"You Copied Me."
Those were the words I never actually said... but probably should have.
Because over the years, the founder of a competing brand called “Chinmounts” has repeatedly taken inspiration from my innovations, misrepresented the truth, and even stooped to anonymous fake complaints.
This is the true story behind the “beef” between MotoRadds and Chinmounts.
And it’s wilder than you'd expect from a niche and boring industry like helmet chin mounts.
"Why do you have beef with Chinmounts?"
"Shots fired at Chinmounts!"
"What did Chinmounts ever do to you?"
I see these comments all the time on my MotoRadds social posts, usually in response to videos comparing my FLEX Mounts to 3D printed options on the market. I never name brands in ads. I compare based on quality, design, and performance. But that doesn’t stop people from reading between the lines and asking the real story.
So here it is. This isn’t just about competition. It’s about betrayal, false claims, and copied inventions. And yes, there’s a Canadian villain.
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: The Beginning
Back in 2017 (photo of my original notice date below), I launched MotoRadds. At the time, nobody sold a ready-made chin mount. Riders were DIY’ing mounts using zip ties, drilling holes in helmets, and gluing whatever they could find. I built the first “plug-and-play” chin mount. Clean, simple, safe. I launched it on Amazon. Sales took off immediately.
Then came the message in summer 2018. An Instagram account called @2WheelsHub reached out asking for free mounts and a GoPro in exchange for promotion. The name provided for shipping? Matthew Engelage. Yes, that Matthew Engelage, founder of Chinmounts.
I was new to the game, eager, and overly trusting. We started chatting, and I shared a lot; sales numbers, platform info, my child-like excitement over the traction I was getting. In hindsight, that was a huge mistake.
Shortly after, Matthew launched Chinmounts, a 3D printed market knockoff sold under the guise of innovation. He never told me directly. I found out later when he started promoting a 3D printed mount company I'd never heard of. When I asked him what he preferred about 3D printed designs, he gave a half-baked, evasive answer. The message is now deleted.
To his credit, he moved quickly. He had some e-commerce experience. I didn’t. But I had the original idea, the first-mover advantage, and strong organic presence, especially on Amazon. I was still the underdog, learning fast.
We kept distance on each other's radars... until I innovated again.
Round 2: The FLEX Mount Copycat
By 2020, I’d moved in with some entrepreneurs, including the guys behind the motorcycle giveaway brand, RideClutch, and was back in innovation mode. I had always wanted a fully flexible mount, something that could shape to any helmet. I finally figured out how, thanks to guidance from Hans Dose (founder of Tenikle, who later appeared on Shark Tank). He pointed me in the right direction, and I took it from there.
Before the FLEX Slim launched, there was this.
April 16, 2020 - I snapped this photo (see below) of my first physical prototype for a flexible chin mount. The idea had finally moved from CAD (3D computer design) to reality.
This wasn’t bought from a catalog, copied from someone else, or ordered off Alibaba. It was built from scratch, designed by me, tested by me, prototyped by me.
This early version would go on to become the foundation for MotoRadds’ FLEX series. Months of engineering and testing followed. No shortcuts. No stolen designs. Just innovation and iteration.
After months of design, CAD work, and sampling, I launched the FLEX Classic in 2021, a mount with a steel core and silicone coating. It was revolutionary. Then, disaster struck. The screws used in early production were off-spec. Mounts broke. I recalled every unit. It crushed me financially and set me back months.
But I bounced back with the FLEX Slim: stronger, safer, more universal. It became my best seller. That’s when the copycats pounced.
Chinese manufacturers produced FLEX-style knockoffs with small enough changes to dodge patents, just like they do with everything else. My lawyers weren’t confident we could win. Then, to no one’s surprise, Chinmounts started selling the same copied design.
Let me be clear: I don’t believe Matthew developed this. He likely got it from the same wholesalers who copied mine. But in comments on his ads, he claimed, “We’ve worked a long time on this.” That’s laughable. This wasn’t R&D, it was rebranding a Chinese clone.
Production hint: if a logo is simply printed on a product, it’s probably bought and resold. If it’s stamped into the mold, it’s likely original.
Espionage, Vancouver Style
At this point, I’m focused on recovery, customer trust, and improving my products. But then I start getting odd messages through my site’s chatbot.
“Charles” from Vancouver emails from “dontemailme@gmail.com” with vague complaints and no order number. Strange. I only had a handful of Canadian orders, and none match this scenario and the "customer" refuses to provide me an order ID.
A day later, another “customer” from Vancouver asks technical questions about my adhesive and the polymer crosslinking chemical that makes my mounts so much stronger. I answer some, but not all.
It was obvious: Matthew was fishing. Again.
Eventually, I banned the IP and email.
Matthew Engelage and the Prisoner of Ask and Banned
Then came a new tactic. Instagram comments. A user named @VancouverTaco left this on one of my ads:
“Wouldn’t buy again… lost my Insta360 camera while riding on the highway.”
No order number. No follow-up. Just FUD. But here’s the kicker: this "Vancouver" account only followed 48 users, three of them were Matthew’s other accounts. You connect the dots.
There’s more. Attempts to trademark the words “chin mounts” (denied). Abusing copyright claims on Facebook trying to claim infringement. Roping in his friend, Thomas Plywaczewski a.k.a. "Mr.Lightmode", to write negative comments and trying to flag my ads as well.
All this from someone who owes their entire business to dishonest social engineering and then poaching my market.
Why It Matters
This isn’t a petty rivalry. It’s a warning.
I believed in trust, collaboration, and good faith. But not everyone plays fair. I’ve learned that the hard way. Still, I won’t stoop to deception or copying. I’ll continue to build, innovate, and support my customers the way I always have, with transparency and integrity.
If you're reading this, now you know:
This is why there’s “beef.”
This is why I stand by my products, my process, and my principles.
And this is why MotoRadds continues to treat customers honestly and fairly.
For those that have chosen honesty and integrity, thank you for being on this journey with me and trusting and supporting me.