Motorcycle

How to Mount a GoPro on a Motorcycle Helmet: Step-by-Step Guide

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The BEST GoPro Helmet Mount Setup (for EVERY Helmet) | *Plus GoPro settings!*

Mounting a GoPro to a motorcycle helmet is straightforward — but there are several decisions that significantly affect the quality of your footage, the security of the mount, and whether your camera survives a crash. This step-by-step guide covers the three most common mounting methods with specific hardware recommendations for each helmet type.

The Three Main Ways to Mount a GoPro on a Motorcycle Helmet

Method 1: Chin Mount (Best for Full-Face Helmets)

The chin mount is the recommended position for motorcycle filming. The camera sits on the chin bar of your full-face helmet, pointing forward, at roughly eye level.

What you need:

  • GoPro Helmet Chin Mount (~$49.99) OR a compatible third-party chin mount (ULANZI U-400 ~$18, Telesin ~$15)
  • GoPro Hero 13 (or any current GoPro)
  • Optional: Anti-vibration mount pad if you’re on a high-vibration bike

Step-by-step installation:

  1. Identify the correct chin bar adapter for your helmet — the GoPro Helmet Chin Mount ships with multiple adapter plates for different chin bar widths
  2. Slide the adapter around the chin bar and fasten the two securing screws finger-tight first to confirm it sits level
  3. Tighten the screws firmly with the included hex key — the mount should not move when you pull it forward or sideways
  4. Click the GoPro onto the mount’s quick-release clip
  5. Adjust the camera angle downward approximately 10–15° from straight ahead — this compensates for the natural forward lean of your head when riding
  6. Test-record a 30-second clip and review the angle before your first ride

How to check the angle is right: The horizon should appear in the upper third of the frame when you’re in your normal riding position. Too high and you’ll see only road. Too low and you’ll see sky.

Method 2: Top Mount (For Any Helmet Type)

The top mount attaches to the top or back of the helmet and is the standard method for open-face, modular, and half-helmets where a chin mount isn’t possible.

Option A — Vented Helmet Strap Mount (no adhesive, reversible):

  • GoPro Vented Helmet Strap Mount (~$19.99) — adjustable strap fits around any helmet vent system
  • Position the camera as far forward on the helmet as the strap allows
  • Run the strap through two adjacent vents, tighten, and clip the GoPro on
  • Limitation: not as secure as adhesive mounts; can slip on smooth shells

Option B — Adhesive Curved Mount (permanent, most secure):

  • GoPro Curved Adhesive Mount (~$8 for 3-pack)
  • Clean the helmet surface with the included alcohol wipe — adhesive fails on dirty or waxed surfaces
  • Peel the 3M backing and press the mount firmly for 60 seconds in the centre of the top of the helmet
  • Allow 24 hours cure time before riding — the 3M VHB adhesive needs this time to reach full strength
  • Attach the GoPro mount buckle and twist-lock it into position

Important: Adhesive mounts are semi-permanent. Removal is possible but may leave residue or damage helmet paint. Consider this before committing to a smooth-shell helmet.

Method 3: Side Mount

Side mounting uses the same adhesive or strap system as the top mount but positioned at the temple or side of the helmet. This gives an offset angle rather than the standard forward POV.

When to use side mount: For variety shots and creative B-roll when you have a second camera or are doing slow-speed riding. Not recommended for sustained motorway riding due to aerodynamic drag and lateral vibration.

Which Mount Position Is Right For You?

