Now let’s decide on the smartphone mount.
I think Quad Lock is the only choice! The design and usability are simply the best.
First, I’ll relocate this ETC unit.
I’ve bought this bracket too…
When you have to use an off-the-shelf product, there’s no choice, but it’s really sad to see it go to waste.
I relocated it like this. It was a bit tight—just barely made it.
You want to install aftermarket parts cleanly, right?
Let me tell you about the strongest smartphone mount of 2022.
Quad Lock 1-inch Ball Adapter Mount
Quad Lock (QUAD LOCK) QLA-VDM Vibration Dampener
If you don’t install this dampener, there’s a high chance the camera will fail.
RAM MOUNTS Base Unit Mirror Frame Base for 9mm Bolt Holes Black RAM-B-272U
I’ll enlarge the hole diameter to 10–10.5 mm.
REC-MOUNTS BB Standard Ball Joint Arm 62mm Overall Length (BB-62)
There’s no other joint arm with this much range of motion.
It’s incredibly versatile, so this is the only choice.
When installing the dampener, it’s easier to use if you position the lever in the Y-shaped relief where it’s easier to press.
The mount that co-fastens to the mirror is quite tight.
If there’s contact, you must chamfer it for clearance or machine it on a lathe.
After checking with both top and bottom mounting, the bottom position feels just right. Let’s go with this orientation.
The overall appearance fits together like this.
Since the ball rotates 360 degrees, you can orient the lever toward a more convenient position for even better usability.
I adjusted it to be as low as possible, easy to see, easy to adjust, and easy to remove—nice and clean.
I really think you should avoid those cheap knockoffs.
You only realize the problem when you drop it and break it…
It’s better to make the ETC antenna and such detachable.
They stick everything with double-sided tape—what a pain.
3M’s thin dual-lock fastener. It’s thin, doesn’t leave much residue, and has appropriate strength. Stronger isn’t always better.
For electrical component fastening, there’s nothing else like it. It’s super convenient, so definitely try it!
KING JIM Label Writer Trimmer RT36W
Scissors that cut rounded corners. This is really convenient. We even round-cut our inspection stickers at Decoboco—so stylish!
The left grip was loose, so I switched to using grip tape.
Since using this, I haven’t used any adhesive on grips.
Work quality control becomes more reliable, and grip replacement is easier next time.
The grip gets slightly thicker from the tape, but since you ride with gloves on, it’s barely noticeable.
Now let’s search for the mounting position of this solid-choice drive recorder…
An endoscope camera is useful in situations like this too. Whether you have one or not makes a huge difference in efficiency and reduces guesswork.
You definitely need a thin camera around 5.5 mm diameter with dual lenses.
Single-lens cameras have limited usability, so be careful. Here’s what I’m using:
I bent a titanium plate scrap to mount the drive recorder body.
Aluminum would require surface treatment and thicker material, so it’s less practical.
Usually, using stainless steel or titanium and keeping it thin lets you mount it in tight spots.
And if you use spot welding too, you can mount it however you want with ease.
The drive recorder body is also fixed with dual-lock.
When fastening, it’s good to stick it temporarily for positioning.
There’s probably effort here that nobody will ever notice…
If you carelessly mount this kind of component under the seat or in the work path, it’ll be a hassle later.
The first installation is crucial. If you mount it not just for the sake of mounting, but in a way that doesn’t interfere with future maintenance, I think everyone will appreciate it (‘ω’)ノ
