7 Things You Must Know Before Buying A Motorcycle Dashcam

A motorcycle dashcam is a device that records video and audio of your riding journey. It can be used for various purposes, such as capturing scenic views, documenting accidents, or providing evidence in case of disputes. However, before buying a dashcam system for your motorcycle, you should consider the following 7 things:

1. Cost

Compared with the car dashcam system, the motorcycle dashcam system is exposed to a harsher environment on the motorcycle, so it has higher requirements for features such as waterproof (IP67), shockproof, etc. Therefore, the price of the motorcycle dashcam is generally higher than that of the car dashcam. Normally, the higher the price of the system, the more stable and advanced.

2. Video Quality

The video quality of the motorcycle dashcam system depends on two main factors: resolution and field of view angle. The resolution of the motorcycle dashcam system varies from 720p (low-end) to 4k (high-end), but the most common one is 1080p for both front and rear cameras. For example, the INNOVV K5 dashcam has a 4k resolution. The level of resolution directly affects the information recorded in the video. A higher resolution means that more details are captured at the same frame rate, so that you can watch what you experienced during the riding process more clearly.

The field of view angle determines how much view the camera can cover. The wider the field of view angle, the more view it can get, but this will also lead to more distortion caused by the fisheye effect, which affects the shape of the objects in the video. The field of view angle of about 120°, AKA the “golden angle”, which not only ensures sufficient view, but also minimizes distortion.

3. Storage Selection

As a general loop recording of the dashcam system, 256GB storage supported should be enough, which is also the market mainstream motorcycle dashcam support of the maximum. According to the INNOVV lab data, K3 with 256GB TF card can record about 19 hours of 1080P front and rear video, which is enough for daily commuting. If you’re planning to use the system for recording your long trips, you may need a larger storage capacity. The INNOVV K5 dashcam supports 512GB of storage and 4K video recording, which will be a better choice for long-distance riders.

*About loop recording: Loop recording is the process of continuously recording audio or video. This process is a never-ending process: at the end of the internal disk drive, the recording process continues at the beginning. Erasing previously recorded material and replacing it with new content.

4. Video Protection

The difference between the dashcam and the action camera is that it has a built-in G-sensor. The G-sensor can detect a sudden change in motion and tell the dashcam to save video of the event. For many dashcams, this type of footage is locked and will not be overwritten, which is helpful if you need to access the footage later. For example, if you have an accident or encounter a road rage incident, the G-sensor will automatically protect the video from being overwritten, so that you can use it as evidence or proof.

5. Wi-Fi Transmission

Normally, the DVR of the motorcycle dashcam is installed/put under the cushion, or integrated in the front lens, which makes it inconvenient to access the memory card inside the DVR when you need to view the video. Therefore, a good wireless video transmission is very important. You can find hundreds of dashcam support 2.4G Wi-Fi, which according to the transmission protocol, theoretically supports a maximum transmission value of 300 Mbps. However, the INNOVV K5 dashcam uses a 5G transmission protocol which supports a maximum transmission value of 1300 Mbps theoretically. This means that you can transfer and view the video on your phone faster and smoother.

6. Automatic Power On/Off

You may use your action camera as your motorcycle dashcam system, but this means that you must remember to turn it on/off every time you ride or its battery will be dead the next time. But this is not a problem for a motorcycle dashcam system, because it has an automatic power on/off feature. The motorcycle dashcam system is connected to the battery of your motorcycle, so it can sense when you start or stop your engine. It will automatically turn on when you start your engine and start recording, and it will automatically turn off when you stop your engine and stop recording. This way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn on/off your dashcam system.

7. Appearance and Installation

The size of the dashcam system affects the installation options on motorcycles, which are smaller than cars. However, a smaller body also compromises the performance and heat dissipation of the DVR. For example, the INNOVV K3 and K5 are both made of aluminum alloy, but the K3 front lens with 1080p resolution is much smaller than the K5 front lens with 4K resolution. The K5 has a stronger performance and a higher video quality, but it requires the DVR to be integrated into the front lens.

So, you need to consider how to hide the wires and where to place the cameras and the DVR. You also need to make sure that the installation is secure and stable, so that the system can work properly and withstand vibrations and shocks. You may need some professional tools and skills to install the system by yourself, or you can ask for help from a professional installer. You can also refer to some online tutorials or videos for guidance. For example, here is a video of how to install the INNOVV K5 dashcam.

So, the above 7 points are what I think you need to consider first when buying a motorcycle dashcam. If you want to buy a small one as your commute companion, INNOVV K3 will be a good choice. If you are a long-distance riding guy, INNOVV K5 dashcam system will be the best choice for you, to record scenery and get rid of the risk of insurance trouble.