Helmet Type Recommended Mount Product
Full-face (road) Chin mount GoPro Helmet Chin Mount or ULANZI U-400
Full-face (motocross) Chin mount GoPro Helmet Chin Mount with breakaway
Modular/flip-front Top mount (chin works if chin bar is solid) GoPro Vented Strap or adhesive
Open-face / 3/4 Top mount GoPro Vented Strap
Half helmet Top mount (compact camera only) Adhesive curved mount

Securing the Mount for Highway Speeds

At motorway speeds, aerodynamic forces put stress on both the camera and mount. These steps prevent camera loss:

  1. Use the tether — GoPro’s adhesive mounts include a tether attachment point. Thread the included safety tether through the camera’s tether hole and attach to the mount or helmet strap. If the camera detaches, it won’t hit traffic.
  2. Check the quick-release buckle before every ride — pull the camera forward and backward. It should be solid with no movement.
  3. Loctite Blue on the chin mount screws prevents vibration loosening over time without permanently bonding (unlike Red Loctite).
  4. Replace worn thumb screws — the knurled plastic screws on GoPro mounts strip over time. Metal replacement screws (~$5 on Amazon) are far more durable for motorcycle use.

Adjusting Camera Angle for Correct Framing

The GoPro mount buckles allow adjustment in 30° increments. For most riders:

  • Chin mount: position 2 or 3 clicks down from horizontal gives correct horizon placement
  • Top mount: position 1 or 2 clicks down — less correction needed from the elevated position

The exact angle depends on your riding position. Riders with a more aggressive forward lean need less downward tilt than riders in an upright touring position. Do a quick test ride at the start, review the footage, and adjust one click at a time until the horizon sits correctly.

Using the Mount Advisor for Your Specific Setup

Helmet shapes and chin bar profiles vary significantly between brands. Our Mount Advisor tool identifies the specific mount hardware compatible with your helmet model and camera, and recommends the optimal angle adjustment for your riding position.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a GoPro chin mount fit my Shoei/Arai/Bell helmet?

Most chin mounts include multiple adapter plates for different chin bar widths. GoPro’s own Helmet Chin Mount is compatible with the majority of major helmet brands. For Arai helmets specifically, the narrower chin bar sometimes needs the narrowest adapter plate — check the Mount Advisor for your specific model.

Can I remove an adhesive mount without damaging my helmet?

Yes, with care. Use a hair dryer to warm the adhesive pad for 30 seconds, then use dental floss slid underneath the mount to cut through the adhesive layer. Remove remaining adhesive residue with Goo Gone or isopropyl alcohol. There may be slight paint dulling under the pad if the helmet has a gloss finish.

How do I prevent the GoPro from vibrating loose mid-ride?

Three steps: (1) Check the quick-release buckle is fully engaged (listen for the click). (2) Apply Loctite Blue to the chin mount screws and allow to cure for 24 hours. (3) Use an anti-vibration mount pad underneath if you’re on a high-vibration engine. Replace the twist-lock buckle if you notice any play in the connection.

Official resources: GoPro official mount accessories | GoPro Hero 13 setup guide.

How to Film Motocross: Camera Settings, Techniques & Best Angles

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GoPro: Justin Barcia - 450 Moto 1 - 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Unadilla MX

Filming motocross races — whether your own performance or someone else’s — produces completely different challenges than road riding footage. The combination of high speed, jumps, roost, tight corners, and unpredictable race conditions requires a specific approach to get footage worth watching. This guide covers techniques, camera placement, and settings that produce professional-quality motocross race footage.

Filming Your Own Riding: Helmet Cam Setup

Camera Placement for MX Racing

Chin mount: the standard for motocross
All major GoPro-sponsored motocross and MXGP athletes use chin mounts. The reasons are practical: the chin bar absorbs vibration from the rough terrain, the camera is sheltered from direct roost, and the perspective closely matches the rider’s eye line — which means viewers see what the rider sees through jumps, berms, and whoops.

Use a breakaway mount design for racing (not permanent adhesive) — if the helmet hits the ground, you want the camera to detach cleanly rather than applying rotational force to the helmet.

Best Settings for Race Footage

Situation Resolution Frame Rate Stabilization
Full race documentation 4K 60fps HyperSmooth Boost
Jump slow-motion 2.7K or 4K 120fps Standard
Long gate drop to checkered flag 2.7K 60fps Boost (saves battery)
Practice lap analysis 1080p 120fps Any

Key setting: Horizon Lock ON — corners in motocross involve significant body lean. With Horizon Lock off, the camera tilts with your body, making footage look chaotic. With Horizon Lock on, the horizon stays level and corners look controlled and intentional.

