Tank bag, GPS and video

Tim Cullis · Feb 2, 2005

OK, the GS is starting to look like a Christmas tree. I'm getting kit sorted for our Morocco trip (88 sleeps to go) and I've been experimenting with GPS and video setup.

First, though, is the tank bag I bought at Ally Pally for £19.99. What a bargain! It's meant for metal tanks, but I managed to get the alternative securing strap under the tank without having to remove it. Not a perfectly moulded fit, but WTF.

The pic below shows the expanded position. It has a map pocket on top, two useful pockets on each side, and an internal document pocket inside the top flap.

When you unzip it from the base it becomes a rucksack. And the base also has a map pocket.

Front view of the video and GPS setup together with nifty TT hand protectors and TT fogs.

The rider's view of the GPS and video. When the LCD flap is closed you can see the speedo.

Close-up of mounts from rear.

And from front.

Tim

richie · Feb 2, 2005

I'd try and get the GPS more centrally mounted. But obviously can see you have a small real estate problem

I originaly mounted mine to the left like that but since have mounted it centrally.It really is a lot easier to read...

TheJoker · Feb 2, 2005

One way of creating more "estate" is to put the video camera in a bag (where it's easy to remove, padded, and weather shielded) and get a bullet camera, from say RF Concepts (www.google.co.uk)...
.. The bullet camera should be much easier to position too, and you might get much cooler video angles... However, can't tell if your video camera has got video-in, which of course is required.

.... Just a thought...

Russ · Feb 2, 2005

TheJoker said:
One way of creating more "estate" is to put the video camera in a bag (where it's easy to remove, padded, and weather shielded) and get a bullet camera, from say RF Concepts (www.google.co.uk)...
.. The bullet camera should be much easier to position too, and you might get much cooler video angles... However, can't tell if your video camera has got video-in, which of course is required.

.... Just a thought...

I'd agree, you can let the bullet cam take the crap, and leave the camera itself nicely tucked away from the conditions, and prying eyes!

That look similar to my TRV something or another (40 i think), and it has an AV jack (yellow) so that would be the ticket, plus if you wanted a rear view, just buy a second camera and switch sources when you stop

Eddy802 · Feb 2, 2005

Chuffed to pick up a "Not a perfectly moulded fit, but WTF" tank bag for £19.99, Zmeagol doesn't smack me as the "just buy a second camera and switch sources when you stop" kind of guy!!?

That said, I do agree that I'd go the bullet-cam route if you are planning to do much video, unless you have great insurance cover for the camcorder and are willing to use it.

Timolgra · Feb 2, 2005

Don't flaunt it

Zmeagol said:
OK, the GS is starting to look like a Christmas tree.

Take your eyes off the bike for a second and Santa will have arrived in an instant for someone

Tim

bonjeroo · Feb 2, 2005

Zmeagol said:
OK, the GS is starting to look like a Christmas tree. I'm getting kit sorted for our Morocco trip (88 sleeps to go) and I've been experimenting with GPS and video setup.

First, though, is the tank bag I bought at Ally Pally for £19.99. What a bargain! It's meant for metal tanks, but I managed to get the alternative securing strap under the tank without having to remove it. Not a perfectly moulded fit, but WTF.

Tim

Thanks for posting that. I have an identical tankbag I used with my last bike, didn't think I could fit it to the GS, will have a go.

Congratulations on picking the best colour combination too!

Bonj

motozen · Feb 2, 2005

your front blinkers

Nice setup!

Did you alter the length of your front blinker stalks? they look shorter than the ones I've seen on other 12GS.. If so, how did you do it?

Tim Cullis · Feb 2, 2005

Bonj: Take the plastic side panels off, take the aluminium panels off, then looking under the tank you should be able to see light from one side of the bike to the other. Use a stick to poke the strap through.

Tim: Obviously the video camera won't be left mounted! The tank bag will go with me when I leave the bike alone and the straps will neatly secure under the seat. The GPS is lockable, though in suspect areas that would be removed as well. That just leaves the RAM mounts and I'm planning to replace the butterfly nut on the RAM arms with nylock nuts to prevent them going walkabout.

Russ: I was impressed with the results the Czech guys got with hand-held shooting while riding pistes, but that's not for me. Yes the video has analog in, and I'm considering a bullet cam.

