Motorcycle Helmet Camera

[DickP]

Hi,

I have been intending to get a camera for my helmet but quickly get lost with the various reviews and options. I also appreciate the technology is moving quickly, so don't want to get a camera which is recommended by an "old review" when I could have got something better for a similar price.

What do people use for motorcycle helmet cameras these days?

Any particular issues to be aware of with them?

Can the adhesives for the mount be detrimental to a helmet?

Thanks,

[rodericb]

What is it to be used for? Do you want a "dashcam" of sorts to catch accidents and other things or is it to record yourself fanging it through the countryside?

[airsafari87]

Hopefully you're not wanting one so that you can join the Moto Madness 'You could have killed me!!!!111!!!' Brigade

If you're wanting one purely to record the evidence in the event of an accident then there are camera systems out there that fit to the bike, are totally discreet and handy for if you do get knocked off. Someone else who has one fitted should be able to advise you on that one though.

If you're wanting one just to record your rides out then I'd be wary of that again. Too many riders seem to come a cropper due to thinking too much about what is going to look good on camera, rather than concentrating on the road and just enjoying the ride for what it is.

You also have to consider getting stopped by plod and incriminating yourself and others you may be riding with. That is one of the reasons why I wont ride with anyone who has a go pro fitted to their bike or person.

And most importantly, I really wouldnt want to end up in an accident with a camera fixed to my helmet. Helmets are designed to slide as smoothly as possible across the road in an accident. I cant imagine a camera jutting out and catching something in a slide will do you much good at all.

[PIGINAWIG]

Drift are pretty good, mount on the bike is preferable and you can move the location almost anywhere on the bike. Links up well with smart phone to download. Had mine for a couple of years and it’s had a hammering in the wet with no issues.

I use it to record Nürburgring and euro tours.

[DickP]

Hi,

It would be for if there were an unfortunate incident like a collision. Nothing else.

Current bike is a first gen SV650S but don't think it's a long termer and will probably migrate to a touring or adventure bike eventually.

Thanks,

[feef]

GoPro is the usual go-to for action cameras but I prefer Drift for day-to-day use, especially for a helmet mount as it's far more discrete and doesn't stick out at much. It's also waterproof without needing an additional case which was something GoPro didn't do until, I believe, the most recent iterations of their camera.

[OverSteery]

I fitted a cheapo one from Ebay with front and rear cams. search for "bike dash cam", About £30.

mine looks like this one.



the main unit sits under the seat.
Quality is OK, although not great. Definately not GoPro standard, or to start a youtube channel. Number plates on cars are not always very clear, but it does record what happened.

On a helmet you will need to remember to charge it and turn it on, much better to wire into the bike if you want it for possible accident etc.

Edited by OverSteery on Sunday 10th May 16:40

[wuckfitracing]

I have had 2 Drift Stealth 2`s and both have packed in. One fried in the sun the other just gave up. I also suspect the batteries are unable to take the abuse of being mounted to the handlebars. When they were working the quality was superb and they have a recording loop feature similar to car cameras which is useful.

[mickyh7]

Michael Shumacher came to grief when he and the GoPro he had attached to his helmet hit a rock.
The GoPro was forced through his Ski Helmet and enteted his Skull.
The rest is history.

[Andybow]

mickyh7 said:

Michael Shumacher came to grief when he and the GoPro he had attached to his helmet hit a rock.
The GoPro was forced through his Ski Helmet and enteted his Skull.
The rest is history.

No it didn’t

[jdearauj]

I was advised by a policeman to buy a video camera after he came to my house to take my statement after i was knocked off my bike in an accident in London. That is now more than 10 years ago and i rarely go out without a camera.

I have tested allot of cameras over the years, from cameras which are static on the bike and those which are attached to your helmet. These ranged from the likes of Drift, Innovv, Garmin to the GoPro range.

I would suggest a GoPro camera or whatever the best you can afford. Check the battery life is good enough for your journeys and the resolution is the highest it can record in video setting. I would suggest at least 30+ frames per second in at least 1080p. The reason i suggest the best resolution is you want to be able to provide the best quality in video if you plan to share it with your insurance company or police. The last thing you need is it not to video the license plate or at night be a very bad image.

