An action camera for dirt bike riding is not something you really need like a helmet, goggles or boots. A dirt bike camera is not mandatory or something like that. However, if you want to capture all your adventures, your rides and where you’ve been with your dirt bike, an action camera would be the ideal solution.
As you probably know, GoPros have been the most popular option when it came to mounting action cameras on dirt bike helmets, but not just that, also in various other sports.
Although, the market is pretty huge nowadays, and you have hundreds of options to choose from. In some cases, with a far better price than a GoPro, you can get a better camera with a better value, but if you’re after more quality and longevity, a GoPro is the answer.
Nonetheless, in this article, I have compiled a list of 3 different action cameras that you can go for, ranging from budget-friendly to “expensive” as you might call it. However, those are not the only factors that I considered when choosing the products.
I chose these action cameras also based on features, quality, design, and durability. To get more information, I have personally tested 3 of the cameras, so I’m going to share with you today every little detail and information that you need to help you come up with a decision.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Dirt Bike Cameras in 2022
3. AKASO V50 ELITE DIRTBIKE CAMERA
GoPro cameras have always been the people’s favorite, but that changed when other companies started to produce promising action cameras that can really deliver great value.
In this case, the Akaso V50 Elite is such a camera, and I’ve seen many riders use this action camera as their to-go tool when trail riding.
The main selling point for the Akaso V50 is probably the 4K Ultra HD footage at 60 frames per second. With such capabilities, this camera allows you to capture amazing footage, and it comes with a wide range of features that will make you enjoy the experience with this action camera even more.
In terms of construction, the Akaso V50 Elite is a small and lightweight device, but that doesn’t really matter since you’ll be mounting it on your helmet.
I truly like the overall appearance of the Akaso since it doesn’t give the rugged feel that other cameras tend to. In addition, you will spot a two-inch LCD screen that has the 4:3 format but it delivers plenty of detail and it is responsive.
What I also like about the Akaso v50 is that it comes with remote control, two 1050mAh batteries, a waterproof case which is excellent in case your riding out in the rain, a battery charger, a bicycle or motorcycle stand, six mounts, two 2-sided tapes, and two helmet mounts.
Those were the important additional items, other items include a bandage, five tethers, one protective backdoor, a USB cloth, a quick reference guide that tells you a lot about its functionalities and a cloth for cleaning the lens.
Moreover, the viewing angle of this device is adjustable, meaning that you will get the best footage at all times. It also has an 8x slow-motion video at 720 p and has built-in voice control and WiFi to take things to another level.
In conclusion, the Akaso V50 Elite is one of the best alternatives for a GoPro. It comes with plenty of impressive features and it definitely delivers great value for money.
2. YI 4KDIRTBIKE ACTION CAMERA
There is really not much explaining to do when it comes to the YI 4k. It is the kind of action camera that delivers amazing image quality, a very durable battery life, WiFi connectivity, 4K 30 frames per second footage, touchscreen display, Bluetooth, and much more.
This camera looks and performs a lot like a GoPro, which is also why I consider it to be a great alternative if you don’t want to go for a GoPro.
Design-wise, this particular model features a 2.19-inch touchscreen LCD panel that has Corning’s Gorilla Glass for protection on top of it. The display has a 640×360 resolution that is excellent for its size, and delivers plenty of brightness in addition to sharpness, meaning that you can easily see what is on the screen even under direct sunlight.
There’s something that caught my attention though. Remember how the Akaso v50 had a waterproof case included in the package. Well, the YI 4K doesn’t have one included, and for the price, the manufacturer could have done a better job.
In terms of connections, you get a micro USB port, while the rest of the connectivity is done via WiFi and Bluetooth. The pairing process of the device is pretty fast and it delivered a surprisingly reliable connection without any interruptions. Its companion app delivers plenty of functionality and some simple photo and video editing features that will be needed for some quick touchups.
The most appealing feature that this camera has is that it records amazing footage at 4K with 30 frames per second, and 120 frames per second in 1080p. Apart from that, you can also record super slow-motion footage and go down to 720p at 240 frames per second.
The YI4K is one of the most popular action cameras out there and it carries a reputation with that popularity. It’s a decent choice that would really make a great addition to your dirt bike riding.
1. GOPRO HERO 6
(Best GoPro Dirt Bike Camera)
GoPro has long been dominant in the action camera market. Since the 2000s, GoPro has supplied millions of its products to different sports enthusiasts, including dirt bike riders. GoPro dirt bike action camera remains dominant in this market so far.
The GoPro HERO 6 is not the newest model, although it does come with plenty of impressive upgrades such as the 4K footage recording at 60fps, the super slow-motion Full HD 240fps video, and so on.
