JohnM Loc: Springfield, Illinois

Your right on Jerry, my Goldwing was prompted me to add the trailer in the first place. An adventure bike climbing rock bluffs wouldnt work so well :-) but based on the group pictures posted it didnt look like an outback riders pack hence my comments.

Like you said, its all going to come down to your bike, your equipment and your needs. Fact is on the wing on the harley or any other way anything short of abuse seems to not be a problem for any of my photo gear. The worst problem I have had is riding 200 miles + into no where for a specific photo to find a dead battery. Thats why I always take the chargers.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

My 05 FXD used to shake pretty badly, and I never had problems with my point and shoot, or even my DSLR when I would bring it along. As Jerry said, just wrap it in something to help cushion it.

ajax

This is a method that I've been using for years. The tail bag made by Nelson-Rigg mounts nicely between my handlebars. The camera is easily accessed while still seated on the bike. The only real downside is that I'm unable to see my speedometer or tach. Just as well, since that's a 124" S&S motor with 130hp. When I used to look down and see how fast I was going, I used to get scared.... lol

I can actually carry my D800 in here with a 70-200 attached very nicely.

Goodolboy1 Loc: Oklahoma

Howdy,
I seen the word Motorcycle then seen GW and I had to share this. Last june of 2013 I rode my GoldWing 1800 out the Mojave Desert in So. Ca. where I was born and raised to visit family. I to have and use the RAM mounts on my GW. I have the mounting set up so I can mount my video cam and take video while moving. I also have the helmet mount. The photo's here was taken with a simple Kodak point and shoot. I held the cam in my hand and took them while riding south on I-40. I did have my Nikon D3100 along with me, but I wouldnt risk damaging it in a situation like this. Anyway, Just wanted to share this...

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

Thanks for all the perspectives! I have a Gold Wing 1800 and a Harley. I've seen a good part of the USA and Canada since 1995 riding around...before that I had a trail bike and I would ride off road with an Olympus OM-1 and OM-2 strapped around my neck. I could stop just about anywhere I rode to take pictures - the bike only weighed about 250 lbs. As I ride now I see many photo ops - old barns, animals, sunsets, landscapes, etc - but it's difficult to find a place along the road to stop and capture from a good angle - the Gold Wing loaded will weigh close to 1000 lbs. I have carried several of my good camera bodies/lenses in a tank bag that is well padded and has a rain cover. Many times I would just prefer to stop for a couple minutes to take a picture without getting off the bike. With a long telephoto it would be best to use a tripod. I was thinking of mounting a tripod head with a quick mount in some fashion so I could take the camera out of the bag with the kick stand down and bike turned off and clip the camera in the mount to take the picture. I would be very hesitant to keep the camera clipped to the mount while traveling although it would be ideal if there was a safe way to do it. I'm not so much interested in taking pictures with a lower quality camera while the bike is in motion. I would just like to find an easy way to stop and take that picture that pops up that many times gets missed because I keep on riding because it isn't easy to stop. Does this help focus on what my initial post was meant to solicit input on?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

What's the budget...you never did tell us that...

Goodolboy1 Loc: Oklahoma

Well then, I'd say just buy a real good, well padded case that will hold cam body and lenses. The GW doesnt ride rough, and I dont see where packing your cam gear in the trunk or ever saddlebag would hurt anything. When I took my trip I packed my cam and lenses in my saddlebag and they was fine.

Just want to ad, There are some lower cost point and shoot cams that take some great photo's. They are not all that cheap...

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

Budget is flexible...

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

Just imagine riding along and you see a great photo op. I just want to stop quick, grab my camera while still on the bike and take a sharp picture as quickly and safely as possible...then resume my ride. Occasionally I would disembark from the bike and walk to the best vantage point...quickly grabbing the camera and taking the picture...somehow feeling a sense of urgency or secrecy to grab a picture or 2 and get back on the road.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Seriously, look at the sony rx100,

Goodolboy1 Loc: Oklahoma

( I was thinking of mounting a tripod head with a quick mount in some fashion so I could take the camera out of the bag with the kick stand down and bike turned off and clip the camera in the mount to take the picture.)

