Capturing a ride, track run, or stunt practice on video has become universally popular with the rise of bike-friendly cameras. The kind of video you go home with though is not always the same quality and that is in large part to where and how the lens is fixed in place. So how can you get crazy cool footage without worrying about vibrations or a camera claimed by the asphalt? Read on for advice on placing and mounting three of the most popular on-board cameras for viral video quality.
GoPro
Recording action from vantage points you don’t get to see when riding makes for good video. Place a GoPro lower on the side cowling or upper cowling near the mirrors, depending on the bike, with the suction cup mount. Suction cup mounts are generally strong, but as a backup use fishing line, a rubber band or safety wire wrapped around the mount and a fairing bolt (under the bolt head) or the mirror for example for further security.
Price: $199-$299
Contact:
www.gopro.com Contour
Mount a Contour camera to the side or top of your helmet. It’s best to use the Profile mount so the camera adheres as close to the helmet surface as possible and keeps wind resistance and drag to a minimum. Also align the Profile mount so it is facing straight forward while in the riding position.
Price: $199-$499
Contact:
www.contour.com Replay XD
Replay XD makes a Heimlock mount and optional chassis mount that allows you to have a lot of creativity with where you place the camera. When used in conjunction with the Heimlock or Lowboy mounts, you can get on-board video from rigid points on the bike like the frame or rearset which is best for yielding stable video. As the Heimlock mount rotates 360 degrees and has eight degrees of tilt, you’ll have plenty of different viewpoints to change up the lens angle.
Price: $159.99-$299.99
Contact:
www.replayxd.com 3 Things To Do When Mounting an On-board Camera
1. Tether the camera mount to a solid point on the bike with safety wire, fishing line, a rubber band, zip ties or a lanyard to be sure you don’t lose the camera.
2. Place the camera mount on a rigid surface like the gas tank or your helmet so video will be more stable.
3. Clean the surface where the camera is being mounted with rubbing alcohol to clear off any waxes or silicones to better secure the adhesive mount in place. You may also be able to reuse the mount one more time if the adhesive is clean when removed.