Mounting Contour Camera

[Yakaru]

Hey guys, happy holidays

I got an item from my wish list -- a new Contour camera -- from the family and have been researching the various mounts. From what I can tell, if I want to mount it for general use on my helmet the go-to-mount is the profile mount ( e.g. this one). Reading reviews however says this mount is only held on with doublesided tape which is... kind of a bummer. I'd hate to lose my camera cause something like that came off when I was heading down the freeway. I've looked around and found this which is a metal mount instead of plastic and you're supposed to screw it onto your helmet with drilled holes. That sounds super stable but the idea of compromising my lid that way is scary too.

Anyone have any advice/experience/ideas? I could revert to mounting it on the bars or something, but that seems like it'd be a less interesting vantage point.

[Jiggles]

You obviously don't have much experience with 3M permanent tape. It's plenty strong

[Yakaru]

Is that what comes on it or something I could replace it with? The Amazon reviews of the Contour mount have multiple people saying it came undone in pretty low-stress use.

[Jiggles]

Really now? Well you can always order some separately. It's what gopros are mounted with and they survive high speed moto crashes. The camera doesn't always survive, but the mount does

[Yakaru]

Definitely an idea. What about Industrial Velcro? If it's of similar strength I'd think it'd have advantages (could remove the mount if I had reason to, would let me play a bit more with the angle of the camera too since this mount doesn't rotate any.

[csmith12]

I think those riders don't treat their equipment with any respect. I use my contour just about ever ride. I have had it for 2yrs now and still using the original sticky tape mount that was included in the packaging. I have ridden in the wet, cold and really hot and it has held without worry and still shows no signs of failing anytime soon.

Now....

Pick a good mount point and then really think about it again before committing to it. Then, clean the mount area with rubbing alcohol first, stick it to your mount point and press firmly.... not like a sissy either. FIRMLY! Give it some time (have a beer) and press it again. If it's on your bike, it will peel the paint off before coming off. It's only as strong as where you choose to mount it. Mount it on loose material like peeling paint and you know what is going to happen.

And now for the protection part... no matter your camera, go pro, contour or something else. When in doubt, safety wire it. If the mount fails, the safety wire will hold it.

Pro Tip* - The contour comes with a short string with clips on then ends to act as this safety wire. While that is kinda meh.... put it back in the box and use real wire. The wind will cause the plastic clip to bang around the housing/mount and that sound will make it into your video.

Pro Tip 2* - Put a piece of tape over the mic to cut down on wind noise.

Good luck with your contour and I hope you like yours as much as I like mine. It's really the only really easy camera I have seen that can be operated while the bike is in motion.

[csmith12]

Oh! Double check your mount before each ride also.

[Yakaru]

Thanks for the advice csmith. The 'make sure it's right' is why I thought the Velcro might be a good choice -- if I lay out the helmet-side velcro right I can have some play in the angle. (Basically do a pie shape).
Second point: How can I safety wire a helmet mount, or would that be for bike mounting only?

[NevadaWolf]

I can vouch for the Contour's sticky tape being durable. It's what held my camera in place through my wreck with me sliding and bouncing along the track/dirt. I've got the little rotating mount on my helmet simply due to me wanting to be able to adjust it up or down depending on what I expect to be filming.

I'm also curious what you'd safety wire it to, as wiring it to the mount didn't make much sense.

[Yakaru]

Hey Wolf, did you put the rotating mount on the top of the helmet or the side? If it fits on the side I might try that out; but I think it'd look silly on the top of my lid :P

[Joshorilla]

I used the profile mount on my lid initially but it was pointing too low, so I just used a swivel mount, I cleaned the are on my lid with a monitor cleaning wipe which only contained isopropol alcohol and small traces of other VOC's, stuck it on with a GOOD amount of pressure, kept pushing on it at points in the day, rode home with it and it was golden.

No signs of coming off or anything, I would say it's more than strongmenough for the application, and given I had to pry the first mount off nearly destrying myself before the tape it's good shiit.

To answer your post above, I use the swivel mount on the side without a problem, I wanted to put it up top, but my modular helmet wouldn't allow for it to go up top without fouling the mechanism.

[DeviantTurtle]

Just have faith, I use a suction cup and the helmet stick on mount. 132mph (Road Atlanta track) tested and no issue so far.
Note; Camera hanging off the side fairing!!!

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by Yakaru

Hey Wolf, did you put the rotating mount on the top of the helmet or the side? If it fits on the side I might try that out; but I think it'd look silly on the top of my lid :P

I put mine on the left side of my helmet. I agree with you that up on top looks stupid Plus being on the side it is easier to turn on off

[csmith12]

I use a swivel mount on the right side of my helmet. The helmet is the only place I don't use safety wire because I am not messing up the helmet in any way to make a hole.

[Joshorilla]

I guess the rule of thumb is to mount it onto the opposite side of the helmet to which you drive on so it is more centred.

[csmith12]

I choose right because I am right handed but yea, more right turns on the track vs left turns.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

I guess the rule of thumb is to mount it onto the opposite side of the helmet to which you drive on so it is more centred.

I must be watching way too much BBC lately... My brain thought No, it's mounted on the same side I drive on.

[Joshorilla]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

I must be watching way too much BBC lately... My brain thought No, it's mounted on the same side I drive on.

Ha! You'll just get more scenery, that's not necessarily a bad thing

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

Ha! You'll just get more scenery, that's not necessarily a bad thing

If I tried driving on the left side of the road, I am sure I would get far more than just more scenery. ROFL Curse I would find out how nimble the bike really is.

Back on topic, I mounted it on the left so I could operate it while riding. It's far enough forward it only sees the front curve of my visor and is able to see whatever I turn my head to look at. I like how loud the beep is because I can hear it when it starts/stops/dies over the motor and wind noise.

I tend to have the mic turned almost off and have a piece of tape over the opening. But still need to cut out the sound when I am fiddling with it on the computer.

[ChrisCusi]

Just curious.. what contour cameras do you guys have? I've been really looking at the Roam2 lately.

[Yakaru]

Contour+2 for me; I'll post a review after I've used it some.

[ChrisCusi]

Originally Posted by Yakaru

Contour+2 for me; I'll post a review after I've used it some.

Can't decide if I want to shell out the extra cash for the +2.... It's a tough decision. I greatly look forward to your review!

And just to clarify.... by the which side argument, we're talking about mounting it on the left side of the helmet because in the US we drive on the right, correct? Not talking about lane position or lane selection right?

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by ChrisCusi

And just to clarify.... by the which side argument, we're talking about mounting it on the left side of the helmet because in the US we drive on the right, correct? Not talking about lane position or lane selection right?

Yep, mounted on the left side because we ride in the right lane.

[broilmebk]

I've had my contour mounted on my helmet for almost 6 months and no problem. I cleaned the area and used the rotating surface mount and adhesive tape it came with. At one point I used the lanyard that came with the camera and put it through one of the screws for the visor (XR1R). But now I've raised the angle, so it can't reach it. I should have planned ahead. Also, it's mounted on the right because chatterbox is on the left.