Thursday, July 26, 2012

iPhone to Bike Mount



Hey all, I've been using a really nice iPhone case from RokForm- check out their site- ex. motorcycle people now machining up fine cases, besides other stuff. Anyway I've got quite a few of their neat, if somewhat pricey, pieces.
So when I recently decided to drag out the Trek and get back into riding I also discovered the App- Strava- to track and store my routes. I works with a Garmin device or smartphones. So I was just dropping the iPhone into the rear pocket of my cycling shirt before a ride. But me being me....I can't leave well enough alone and I remembered seeing RokForm's newest attachment for thread less stems on their website.....so.......I was just about ready to pull the trigger before I gave it a second thought.
While checking out the closeup pics of the $69 mount and various pieces I decided (as I often do, sometimes with awful results) I decided to try to make one myself. Heck I already had the tripod mount (pictured right)
Happy to say that within a matter of minutes and a quick shuffle through the junk box I fab up the piece you see here.
And, while it's admittedly not as pretty as the RokForm unit (check it out on their site) and doesn't mount to the stem directly in the center of the bars I think it'll work just fine. The phone attaches exactly like the real one and even utilises the magnetic. I'd show a pic of the phone on it, but the phone's camera is the only one I own...so....that's not gonna happen.
But you get the idea.
Kind of proud of myself---AGAIN!!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The superduper Iphone and other technical wonders

If you've taken the time to read my earlier post about my "cement mixer" brain you'll understand where I'm coming from with this one.
I've now got me one of those wicked awesome Iphones, and I'm hooked- even though I have no idea how to use the damn thing- but that's never stopped me before, so I dove right in.
I've been playing around with all those fancy apps (there's a million of them, don't you know) and I got one that I actually paid two bucks for. I told myself that I really, really, needed this one because....well.....I suck at typing. Thing is, I type really slowly (and I hate being slow at anything, just ask anyone at one of my trackdays)- I have to constantly look at the keys, then the screen, keys, screen.....where's the "H" again?....Well, you get the idea.
So when I found a neat dictation app, I decided this would really make getting my thoughts onto my blog faster, and I'm all about that. I've been playing around with it for a few days and it's gonna take a little tweaking I think.
Example: Today I had a one hour drive ahead of me and because I was in the middle of a blog post I decided to see if I could get it up and running before I left using just the Iphone, and to my disbelief I managed to actually get if fired up before I left the driveway. And as I motored down the highway I hit the microphone button on the phone and I'll be damned if a little "beep" didn't come up over my Zumo GPS (yeah, the Zumo is paired with the Iphone...ain't I fancy), so I dictated a short sentence, hit the button again, glanced quickly at the phone (I'm driving, remember) and was quite astonished to see text typed into the blog. What the.......?? This thing rocks!
I quickly formulated another thought, blurted it out (somewhat embarrassed to be talking to no one in the truck), and there it was, so I continued. Gotta say, the time really flew by, just me, the Iphone, a GPS, my blog and my incredibly insightful thoughts.
By now you're probably thinking, "Big deal, techno-boy!" or maybe "Why the heck am I wasting my time reading this?" or "Wonder if we still got some of them Twinkies around?" Why? Because I've got something to show you.
Following, is the exact text that got transferred to the blog page during the trip......

For example while removing the clutch plates to inspect and clean them I knows the red grapes reservoir holes with weekday and need a new clamp, and that's what I found that there was rushed on the clutch cover bolts and that the Springs needed some cleasm that intern Beach trip is the latest and greatest from Ultralente and trip to the hardware store up the street replacement stainless steel bolts as you say it becomes a vicious cycle and never ending quest to have everything just right
Let me say right now that What must play a small pot in my week off some photos of the incredible she has got to be geeky ahead three. You see while looking at photos of the electronics package in the nose of the Ducati motor GP bike some AC a jumble of wires boxes switches etc. while I see technical information that must be analyzed digested and searched out on the Internet for information.
That's the lofty goals that's been set for me tomorrow GP attention to detail fastidiousness and uncompromising performance, unfortunately it's a never-ending search as that gold can't be reached with my meager resources and limited knowledge. the search I must after all I do have an addiction
Addition to my expense between name is cotton fiber cleaning products and everything else that goes along with
Then then then my other strange the thing is I which consist of the need to have the latest and greatest technology Hey available. GPS last time I got the video camera out by the titanium whatever great

WTF
Do you understand any of that?
So much for a time saver.

To be continued......
BTW- took me forever to type this post..................

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Thursday, December 22, 2011

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.....




















Monday, December 19, 2011

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

Sunday, December 18, 2011

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.

Friday, December 16, 2011

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