Author Topic: best GoPro helmet mount? (Read 3526 times)

lucydad · « **on:** July 09, 2016, 11:19:56 AM »

All,

Since receiving my GoPro last Christmas from my daughters I have wanted to record and edit good videos while riding my Moto Guzzi.
Anyway, I have managed to gain enough competence recording/editing to now execute my goals. I just bought a new Shoei helmet.
Experimenting with mounts, and reading some recommendations have resulted in various possibilities: top, side, and chin mount.

Playing with the contoured helmet and sticky mounts leads me to conclude that top is ideal. The chin mount is too curved of a helmet surface, and side likely would produce distortion from rider's view (desired).

See picture of a possible best--solid to helmet,

top mount.

May I ask opinions before I attach the mount, let it set for a while, and go for a ride? What about bugs and such hitting the camera? I have the waterproof case on. Not sure about wind noise, etc. The GoPro model I have does not take an external mike.

Thoughts, opinions, advice? Thanks!

nick949 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2016, 11:44:12 AM »

Trial and error. Mostly the latter. Good luck

Nick

RayB · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2016, 11:55:36 AM »

The wind will annoy you with it there. I put my sticky mount on the side in. Cheak area and use the front mount chain tocome around to the front of the chin bar area since that area is not flat enough on a Shoei. The the POV will ne what you see and more of the comtrols and clocks. Got I mine as a Christmas gift too. I have the same helmet as you...even white

Don't have time to take pic and the photobucket right now but I can send a pic tonite

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2016, 12:02:49 PM »

Consider the chest strap. Side of helmet looks cockeyed. Top is too high up. Chin ideal!

RayB · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2016, 12:41:09 PM »

Crappy cell phone pics but you'll get the idea. The curved sticky mount is too close to chinbar and won't tilt up enough for good shots. So I use this contraption.

lucydad · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2016, 02:10:15 PM »

Ray,

Very inventive! The more I ponder the more I am convinced the chin location is best all around. Your solution makes sense. Guess I will go visit electronics shop and see if I can find more GoPro fitment pieces. The Shoei design makes it difficult, but I love their helmets.

Much thanks!

RayB · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2016, 03:13:43 PM »

I can't take credit. Found a youtube that some guy made and looked like it would work...it did on the Shoei

lucydad · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2016, 05:51:30 PM »

Ray,

Found this on amazonia: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PRIWJAY/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Looks like a similar solution.

I hooked up the handle bar mount onto the Triumph and swivel mount onto the Guzzi today. One will get tried tomorrow. Curious about wind noise and such. The helmet chin mount makes the most sense to me.

Thanks again!

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #8 on:** July 09, 2016, 05:58:09 PM »

you probably already saw my commute video but here it is, lots of chin and chest shots, some bar mount shots too. the key in editing is having a variety of shots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF3Loc0q-J4

Seamaster · « **Reply #9 on:** July 09, 2016, 08:53:58 PM »

Helmets are designed to slide in an accident. One of my coworker had a go pro on the top of his helmet when they were riding quads in a group. He fell off of his quad head on to the pavement. The camera prevented his helmet slide, he was parelised from neck down...... Just saying, be careful

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2016, 09:33:45 PM »

That sounds like a stretch..It's just a plastic mount, I'm sure it would break .. do you have any proof the camera caused the paralysis?

lucydad · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2016, 11:26:13 AM »

Foto,

I love your videos and editing expertise: excellent guide for noobs like me. Captured about 40 minutes of video on V7R this morning. Did the to/from church run. Used handlebar mount. Got some good shots, I think. Edit will be down to maybe 5 minutes or so as long stretches of freeway and hitting EVERY stoplight on Hillcroft. May try side helmet mount tomorrow.

Need to learn how to use "splitter" function on long segments in GoPro STUDIO software: surely there is a way to break up long clips so only best parts kept.

First ride in over a week, been recovering from nasty cold virus. Unusually cloudy, high pressure dome must have slid off. A bit of rain would be wonderful.

I will post video results sometime soon. Seeking guidance from those more experienced.

lucydad · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2016, 11:28:53 AM »

sea-master,

Admin on GoPro forum who also moot-videos uses side mount. His reason: concerned that camera and mount, in a crash, could come into helmet shield or face especially if shield in raised position. He likes the side helmet mount position, right side.

Interesting.

Farmer Dan · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2016, 02:49:22 PM »

I might my camera to the handle bars, behind the windshield safe from bugs and wind noise that way. Keep the windshield clean and I get good video.

Idontwantapickle · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2016, 03:48:12 PM »

LD,

I have tried a few ways to mount and it comes down to preference. I find several different mounts are best so as to be able to include some variety.
The side mount was ok but annoying on the highway as it will try to turn your head, that can be tiring after a while.
Here's a view from the leg mount:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAIhhekb_II

Hunter

swooshdave · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2016, 10:39:00 PM »

What makes a better video is a variety of angles. I prefer the right side of the helmet but will move the camera all over the helmet and bike.