I don’t usually start with such features, but one of my favorite features of the GoPro HERO 6 is the breathtaking slow-mo footage. In other terms, it can capture 1080p Full HD at 240 frames per second. In theory, such specs will allow you to shoot 2.7K footage at 120 frames per second.
What I like most about Hero 6 is the image stabilization that is active even while shooting 4K footage. To be exact, the stabilization can go up to 120 frames per second in Full HD.
HDR replaces the old Wide Dynamic Range mode, and when combined with the GP1 processing engine, it can capture images with greater details in both the shadows and highlights. For added convenience, the Hero6 also includes a Night mode which will serve you good during the night.
The GoPro Hero 6 is basically the best action camera package you can get for dirt biking.
When it comes to the camera’s construction, the Hero6 boasts a sturdy plastic frame that allows you to mount the camera in every way possible, while the design overall is pretty tight, and you can fit in a microSD card right near the user-swappable battery.
What makes this action camera even more practical, especially for dirt biking is the 2-inch touchscreen on the back which delivers great detail, and you can review videos and photos, adjust settings all with a touch-based interface.
Moreover, the Hero6 includes 12 simple voice commands to serve as a substitute for the touchscreen interface.
Overall, the GoPro HERO6 delivers the most value out of all the other products that I’ve mentioned in this list. It’s decent, it has a plethora of premium features, and it doesn’t even come at a hefty price, so you should definitely go for it.
Benefits of having a Dirt bike action camera
Almost every dirt bike professional rider uses helmet cameras. Well, they’re mostly called action cameras, or you’ve maybe heard of them as bullet or lipstick cameras, but they all do the same job.
A helmet camera is capable of recording footage in a very unique way. In fact, from a unique perspective that no regular camera can.
The footage that they provide is simply fantastic, and it’s enjoyable watching. You can see plenty of such footage on Youtube because all dirt bike races are filmed with such cameras.
They have the ability to give the viewer unexplained adrenaline. Although, what I think is most important about action cameras is that they can help you improve your riding skills.
What I mean by that is that you can study your riding technique by watching your footage day after day and see if you’ve chosen the best entry lines, or check your body positions and other similar stuff.
What to look for when choosing a dirt bike action camera
- High-resolution
- Durability (waterproof and shockproof would be better)
- Motion stabilizer technology
- Multiple mounting possibilities
- Simple to use (a touchscreen would be ideal)
- A good microphone
- Wide-angle lens
What are dirt bike action cameras used for?
An action camera is ideal for dirt bike riding because it can fit on your helmet without any problems.
However, that’s not the only choice you get, you can also mount it on a part of your dirt bike such as the front mudguard, and get a different viewing perspective from it.
The best part about action cameras is that they record without you having to hold the camera nonstop. In other terms, they won’t get in your way while riding because after you mount it, the camera will start recording and prevent you from losing focus on the trails.
Sports film creation has gone a long way, and new features are being invented as we speak. Manufacturers have really done a great job of delivering innovative and useful accessories for sports, especially in dirt biking.
I have seen many people record their riding adventures and make videos out of them for youtube, or their personal blog so the people can also see the adrenaline that they’ve been through and all the fun.
our Final Verdict
Just as I mentioned, don’t let anyone fool you by saying an action camera is mandatory if you’re a dirt bike rider.
An action camera is there for you to only record and save footage from your adventures. Although, we have to admit that it actually does that, but in a far more unique way than a regular normal camera would.
As we mentioned the benefits and got that out of the way, I think that you pretty much know how an action camera would be useful to you.
I would only recommend gear and accessories that I would be comfortable using. Even though I think an action camera is ideal for a dirt bike rider, I have to be honest that I don’t personally use one, but I’m definitely planning on using one from now on.
I haven’t really been a fan of “telling others how cool dirt bike riding is”, I was all after enjoying the moment.
However, since I started this website, I think that now is the time to actually start recording some of my trail riding trips, and an action camera would be the ideal choice for that.
When choosing the best action camera for dirt biking it is important to consider its features such as stabilization, voice control, connectivity and resolution.
If you ask me, I would recommend you go for the GoPro Hero 6. I know that there are newer models available, but from all the research that I did and actually testing the camera on the first hand, I think that it’s a great action camera that delivers great value for money so far.
It comes with plenty of useful and interesting features that create more ways for you to record your footage, so you definitely won’t go wrong with it if you ever decide to purchase it.
I hope this guide will help you pick your own best action camera for dirt biking. Hook it up on your helmet and enjoy!