Motorcycle riding is as much of an experience as it is a mode of transportation. We capture these feelings and translate them into words, but that’s only part of the great adventure of riding. That’s where photos and video pick up the slack.
Motorcycle cameras are becoming more popular as the price and form factor both continue to get smaller. Most of these cameras have shrunk to a frontal area smaller than a business card but shoot in professional-level quality. We’ve gathered some of the top motorcycle cameras for your next ride, whether you need it as a dashcam to record your commute or want to capture the scenery on your next epic ride.
GoPro Hero 7 Black
The first GoPro was released in 2004 and the company's cameras have only been getting better. The latest iteration of the professional-level Hero Black lineup, the GoPro Hero 7 Black gives you all the features you need for motorcycle rides. You can shoot in 4K at 60 FPS for amazing resolution, the internal image stabilization is excellent, voice control is built in, and you can live-stream from the camera to your device. Plus, there is no need for an external case because the camera is waterproof up to 33 feet (10 meters).
Akaso EK7000 4K Action Camera
If you want an inexpensive motorcycle camera that records in 4K, then the Akaso EK7000 should be at the top of your list. The EK7000 records in 4K at 25 FPS, giving solid resolution to view your rides. Two included batteries allow recording for more than 180 minutes. Waterproof casing on the EK7000 allows you to mount this camera just about anywhere and not worry about getting caught in heavy rain or making a stream crossing.
Drift Ghost X Action Camera
The Drift Ghost X doesn't look like the other motorcycle cameras with its bullet shape and lack of LCD screen, but it does boast five hours of battery life that is upgradable to eight hours. The 360-degree lens means you can mount it anywhere and fine-tune without breaking out the tool set. The Ghost X comes with a DVR module making it perfect as a motorcycle dash cam—the Ghost X will continuously record, and the camera will delete the oldest footage automatically. You'll never worry if your camera recorded that accident or not. The Drift Ghost X only shoots in 1080p at 30 FPS, but for a person without dedicated video editing software, it's a great camera.
DJI Osmo Action 4K Action Camera
DJI is known for its prosumer camera drones and excellent stabilization technology. After refining its camera technology with each iteration of the Phantom drone series, DJI has entered the action-camera market with the Osmo Action. Like DJI's other prosumer-grade equipment, the Osmo Action has a lot of great features and high performance for the money. Topping this list is recording at a full 4K at 60 FPS, for vivid, smooth images, the latter being aided by DJI's own electronic image stabilization dubbed RockSteady. If you really want to dial in your settings, the Osmo Action has a custom mode where you can store and recall your favorite presets without having to manually change them for each shot.
Rylo 5.8K 360 Degree Video Camera
360 cameras offer more than your standard action camera, about 230 degrees more. The Rylo implements a pair of 208-degree-field-of-view cameras to capture 5.8K 360-degree footage, 4K 360 degree footage, or 4K 180 degree footage. Conveniently, it plugs into a smartphone and allows you to set up and frame your shots, edit, and upload, all out in the field. Rylo’s Invisible Grip is included in this kit so you can film seamless 360 degree video without capturing a selfie stick, making it appear as if the camera is floating behind you on your ride.