Battery Management for Race Day

A standard motocross heat runs 30–35 minutes. A full race day with practice, qualifying, and 2 motos can run 4–5 hours of actual riding. Plan for:

  • 2–3 batteries for GoPro Hero 13 (90 min each)
  • 1–2 batteries for DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro (160 min each)
  • Charge between sessions in the paddock via USB-C power bank

Use the Battery & Trip Planner to calculate exactly how much power you need for your race day schedule.

Filming Someone Else Racing: Ground Camera Techniques

Filming riders from trackside produces a very different type of motocross content — and for compelling action footage, ground cameras and multiple angles produce better spectator content than a single helmet cam.

Position 1: The Berm Exit

Position yourself just outside the exit of a fast berm corner, low to the ground. As riders exit the berm at full throttle, they pass within feet of the camera. At 60fps, this produces blurring of the background while the rider stays sharp — a cinematic effect without any post-production work.

Position 2: Jump Face and Landing

Set up on the side of a significant jump — not directly in line with the trajectory (obvious safety reason), but at 45°. Shoot at 120fps minimum to capture the full arc of the jump in slow motion. This is the most watchable type of motocross footage and the highest-traffic shot type on YouTube motocross channels.

Position 3: Start Gate

The holeshot is pure energy — 20+ bikes launching simultaneously. Set up wide at a 45° angle to the start gate, 30fps for the real-time chaos look or 120fps for slow-motion gate drop analysis.

Best Cameras for Trackside Motocross Filming

For filming from the side of the track (not helmet mounting), a different set of priorities applies:

  • Zoom capability: Action cameras have fixed wide lenses — you need to be close to the action. For distance shots, a camera with optical zoom (Sony ZV-E10 with kit lens, or a 70–200mm telephoto) captures riders on the far side of the track.
  • High frame rate: 120fps minimum to freeze the details of riders in the air.
  • Burst photo mode: GoPro Hero 13 shoots 27MP bursts at 30fps — capturing split-second moments between video clips.

Audio for MX Race Footage

The sound of motocross is half the content — tyre roost, engine scream, landing impacts. External microphone options:

  • Rode VideoMicro II — compact directional mic that attaches to a camera hotshoe. Directional pattern focuses on the action in front of you.
  • Zoom H1n — separate handheld recorder. Record raw engine and crowd audio separately, sync in editing for clean multi-track audio.
  • Smartphone mic — modern iPhones and Samsung flagships record excellent ambient audio. A separate phone on a mini tripod pointing at the track is surprisingly effective.

Editing Your Motocross Footage

Two tools dominate motocross content editing:

  • GoPro Quik (free) — automated editing with beat-sync. Creates a watchable highlight reel in minutes. Limited control but excellent for quick social content.
  • DaVinci Resolve (free) — full professional editing suite. Used by professional moto videographers. Has a learning curve but the Fusion compositor enables colour grading and effects that Quik can’t match.

Not sure which camera fits your motocross filming needs? Our Camera Recommender tool has a specific motocross profile that factors in vibration handling, frame rate, and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do professional MX riders get paid to use GoPro?

Major MXGP and AMA Pro riders are typically sponsored by GoPro or DJI — they use specific cameras as part of their sponsorship agreements. The cameras they use are production models, not custom units, which is why the footage you see from factory riders is achievable with consumer cameras.

What’s the safest way to mount a camera on a motocross helmet?

Use a dedicated motocross chin mount with a breakaway release mechanism. Avoid permanent adhesive mounts that can’t release during a crash. Check that your helmet’s certification (ECE 22.06 or DOT) isn’t voided by external modifications — most chin mounts avoid this by attaching to the chin bar without adhesive rather than bonding to the helmet shell.

Official resources: GoPro Hero 13 Black | DJI Osmo Action 4.

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