The Best Motorcycle Cameras

[Peon Maface]

Updated July 2021

Motorcyclists love to tell stories about things that happened while they were riding. Having video evidence to back it up makes the stories even more fun. Who would believe you if you said that, as you were hard on the brakes from 160+ mph into Turn 2 at Laguna Seca, a ground squirrel ran across the track in front of you and the $100,000 Ducati Superleggera you were piloting? Well, Troy was able to document Mister Squiggles’ near-fatal dash thanks to his helmet cam and put an end to our disbelief. (See the proof here.)

Heroics aside, traveling by motorcycle is even more fun when you can capture the important moments of your trip while you’re actually riding. Group rides can be relived later. Track day lean angles can impress your buddies.

You just need to choose the right action camera, and you’ve got a ton of options. There are helmet cams, 360 cams, and even permanently mounted dash cams for commuters to use in case of a mishap. No matter what you want to record, there is a camera to handle that task. So, we’ve chosen what we think are the best motorcycle cameras around. Let us know in the comments if you have a personal favorite that isn’t mentioned here.

Table of Contents

• 1. Top of the Line: GoPro Hero9 Black
• 2. GoPro Hero8 Black
• 3. INNOVV K3 Dual Channel Motorcyle Motocam
• 4. insta360 ONE R Sports Video Adaptive Action Camera
• 5. Cambox V4 Pro
• 6. Insta360 GO
• 7. Sena 10C EVO

1. Top of the Line: GoPro Hero9 Black

If it weren’t for GoPro, there wouldn’t be an action camera market, and the GoPro Hero9 Black represents the company’s state of the art. Content creators will love that the Hero9 because its ability to shoot in 5K resolution will allow them to crop in to cover important details. Then there’s the 20 megapixel photo capability with SuperPhoto processing. To frame the shot from where you mount the camera, you have a front LCD and a rear LCD touchscreen with touch zoom. The bumps of the road or the trail will be erased with HyperSmooth 3.0 image stabilization. You can also live stream in 1080p if that’s your thing. Finally, the Hero9 is waterproof down to 33 ft. You certainly won’t need to worry about having it mounted to your bike when you ride in the rain.

Bottom Line/The best GoPro has to offer

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2. GoPro Hero8 Black

What was once top of the line is now a level down. Never mind, you can save a little money and still get premium performance. Riders who are serious about their onboard video will opt for the GoPro Hero8 Black. Vibration and shaky videos are a thing of the past with the Hero8’s three levels of stabilization. According to GoPro, this allows you to “Get the widest views, or boost to the smoothest video ever offered in a HERO camera. Works with all resolutions and frame rates, and features in-app horizon leveling.” Expandable Mods allow vloggers and budding filmmakers to upgrade the Hero8’s capabilities with microphone or light mods. How about live streaming 1080p video on social media? TimeWarp 2.0 allows super-stabilized time-lapse videos while moving through an activity. Want to see your whole ride in a few minutes? Capture 4K UHD 2160p video for high-quality viewing. You can even capture 12mp photos and photo bursts.

Bottom Line/Still a great action camera

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3. INNOVV K3 Dual Channel Motorcyle Motocam

The Innovv K3 is prepared to handle any weather condition you ride in and is rated IP67 waterproof, meaning the K3 is completely dust proof and can be immersed in up to three feet of water for a period of 30 minutes. So, unless you’re planning on launching your bike into a lake, you’re sure to be covered. The remote control has been upgraded to a fully metal construction and gives the rider the system status at a glance while riding. The K3 has also received a microphone for recording engine sounds or rider narration. The cable is long enough to reach the rider from many remote mounting locations for the DVR unit. Dual HD cameras record front and rear views simultaneously in your choice of 1080P 30fps or 720P 60fps, and a WiFi connection allows for reviewing and sharing of videos directly on a smartphone. Parking mode can record any attempts to molest your motorcycle while you aren’t there. The built-in, user-adjustable G-sensor automatically protects the current recording from erasure if the unit detects an accident. Loop recording starts recording over the oldest files first when the microSD card fills up. Still, with a maximum card size of 256GB, you can record approximately 18 hours of video before the unit overwrites old files.

MO Tested: Innovv K3 Review

Bottom Line/Record front and back views simultaneously from stealthily-mounted cameras

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4. insta360 ONE R Sports Video Adaptive Action Camera

The insta360 ONE R is the action camera for the rider who wants maximum versatility. The One R is built around a modular system that consists of a control unit with a built-in touchscreen, a lens module, and a battery pack that holds them together. The 360-degree camera records at 5.7K resolution, allowing the view direction to be selected in post-production. Plug in the 16.4mm equivalent focal length lens module, and you can record traditional action cam video in 4K at 60fps and 1080p at up to 200 fps. The wide-angle module was jointly developed with the Leica camera company, and it features a 1-inch sensor for recording 5.3K at 30fps and 4K at 60fps, 1080p, or 120fps. The camera’s construction allows for the touchscreen to face either forward or rearward for increased flexibility. The system is waterproof to 5m (16 feet), and a variety of mounts are available.

Bottom Line/Perfect for the rider who wants both 360° and traditional wide angle action video

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5. Cambox V4 Pro

Thanks to its unique mounting position, the Cambox V4 can mount in just about any helmet while not disrupting the airflow or adding any protruding objects in case of a crash. If you want a true rider POV, this is the camera. Its 150° wide angle lens records in 4K at up to 60 fps and keeps things smooth with 6-axis stabilization. Weighing in at just 70 grams and 19mm thick, the V4 Pro mounts via hook-and-loop fastener inside the top of a helmet’s eye port. Controls include: large power button, 3 LEDs to easily know the camera status, and a lockable cap to protect the micro SD card and charging port. Control the camera wirelessly via the iOS & Android Cambox App.

MO Tested: Cambox MkV4 Pro Action Camera

Bottom Line/Discretely mounts inside your helmet for a true rider's-eye-view

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6. Insta360 GO

This tiny 27 gram marvel packs 6-axis stabilization just like your $40,000 Panigale R, remote start/stop/power up, 120 fps slow motion @ 1080p, Timelapse, Time Shift Hyperlapse, HDR video, and resolution up to 1440p at 30 or 50 fps through a 120 degree ultra wide lens with adjustable view modes. Unlike your smartphone, this camera is tiny, rugged, easy to mount just about anywhere, and best of all, utilizes auto horizon leveling technology combined with Flow-State Stabilization to automatically keep your shots level and free of jitters and bounce. It’s small enough to mount just about anywhere, and when you’re not using it, just pop it in your pocket.

MO Tested: Insta360 GO 2 Review

Bottom Line/Small and full-featured video recording fun

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7. Sena 10C EVO

The Sena 10C EVO is the company’s sole camera entry in their line of Bluetooth and Mesh communicators. The 10C EVO combines Bluetooth communications with 4K video. The camera captures video at 4K 30fps. Other video features include Video tagging and Smart Audio Mix. When the 10C EVO is in standby mode, the Video Tagging feature records the minute before and after the rider presses the Video Tagging button. Smart Audio Mix allows for Bluetooth conversations to be recorded to the captured video. Then the Sena 10C EVO is also a Bluetooth communicator that allows the rider to be able to communicate with up to four others over a claimed one-mile range. Pairing to your smartphone allows for calls, music, or GPS directions to be broadcast to the rider. Additionally, the camera preview mode lets the rider verify that the camera is in the correct orientation for the bike they are riding. Additionally, videos can be downloaded to the phone for sharing.

The Sena 10C EVO retails for $399.

Bottom Line/Ideal for moto-vloggers

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Motorcycle Camera FAQ

What is the best motorcycle camera?

As the action camera market has matured and diversified, that question can only be answered by asking more questions: What do I want to use the camera for? Do I want to mount it permanently on the bike or move it around? Do I want the camera with the highest resolution? All of these questions can be answered with one of the models above.

Are motorcycle helmet camera’s legal?

Good question. It depends on the state. For example, in California, objects that protrude more than 5mm from the helmet are illegal, but we’ve never seen it enforced.

Where is the best place to mount a 360-degree camera on a motorcycle?

We’d recommend mounting it on the tank or the handlebar. That way both the road and the rider can be seen in the video.

Additional Resources

MO Tested: Innovv K3 Review

MO Tested: Cambox MkV4 Pro Action Camera

MO Tested: Insta360 GO 2 Review

MO Tested: Innovv C5 Motorcycle Camera System Review

MO Tested: Innovv K1 Motorcycle Camera Review

 

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Source

[Buckster]