Television cameras on motorbikes

[tgabber]

Just watching some of The Great North Run on telly and started thinking about the tv pictures of the runners that are shot from motorbikes.

Does anyone know if the bikes are specially modified to allow the cameraman to sit backwards on the bike or do they just put up with being uncomfortable?

Has anyone ever been involved in this type of filming? Either as rider or camera operator?

How does someone get started in this? I'd imagine quite a bit of specialist training was necessary.

Have so far been unsucessful locating any info about this using Google.
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Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[kev]

They may have a rear facing remote operated camera on the bike.
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[Major_Grooves]

Usually you can see the guys sitting on the back of the motorbike. Not usre how they do it though.
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[mrchips]

If you're going to get a video camera you might as well get a DVD player and screen into the tank.

[tgabber]

The ones used this morning definitely had a manual camera with the operator facing backwards as you got to see them when they switched to overhead shots.

They appeared to be silver Triumphs with some sort of special footrest at the bottom of where the numberplate would normally be.
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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[Reevo8]

I did the great north yesterday!! and i only saw police Pan europeans and deuvilles!! But the bikes i saw had a top box!! So that may be how!

[carvell]

I've wondered this before too, from what I could see there were no massive modifications to the bikes, just a footrest as you say, the camera operator and driver probably just have to be skilled and work with each other well to stop it all going pear shaped!

I've just made a post on a usenet group, they should come up with some good answers, I'll relay them to here.

[edit]

[carvell]

A reply:

[Kickstart]

Hi

I have carried a pillion facing backwards. Not really a problem. Might make it more convenient if the footrests are moved, and maybe change the shape of the seat to make it easier for the pillion to avoid sliding forwards.

Think it is actually perfectly legal for the pillion to face backwards (as the law just says they must be sitting astride the bike with their feet on the footrests), but not certain of this.

All the best

Keith
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[carvell]