Handlebar mount
Also known as: bar mount, handlebar clamp
A clamp that fixes an action camera to the handlebars of a bike, motorcycle or scooter, filming forward at the track or back at the rider from a fixed point.
Updated
What it means
A handlebar mount is a clamp, usually with rubber shims for different bar diameters, that bolts an action camera to the bars. Unlike a helmet mount, the camera is fixed to the machine rather than the rider, so it shows the front end and the track or road ahead no matter where you look.
Turn it around and it becomes a rider cam: your face, body position and the scenery behind you. Motocross riders, road cyclists and motorcyclists often run one camera facing each way, which gives the edit both the action and the reaction from a single session.
How it works in practice
Fit the clamp close to the stem, where the bars flex least, and tighten it enough that it cannot rotate on a rough landing. Keep brake lines and cables clear of the arm. On a dirt bike or a hardtail, the camera takes every impact the fork does not absorb, so in-camera stabilization such as HyperSmooth is close to mandatory.
Engines add high-frequency vibration that stabilization cannot fully remove. It shows up as jello, the wobbly distortion caused by rolling shutter. A vibration-damping mount or a rubber pad between clamp and camera reduces it, and an ND filter that slows the shutter adds motion blur that hides some of what remains.
What to watch out for
Handlebars turn. In tight corners the camera swings away from the direction of travel, which can look disorienting, and on a motorcycle the view is often half dash and mirrors. If you want the shot to follow the road, a chest mount or helmet camera usually works better; keep the bar cam for straights, jumps and rear-facing rider shots.
Loose clamps are the other classic failure: the camera slowly tips forward on rough ground, and you discover an hour of asphalt at home. Check the angle at every stop. And because a bar camera never sees the rider's eyes or hands on the controls, it works best as one angle among several in a highlight.
How RawClip handles it
A handlebar camera pairs well with a helmet or chest angle, and RawClip takes both in one order, even from different brands. RawClip does not fix rolling shutter or stabilize shaky clips, so sort out vibration with the mount and camera settings first. The AI then picks the best moments across every angle.