I you have any interest, I would be willing to take a couple of photo's what I have and use on my GW. IMO, it works great while bike is sitting still and side or center stand. What make this so neat is, When I'm using it, I just loosen the mount by hand and lay it over. Way faster than messing around with a tripod. If interested, Let me know. Now you have me thinking about getting a tank bag to hold my cam for easy access. Right now I have a back pack that is made for cam gear. It's great if you want to go out hiking and take along your cam gear. It even has a special mount on the side for a tripod... Anyway, let me know if you want to see the mounting that I have.

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

GoodolBoy1 - I would love to see some picks of your GW set up. I'm attaching several pictures of the tank bag I use on my GW to store my camera in on trips. On longer trips, like a 2 week 5000 mile trip, I'll take a bridge camera along - which I have pictured. I show the zoom extended and not extended so you can see there is plenty of room for longer lenses. I pad the camera either with gloves or some other clothing material - like a towel or t-shirt. I fabricated the bracket and plate out of stainless steel that the tank bag is strapped to. There is a bracket screwed to the bike under the plastic cover around the key lock which the tank is attached to. I welded a tube on the end for the bolt to go through and screw to the other side of the bracket. This allows me to raise the bag to put in fuel or to access the audio controls. When I see a photo op and stop I generally turn off the bike and put the kickstand down and then unzip the tank bag and take out the camera. I don't have any way to stabilize the camera so I'm interested in your setup. With this 60X zoom (20-1200) I have a great reach from just sitting on the bike - snapping a few pictures and going on my way. It's the long zooms that a tripod-type mount would come in handy. Anyway - I'm still looking for a better, easier, quicker way - especially if I have any of my Olympus bodies with interchangeable lenses along with me.

Underside of bracket and plate


Bracket/tank mounted on Gold Wing lifted up


Tank bag open with zoom lens extended


Tank Bag open with zoom lens not extended

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

GoodolBoy1 - I would love to see some picks of our GW set up. I'm attaching several pictures of the tank bag I use on my GW to store my camera in on trips. On longer trips, like a 2 week 5000 mile trip, I'll take a bridge camera along - which I have pictured. I show the zoom extended and not extended so you can see there is plenty of room for longer lenses. I pad the camera either with gloves or some other clothing material - like a towel or t-shirt. I fabricated the bracket and plate out of stainless steel that the tank bag is strapped to. There is a bracket screwed to the bike under the plastic cover around the key lock which. I welded a tube on the end for the bolt to go through and screw to the other side of the bracket. This allows me to raise the bag to put in fuel or to access the audio controls. When I see a photo op and stop I generally turn off the bike and put the kickstand down and then unzip the tank bag and take out the camera. I don't have any way to stabilize the camera so I'm interested in your setup. With this 60X zoom (20-1200) I have a great reach from just sitting on the bike - snapping a few pictures and going on my way. It's the long zooms that a tripod-type mount would come in handy. Anyway - I'm still looking for a better, easier, quicker way - especially if I have any of my Olympus bodies with interchangeable lenses.

Underside of bracket and plate


Bracket/tank mounted on Gold Wing lifted up


Tank bag open with zoom lens extended

Goodolboy1 Loc: Oklahoma

Thanks for sharing those photo's, I really like the bag you have, and that setup is great as well. I will set things up on my GW and take a few photo's for ya. I see you already the RAM ball mount mounted to your bike for your Garmin. At that point all you'll need is a couple of longer arms, and you'll have what I have. I use the 1" ball mount on my bike. I love the way RAM came up with the mounting set up. I have two on the left side of the bike, One holds my Garmin, and the other holds my water bottle. I have only one on the right, and that one holds my D3100 and my little midland 720p HD action cam. So as for being set up, I think I'm doing good. Though I'm going to order a three suction cup RAM cam mount. It'll work great on the trunk, or even the saddlebag.... By the way, where did you purchase your tank bag ?

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

8-) 8-) Do you make the walk on Labor Day? Maybe you walked with Jennipoo? :lol: :lol: :lol: