My Surprise Christmas Gift!!

Awesome Nicky Hayden Tissot Chronograph!! Thanks Mary.

Contour Roam HD Camera

Great!!! Just when I've decided to go with the Contour camera, this comes along....It's a 360 degree lens that will attach to GoPro's HD camera and allow full 360 degree, interactive (yes, you'll be able to control the camera's view on playback) video!!
It's still in the prototype phase (I've volunteered to test one when done) and price hasn't been set, but the one they are selling for the iPhone (that's it in pink on the right) is only $79 and the video quality isn't bad. I've seen some video done from inside a racecar at Daytona with the company's high end device and there's still some vibration issues that need to be addressed, but it they could work with GoPro to make it happen it would be way cool.....again, stay tuned...........

I'm beginning work on a couple of forward facing mounts, using a combination of old GoPro stuff and Contour mounts. Stay tuned...........

Ok, after many hours of researching the small spy cameras on eBay . I decided to jump on this deal. I got a Contour Roam

HD camera from Amazon for $89 delivered to my door.

Following is how I made a mount for the rear of the bike:
I dug out all my misc. camera stuff and found an old Sportbike Camera Mount that was designed to bolt to the fuel filler ring on my Ducati 748. Playing around with it, I found a place for it on the right side of the subframe- there just happened to be a couple of holes (more like odd shaped openings) between the vertical supports between the two tubes.

The photo below shows how the bracket mounts to the inside of the sub-frame once I cut away some material to clear the tube. I also tapped the holes in the bracket to accept 6mm bolts.


The photo below left shows a temp bracket across the front between the bolts.

Above right: The bottom of the billet aluminum bracket took some "machining" with a Dremel tool. Note the nice quality of the piece. I'll be using all of it.

Below: It looks like it's made for the bike. I can adjust the position of the flat camera plate up or down in three positions. Right: Wish I had a Bridgeport!!!


I ended up finding a nice scrap piece of ground strap that fit the bill for the outside bracket. I drilled and chamfered a few holes for lightness, and attached it with 2 stainless bolts--safety-wired, natch.


Above right- I used the swivel mount that came with the camera. The knob on the right is for moving the place up or down on the arm. I've drilled it out for safety wire and attached the Contour safety lanyard. Below: The camera in position. I've sat on the bike and I think the top of my boot should just clear the camera. I think I'll do away with the big plastic knob and install a bolt and cut the bottom two holes off of the vertical bar beause I'm afraid it will hit the rear fender--plus I doubt if I'll have to move the camera lower!!


I'm happy with the way it turned out. Let me know what you think.....

How my brain works!!

This is how my brain works- I have all manner of ideas and plans floating around all the time, but I do my heavy thinking when I'm driving alone (mostly commuting to work), this is when I actually design the stuff I'm working on or am about to start. Yeah, I know this isn't the safest way to drive, but my commute is the same route and lightly travelled, and I don't attempt to talk on the phone or text- and I wait until I'm around a computer proper to search products, techniques, etc.
I decided today (during the commute, of course) that my mind is like a cement mixer where all the thoughts are in the tub just mixing away until I pour them out and hopefully they "harden" into a finished project.
So, what you might ask, is currently being "mixed"? Well, I've had this idea for years to design and fab a decent, cheap, HD video camera/mount for my motorcycles. I'm in the process of researching the products needed and then I'll order them up and get to work designing and testing the results.
So as they say in show biz..................stay tuned.............
Out

MotoGP and throttle by wire.

In an effort to learn everything I can about what makes these incredible machines so fast and powerful, plus I love reading this stuff, I've been reading MotoGP Technology by Neil Spalding- highly recommended.
The system started in aircraft, then went to F1 cars, now in MotoGP.

New blog

I decided to create a new blog dedicated to ramblings......
I want feedback, comments, and of course, random musings.
I'll start with a song that inspires me, makes me sad (yes, to tears) and got me thinking about starting this blog. It's " A Little Bit of Everything" by Dawes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36bItoBXpxk&feature=related
While I'm on music, I'll say that I'm mostly a Blues guy, I like almost all Blues (though, not too crazy about the old "scratchy" stuff. Anyway, here's my new favorite kid-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_ZeDn-hHGE reminds me of a mix of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, even a young Johnny Winter. If you're interested, check out his video's on Rolling Stone Radio and download his EP.
Enjoy life,
Steve