I bought the Kaedear Quick Hold II KDR-M11CPJ smartphone holder for motorcycles and use it on my Honda X-ADV.
In this post I record everything with photos, from unboxing and fitting to how well it damped vibration on the road and the points that bothered me. In the second half, I also sum up the Quad Lock and Daytona holders I compared it with.
I also check what Apple officially says about what motorcycle vibration does to a phone's camera. It turned out not to be as simple as "buy an anti-vibration holder and you're fine".
Unboxing the Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ
This is the Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ I bought.
The box contents are as in the photo above. It includes the parts for mounting the holder to a handlebar or similar.
Fitting it and using it
I show the detailed fitting procedure for the X-ADV, with photos, in this post.
-
-
Honda X-ADV Smartphone Holder Installation: Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ Review (Perfect Fit for Tapered Handlebars)
Hello everyone! The Honda X-ADV is an incredibly popular adventure scooter in Europe and Japan. Because it is such a versatile machine—perfectly handling everything from daily city commutes to long-distance touring—there is one essential accessory you simply cannot do without: a smartphone holder. However, the X-ADV comes equipped with tapered handlebars (fat bars) that are thicker in the center. If you have ever tried mounting a standard smartphone holder, you might have struggled with the clamping diameter. Plus, on a machine like this, you need a mount with rock-solid reliability that secures your phone tightly without blocking the view of ...
Locks with one push, and you can fit and remove the phone with gloves on
This is the mechanism Kaedear is known for. Just press the phone against the button in the middle of the holder, and the four corner arms snap in automatically and lock instantly.
To remove it, just squeeze the levers on both sides. Even with thick winter gloves on, you can fit and remove the phone with one hand without any fuss.
This is my iPhone 13 mini (in a case) fitted to the Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ. It fitted without any problem.
The photo above shows the back with the iPhone 13 mini (in a case) fitted. In the middle of the photo is a slide switch, which lets you choose between locking the four arms that hold the phone or letting them move. Locking it while riding gives peace of mind.
You can also see that each of the four arms is fixed with two screws. The screw holes are slotted, so you can fine-tune the position of the arm tips.
It was hard to show in photos how the four arms close in when you just set the phone in place, so I took a video. I think you can see the arms close in as the phone is pushed in.
The Air Absorber damps vibration in all directions
On the road, I feel the rubber caps on the four corners (the yellow arrows in the photo above) absorb the jolts over bumps and the unpleasant buzzing vibration when you rev the engine high quite well. The phone is held as if it were floating, which is reassuring.
All this for a little over 3,000 yen
For the feel of the holder, the stiffness of the arms, and an anti-vibration attachment included from the start, I think it does very well for the price. In sales on Amazon Japan and elsewhere, you can sometimes get it even cheaper.
What bothered me: the release levers are stiff at first
The only thing that bothered me was that, when new, the release levers on both sides for removing the phone felt a little stiff. I'm hoping they will loosen up with use. At first, the knack is to squeeze them firmly.
Why does motorcycle vibration damage phones in the first place?
Before choosing an anti-vibration holder, let's check what we are trying to protect from what. Apple has an official support page on this.
OIS and closed-loop autofocus can be damaged
Recent iPhones have precise mechanisms called optical image stabilisation (OIS) and closed-loop autofocus to reduce camera shake in photos. Both use gyroscopes or magnetic sensors to control the position of the lens.
Apple says that if an iPhone is exposed to high-amplitude vibration within certain frequency ranges for a long time, the performance of its camera system may degrade. I think this mechanism breaking is why you hear stories of cameras that no longer focus after being mounted on a motorcycle.
Apple advises against mounting iPhones on high-power or high-volume motorcycles
This is the important part. Apple's support page clearly states that motorcycles with high-power or high-volume engines generate high-amplitude vibration in certain frequency ranges, so mounting an iPhone on such motorcycles is not recommended.
For vehicles with small-volume or electric engines, such as mopeds and scooters, the vibration amplitude may be relatively lower, but even then Apple recommends a vibration-dampening mount and says that regular use over long periods should be avoided.