Richie: I've tried various positions for GPS and video. The best GPS setup was using two 3-in arms connected together onto the inboard handlebar mount. That brought the mount higher and much closer to me. At the moment I have the second 3-in arm on the video mount, but have a 5-in arm on order to play with.

I tried the video on the outboard mount and found the windflow kept closing the LCD screen when I went over 85 mph. I'm getting a lot of shake from the handlebar mounts at high speed which is causing digital drop-outs. I've read elsewhere of strapping the video camera to the tank bag.

Tim

Tim Cullis · Feb 2, 2005

Some more essential supplies for Morocco...

Tim

Timolgra · Feb 2, 2005

Tim, I am right in the middle of fitting a Bullet camera myself. This topic is discussed at length on the 'OTHER' GSclub site. Where Gazza provides a neat solution for mounting onto a GS1200.

Only 49 sleeps for us

Tim

Mouse · Feb 2, 2005

Cheap ass camera mount

Take one home made "bullet cam". Made from a plastic torch and some inner tube

Needs another coat of black paint.

Add one bolt with a big washer in place of one of the screen adjuster knobs.

And part of a pushbike light, the bit that used to clamp around the handlebars.

It all clamps together quite nicely!

In part two I'll show you all my digital video recorder with its hi-tech anti vibration system!

TheJoker · Feb 3, 2005

Re: Cheap ass camera mount

Mouse said:
Take one home made "bullet cam". Made from a plastic torch and some inner tube Needs another coat of black paint.

Add one bolt with a big washer in place of one of the screen adjuster knobs.

And part of a pushbike light, the bit that used to clamp around the handlebars.

It all clamps together quite nicely!

In part two I'll show you all my digital video recorder with its hi-tech anti vibration system!

Mouse, you are the uber-master of Blue Peter!! I love it!

Keep'em comin'!

MikeO · Feb 3, 2005

Mouse - excellent work

How do you intend to keep the insects etc off the lens - or is the lens covered with a coating allowing regular solvent cleaning etc?

Mike

Mouse · Feb 3, 2005

Well spotted! The one thing I haven't sorted out yet is a decent lens cover - I did have one simply cut from some stiff transparent plastic but it was covered in tiny scratches I couldn't remove.

Next plan is to try the lens cut from some safety goggles. But even the one in the new goggles I bought (£1.29

) doesn't look totally clear. Maybe I need something glass, like a UV filter from a 35mm camera ...?

MikeO · Feb 3, 2005

Mouse said:
Maybe I need something glass, like a UV filter from a 35mm camera ...?

Yep - skylight filter should do the job perfectly. Make sure and get a large one and be prepared to clean it every stop (with a bottle of solvent and some lint free cloth). The larger you get, the easier it will be to keep the centre part clean (you'll probably struggle to clean the edge, near the metal ring - there'll be a lot of bug bits collecting there...).

Mike

Mouse · Feb 3, 2005

I know nothing about cameras - can you buy those filters in different sizes (diameter)? Or will I need to bodge it?

I assume any decent photographers' store will be able to help me.

PS - Zmeagol, sorry for hijacking your thread!

Dahoum · Feb 3, 2005

Zmeagol said:
Some more essential supplies for Morocco...

Tim

Tim, Is the tank bag advertised as waterproof?

and the paint ball catapult is for .....?

MikeO · Feb 3, 2005

Mouse said:
I know nothing about cameras - can you buy those filters in different sizes (diameter)? Or will I need to bodge it? I assume any decent photographers' store will be able to help me.

PS - Zmeagol, sorry for hijacking your thread!

Go into any Jessop's and they should be able to help you. They come in a load of diameters, but the common ones will be cheapest - I'd go for the largest diameter 'budget priced' one they do...

Mike

Tim Cullis · Feb 3, 2005

Dahoum said:
Tim, Is the tank bag advertised as waterproof?

and the paint ball catapult is for .....?

The tank bag came with a waterproof cover, plus some bungies as well.

I've heard of many reports of kids throwing stones at motorcyclists in remote areas, so the 'Talkabout' is for bike-to-bike warnings of such, and the catapult is to teach the kids a lesson. Ammunition other than harmless paintballs might be carried...

Tim

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