#Innovv

Motorcyclists love to tell stories about things that happened while they were riding. Having video evidence to back it up makes the stories even more fun. Who would believe you if you said that, as you were hard on the brakes from 160+ mph into Turn 2 at Laguna Seca, a ground squirrel ran across the track in front of you and the $100,000 Ducati Superleggera you were piloting? Well, Troy was able to document Mister Squizzles’ near-fatal dash, thanks to his helmet cam, and put an end to our disbelief. (See the proof here.)

Heroics aside, traveling by motorcycle is even more fun when you can capture the important moments of your trip while you’re actually riding. Group rides can be relived later. Track day lean angles can impress your buddies. Then there are the workday road warriors who commute via bike through the concrete canyons of their local city. They need the moto-equivalent of a dash cam to keep tabs on the other road users who are often paying more attention to their breakfast burrito than the other vehicles around them.

You just need to choose the right action camera, and you’ve got a ton of options. There are helmet cams, 360 cams, and even permanently mounted dash cams for commuters to use in case of a mishap. No matter what you want to record, there is a camera to handle that task. So, we’ve chosen what we think are the best motorcycle cameras around. Let us know in the comments if you have a personal favorite that isn’t mentioned here.

INNOVV has been producing progressively better motorcycle dash cams at reasonable prices for over five years, and we’ve typically had good results from them. Now, the company is stepping more directly into the action camera market with a helmet cam that offers some distinct differences from the 800-lb gorilla in the market. I’ve been testing the INNOVV H5 Helmet Camera for a while and have found it to be an amiable riding companion. 

Back in 2016, I reviewed the Innovv K1 dashcam and really liked it with one exception, a lack of weatherproofing. Next, we tested the Innovv K2, finding it much improved. Well, the Innovv K3 dashcam is here, and it has reached what I consider to be peak functionality as a motorcycle dashcam. Regular commuters in urban areas should consider this as an option to use to protect yourself from false claims in the case of a mishap. 

MO Tested: Innovv K1 Motorcycle Camera Review

MO Tested: INNOVV K2 Motorcycle Camera System Review

Updated March 2021

Let’s consider the daily rider for a moment. Those hardy souls who choose to ride their bikes year ’round represent a small but important group of motorcyclists. Without them, many commuters wouldn’t know that motorcycles exist. These most frequent of all motorcycle flyers have needs that go beyond what your typical weekend warrior requires (though they, too, could benefit from the items listed below). Many of the recommendations are for combatting the elements, but others address common issues like flat tires and carrying things on a motorcycle. Read on to see our picks for the best motorcycle gear for daily riders, and you may find the special thing you are looking for. 

When we were given the opportunity to test the new INNOVV K2 Motorcycle Camera System, I immediately thought of my friend. Not long ago, he had been involved in a traffic accident that had left his bike totaled after a collision with a car in an intersection. Rider okay, bike, not so much. If he had a camera running to record the situation, he may not have gotten burned so bad on the outcome of his incident. I asked Evans if we could set up my friend with the camera and get his notes on installation and use of the product. He rides quite a bit and commutes by motorcycle nearly every day to and from work. My thought was since my commute is from my bedroom to my home office with a possible detour to the kitchen along the way, my friend could gather more real-world data much quicker than I would be able to.

MO Tested: Innovv K1 Motorcycle Camera Review

MO Tested: Innovv C5 Motorcycle Camera System Review

The INNOVV K2 comes neatly packaged in a clean white box befitting of the camera’s size with all of the major components displayed up front. Initial thoughts are that the camera system exudes quality. From the machined aluminum housings of the cameras, to the sleek design of the DVR and GPS unit, the INNOVV K2 looks like a high-quality piece of kit. And what’s more, the entire system is now built to be waterproof a major gripe from the original K1 system Brasfield reviewed in 2016. 

When we last saw an Innovv camera on MO, we were reviewing the dual camera Innovv K1 Motorcycle System, and we found it to be a convenient and functional motorcycle “dash-cam” with only one major issue: The DVR unit wasn’t waterproof. We also thought the recorded colors could have been a bit brighter, but it was a minor concern for a dash-cam. Here we are 18 months later, and Innovv has released an updated, more rugged kit for motorcycles, the Innovv C5 Motorcycle Camera System. The C5 is both more and less than the older K1 system.

MO Tested: Innovv K1 Motorcycle Camera Review

MO Tested: Innovv Power Hub1

We’ll start with where the C5 is more than the K1. The biggest changes come in the DVR which is most importantly now rainproof! The sensitive electronics are all stored inside an extruded aluminum case. Only one wire connection is required to install a C5’s DVR. The USB C connector screws firmly to the case and has a wire leading to the camera (which is sealed inside its own CNC-machined waterproof housing) and a wire leading to the power supply. The power cable also features a screw connector to keep the elements out. The 5-volt power supply has been upgraded from the K1 and now connects directly to the motorcycle’s battery and employs an automatic trigger wire to switch the unit on. This allows for the C5’s startup routine to be delayed 10 seconds from when the ignition is turned on to avoid the power fluctuations that occur when the starter motor is cranked. (If this delay sounds familiar, it is also a feature of the Innovv Power Hub1 we reviewed.)

Okay, I admit it. I’m a gadget guy, and quite frequently, those around me have to suffer through endless conversations about the latest shiny technology that has caught my eye. (Just ask my long-suffering wife, whose patience in my current home automation project is wearing quite thin.) So, you shouldn’t be surprised that, at every weekly production meeting for the past couple months, I’ve tried to schedule a review of the new Power Hub1 from Innovv. Why is it so special? Well, it allows for switched power to be distributed to up to five accessories from one location – which translates into just one switched connection to be spliced into a bike’s wiring harness.

MO Wrenching: How To Properly Splice Wires

Turn On: How To Install Switched Accessory Power To Your Motorcycle

Portable Power: How To Install Powerlet Electrical Sockets

Since I’ve covered the installation of switched accessory power, Powerlet electrical sockets, and proper wire splicing in previous articles, I’m going to focus on what the Innovv Power Hub1 brings to the party. The Power Hub1 allows for the installation of switched power delivery for five accessory circuits of up to 15 amps each (as long as the total doesn’t exceed 40 amps). Additionally, the Hub1 delays the power to the accessories for 10 seconds after the ignition is switched on to allow the starter motor to have access to the full cranking power of the battery – a real boon in low-battery situations.

Okay, raise your hand if you’ve ever whiled away an evening watching those ubiquitous Russian dash-cam videos. They can be, quite literally, a train wreck from which we simply can’t avert our eyes. Well, technology is making it possible to take people’s selective (and biased) memories out of the blame assessment process for motorcycle accidents, too. Or, maybe, you just want to post your hero videos from your latest ride or track day for your friends to view online. (Just make sure it doesn’t become fodder for your entry into the Darwin Awards.) Either way, the Innovv K1 Motorcycle Camera offers a reasonably priced, permanently mounted camera/DVR system available for motorcyclists.

The Innovv K1 comes with quite a list of included components. The cameras are two 0.37-in. 2-megapixel CMOS Sensors sealed inside a pair of waterproof aluminum housings. Three threaded holes on the housing allow for a variety of mounting options, and two steel L-brackets and bolts are included with the kit. The K1 has a combined GPS receiver and speaker plus a remote button for starting, stopping, and locking recordings. A 12V adapter converts the power to USB-compatible 5V and provides a USB port for powering the system. Finally, the K1’s DVR system and protective pouch form the heart of the system.