Recommend a discreet cheap fixed camera

[koolio]

Spent hours sifting through threads and still can't make heads or tails of it.

I'd like a cheap camera fixed discreetly onto my lower yoke or headlight (bike is a CB500T) that will begin recording from the moment I turn the bike on.

Something that will record let's say 12 hours of rolling footage (so it will be deleting footage older than 12 hours old).

Anyone have any good ideas of how I can go about this?

[TheArchitect]

This guy does reviews of action/dash cams for all budgets..

https://www.techmoan.com/
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GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
MT09 - Almost stolen

[stonesie]

The best stealth cameras will be wired bullet cameras, just the small lens unit visible and the main box with the memory card can be put under the seat for easy access and less chance of water getting at it.

Rigging up a power supply from the bike should be easy, there's no end of 5 volt converters on ebay.

[Amber Phoenix]

The RoadHawk Ride is supposed to fit this requirement. However I've had little success with it in such an installation, stuck to underside of my front fairing. It loops indefinitely, it starts/stop on receiving/losing power, has a datetime burnt into vid, and has reasonably 720p recording capability.

But... mine keeps cutting out. Rather than several hours of looped footage, I get several 5-30sec clips from random intervals of my journey. I don't know if it's the vibration causing this, which is certainly noticeable. Or maybe the an unclean power feed (tapped off sidelights), that is varying too much. In what video is does happen to grab, there is a lot of horizontal interference lines and the audio is terrible, horribly raspy.

Works grand on helmet though, albeit with just 30-80min of battery life (heavily dependant upon ambient temperature).
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[Ben90]

Recently spotted the INNOVV C3.

https://www.innovv.com/#!the-c3/c18kr

Small remote waterproof lens and you can hardwire it into the bike with automatic loop record when the ignition is switched on.

Depends how you define cheap.
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Yamaha FZ6 S2

[stonesie]

[Gazza M]

I've posted it before but I rigged up my own version of this. Used a mini DVR off ebay wired in under the seat and a cctv bullet cam, powered from a relay that switched off of the rear brake light (I think). This was fed through a rectifier board to keep everything at 12V, and the camera positioned under the headlight at the front.

Everything records 640x480 to a mini SD card when the ignition is on - 2gb card gives around 3 hrs footage but this can always be bumped up.

https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/gazzam1/DSC03755_zps41bd1af3.jpg
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Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[WimbleHJR]

I have the Roadhawk ride. I had some initial problems with the first one, but sent it back under warranty and got a replacement quickly.

Since then I invested in a better quality SD card and it's been good since. Mine sits under the front fairing on my fazer, discreet but captures everything I need *well, to the extent that a front facing camera can.

They have a new version out now which might be worth looking at as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkXKHF5a2-I should work if you want to see the quality. Though the standard is better than youtube tends to show (could be my pants internet at work),.
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YBR125, FZS600, FZ6 S2 F800ST

[Amber Phoenix]

WimbleHJR: Interesting, my RoadHawk is hooked up to Fazer as well. How do you feed it power and what from? Mine's using 12V leads to tap into sidelights.
Ever have issues with it randomly stop recording? Or does it always record all of your journey everytime?

FWIW, I've used my cam in car from fag lighter socket and it worked faultlessly for hours on end.
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[defblade]

Posted the following on the Geek thread on a similar topic (my solution not geeky enough though ):

Mobius camera, waterproof case , drill back of case and chemical metal/epoxy/whatever usb power lead in so when you push the camera in, it pushes onto the usb plug, connect to 5v usb adaptor in dry location of your choice.

Mobius not only works very well, it's one of the only (or possibly the only) cameras where the power-in location works with the w/p case design to let you mod it for a permanent (or, rather, ignition switched) power lead.
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[stevo as b4]

Is this said cam for recording commuting trips and any incidents/providing evidence in the case of accidents etc?

I assume it's not a cam that's going to be used to record epic hooning around town/country, as surely a helmet cam, tank mounted, or rear facing cam would be better for making incriminating vids with?

[Amber Phoenix]

[stirlinggaz]

[Gazza M]

What you'll need:

mini-dvr
12v cctv bullet cam
BNC male coupler
12v regulator
4 pin relay
in-line fuse holder
box to put everything in

Basic circuit diagram to work off:

https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/gazzam1/diag_zpsorlzw4md.png

First thing I did was make sure I had somewhere to mount the camera - ended up bending up a piece of acrylic that I cut out at work and bolts to the bottom of the headlight mount on the bike. To be fair this could be anything, I was just lucky! Camera slots through the hole at the front (facing left) and a bolt holds it in at the back side through the smaller hole. (It'll see if I can get a better pic of it on the bike later)

https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/gazzam1/Capture_zpslcmsxjkl.png

Once I had that sorted I made up some cables to run 12v to the dvr and camera. Conveniently they both used the same 2.1x5.5mm dc plug which made things easier - soldered those on to some wire I had making sure I got the polarity of the pins the right way round with the outside barrel of the plug being neg-, pin inside pos+. The video connection was done using the BNC cable provided with the dvr - there was just enough space to run the cables direct together with a BNC male coupler between them.

Next was to sort out the regulator - this means that a constant 12V is supplied to the camera/dvr rather than the 14-ish V you get when the bike is running which could fry the dvr. I wired it through a fuse and relay to the battery (check out Stinkwheel's relay thread). I got the bike running and measured the output across the 'out' side of the regulator. This can be adjusted by turning the little screw on top of the blue unit on the board. Once this was set to 12V I put it inside a small ABS box I had kicking about and bolted the DVR to the top of that. I then put the whole thing under the seat out of the way and voila! Video quality isn't fantastic but it does the job.

https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/gazzam1/DSC03758_zps56cd9f35.jpg
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Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[koolio]

Everyone and Gazza especially. Thank you so much.

I'm going to follow your procedure and see how I get on. Thanks again.

Quick question is it rolling (so deletes the older data automatically)

[anthony_r6]

[WimbleHJR]

Arfa, sorry for the delay. I got mine fitted by a local mechanic while he did some other work as at the time I thought it would be difficult... I'm a bit less of a noob now!

He's wired it to the horn. Had problems similar to yours but changed SD card and it seems OK. It's worth contacting road hawk. They've been helpful a couple of times with my issues. They're pretty small so you can probably just speak to their engineer, think his name is Martin.

Cheers
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YBR125, FZS600, FZ6 S2 F800ST

[Gazza M]