PSA: Check / safety wire your GoPro mounts

B

Brian P

Well-known member
Moderator
Site Supporter
I hit a bouncing GoPro at the beginning of the back straightaway at Grand Bend on Saturday ... It had come off a bike that was a couple positions ahead, bounced off the bike between us (that rider didn't even see or feel it). I saw it coming but couldn't do anything about it, and smacked it with my leg. No idea what happened to it after that.
 
I'm not aware of any rule book up to this point that requires them to be safety wired - so they don't get checked. Most of the safety wiring rules go back decades.
 
Brian P said:
I'm not aware of any rule book up to this point that requires them to be safety wired - so they don't get checked. Most of the safety wiring rules go back decades.
Click to expand...

I saw Ken checking them all Sunday before bikes going on the track.
 
Yep ... probably as a result of at least one of them bouncing around on Saturday. I gather that this was not the first time this happened.
 
Icbones said:
I switched my GoPro to accept Ram mounts. There is also that soft white rubber stopper that goes in the claw to prevent them squeezing in and sliding out of the mount.
https://plus.google.com/photos/yourphotos?pid=6152792367889704658&oid=106894640368725061178
https://plus.google.com/photos/yourphotos?pid=6152794047275578386&oid=106894640368725061178
Click to expand...

My stick on mount unstuck and my camera hit the rider behind me. I've since wired the gopro case to the bike. Even with a ram mount the camera itself should be wired.
 
For what the Go Pro costs a tether is cheap insurance against loss. With the Ram mount you have a bolt on mount rather than a stick on. Plus you have more options with the Ram mount once you attach the ball to the camera.
 
Yes there will be a new rule for cameras. Its not for any one incident I am just getting sick of picking them up I am getting 5-6 a weekend and thats nuts. Its a toy and as such if people want to use it there will be a system in place next round moving forward that they will have to be be tethered and presented to tech with the bike. There will be a system of marking it to show compliance. If I catch a non-inspected camera at pit out it I will be taking it right there from the bike or bike will be turned around until its removed and/or inspected. Sometimes people need to be saved from themselves.
 
I'm not surprised people don't wire them, but I always have. Also, using the white insert is not the solution as the whole base plate can and has come off. Be mindful of how you wire them too, if it falls off and you have a long tether that is going to swing it into a wheel or something it is bad news. I try and make the tether as short as possible 2-4".

[video=youtube;bzgFhYP1CMk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzgFhYP1CMk[/video]
Around the 2:30 mark the rear camera sticky mount actually comes off but thanks to my safety wire the camera did not go flying into the rider behind and stayed there until the race was over.
 
Last edited:
Even though you may think that your GoPro mount is stuck firmly to your rattle can paint job, you need a tether. I've seen more than a few come off, still firmly stuck to the paint job, it's the paint job that comes off the bike. The new trend is to use wood screws to secure the mount. You should still be installing a tether. Please.
 
I am guilty of not wiring mine. It is on with a "rollbar mount", clamped to one of my frame sliders, not a sticky mount. I'll find a way to wire it for Round 2.
 
skapan said:
Even though you may think that your GoPro mount is stuck firmly to your rattle can paint job, you need a tether. I've seen more than a few come off, still firmly stuck to the paint job, it's the paint job that comes off the bike. The new trend is to use wood screws to secure the mount. You should still be installing a tether. Please.
Click to expand...

Wood and or screws have no place on a motorcycle.
 
I like the Ram mount. You can bolt it to the handles bars or any suitably sized tube on the frame. Still tether it though, regardless if your riding or zip lining. I would definately not be putting wood screws into any part on my bike.
http://
 
Last edited:
I always tether mine. Ive found a few times that the plastic mount will actually crack near the screw connections. I came in after qualifying to find my gopro dangling from the tether because of this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom