Contour camera using Go-Pro mounts

The Contour camera uses mounts that slide onto the side in the two slots, and while these work fine they don't have the adjustability of the GoPro mounts which work on pivoting arms.
After many hours searching the Internet for suitable mounts I decided to dig out the old stuff that I had for my old GoPro camera I threw away (it was a PITA to use and had taken enough abuse before finally quitting)
Below: A few GoPro pieces and the Contour.
Before I began I purchased Contour's universal mount. This mount slides on the rails and makes use of a one quarter by 20 threaded insert on the bottom. ABOVE- you'll see the mount on the camera along with the few GoPro attachments I'll make to fit. I had to purchase the stainless steel bolt, two white nylon spacers (1/8" thick with a 1/4" ID) and the small black rubber washer. The black piece just to the left of the white spacers is the most important piece of this modification- this is the piece that normally attaches the GoPro case to the arms or bases.
BELOW- are the instructions to make this piece fit the threaded insert in the bottom of the camera.

Above is the arm in the vise so that I can remove the raise insert that normally holds the acorn nut for the through bolt that tightens the arms. Above right- is the arm in the vise being drilled out with a 1/4 inch bit.
The finished piece. (LEFT) The bottom has been ground flat, it's been drilled out and the white spacers are inserted, it's now a solid piece that will be attached to the threaded 1/4" X 20 hole in the bottom of the Universal mount. This allows the use of all the GoPro attachments.
Bottom: Here's the modified GoPro piece mounted to the camera. Later I decided to replace the allen head bolt with a button head allowing more clearance.

Left: the piece before the raised section (right side) was ground off- the spacers inserted along with the rubber washer that goes between the camera and arm.

The 1/4" X 20 bolt that goes through the bracket into the Universal mount has to be .947" from the bottom of the head to the end of the threads. The only stainless button head bolt I could find was a 1" which is .983" from the bottom, so I cut .036" off the threads. (See the picture right above for the specs)
Below left: The GoPro uses mounts that use stick-on curved or flat bases. The arms then slide and lock into these. Below left: a curved base on the right side of the front fairing.
Using a combination of short and/or longer arms the camera can be set in unlimited positions. Rotated, tilted, angled, forward or backward and locked tight with thumb screws.

I stuck the base on the top of the fairing close to fairing support, figuring this is the sturdiest place on the fairing. I can buy more bases and stick them anywhere on the bodywork or my helmet. I can't attest to the performance or video quality of the camera mounted here because I won't be able to test it until I get back on the track in the Spring, but it's as sturdy as the GoPro was when mounted on the fairing and it's quality was fine.

This modification also allows the use of GoPro's suction cup windshield/tank mount which is actually a quality Panavise unit. I've checked out Contour's suction mount and it didn't look as nice as this one.



So, with a minor modification of a small part, all of GoPro's excellent mounts can be used with the Contour.

I also decided to shorten the vertical mounting arm I made to attach the Contour to the right side of the subframe. Note: click on my other blog listed on the right of this page for info on that mount.



While I was at it I also added another rivet to the baseplate from the GoPro that I had mounted to a aluminum plate that mounts under the muffler, facing rearward.
The rivet heads need to be ground down slightly so that the arms slide in. The bottom of the aluminum plate needed a little "Dremel machining".

The camera mounted up under the exhaust...I'll be adding safety wire lanyards before taking it out on the track. BTW: the lanyards that come with the cameras don't seem to be very sturdy and I'll be making better ones.
Right: another useful purpose of the camera mount in the rear- makes a great attachment point for checking rear suspension sag!!


I even found a used padded vinyl bag I had laying around that the camera and all the mounts fit in nicely. A little double faced tape and the label from one of the Contour boxes stuck to the top of the bag. NICE!


Oh yeah......sometimes I'm kidded about be somewhat "anal retentive" (actually, not somewhat...)......anyway, below I've added a picture of my toolbox.

You think?