Thread: Bike Cam
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#1 Bike Cam01-16-2009, 03:55 AM
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
2 additional lenses 2.9mm and 4.3mm, 3 spare lens protection glasses, 1 microphone
Pacelog Switchover Box with 3 camera inputs, wired remote control and LANC
Extreme III Solid State DVR with LANC, internal rechargeable battery, CF slot, IR remote
A pile of cables
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
I did a brief test in the car before I went on to make some fixtures for the bike.
Coming up - bike fixtures.
Andy
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#2 Mounting the cameras to the bike - front cam fixture01-16-2009, 04:32 AM
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.
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.
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.
Connection plate, deburred and painted
Eventually it was time to assemble the whole thing.
Assembly line up
The camera has to be attached to the connection plate first, before everything goes on the bike.
Camera installed on connection plate
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
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01-16-2009, 01:42 PM
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 25Sundown 200cc STX motard
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01-16-2009, 03:33 PM
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???
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01-17-2009, 03:49 AM
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
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#7 Rear cam installation01-17-2009, 06:35 AM
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.
Rear cam bracket
Rear cam clamp
Job done
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
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#8 Test ride video01-17-2009, 10:16 AM
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
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01-17-2009, 03:44 PM
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?
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Help support MCM!! Buy "The Return - Riding Western China" DVD! -
http://www.motocyclops.com/buydvd/
Personal China travel info, photo and video site:
http://www.carlparker.com
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01-17-2009, 10:36 PM
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...
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