Mounts for a Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Motorcycle

Harley-Davidson Heritage SoftailThe Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail is one of the nicest ones I have seen.  I’m sure that I’ll get a lot disagreement on that, but to me, it’s the perfect balance of chrome and black.  It’s also one of the easiest to mount a cell phone, GPS or camera to.  So, here’s our article about mounts and holders for a Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail motorcycle.

Mount Analysis

The photo that accompanies this article is of a Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail cockpit.  You can see there is a lot of different places to mount a cell phone, GPS, camera or satellite radio.  The handlebar is an obvious choice.  So is the clutch and brake reservoir.  You can also consider a fairing mount.

The diameter of the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail handlebar comes in at a standard 1.25 inches.  There’s lots of handlebar real estate on each side of the stem.  This is great news for people who like to mount devices on their handlebar.  The clutch is another good place for mounting.  I prefer the handlebar but some prefer the clutch as it looks a little cleaner.

Let’s open the discussion with smartphone recommendations.  Over the past few years, I am seeing more phones mounted versus GPS devices.  Not a surprise.  By the way, if you haven’t tried it, check out our Waze review.  I think that’s the best GPS app out there.

If using a phone on your motorcycle, be sure to use a good case like an Otterbox Defender or LifeProof case to protect your smartphone against road debris.  The small investment will help to protect against potential damage to your expensive phone and it’s worth the small investment.

Phone Mount Recommendations

For motorcycle use, it’s important that you select a mount that has a well constructed cradle that is going to hold your phone tightly so that it stays secure in high vibration environments.

The RAM X-Grip line of mounts continues to a be one of our go-to phone mounts for motorcycle use.  We wrote a very detailed article on the X-Grip series which you can read here.  Most smartphones, especially with a case or skin, can use the RAM X-Grip IV Handlebar Mount.  These are well constructed mounts that are mostly made of powder coated metal.  These mounts feature the expandable X-Grip IV cradle which can open to 4.5 inches and that’s large enough for practically any phone and even many GPS devices.  These handlebar mounts allow complete 360 degree rotation of your device.  The manufacturer now includes a safety tether with these mounts which is a nice added touch.  These come with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

A similar mount which will fit the clutch on a Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail is the RAM Brake/Clutch Reservoir Mount with Universal X-Grip IV Phone Cradle.  These come with a set of bolts that will replace the factory bolts that are already there.  They are a little longer than the original bolts to accommodate the added length of the mounting post.  These are more difficult to install than your basic handlebar mount so be sure to follow the directions and use a mechanic if not comfortable working on your motorcycle.  This mount has the same cradle as the handlebar model we just discussed in the prior paragraph.

GPS Mount Recommendations

Most GPS owners are using a Garmin GPS.  Either a Garmin Zumo or one of the car models like a Garmin Nuvi or Garmin Drive.  The Zumo includes a RAM motorcycle mount that will attach to your handlebar or clutch.  That’s an excellent metal mount that is made by RAM.

The Garmin Nuvi or Garmin Drive use a cradle that has a 17mm socket on the back.  You will use a mount that has a 17mm ball on it.  We recommend tethering the GPS to your handlebar if possible for added safety.

A good entry-level mount with that 17mm ball that is marketed for motorcycle use is the Arkon Handlebar Mount for Garmin Nuvi and Garmin Drive GPS.  These fit handlebar diameters up to 1.25 inches and include a rubber strip to prevent marring of chrome surfaces.  Don’t be tempted to skip to skip the rubber strip.  We recommend using it to protect the chrome finish.  These mounts are attached with a screwdriver to tighten two bolts.

A higher priced but better handlebar mount is the Arkon Premium Aluminum Motorcycle Garmin GPS Motorcycle Mount.  These will fit your Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail handlebar just fine and like the previous mount, it has a 17mm ball on the end.  It’s made of metal and installs with the included hex wrench.  Keep the wrench as you will need it if you want to remove the mount.

Camera Mount Recommendations

There are many camera mounts available for a handlebar but they aren’t all well suited for motorcycle use.  A camera has a unique requirement to minimize vibration.  Some higher end cameras have technology embedded into the software to minimize this affect.  Most do not.  Buying a plastic mount with a tripod screw embedded is likely to yield a very shaky video so you will want to find a mount that has vibration dampening technology.

The RAM Handlebar Rail Mount for Cameras has been proven over many years to be the best out there for this purpose.  Using a plastic mount without dampening features will likely result in a very dizzy viewer.  Go for the better metal variety from RAM.  It fits up to 1.25 inch diameter and has a small support platform built into the adapter head.  The mount pivots and swivels.  You will likely need to mount a camera fairly high up on the handlebar to get an unobstructed view.

So there you have it.  Lots of choices.  The Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail is one of the easier motorcycles for mounting stuff.  While there are certainly other locations that will work, the handlebar and clutch are the easiest to install.