Does mounting an iPhone on a bicycle hurt the camera?

I saw a warning from Apple about mounting on motorcycles. Does anyone know if it’s the same for bicycles?

I wish there was a way to toggle OIS on and off. Something physical to lock it in place that could be toggled with software.

Mai said:
I wish there was a way to toggle OIS on and off. Something physical to lock it in place that could be toggled with software.

This is actually a really good idea. Could be something magnetic.

My brother’s iPhone OIS broke due to mounting it to a motorcycle. He glued a small magnet near the camera to ‘lock’ the OIS until he got it fixed. Maybe a magnetic lock would work.

Mai said:
I wish there was a way to toggle OIS on and off. Something physical to lock it in place that could be toggled with software.

I remember my old MacBook with an HDD. It had a feature that locked the HDD in place if it detected a fall, so it could withstand the impact. A way to lock the OIS would be similar, I think.

A bicycle won’t produce the kind of vibrations a motorcycle does, but the phone will still get jolted around and vibrated a lot. If you’re unsure, it’s better not to do it.

Mal said:
A bicycle won’t produce the kind of vibrations a motorcycle does, but the phone will still get jolted around and vibrated a lot. If you’re unsure, it’s better not to do it.

If anything, vibrations might be worse on a bicycle. It has much less suspension.

@Vince
With less force, there’s less power in the movements.

Mal said:
@Vince
With less force, there’s less power in the movements.

How is there less force? On a mountain bike, the force is way higher when riding downhill compared to a motorcycle on a straight road.

@Sidney
A motorcycle has a gas-powered engine and goes much faster. That generates more force than any bike.

Mal said:
@Sidney
A motorcycle has a gas-powered engine and goes much faster. That generates more force than any bike.

Acceleration (positive and negative) is the most important factor. A rough trail creates way more of that than a motorcycle. It’s not about the engine.

@Sidney
You assume the motorcycle isn’t on a rough trail.

@Vince
Is it the vibration from the motorcycle engine you’re worried about?

@Vince
I’m not sure if you’re right, but the idea that motor = more power = more vibration is wrong. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle, but I’d guess more energy is transferred to the phone from a bike than a motorcycle.

Your experience may vary. I’ve used bike mounts (Quad Lock) for over a decade with no issues. Even with phones with zoom lenses, I’ve had zero problems. Those who ride more aggressively or on rougher terrain might have different results.

Quadlock makes a vibration-absorbing mount. It works on both bicycles and motorcycles. I’ve been using it on my motorcycle with my iPhone on the handlebars for hours. Check it out here: Quadlock

It can, yes. The vibration can ruin the camera.

Vale said:
It can, yes. The vibration can ruin the camera.

This is the wrong answer, and it’s the most upvoted one.

Not all vibrations damage the camera. It’s the specific fast, cyclical vibrations from a motorcycle engine. A bicycle can’t produce that unless you add an engine to it, which is very unlikely.

@Parker
That’s correct. Apple’s own support article says the same thing. I’ve used my iPhone as a cycling computer for almost 4 years with no issues.

@Parker
So I can keep my blender on my bike? Otherwise, I’m out of a job.

Finnian said:

Vale said:
It can, yes. The vibration can ruin the camera.

[deleted]

High-intensity vibration can damage the camera, but a bicycle is very unlikely to generate that level of vibration.