Vibrations from high-power motorcycle engines can affect iPhone cameras - Apple Support
You often see claims that "the high-frequency vibration of singles and twins is especially dangerous", but that is not something Apple has officially said. I think it is better to treat it as something generally said about the vibration characteristics of different engine types.
Why I still mount it on my X-ADV
To be honest, my X-ADV is a 745 cc twin, which is on the "not recommended" side of Apple's advice. Fitting an anti-vibration holder doesn't reduce the risk to zero.
The iPhone 13 mini I mount on the bike is a phone I used before. I now use a different phone, so it doesn't matter if the iPhone 13 mini breaks.
An anti-vibration holder is a tool to reduce the risk, not to remove it. With that in mind, the idea is to choose a product that passes on as little vibration as possible.
Other anti-vibration phone holders I considered
These are the two models I considered before choosing the KDR-M11CPJ. I haven't used either of them myself, so what follows is a summary of the makers' published information and opinions online. For what they are actually like to use, please check reviews from their users.
Quad Lock with the Vibration Dampener
A system with a proven record as an anti-vibration phone mount for motorcycles. Combined with the separately sold Vibration Dampener, it is said to greatly reduce vibration. It also looks stylish, and you lock the phone in with a 90-degree twist.
However, you need to buy the mount, the dampener and a dedicated phone case, and the biggest drawback is that the total comes to around 15,000 to 20,000 yen.
Daytona FLEX FSH-3
An entry-level anti-vibration phone holder from Daytona, a long-established Japanese parts maker. It has four vibration-absorbing dampers on the back as standard and costs a little over 3,000 yen. No special case is needed: it is a universal type that clamps your phone from both sides.
The design is simple and the handlebar area looks tidy without the phone, but you have to adjust the side arms by hand every time to hold the phone.
Comparing the three
| Product | Damping | Fitting | Approx. cost (incl. case etc.) | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quad Lock | Vibration Dampener (sold separately) | Twist to lock | From about 15,000 yen | Riders with a bigger budget who want a proven brand and a clean look |
| Daytona FLEX FSH-3 | Four built-in dampers | Clamped from both sides | About 4,000 yen | Riders who want a simple, cheap holder from an established Japanese brand |
| Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ | Built-in Air Absorber | One-push, automatic | From about 3,200 yen | Riders who want a good balance of convenience and price |
Look at the differences in mechanism and price, and choose according to how you will use it.
Summary
The Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ is an easy-to-use phone holder with one-push fitting and Air Absorbers on all four corners for a little over 3,000 yen. You can fit and remove the phone with one hand while wearing gloves, and it handles jolts on the road well.
However, an anti-vibration holder reduces the risk; it doesn't remove it. Apple does not recommend mounting iPhones on high-power or high-volume motorcycles, and says that even with a vibration-dampening mount, regular use over long periods should be avoided.
I think it is best to decide how to use your precious phone knowing this. On that basis, if you want a holder that passes on as little vibration as possible, I feel the KDR-M11CPJ offers plenty for the price.
Related posts
-
-
Honda X-ADV Smartphone Holder Installation: Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ Review (Perfect Fit for Tapered Handlebars)
Hello everyone! The Honda X-ADV is an incredibly popular adventure scooter in Europe and Japan. Because it is such a versatile machine—perfectly handling everything from daily city commutes to long-distance touring—there is one essential accessory you simply cannot do without: a smartphone holder. However, the X-ADV comes equipped with tapered handlebars (fat bars) that are thicker in the center. If you have ever tried mounting a standard smartphone holder, you might have struggled with the clamping diameter. Plus, on a machine like this, you need a mount with rock-solid reliability that secures your phone tightly without blocking the view of ...
-
-
Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ Width Adjustment: Does a Small Phone Like the iPhone 13 mini Need a Case?
Adjusting the Kaedear KDR-M11CPJ phone holder arms to their narrowest: only the width changes, so a bare iPhone 13 mini (131.5 mm) slides up and down. With a rugged case it is held firmly.
