Page 77 - 2022-08-01 RiDE
P. 77
p Quadlock system places TESTING IN
smartphone where you need it
PROGRESS
RiDE staffers on kit they’ve
been using recently
Forcefield Ex-K Harness
Adventure body armour £399
www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com
Forcefield’s top-of-the-range body
armour is one of the most protective
P Case is the first systems on the market and I’ve
step. Huge range
covers most phones found it to be flexible, comfortable
and able to be used in lots of
different situations. With CE Level-2
protectors for the back, chest,
shoulders and elbows, I got it for trail
riding but it gives so much
confidence I’ll remove the shoulders
and elbow protectors (easy) and use
it under textile jackets for road riding
and even under one-piece leathers.
Held securely to your body, the
ü Vibration dampener armour is effective and is more
comprises three breathable than you’d give it credit
silicone rubber for. It isn’t cheap but it undercuts
insulating posts
some airbag vests. MATT WILDEE
the mount, turn it 45° to lock it in place
and you’re good to go. You can swap
between the two orientations in a split
second and I have never had the
slightest concern over the phone’s
security. It is effective, simple to use and
is portable across other bikes or cars,
with stick-on bosses at £15 for two.
The wear and tear
Largely none. The rubber posts on the
vibration dampener don’t show any LS2 Explorer £239.99
P Green light indicates signs of deterioration and the release www.ls2helmets.com
phone is charging mechanism works as well today as it We liked the Explorer in the July
wirelessly
ever has done. issue, though its drop-down sun
visor isn’t the best. Just after we
handlebar mount, as you can position went to press it stopped dropping
the phone wherever you like but there down on one side and no amount of
are other mounts available, including SCORES force on the switch would move it,
mirrors, ball-mounts and fork stems. though I could move it by hand; it’s
Vibrations are bad news for iPhones, Build quality .......... 8 likely under-greased at the factory.
so Quadlock developed a vibration Performance ......... 8 Used off-road, especially with
damper that fits between the bike mount Ease of use .......... 9 goggles (so visor up) dust and grit
and the phone bracket, with three Value for money ....... 7 fowls the mech. If this happens, it’s
rubber posts separating the two and Confidence ........... 9 within warranty and returned to the
eliminating a huge amount of vibration. dealer it came from, LS2 will collect,
My phone’s camera remains in perfect Total score 41/50 service and return it. Which is what
fettle after two years. they did and it’s now working fine.
The third component here is the STEVE HERBERT-MATTICK
wireless charging head. Although The Quad Lock system is very
expensive, it’s neat and easy to use. easy to use yet keeps your phone
Sitting on top of the vibration dampener, secure and accessible. The full
it is wired to a supply on the bike via a set-up tested here isn’t cheap but
USB lead to keep the phone charged, you can reduce costs by
whenever it’s on the mount. eliminating the wireless charging
The beauty of this system is its head, for example. JIM BLACKSTOCK
simplicity; you offer your phone up to
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