I'm wanting to mount a digital camera on the left handle bar to get some shots on the move.
Does anyone know of a successful set-up to handle this ?

In the absence of anything successful I may try a small tripod mounted horizontally on the fairing with the head adjusted to get my shot - an unproven theory at this stage.

H

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Howie
V-strom 650, Transalp 650, DR-Z250

RAM mounting systems do all manner of clamps and adjustable arms, including a threaded camera plate so you can mount a camera pretty much at any angle and where you like on a bike...

RAM Mounting Systems, Inc.

You can mix and match any number of parts to create the set up you require...

xxx

The biggest enemy is vibration. I have found the only solution is a solid mount onto the bars. I've used a little tripod mounted on the tank and this was ok but some vibration crept in.

I ended up making my own from a nylon block and mounting my camera directly to it. I have now fitted a small tripod ball head onto it and it works perfectly.



You could easily make one out of wood.

Another cheap method here - HOWTO: Cheap Camera Handlebar Mount

I agree - personally I've found the most stable solution is to a) learn how to ride one handed or b) mount a camera to your helmet (your natural instinct is to keep you head level and stable while the bike moves around underneath you, and you can always tilt your head for added drama). This works for video particularly, but still cameras also would benefit.

It's interesting to hear that your solid mount actually minimises vibration? Although mounting a camera in the centre of the bars would help I guess.

The Ram ball system uses rubber covered balls that are gripped by clamps - offering a degree of hi frequency vibration protection (from the engine for example), but remaining solid enough so the camera does not move around.

I'm not one to poopoo a home built solution, but seriously, the Ram components are not expensive, and very versatile... you'll be impressed.

xxx

i made my own mount tailoring RAM components to what i wanted.
i already had a RAM gps mount so all i had to get was a ball to go on the bottom of the camera, then i could use the arm from the gps mount. (cant use both at once, obviously, but i only need another arm)
RAM dont make anything i thought was secure or neat enough so i got the brake lever clamp with two balls,(cheapest way to get 2 balls) cut one of them off and then drilled/threaded the ball 1/4"UNC, or 1/4"x24pitch. this is the standard camera mount size.
with a 1"threaded stud bonded into the ball, this screws into the bottom of my camera neatly but to secure it and stop it unscrewing itself i made a 1.5" lock ring that nips up and locks the thread.
using my casio digital on MP4 mode, i thought it would just be a giggle but it takes surprisingly good shots, the camera mounts on the right hand mirror clamp, and the wrist strap goes over the mirror for a little extra security. the view is to the right of the screen and when you watch the playback there is no vibration at all (the varadero has excellent handlebars for that) and with the bike leaning over and the handlebars moving you get a good sense of riding.
the only thing i found was wind noise at speed, but if you get a bit of foam taped over the mic it cuts it out.
and my camera could be whacked by a stone or something, not a good thought but im risking it. the cams not going to be there all the time.

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dave

got round to taking some pics, how do you take pictures when your camera is bolted to your bike?

i completely forgot mobiles come with cams these days, duuuur!

Attached Images

  

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dave

I'm not sure these cheap fixes are a good idea, and I'm not contesting the fact that they will provide some nice footage, at least initially.

The lens needs protection. I know what my helmet visor looks like after a couple of hours at 100kph.

Cleaning visors is fairly simple.....

couple of hours? im not leaving my camera out there for a couple of hours!!

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dave

Next to vibration, wind noise is the next problem. I've tried foam but in the end I just put gaffer tape over the mic and sealed it up completely, perfect. It pics up the engine noise fine and no wind noise. It also makes the mic waterproof.

As for bugs hitting the lens. On my tiger, behind the screen this isn't a problem but lots of video's have been ruined because I forgot to clean the screen before filming, DOH! Out in the air on the XT only once did I get a direct hit. Mostly it isn't a problem.

The biggest problem I have now is I'm shooting in MPEG2 and I can't edit it in Moviemaker. I need to either convert it or find an editor that will enable me to work on MPEG2 and post it on Youtube. Any ideas? I have spent a little time looking for free software without success.

Thanks for the replies guys - the Ram gear certainly looks the business, and FlyingDocs device also looks great.

I have tried out my compact tripod and can report success - I rode a lap of our block today with the movie mode running and it turned out ace.

FlyingDoc is dead right with the noise thing - I will follow his advice and tape over the mic.

I'm also working on a change to get the camera behind the fairing screen - not interested in scraping bugs out of lenses.

So it's more Heath Robinson until I get around to a commercial solution.

H

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Howie
V-strom 650, Transalp 650, DR-Z250

You can get waterproof housings like this one



But they're about $50 and that seems a bit steep if you're then going to cut a hole in it for the mount. I'd have thought though that' it'd be easy enough to make one out of a ziplock bag and a small sheet of clear PVC.

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I found CyberLink PowerDirector had appeared by magic on my pc yesterday and have never used any sort of video editor before. My son says it's a lot like Moviemaker and I believe you can edit MPEG2 format with it.

It took me a few hours to get my head around it but I made this video last night using photos and some video I taken on my camera. It's a 'promo video' for next years HUMM in Andalucia. YouTube blocked it for a few hours thought because I used copyrighted music and I had to change it for a track they recommended (duh).

video gone from youtube (edit by Admin - Grant)

helmet camera!! I want one, where do you get one of these bad boys?
Harley Dan

The actual RAM mount for your particular make and model will be different, but the rest is the same.

Shown in the pic below is a camera mount I have on the right side, but its location is interchangeable with the GPS I have on the left side...



The purpose of my set-up is primarily camera storage while I am on the move. I can stop and with the quick-release quickly access my camera without messing with zippers on jackets or tank bags. It has also been used successfully for videoing.

More info...BMW R1150 GS Adventure RAM Ball & Manfrotto Camera Mount

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All the best,
Alex

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