This is kind of long and it's on the N****n but it will give you an idea.

https://youtu.be/a8nDuxKn8Ts

SED · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2016, 10:58:44 PM »

Hey LD,

I've used a top mount, a chest and a chin. Chin is best for motorcycling and easy to do.

What I did was mold the square plastic bracket that held the camera in the box it came in to the chin of the helmet. Put on leather gloves, heat the bracket slowly with a propane torch and mold it over the chin. I had to do one side at a time. Trim the edges where it doesn't match the helmet, then get some industrial velcro and mount your new chin mount on the helmet.

The camera has to hang upside down to get the angle right, but it is really easy turn the video over using the GoPro studio software. And you don't need all the bracketry.

Here are some pictures of the result:

Here are two video links with the results:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKPu8s7jvfc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD5bZDrrIrw

If you want a comparison check out my other videos: mtn bike videos are all top of helmet, all earlier Ariel vids are chest mount and the two at the track are chin mount.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Huzo · « **Reply #17 on:** July 11, 2016, 10:09:49 AM »

Had mine mounted for 3 Euro trips and is ok. Mine is on the side, 'cos I reckon if I put it on the top it's only a matter of time before I walk through a door with my helmet on and......BANG!!!

lucydad · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2016, 10:28:36 AM »

Shaun,

I bow before your creativity mounting a GoPro, and your track skills. Wow on that Ariel.

Much thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tppFKqrZVoE&feature=youtu.be

PJPR01 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2016, 11:18:13 AM »

Another very good option I have now used on my recent California trip and during the ride to/from John Day:

http://www.lightinthebox.com/360-degree-rotation-helmet-mounts-adapter-for-gopro-hero-4-3-3-2-4-1_p4181863.html?currency=USD&litb_from=paid_adwords_shopping&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&adword_mt=&adword_ct=84187023794&adword_kw=&adword_pos=1o6&adword_pl=&adword_net=g&adword_tar=&adw_src_id=1810908567_301578074_21687104834_pla-78632235196&gclid=CLCOzcnl680CFZSMaQodCjUDMA

Be sure to mount it far back enough so the SHOEI visor can retract all the way and not touch it...can rotate a full 360, you can film forward, sideways, backwards and all you need is a bit of "skill" to keep it flat forward or back when rotating it. Found it to be much easier than having something on the chin...and the only issues really are wind noise...still trying to find a good way to muffle the wind noise above 50 mph so you can hear the engine better.

Buy a couple of them and stick them on helmet, bike elsewhere along with a tether and you have a nice alternative to just the front and rear bumper areas...

Another item is to get a remote that is easily mounted for push button on/off - that will save you a ton of editing time and of course not waste battery/memory card space...then a lot easier to stitch together for the final movie. Now I know why film editors spend so much time after production...it's TIME consuming to say the least to find the best clips.

RogerGuzzi · « **Reply #20 on:** July 11, 2016, 11:34:59 AM »

I'll second what Seamaster says, be careful with a helmet mounted camera given that in a slide, it may impede the sliding of the helmet. I've struggled with a couple of years to find different options for video of my rides including handlebar mount (too shaky), chest harness (good but camera points mostly toward console), elasticated helmet strap (just slid off) and a couple of others that I can't remember. Call me old school, but IMO I'd never use adhesive to attach anything to a helmet. My understanding is that any type of solvent, including that used for adhesive can degrade polycarbonate from which less expensive lightweight helmets are made. Maybe new formulations are more resistant, but I'd still be wary if you're planning on doing any significant riding. I believe fiberglass helmets (such as Arai and Shoei) are not prone to degradation, but the lesson from my younger days (when I couldn't afford high end helmets) has stuck. Good luck anyway, and do let us know your solution.

Testarossa · « **Reply #21 on:** July 11, 2016, 12:24:18 PM »

Has anyone tried mounting the camera to a fairing? Is vibration a problem?

PJPR01 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 11, 2016, 01:10:57 PM »

Quote from: Testarossa on July 11, 2016, 12:24:18 PM

Has anyone tried mounting the camera to a fairing? Is vibration a problem?

As long as it's mounted above the shock position, the GoPro Stabilization mechanism is amazing...hardly any bouncing or image vibration is noticeable.

Testarossa · « **Reply #23 on:** July 11, 2016, 01:16:53 PM »

Then maybe the best spot is right above the headlamp. Of course, no instruments in the FOV, but I don't want the world to see my speedometer.

PJPR01 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 11, 2016, 01:41:16 PM »

If you mount it on the bike somewhere, I'd put a tether on it just for extra security in case the mount breaks...the adhesives are very strong, but on rare occasions, the plastic mount will break...I lost one a few years ago in Wyoming...luckily GoPro replaced it for me for free since the plastic was defective. Had I had a tether...I'd have been able to save the camera.

By the way...I'm using a Session (cube) and I find it much easier than the Hero 4 or other models...more compact, easier on/off and just as good in my view for significantly lower price...FYI for anyone considering a GoPro, you can get it for $199 instead of $399 or $499 for the Hero versions.

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Author Topic: best GoPro helmet mount? (Read 3526 times)

lucydad

lucydad

lucydad

lucydad

lucydad

lucydad

RogerGuzzi