Budget camera for insurance purposes?

[EazyDuz]

I installed a dash cam in my car a couple of years ago and even though i've never needed it, its worth the money for peace of mind if some throbber for example reverses into me and claims I rolled into the back of them.
Had one or 2 close calls on the bike, mainly idiots pulling out without looking etc so I'm considering a camera for insurance/evidence purposes only.

So can anyone recommend a fairly budget but good option, no need for a Go pro or anything high end. As long as it has a half decent charge and can see a reg plate at a reasonable distance.

These Go pro clones seem popular:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Campark-ACT74-Waterproof-Underwater-Batteries/dp/B01J51W5QG/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=action+cam&qid=1559902449&s=gateway&sr=8-3

But they look totally awkward for mounting on a helmet. But thinking about it, for insurance purposes it would probably make sense to mount it on the bars right? Maybe even plugged into a permanent ignition fed 12v feed.
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To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[Hawkeye1250FA]

If it's bike mounted then you need several to cover the angles you may get hit from, which negates the cost saving.

Go for a drift helmet cam for function Vs cost.

I've got a Sena 10c but it's 300 odd quid. Bluetooth a to my phone and my sat Jan though so was worth it.
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1993 RF400R - 2002 Bandit 1200 - 2012 1250 FA

[redeem ouzzer]

Totally unsurprised that OP is the type that would want a camera for "insurance" purposes.


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Be a REAL MAN!

[EazyDuz]

[raesewell]

remember, camera footage can work against you as well as for you.
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[grr666]

Might be my riding style or choices of bike, but in my experience bike mounted cameras vibrate and as such
produce crappy footage. Always better to mount a camera to the person for good footage. I do pick and choose when
I am camera'd up but it's not a default thing when I go for a pointless ride. I misbehave too much for that. But I'll
always wear a camera when I test ride a shops demonstrator bike or go and do something fun like the Henstridge airfield
thing. I've had a lot of fun experimenting with different mic placements though, under the seat is my favourite as it gets
all the transmission sounds too, it just needs to be wrapped up in lots of wadding because the exhaust noise is
significant. But I've have managed to make ordinary footage quite engaging to watch just by being nice
to listen to from a mechanical perspective. I'm experimenting with rear facing camera mounting points at the moment.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Polarbear]

What's the battery life like now.

The first GoPro I had at work was abysmal. I presume you can get more than 30 minutes out of one?
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[grr666]

I bought a Drift Ghost HD when they were the latest in the range and that gives me a couple of hours. I have
spare batteries for that one as well. I also have an old GoPro which I bought 2nd hand cheap on ebay last year which is
yet to be extensively tested, but its a basic model so I'm not expecting much. I'm playing with dual camera set up
this year, but mainly from a photography and editing perspective rather for than any other reason. It's interesting to me.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[wr6133]

Purely for possible insurance claims I'd just get an old SJ4000 (circa £50). I've just upgraded mine to an SJ6 Legend but just to prove who crashed in to you that's overspend.

[Sister Sledge]

The sj cams come in many variants and are decent yes. Easy menus and good image quality.
Make sure to buy genuine and not a copy of a copy.

Battery life in an sj 4000 running in hi def is around 50 minutes on a nice day and not cold or hot.
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CCM 404 DS

[Hawkeye1250FA]

On a side note, I've had various helmet cams over the years from cheapo GoPro knockoffs to actual gopros (before they got ridic expensive!) And now the all in one Sena...

And none of them have what I would call a decent battery life, meaning lasting for an entire long ride out and back.

Ive got a 20,000ma charger in my jinside acket pocket with a cable poking out the top, it lasts a full month before needing charging overnight and I never have to swap batteries or anything on the cam.
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1993 RF400R - 2002 Bandit 1200 - 2012 1250 FA

[EazyDuz]

Thanks for the replies.
From some further research I think the Drift X is the best option, despite its shady reliability. Nothing comes close to its battery life, performance and mic input.
That said, I feel its too much of a faff to bother with. My car dash cam, i've barely touched it since the day I hardwired it into the car. With the bike thats going to be impossible and thinking about it, i've been fine for the past 8 years without one, the stress and hassle of using one for the next 8 years in the small chance it might be valuable one day just isnt worth it. Plus in all likelyhood it will break after 12 months and 1 day.
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To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[Andy_Pagin]

I'm currently using an Ion AirPro, they're full HD and dirt cheap on ebay since they're obsolete. I got a brand new one for 45 quid. Out of interest I left it running last night and it recorded over two and a half hours before the battery went flat.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[sickpup]

[EazyDuz]

[sickpup]

[EazyDuz]

[Hawkeye1250FA]

Not arguing with sickpup, he knows his stuff.

Our opinions differ on the usefulness of bike mounted cams though 👍

You get knocked off from the side and the driver drives off and you watch them... Bike mounted cam wouldn't get the numberplate, helmet cam would have, that's the crux of it.
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1993 RF400R - 2002 Bandit 1200 - 2012 1250 FA

[Grubscrew]

I’ve got a dual cheap camera. I guess at best it’s a 720@ 30fps. !
The play back is ok, but only gets the number plate if close up ie within 10 metres.
It amazes me that with today’s technology there isn’t a cam that is discrete, does 60fps at 1080p, that doesn’t cost more than £100.
Watch some of those cheap cameras that claim 1080, as some actually splits the frame, making really 720 anyway.
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FJR1300/CBR1000F

[wr6133]

[EazyDuz]

I cant understand why so many others copied Go Pro in their design.
A boxy camera just sucks for anything sports/action related.
Anything with a helmet, a tube design is better.
In fact anything aerodynamic, so attaching to cars, planes etc a tube design is far superior.
At least Drift thought outside the box a little bit. You sacrifice an LCD display but you dont need it, as long as you can get an app that shows you what the camera sees.
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To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[SirFallalot]

[ThatDippyTwat]