Overheating iPhone on my Goldwing

I am beginning to really love my Goldwing...yes fully appreciate it is not for everyone, but hey that applies to most bikes!. When I collected it from the Goldwing dealer in Stratford upon Avon I plugged my iPhone into the usb connector that is in the little front cubby hole and away I went. iPhone tucked neatly away in the warm Honda insulating pouch like a baby kangaroo. Two hours later when I arrived home and took the iPhone out it was almost too hot to touch...I was not amused. Then a trip on a sunny day, using Apple CarPlay and following a Google Maps route, off switches the route and the display tells announces my iPhone has overheated. Would not work until unplugged and removed from its tiny oven. Now I understand why Goldwing owners in the States are fitting cooling fans, but there must be a better way? Or maybe it is only iPhones and not Android??

[@davidsanbeg2335]

I wonder why more people don't take the sticker off their fuel door? I recall that being the very first thing I did to the Wing.

[@TheDervMan]

That’s vibration protection not heat insulation. Any modern phone will struggle in a sealed box, you need airflow through that storage unit. This warning won’t damage the phone, it’s a preventative shutdown. Alternatively mount the phone on the bike externally with something like a quadlock. That will provide the airflow to keep the phone cool.

[@TheDervMan]

On the Apple cable front, as long as the cable is MFI certified is should be fine, give an Anker cable a try.

[@kevinaldred8829]

Have a safe ride

[@johnsmith5726]

You can get a small, smaller than an iPhone, battery powered ice pack which would keep that little cubbyhole cool.

[@normski3091]

I did wonder about that John🤗

[@thomaschadwick9712]

Add a Carlink III wireless adapter for Carplay and you can keep the phone in your luggage. If it needs a charge, keep it plugged in to a battery pack.

[@normski3091]

Yes my mate has done that on his Goldwing, but I have had years of being able to see my iPhone on the handlebar and cannot seem to live without it!!

[@Laurent-wp7cq]

I run my iPhone in the box running CarPlay all the time, and had up to 35deg this summer, without any issue, just remove the foam and it is fine. I added a rubber mat from electrical connection that holds the phone. I dont’ like having the phone in direct sunlight, this can cause overheating too at low speed.

[@normski3091]

Hi Laurent, yes sure you are right. Honda told me the foam is to insulate the iPhone from the heat of the engine. The problem the connecting the iPhone while it is tucked into the foam🤷🏼‍♂️. Love it on my handlebar 😍

[@TheDervMan]

One of the reasons I went for a new GS was the TFT dash and the BMW Connected app, however it’s been a complete disappointment 😞 This was back in 2019 and the app was not ready for the mass market. Also using the app meant I couldn’t control my Cardo Packtalk via the Cardo app anymore as the TFT was the hub connecting everything. For these reasons I’ve stopped using the BMW app. It’s a shame BMW have gone down the proprietary app route as opposed to using Car Play. 🤷🏼

[@MillfieldWheels]

2 ideas using the same product to keep the iPhone cooler. The product is car windscreen shades that are common in Europe and I think available from Halfords. It's a light foam with a reflective silver coating. Option 1 is to make a pouch to fit the Honda pouch into. Option 2 is to attach the reflective material to the inside of the cubby hole. Hope this helps. Ian

[@normski3091]

Hi Ian, The more I think about it the more I am sure it is not the compartment heating up. When I returned from the 200 miles yesterday and put my hand (very scientific) into the compartment it is not even warm. The problem I am sure is that the iPhone is charging and encased in insulation so is overheating itself. I am much happier with it on my handlebar as I can use different navigation at the same time as Honda.

[@MillfieldWheels]

@@normski3091 Hi Norm I'm only a poor relation 😕 and use Android. Came back from Luxembourg in the car at the weekend using Google maps up to Calais. I noticed the phone was getting quite hot when we stopped for refreshments. I've had a think about it and my phone heats up when it's on charge via the cable. It also gets hot when it's running maps as the processor is running continuously even when not plugged into a cable charge. So I think it maybe a combination of the battery heating up under charge and the continuous running of the processor.

[@normski3091]

Yep I am sure that is exactly right. Yesterday on the 200 mile ride with the iPhone on the handlebar mount, charging and running the app continuously it was never even warm. But of course it is being cooled all the time. I feel much happier going back to this. Thought the mighty Honda would have come up with a better solution though😵‍💫

[@layne6967]

@normski3091 I just saw your video and thought of something you can use in the future for that tight spot in the glove box, you can use a conical shaped drill bit that will go up to 12mm to drill out the hole. I know I am a little late on that. Anyway, love your ideas and I just reached out to you on your website to order all three of your bolts and brackets for the BMW RAM mount system. Looking forward to future ideas from your channel. Cheers, Layne

[@normski3091]

Great suggestion Layne. I do not have a conical cutter and thought it would be the answer when I was doing it. The problem is that I could not find one with a HEX shaft that the 90 degree tool requires 😭

[@dougmckenzie1279]

Just take it out of the case. Makes a huge difference

[@normski3091]

Good idea…but must admit it is so much better on the handlebar🤗

[@brucewhetton5039]

Couldn’t you have taken the new iPhone cable back through the hole where the initial cable comes through? That would save drilling a new hole.

[@normski3091]

Hi Bruce, no that is not possible. The cable is flush fit at the factory.😵‍💫

[@dougmckenzie1279]

2nd vote for some sort of induction charging with MagSafe or other system

[@TheDervMan]

Does Apply Play work without a cable connection? If so a Quadlock wireless charging head is a very convenient option. I’ll stop spamming your channel now 😅

[@normski3091]

No you have to have the mobile connected…but Apple CarPlay, which I have never used before, is fantastic. Wish I could got that on the 1250GS.

[@mrmr9767]

Use a dongle and keep phone in your pocket.

[@normski3091]

Just so much better being able to see it on the handlebar🤩

[@mrmr9767]

you will soon get fed of putting it on and off would rather look at the dash myself.@@normski3091

[@Scott_MS]

⁠if your phone is connected to the bike through apple car play, you don’t need to see the actual phone because you’ll see phone calls, texts etc on the bike screen….run a cable from the usb connection to the trunk and leave the phone there where it won’t be in a cramped spot