Couple of tips that I would suggest for those doing this from home. Steve has done a ton of these and has a very stead hand, but for those of us with less then steady hands, I would put a single layer of blue painters tape over the lens before drilling. that way if you accidentally slip a little you are less likely to damage the lens. Also if you don't quite have a steady hand, drill a pilot hole with a regular bit, then when you switch to the hole saw, run it BACKWARDS for a few seconds before beginning to cut the hole, that will create a very light groove and make it far less likely to jump around. If you have a steady hand then steve's method is perfect ;)
Thanks for idea Steve! I installed a K5 rear camera today. The diameter, measured with caliper, is exactly 25.0 mm. I purchased a 1-inch Milwaukee hole saw. 1 inch = 25.4 mm. The resulting hole was 0.4 mm too large. So, I wrapped electrical tape around the camera twice. That was too large. Then I wrapped the tape around only once and it provided a nice snug fit without need to use mallet or vise. I then wrapped tape around 3 times around the middle of camera so that if the single layer of tape ever loosens, the camera will not ever be at risk of falling out. I did use a small drill bit to make the initial hole, then sized up twice more with larger bits, before using the hole saw.
PLEASE, be careful NOT TO destroy any cable while drilling, I have the Denali Brake Light Installed and the cable was exactly behind the reflector light, when remove the whole license plate holder unit redirect any cable. OK, let me tell you, I am not an expert but This is NOT an easy task. GO SLOW. You should be VERY careful when drilling the light reflector. Also, making the hole bigger to fit the camera is another issue, because is difficult to maintain the circle form while increasing size. By hand will take FOREVER. I used a Dremel electric tool with an extension. After all of this, the installation looks fantastic. This took me more than one hour. I did not use a rubber malled, just by hand pressure. EXCELLENT VIDEO, THANKS FOR POSTING THIS. I HELPED A LOT!
I've seen people asking in other videos where you mounted the camera this way and I'd like to add that this is an MOT fail. Look up MOT inspection manual: motorcycles, 4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, 4.8. Rear Reflectors, 4.8.1 Presence, condition and operation. The reflector is damaged and it's a minor defect. You will pass MOT however you will have a legal obligation to get it fixed. Other than that, keep up the good work!
Thank you. Yes I’ve been made aware of this and I will be making another video in the future reflecting on this plus a new method of installation without the mallet. Even though I am making customers aware of these laws I’m still being requested to fit them in the reflector.
Great video Steve. May I suggest using a dremel tool to take a tad more plastic off after the hole saw process. That will make life a little easier and eradicate the need for so many love taps with the mallet.
I have another new method to compress the camera into place. My experience of dremmels is it can take too much off in one place and a nice even hole becomes a wonky one.
A bit late to the party I guess. It looks like an xcellent solution and a good snug fit. How are the evening, night shots from the camera? Any red glow or other interference from the back light? I got my camera way back on the rack and that just a waste of the camera with halve a case in the shot.👍🏼
Thanks for sharing. I installed the K3 on my Honda NC 750 and its worked really well for the last two years. Perhaps it was a K2, cant recall right now, anyways. I just bought a 2022 RT and plan to install a K3 in it. I know you specialise in the GS, just wondering whether you know of any “how to Vidz” for an RT install. I have to say I was nervous watching you hammer the rear camera into the hole, fearful that it may damage the lens, but it seems fine :). Without looking closely at the RT rear end I think I may be able to use your approach to installing the rear camera with a bit of luck. Great videos and really pleased for you in growing a business you love, good onya.
Hi. Enjoyed this one with clear steps. Accept that most of the comments are helpful too. I may have missed it but what bike are you demonstrating this on?
Unfortunately, this procedure is not allowed in many European countries. A reflector has an entered number and is therefore typified and must not be changed. But great work! Super integrated and it looks so original so I don't think anyone would object. Thanks for the great video!
Steve, do you still use a 25mm hole saw for the K3? I can’t find categorically that the camera housings are the same size and the upgrades are elsewhere..? Great install. This is so tidy.
There’s a second video after this one. Only 3 cameras ever got that treatment (still fully working 2 years later). All cameras are now compressed into position using clamps as per the more recent video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dp0bH0GQHPQ.html
I think its a great position from an aesthetics point of view...but really, taking a mallet, rubber or otherwise to a camera...that is madness ,I have worked with cameras for forty plus years an its a total no ,no. That camera has very likely got a pretty basic M12 lens, that's not the focal length, threaded into a pc board mount and they are not that rugged ,usually the thread is locked into the mount by one small screw. They are a very basic lens but they still have a few lens elements in place often held in the correct position drop a small bit of cement I invite you to show that method to the manufacturer and publish their response ,I would be horrified if you were to fit a camera on my bike hitting it with a mallet. Why don't you just remove a bit more plastic and use a drop of silicone as a lubricant to insert and with some UV light it will cure but be easy enough to twist loose should you need to remove, I'm only talking a smear here.
Thanks for your feedback. Taken on board. The tapping of the mallet is very gentle and as you can see there are many taps due to me being patient with the progress. One hard smack and it would be in but that would be reckless. I’ll run it past INNOVV. I can tell you now they’d have already seen it but I’ll speak to them this week. Moving forwards I have an idea for a new tool with a hollow back to squeeze the camera into place using a compression clamp.
Steve - does it not get covered with muck in the winter ? My numberplate needs cleaning off almost every journey in the winter to keep it legible - I'd have thought the camera would be a bit of a dirt magnet there ?
Ok again, does the electrical part can be place on any bike as at the moment this camera and videos are only on BMW models with it no other bike videos
Been hunting for a replacement reflector lens for bike sales time, any ideas if it’s an option? Also, was thinking about the rubber mallet trick, are or could the optics be affected by this? Not criticism just your thoughts? Great placement and video instructions 👍
I’ve installed a few now and all the camera are fine, however one of the subscribers gave me a better idea of compression and using a G clamp with a purpose made tool to allow the rear of the camera to slide backwards through it. I’ll be making something during lockdown.
Firstly the FOV on these cameras will forgive any slight angle. I wear my go pro on my chin and im not sitting there thinking too much about the angle of my neck. lol. I guess it's point and shoot and do the best job you can so the camera is as level as you can get it.
Hey Steve, I was watching your ABBA video. No, not the 1976 Dancing Queen, but the Sky Lift one. You happened to mention, and therefore I got wondering which GPS tracker service are you using? Btw, life behind bars is understood, it's the life offender which puzzles me. Living life on the line?
Big brand protection with innovv. You should never see it discounted anywhere, however this is a large quantity so please email me at steve@abikething.com and we’ll see what we can do.
Don't like quoting prices on RU-vid as someone could be reading this in 10 year time by which time the price of a Mars bar had doubled. 😀. In 2020 I am charging £120 to fit a K2 however i do it for half price if the customer is also having a denali bundle installed too.
1 mm less than the camera. I don’t think the hardware store has a hole saw the size of one mm less than a camera. Does that hole saw have a diameter in absolute millimeters?
I'd be much easier, and safer for the camera lens, if you used a clamper (Just an idea of what I'm referring to. prnt.sc/vest1l ). Before you screw in the rear fender, place the clamper offset to the camera and by using a wooden plank squeeze/press the camera in it's position. You get what I mean even if my English is terrible.
