[MrDNA]

I found a hack for making a handlebar camera mount using the ball head from a cheap tripod. I like that it swivels around, and it works decent enough on pavement, but way too much vibration when on a trail. Here's a couple of test videos:



Mount on pavement: Youtube video link





Mount off road: Youtube video link



Both of these were taken in the Cleveland National Forest, CA



Like most of you I guess, I'm finding that I can't get really good video off a handlebar mount on this bike because of vibration. Seems like chest or helmet mounts are giving the best results.

 

[MrDNA]

This is it - $8 for a mini tripod and the reflector bracket off a bicycle! Remove the head off the tripod, bolt it to the reflector bracket and mount the whole thing toward the center of your handlebars. I'm sure there would be less vibration if the bracket were metal as opposed to plastic. I don't remember who it was that had a camera mounted to a piece of metal strapped to their helmet, but you might consider going with this type of a mount on your helmet just to class your rig up a little. I laugh, but you did get pretty decent video off that thing. By the way, the Vivitar mini tripod had that best ball and lock, so that's what I'm using here.

 

[MrDNA]

Sorry, but I put this topic in the wrong thread. I was originally going to talk about the rain we had yesterday and how the dust would be gone for a couple of days... and how I had been working so hard... and I had all my carb work done so I needed to get the heck off this computer and go for a nice ride somewhere tomorrow... Sidetracked again. More on the ride later.

 

[B-dub]

Hey, that's cool! It's always enjoyable to see the ingenuity of others in solving a problem. I think you're on to something, don't give up. Maybe a simple brace from the outboard hole of the top bracket down to the screw that clamps to the handlebars would help to eliminate the vibration. I enjoyed the videos, keep up the good work!

 

[elime]

Those hills sure look like the ones behind Santa Barbara.

 

[admiral]

I don't remember who it was that had a camera mounted to a piece of metal strapped to their helmet, but you might consider going with this type of a mount on your helmet just to class your rig up a little. I laugh, but you did get pretty decent video off that thing.

Uh Oh, I think I'm the guilty "piece of metal strapped to the helmet" guy. You're right, it does do pretty good video with a standard non-stabilization camera, but I can't get over how dorky I looked. Even the guys who use Go-pro camera's on their helmet look like, umm, me.



I now use a whiz-bang home made chest mount. Mounted on the chest, the dorky factor is limited. Viewing is just a tad better than the helmet mount. Both work way better than the handlebar mount, which is the one I like the best. But you figured that out too. Without one of those expensive (too me) action camera's with the built in stabilization, I'll stick to the chest mount from now on. (Unless there is know one around, I might use the helmet mount, giggle).



Oh, and one more thing. On my handlebar mount, I used some thick foam for damping which took out most of the vibration caused by the engine. No so much with the road bumps though.



I hope you continue to perfect your camera mount, so I (we), can see more of your TW in action.

 

[MrDNA]

Hi admiral,



I was thinking it was your head mount that came to mind, but I was already writing and didn't verify. You get the honorable mention! If I can figure out how to attach that tripod head to my helmet without destroying the helmet, I'll give that a try (when nobody is watching), and failing that, I think I'm on to a chest mount effort next. I don't really see the need to drop $300+ for a "pro" version if I can get "good enough" version using what I already have. It's worth a try anyway, which i think is where we're both coming from. It's not like we're having "track day" on our GSXR's at Daytona Beach or something...

 

[MrDNA]

This is a couple of buddies doing "track day" last week. They need a "pro" version. If I was that crazy, I'd want one too. For the record, the guy everyone is trying to catch is 58 years old!



Going fast with a good camera

 

[Turwilliger]

Uh Oh, I think I'm the guilty "piece of metal strapped to the helmet" guy. You're right, it does do pretty good video with a standard non-stabilization camera, but I can't get over how dorky I looked. Even the guys who use Go-pro camera's on their helmet look like, umm, me.



I now use a whiz-bang home made chest mount. Mounted on the chest, the dorky factor is limited. Viewing is just a tad better than the helmet mount. Both work way better than the handlebar mount, which is the one I like the best. But you figured that out too. Without one of those expensive (too me) action camera's with the built in stabilization, I'll stick to the chest mount from now on. (Unless there is know one around, I might use the helmet mount, giggle).



Oh, and one more thing. On my handlebar mount, I used some thick foam for damping which took out most of the vibration caused by the engine. No so much with the road bumps though.



I hope you continue to perfect your camera mount, so I (we), can see more of your TW in action.

Any pics or tips on the chest mount? Sounds like it would give more of a perspective on the ride by showing some of the bars/gloves of the rider.