Customer Reviews

Arkon GPS032 Handlebar Mount for 3.5 - 4.3-Inch GPS Devices

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I purchased this "Waterproof" hard case to house my cell phone for an upcoming motorcycle trip. Upon its arrival, I looked it over and it didn't seem so waterproof to me. Firstly, the hole on the bottom is a rather large slit that doesn't seal tight around the cable. Secondly, the plastic window looks to be stitched in from the inside of the case with no glue around the edges, which could allow water to seep in. Thirdly, There is no seal or flap around the zipper to keep water out. A quick rinse under the faucet proved my suspicions. This thing leaks like Niagara Falls with water coming in through the zipper and seams. To me, when a product is advertised as "Waterproof", you should be able to hold it under water at some depth for some time and not have any leakage. We can get caught in some massive downpours here in Florida after-all. On Amazon, it is advertised as "Waterproof", but the included instructions say "Water Resistant". This is a blatant misrepresentation of it capabilities.

Other issues: The advertised size is 8x6x4 inches. My case measures 6x4x2 inches even though the model number matches the advertised one. The advertisement says it comes with 3 pieces of foam to customize the fit for your phone. Mine came with one hard thick piece of rubbery material that is not very customizable. The hole for the cable mentioned earlier is located at the bottom center of the case if using it horizontally. This isn't very conducive for cell phones that are normally used in a vertical fashion. Most cell phones have their connectors at the top or bottom when holding them vertically straight up and down. I simply don't have enough room to bend my cable around to make it to the hole with the way the connector sticks out from the bottom of the phone (see my size comments above).

Overall, I have never seen any product so misrepresented on Amazon such as this one. I am extremely disappointed.

I purchased this case for the sole use on my motorcycle (2000 Honda Magna). It fits great on the bike and is somewhat adjustable, it's not rock solid tight so I can move the entire unit to minimize the sun glare, the case itself is also adjustable! I had to add my own foam so the GPS screen would be flush with plastic case screen which I made out of some foam shipping material and cut using one of the supplied foam pieces as a template. My Magellan 1424 GPS power cord connects on the bottom of the unit which causes a very tight fit on the zipper, it is a 4.3 screen and doesn't fit flush in the viewing area as shown in the product picture; the one in the picture probably does not have the power cord connected or it connects at the back of the unit. It is harder to see during daylight hours through the screen because of glare but not unusable, I have no tried it at night. I also doubt I'll ever test the waterproof feature of the case but it is a solid unit and I'm confident it would keep water out! The case is very easy to remove from the bracket and take with you when away from the motorcycle. My GPS has voice commands and are not easily heard while riding; I've yet to figure how to mount a microphone in the case so I could hear the commands, not a big deal. Other than the plastic screen making it difficult to see minute details, I would recommend this case, very good quality product.

All around good product,
PROS: mounts easy, houses my Garmin nuvi snug (comes with foam pads of different thickness'that you remove for the right fit)
I use a big windshield and in a heavy rain the Nuvi has yet to get wet inside the case.
My Nuvi does not have a plug in for an ear piece so I dont hear the turn warnings but that is not the fault of the mount.

CONS: The only con for this mount is that you cant see the screen very well in direct sunlight.
(I jury rigged a viser for it, it helps somewhat.

Good Case- I used it with a Garmin Nuvi 265 and then a 1300 on my Motorcycle. Rotary adjustment is good (~20 degrees in all directions). It seals up well too. Touchscreen operations are affected some by the clear plastic cover, but not bad. good price too.

I bicycle in a suburban/quasi-rural area - where many of the back roads meander off at weird angles. While I generally have a good sense of direction, my new Goggle G2 Phone by HTC (awesomme, by the way) has a built-in nav system. I bought this to mount my G2 phone on my handlebars, and it was easy to mount, is easy to use, and is fully adjustable. It is weather resistant, zips open easily, and the flexible plastic covering makes it easy to use. Highly recommended.

Besides being somewhat annoying the sound this case makes is to be expected. The case is roomy enough for my phone and my wallet or a pack of smokes. That being said this case is nowhere near water proof lets call it sprinkle, or mist proof. Make sure your phone is water insured before you use this. Nice idea though.

The plastic screw on the adjustible mount broke apart into pieces. this item is not usable. the screw should not be plastic. The mount is still fine, but the connection between the case and the mount is broken.

This hardcase provides the protection and utility that is a perfect match for a GPS on a bicycle. The spacer pads position the GPS perfectly in the window. The mount gives flexibility for the positioning and viewing. It is still difficult at times to see the screen in direct sunlight, but that is true in the car as well. The case protects the GPS better than any clip-in mount could on a bicycle mount. I am very happy with this hardcase and mount.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Excellent price. Easy to mount. I added velcro strips to the back of the case and back of the gps unit. This enables the unit to sit deep in the case,creating a "shadow box" effect - providing much better vision of the screen during bright daytime rides. I also mounted a cigarette lighter accessory to keep the unit powered up so I can cruise the twisties far, far from home - and find my way back LOL- Awesome Product !

This mount has some pros and one con. I like the closer mount and see through holder. It's advertised as waterproof, but it's more water resistant. I had my GPS on my street glide and road in the rain, the plastic cover became foggy and difficult to view my GPS. The last mount I had was longer with no cover. I road in 100 degree heat and the vibration and the heat bent my last mount. Overall, it's an improvement and a better product. I may end up putting some electrical tape over the zipper if I'm riding in the rain again.