Marshy
31-01-2016, 04:43 PM
I've always struggled with getting a front-facing camera in a good position on the Aprilia (either it's in the way of the dash, or I hit my helmet on it when I tuck in). If I stick it on the front of the fairing instead, it looks totally shit in external photos.
So, what to do. I've always likes Mstevo's setup, with the bullet-cam in the nose, but I didn't want to spend $2k on a VBox or an AiM SmartyCam GP. I found a 4k Panasonic bullet cam on Amazon for US$229 (with three different mounts), which I thought might do the trick. I installed it a couple days ago, and it worked great on track yesterday!
First, I installed a USB port, for charging the camera (annoyingly it won't record and charge at the same time, so I need to just plug it in between sessions). There's a 'how-to' for installing a usb port here: http://tarmactalk.com/forum/showthread.php?520-How-to-wire-up-a-permanent-power-supply-for-a-GPX-Zed-lap-timer
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-1.jpg
Next up, I re-purposed an offcut of aluminium bracket I found lying around, and mounted it to the dash stay.
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-2.jpg
Velcro on the camera and the bracket take care of mounting. It's easy to reach to turn on, even sitting on the bike.
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-3.jpg
Mounting in the nosecone was slightly more tricky, but it's very secure as the bracket is 3M double-sided taped on, plus has two cable ties going through the fairing. If I could do it over again, I'd drill the view hole a teeny fraction higher, but it's all good.
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-4.jpg
All done!!
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-5.jpg
So, what to do. I've always likes Mstevo's setup, with the bullet-cam in the nose, but I didn't want to spend $2k on a VBox or an AiM SmartyCam GP. I found a 4k Panasonic bullet cam on Amazon for US$229 (with three different mounts), which I thought might do the trick. I installed it a couple days ago, and it worked great on track yesterday!
First, I installed a USB port, for charging the camera (annoyingly it won't record and charge at the same time, so I need to just plug it in between sessions). There's a 'how-to' for installing a usb port here: http://tarmactalk.com/forum/showthread.php?520-How-to-wire-up-a-permanent-power-supply-for-a-GPX-Zed-lap-timer
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-1.jpg
Next up, I re-purposed an offcut of aluminium bracket I found lying around, and mounted it to the dash stay.
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-2.jpg
Velcro on the camera and the bracket take care of mounting. It's easy to reach to turn on, even sitting on the bike.
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-3.jpg
Mounting in the nosecone was slightly more tricky, but it's very secure as the bracket is 3M double-sided taped on, plus has two cable ties going through the fairing. If I could do it over again, I'd drill the view hole a teeny fraction higher, but it's all good.
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-4.jpg
All done!!
http://tarmactalk.com/images/camera-5.jpg