Bike Cam

I was always amazed of videos taken from vehicles, particularly from bikes.
Not only the ones from professionals are impressive, but also those taken from travelers or leisure riders, so my decision was to do it.

I was looking around for quite a while checking all kinds of camera equipment suitable for video taping from a bike.
In the beginning I thought about a standard camcorder, but quickly realized that this would not really be what I wanted.

Camcorders are not rugged enough and you always have to take it off when you leave the bike, even if it is only for a minute.
It must be permanently mounted, rugged and waterproof.

My specification after a good while of web research.

I did a brief test in the car before I went on to make some fixtures for the bike.

Bullet cam with at least 500 TV lines; PAL system; changeable lens; waterproof
Solid state recorder; multiple inputs or changeover switch.


This is what I've got:

3 pieces BC2355 EXV bullet cameras with cable and lens cover

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109083337.JPG


2 additional lenses 2.9mm and 4.3mm, 3 spare lens protection glasses, 1 microphone

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109083350.JPG


Pacelog Switchover Box with 3 camera inputs, wired remote control and LANC

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109083607.JPG


Extreme III Solid State DVR with LANC, internal rechargeable battery, CF slot, IR remote

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109083446.JPG


A pile of cables

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109083428.JPG


First step was to wire everything up on the desk, testing all equipment, configure the recorder and focus the cameras.
All went well and it was really worth the time I've spent on all the inquiries.

Equipment test

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109084649.JPG


I did a brief test in the car before I went on to make some fixtures for the bike.

Coming up - bike fixtures.

Andy

Finding a suitable location for the cameras on a bike isn't that easy. After some thinking and talking to my friend and riding buddy Robert, we found the left hand side of the crash-bar a good spot for the front cam and right or left of the tail light for the rear cam.

With mounting spots located, it was time to think about robust fixtures, with the possibility to adjust the camera's viewing direction.

Front cam fixture

After looking around what I have available, I decided to use industrial clamps for hydraulic pipes to fix on the crash bar and a second clamp to hold the camera.

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109150504.JPG
Hydraulic pipe clamp


The diameter of the clamp is a little too big for the crash bar, so I put a layer of rubber between the clamp and the crash bar. It also avoids the clamp to slip.
This fixture is also used to adjust the camera vertically.

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109150419.JPG
Clamp on the crash-bar


The clamp for the camera fits perfectly in diameter.

I now needed a plate to put the two clamps together and the possibility to adjust the camera horizontally.
Two M6 threads to bolt the bar clamps together, one M6 thread for the first cam clamp bolt and a slotted hole for the second cam clamp bolt.


http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0112140553.JPG
Connection plate, deburred and painted


Eventually it was time to assemble the whole thing.


http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0112140458.JPG
Assembly line up


The camera has to be attached to the connection plate first, before everything goes on the bike.


http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0112140955.JPG
Camera installed on connection plate

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0112141923.JPG
http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0112141853.JPG
Done


Parts list

- 1 plastic pipe clamp, DIN size 4, diameter 28 mm
- 1 plastic pipe clamp, DIN size 3, diameter 22 mm
- 1 connection plate, steel 8 mm, 50 x 70 mm
- 1 rubber strip 1 mm, 25 x 95 mm
- 3 Allen head bolt, M6 x 45 mm
- 1 Allen head bolt, M6 x 40 mm
- 1 lock nut M6
- 4 washer M6 small
- 1 washer M6 big


Tools

- 1 Allen key 5 mm
- 1 open end spanner 10 mm


Time

- mounting: 5 min
- engineering & manufacturing: 2 days

Next - Rear cam

Andy

http://www.rackaudio.com.br/dbimagen...0617115508.jpg
Your idea is very good and the work was very well done I thought in using a microphone for percussion instruments, it sets almost anywhere, without tools and costs USD 25

Fookin' great stuff Andy! I've sure ChinaV will be along soon with comments. You got a big trip planned where you're going to use all this gear??? :mwink:

CC

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luis Carlos

Your idea is very good and the work was very well done I thought in using a microphone for percussion instruments, it sets almost anywhere, without tools and costs USD 25

---

Thanks Luis. I was thinking about a RAM mount or something, but they are expensive and not easy available over here.
Also, I enjoy the "do it yourself" planning and making.

Andy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrazyCarl

Fookin' great stuff Andy! I've sure ChinaV will be along soon with comments. You got a big trip planned where you're going to use all this gear??? :mwink:

CC

---

Yeah, I'm planning a bigger and a BIG trip. It all depends on how job opportunities develop for me in the near future.

But that's not the reason for that cam stuff, I just wanted to be able to take some exciting riding shots, as we don't have too many riding pics.

Cheers

Andy

The rear cam installation proved to be more difficult since space and a suitable non-vibrating spot is difficult to locate.
I used the turn indicators fixing holes to mount a steel bracket to the bike, which is also used as a vertical camera adjustment
- ever since I installed my Aluminum panniers I had to move the turn indicators to another place and the mounting holes are therefore not used.


On this bracket, which also has one slotted hole for horizontal adjustment, goes another hydraulic pipe clamp which holds the camera.

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0109130903.JPG
Rear cam bracket


http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0112140610.JPG
Rear cam clamp


http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0117115348.jpg
Job done


http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0117115318.jpg
Another angle - almost invisibly hidden


Parts list

- 1 plastic pipe clamp, DIN size 3, diameter 22 mm
- 1 bracket, steel 6 mm, 35 x 75 mm
- 2 Allen head bolt, M6 x 40 mm
- 1 lock nut M6
- 2 washer M6 small
- 1 washer M6 big
- 1 hex head bolt, M10 x 40 mm
- 1 lock nut M10
- 3 washer M10


Tools

- 1 Allen key 5 mm
- 1 open end spanner 10 mm
- 2 open end spanner 17 mm


Time

- mounting 5 min
- engineering & manufacturing: 1 day


Coming up - the test ride video

Andy

Here the video from the first test ride.
Camera positions and adjustment seem perfect to me.

I noticed some vibrations at the front cam picture at higher revs, but this may only need tightening up the bolts. We will see.

Another thing I have to work on is audio.





Andy

Andy, that's slick! When you have some spare time, would you mind putting up a short sample of less compressed footage somewhere we can download to see better what it looks like before youtube compression?

Where are you going to place the mic for sound?

CC

Carl, go to youtube and click watch in high quality, it looks much better.

Andy would you mind doing a cost breaking down and where you got the stuff? This is exactly what I want, only I need NTSC...