder for another thread. I don't mean to hijack this thread with another subject.

 

[mjc506]

OIS - Optical Image Stabilisation

 

[spiderman302]

It is not about the operating system but the mechanical Optical image stabilization system in the camera in the phone. There is an electronic image stabilization that could be done with no moving parts, but there are trade offs in the designs.

It is sad that they are blaming the customer for misuse, when this was not a problem before.
There is a huge chip part shortage that could be the real problem..

 

[ST Gui]

It is sad that they are blaming the customer for misuse, when this was not a problem before.

Without more data I don't know that Apple is wrong - though they're certainly not always right. AFIK the 6 Plus was the first iPhone with OIS. That's a preemptive reason my previous iPhones (4S/5/5S) didn't suffer any camera damage.

The ST may not rise to the level of amplitude plus frequency to have harm some/many/all iPhones. Sustained operation in the "danger zone"? Without data we won't know unless and until that particular bug bites.

All or most phone manufactures must do some vibration testing but that's limited to fit to purpose. Mounting a phone on a handlebar is an adaptation that I say falls outside the scope of most phones' raison d'être.

This reminds me of the Bendgate saga of the iPhone 6 (IIRC). People were making claims that it bent easily with normal use – such as carrying the phone in your back pocket and that was Apple's fault. Again fit to purpose. Apple did beef up the case with the 6 Plus (IIRC) but still no joy for a lot of 6 owners who bent their kit.

Throw your MacBook Pro or Lenovo around and it breaks? Too bad. Maybe should have bought a ToughBook. There's damage from reasonable use and then there's "gimme a break who you trying to kid" stuff.

The extent of the damage intrigues me. If it's just the OIS capability and every other optical aspect is ok, I could live with that.

 

[Larry Fine]

I have an I6, and it has only one camera lens, so if it has image-stabilization, it must be electronic.

It is extremely (amazingly) thin, but mine lives in an Otterbox, so I won't bend it when I sit on it.

 

[mortenk]

I don't think this is directed at this audience. Our touring bikes don't vibrate much. There are plenty of bikes that do...

 

[spiderman302]

Failure analysis is part of my work. We do a lot of vibration and shock tests. When something breaks it usually ends up on my desk. Ois opitcs and controls are usually suspended in fluids which makes them hard to break. Even the dry sensors are very tough.
My guess is that there is something wrong with the new design or they got bad parts.....

 

[Buckeye Rich]

My story...

I had about 10k miles on my ST1300 and my old iPhone 6, using a Ram x-grip and never had an issue.

In June of 2019, I "upgraded" to an iPhone XR, The first time out on the ST (using the same x-grip mount) I rode a few hundred miles and when I returned the camera was shot. It would not focus and was making an audible buzzing sound when the camera app was opened. I went to the Apple store and they replaced the camera in the phone. It worked like new. I assumed I just got a bad phone because of the lack of problems I had with the iPhone 6.

The next time I rode, I used the same ram mount and put it on the handle bars of my v-strom 650. Rode around all day, no problems with the camera. A few days later, rode with the phone on the ST1300 again, this time with a quad-lock mount and it killed the camera. I went back to Apple and they replaced the camera again. At this point, I did a ton of reading and it appears sometime around the iphone 6s or 7, Apple went with a different type of optical image stabilization and was causing the issue.

I initially made a mount for the dash that I connected the quad lock mount to. This got the mount off of the handle bars. I rode like that for a year or so and never had a problem. This past spring I picked up the Quad-lock vibration dampener and mounted it back on the handlebars of the ST1300 and have had zero issues.

For some reason the camera in my iPhone did not like the "vibes" of my ST1300. The bike is silky smooth and I can ride it all day long with no complaints in smoothness. I assume it has something to do with a high frequency vibration/buzz? I have ridden with the phone mounted to the handle bars of the v-strom numerous times and never had an issue. One would think it would the exact opposite.

I highly recommend the quad lock mount with the vibration dampener.

Motorcycle - Vibration Dampener

The Quad Lock® Vibration Dampener protects smartphone camera's image stabilisation from harmful vibrations wherever you use your motorcycle. The Quad Lock Vibration Dampener reduces over 90% of high frequency vibrations produced by motorcycles.

www.quadlockcase.com

 

[jodog]

From Quadlock:
The motorcycles listed have been known to cause vibration damage to the optical image stabilisation of smartphones when mounted, however, even if your bike is not listed, Quad Lock recommends the use of our Vibration Dampener for additional confidence.

BMW	310GS, F800 R/GS/GT, R nine T, R1200GS/RT, S1000R
Ducati	Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, Supersport
Harley Davidson	Fat Bob, Low Rider S, Street Bob, Wide Glide
Honda	CB, CBR, CRF, Grom, Shadow
Kawasaki	Er-6n, KLX, Ninja, Versys, Z650, Z900RS
KTM & Husqvarna	All Models
MV Agusta	Brutale
Suzuki	DRZ, GSF, GSX-R, GSX-S
Triumph	Bonneville, Rocket 3, Scrambler, Speed Triple, Speed Twin, Thruxton
Yamaha	MT, FZ, Tracer, XJ600, XSR 700/900, R6, YZF-R1

 

[Stylo Steve]

This is why its important to mount your iPhone on a smooth bike that does not vibrate - an ST11 or 1300! Don't send this article to my friend who uses his iPhone on his DR650.

I would recommend not mounting any kind of phone to a BMW K100RS.

 

[ST Gui]

The iPhone 6 doesn't have OIS. It has software driven IS. The 6 Plus was the first iPhone with OIS. Multiple external camera lenses aren't necessary for a camera to have OIS other than Apple deciding not to use OIS in the single lens cameras of iPhone 6 and earlier.

Apple's OIS internally moves the sensor in fluid and a magnetic field to stabilize the image. That probably pretty much the same for every phone manufacturer's OIS implementation. It has moving parts vs software IS which has none. Software IS can even be applied in post production in studio work.

 

[Capital]

A friend broke his OIS on a new android phone (don’t know the brand).
Mounted with quadlock (no dampener) to KTM EXC (1 cyl 530cc) & BMW GS (1 cyl 650cc) and riding some offroad. But these are vibrating machines compared to ST’s, plus the joy of bumbs in offroad.