Mounting a camera on your motorcycle is a great way to capture the open road and your surroundings while you’re on a ride.
However, it can be difficult to get good shots if you don’t have the right equipment or know how to use it.
In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about mounting a camera on your motorcycle and taking great videos while riding.
Why Mount A Camera To A Motorcycle?
There are a few reasons why you may be interested in mounting a GoPro to your motorcycle.
For filmmakers, this is an excellent method of capturing exhilarating road footage.
For motorcycle enthusiasts, a camera mounted to your bike is a great way to film your motorcycle adventures.
Just check out this video from RevZilla that shows off some of the awesome footage that’s possible from a bike-mounted GoPro.
What Kind Of Camera Should You Use?
First, you will obviously require a camera. But what kind of camera should you use?
Any digital camera that is weather-sealed and has a fast lens can work.
While you could use a DSLR or mirrorless camera system, as they both offer great image quality and are easy to operate while riding, we recommend using an action camera instead.
Action cameras are designed specifically for capturing extreme sports footage.
We recommend something like the GoPro HERO10.
There are also plenty of accessories on the market designed to mount GoPros, making it easy to find a suitable mount.
Motorcycle Camera Mount Recommendations
There are a number of options out there for mounting your camera to your motorcycle.
Three most popular types of mounts are “sticky” mounts, suction cup mounts, and clamp mounts.
While clamp mounts can be handy for attaching your camera to some areas of your motorcycle like the frame, they are simply not as versatile as sticky mounts and suction cup mounts.
Sticky mounts and suction cup mounts allow you to easily attach and remove your camera from the smooth body of your motorcycle.
These types of mounts are also less likely to become detached than clamp mounts as they tend to absorb vibrations better.
GoPro Suction Cup Mount
The GoPro Suction Cup Mount is an official GoPro product, meaning it is compatible with all GoPro cameras.
This suction cup mount features a lightweight design and solid suction (which is really important).
This product can also be mounted on any number of vehicles, including cars and boats.
Sametop Helmet Adhesive Sticky Mounts
This product is more of a mounting “system.” That means that you will apply a semi-permanent sticky mounting plate to your vehicle. Once this is applied, you can simply clip in or remove your GoPro when desired.
This package offers multiple mounts, meaning you can attach them to different areas of your bike.
With multiple mounts, you can either attach more than one GoPro to your motorcycle at a time, or swap out your camera placement on a whim.
EXSHOW Metal Motorcycle Handlebar Mount
As far as clamp mounts go, this one is a solid choice.
It’s compatible with GoPro products and secures nicely to your motorcycle’s handlebars.
This product’s design also features a swivelling arm — allowing for better camera placement.
While this clamp mount is intended for handlebar use, it could potentially be mounted to other areas of your bike.
Where To Attach Your Camera On Your Motorcycle
When considering camera mount placement, it is very important to avoid areas that are flimsy or in your way.
This means it is best to avoid spots like the fender (which can be made of thin material) or the lower section of the gas tank (which you may lean on).
Instead, look for areas that are out of your way and sturdy.
Here are some of our recommended mounting spots.
Upper Section Of The Gas Tank
Mounting your camera to this section of your bike will allow you to face your camera forward.
Depending on the type of motorcycle you own, you may find this spot allows for a relatively unobstructed view of the road ahead.
The camera can also be swivelled to the side to capture the scenery to your left or right as you ride by.
The Tail Section
The tail section is another great spot for mounting thanks to its sturdy, out-of-the-way location.
The obvious issue with this placement is that the rider will obstruct any view of the road ahead.
That said, turning the camera to face backwards will provide you with a clear view of the road and scenery behind you.
This is also a great method for filming a friend as they ride behind.
Lower Section Of Frame
Be careful with this placement.
Depending on the type of motorcycle you own, this placement may not be feasible.
However, if you are able to mount your camera to the lower section of your bike, you may be able to capture some impressive shots of your wheels and the road as you speed along!
How To Attach A Camera Mount To Your Motorcycle
Suction Mounts and Sticky Mounts
Before attaching a suction mount or a sticky mount to your motorcycle, make sure to clean off the mounting location with a clean cloth.
Cleaning the area before applying will ensure that your mount stays securely fastened to your bike.
Once the area is clean, proceed to carefully attach the mount to your vehicle.
NOTE: If you are using sticky mounts, take extra care to get your placement right as you will not be able to easily remove the mount once applied.
Clamp Mounts
Clamp mounts are fairly straightforward to install.
Simply find an appropriate bar which your mount’s clamp will fit around.
It is important to find a bar that is not too small or too big. Failing to use an appropriately sized bar could result in your mount becoming unattached.
Once you have located a good location, secure the mount to the bar — making sure to tighten the clamp as securely as possible.
What About Helmet Cameras?
Mounting a GoPro to your helmet instead of your motorcycle might seem appealing.
After all, this will give you awesome POV footage, right?
While there are plenty of accessories out there that allow you to easily mount your GoPro, these shots actually tend to look far more bring than bike-mounted footage.
This is because the footage lacks any context!
Simply put, the camera becomes shaky and looks like it floating in the air.
When you attach your camera to your bike, the footage becomes much smoother while showing viewers that you were in fact riding a motorcycle.
Tips For Mounting A Camera To Your Motorcycle
- Sometimes it can be difficult to know if your GoPro placement will look good. Try using the GoPro app to see what the camera sees while you install your mount.
- Try experimenting with mount placement and camera direction.
- Before heading out on the open road, go for a short test ride to make sure everything is secure.
Final Thoughts
Once your camera is securely in place, it’s time to hit the open road!
Just remember to keep an eye on your speed and take occasional breaks to check that everything is still in place.
With a little practice, you’ll be capturing beautiful motorcycle footage in no time!
