I’ll be taking a few trips this summer and want to use my iPhone as GPS. I usually carry a paper map and use it as an opportunity to stop and take a little break etc but it would also be nice to play music from etc as I have a Bluetooth receiver for my radio. Also noteworthy, this is something I DO NOT plan on leaving on the bike long term, just for certain trips.

There are obviously more more than one way to accomplish this. The dedicated phone holders look nice but are pretty overpriced in my opinion for what they are. I’ve found some on Amazon but not positive if they’re going to do the job, and I’d rather not lose a phone mid-trip.

The other option is a tank bag. I would want something small with a window for the phone screen obviously. I do not care about manipulation of the touch screen. I’ll stop and take it out of the bag if I want to do that. Cons to this are possible scratching of the paint by straps or magnets, but I see the added bonus of being weather tight a plus. I will ride through rain, and sometimes even enjoy it. I could also easily run a charger cord into the bag as well.

What are you guys take on this? Any gear recommendations? Taken plenty of long trips, but none with phone for GPS.

 

I use my phone for GPS and music to my headphones. GPS gives turn by turn to the headphones so I can keep it in my pocket.
But I do have a bar mount for when I need to SEE the turns. I have a Rokform. The only issue with the Rokform is I like to keep the plug in the back when I'm not using it on the bike. The case is so tight that eventually the case or the phone is going to break.

 

I’d like to be able to glance at it occasionally and see “I’ve got a turn in 3mi” etc. I hate the voice directions. I turn them off when I use it in my truck.

I've considered folding up a microfiber under a tank bag if I go that route, to eliminate the possibility of scratching the tank up.

 

I use a ram mount for my phone that is centered over the riser.

 

I run a Rokform mount for my phone if I'm going to have my phone out. I do like it for skipping through music or as a GPS. Most of the time it's in a pocket, but, when I want to use the GPS it's on the Rokform.

 

You might want to look at Kuryakyn tank bags. They had one called "The Essentials Tank Bag", and it would work perfect for what you are wanting to do with it. It's magnetic and the magnets are covered with a soft material to prevent scratching, has a clear panel water resistant top pouch for a map or phone. I believe it has been discontinued but you may still be able to find on online like I did.

 

I do like the formed glasses case on the bottom of it. I swap back and forth between regular glasses at night and prescription shades during the day under my clear FF shield. That would be handy as hell as opposed to a jacket pocket or digging in the bottom of a saddlebag. I’ll see if there may be one of those floating around eBay or something.

Any other recs?

Looked up the rokform mount, I’m not paying a hundo for a phone mount lol

 

same here, works like a champ