I currently use the GoPro 7 which i mount to the chin of my helmet. I suggest helmet mount as i think as humans we always are looking in the direction of travel or when objects are coming at us. So this way you follow the action and if you have a static camera only pointing at the front you will not see the objects on the side. This is my personal preference and suggestion.

Any other questions, just let me know as i would be happy to help.

[mickyh7]

Go on then, what caused his injury ?
I thought that actually happened.

[Andybow]

mickyh7 said:

Go on then, what caused his injury ?
I thought that actually happened.

It happened where I used to live in the Alps
A friend of mine was his ski guide/instructor he unfortunately just had a silly accident, he was wearing a camera and helmet but a helmet doesn’t always help. He fell in a tiny off piste section between two pistes coming down from the Dent de Burgin in Meribel he fell on a rock under the snow, he got up and was fine, he went down hill about half hour later when he started slurring his words. it was just the press that picked up on the camera story.

[mickyh7]

Andybow said:

It happened where I used to live in the Alps
A friend of mine was his ski guide/instructor he unfortunately just had a silly accident, he was wearing a camera and helmet but a helmet doesn’t always help. He fell in a tiny off piste section between two pistes coming down from the Dent de Burgin in Meribel he fell on a rock under the snow, he got up and was fine, he went down hill about half hour later when he started slurring his words. it was just the press that picked up on the camera story.

Thanks for clearing that up. There was an awful lot written by the Press about the GoPro angle.
Facts spoiling a good story again!

[the cueball]

I’ve used a Contour Roam camera for the last 5 years.

I think they look better than the go pro stuff, less bulky. I have it on the right side of my helmet, so it records what I’m looking at.

Not as high on the tech scale, but has done a job well for me.

[JulianHJ]

I use a Drift 4K - it's fairly unobtrusive compared to a GoPro if you want a helmet-mounted camera. I've owned it since they were released and have had no issues with it.

[Andybow]

mickyh7 said:

Thanks for clearing that up. There was an awful lot written by the Press about the GoPro angle.
Facts spoiling a good story again!

Normal press nonsense, he had a bit of blood on his head where the helmet broke but it didn’t look too bad apparently. He only lost consciousness in the helicopter on the way to the hospital after he was slurring his words, unfortunately when you work in a ski resort you see so many crashes and accidents that 99% of people with cuts on there heads and broken helmets etc are fine.
I lost a friend when I worked out there who hit her head on the piste and then dieed the next day of a brain injury. I like most people never used to wear a helmet unless I was in competitions. now most people wear helmets but accidents keep happening.

[Andybow]

I’ve got a go pro 5 session which is about the smallest camera you can get, it’s 1080 and 60fps, depending on how long you want the battery to last it’s a good small camera. But only lasts for about 45 minutes continuously, the drift was good, haven’t used the 4K one as I’ve heard horror stories

[Sidecar Man]

Wouldn't be fitting a camera to my helmet. There's a reason your not allowed to fit it to your helmet on track days. If it's glued on strong enough to hold it on the buffeting from the wind will give you neck ache and if you should crash it could twist your neck as it digs in the ground before it gets ripped off.

[zzrman]

Andybow said:

It happened where I used to live in the Alps
A friend of mine was his ski guide/instructor he unfortunately just had a silly accident, he was wearing a camera and helmet but a helmet doesn’t always help. He fell in a tiny off piste section between two pistes coming down from the Dent de Burgin in Meribel he fell on a rock under the snow, he got up and was fine, he went down hill about half hour later when he started slurring his words. it was just the press that picked up on the camera story.

I'd heard that the problem was that he had the Go Pro on the side of the helmet and when he fell and hit the rock the Go Pro mount cracked the side of the helmet. So that wasn't the case?

We see enough skiers and snowboarders with Go Pros on the slopes here. The common denominator seems to be that the ones with GoPros are at best mediocre skiers and snowboarders - aka Gays on Trays.