Coming soon: Motorcycle Video

My one big purchase during the two weeks I was on the road came early in the trip at the MotoGP races in Indianapolis.

Charlie and I talked each other into buying a GoPro Hero video/still camera to mount on our bikes or helmets. The list price is $189.99, but we got them for the special MotoGP price of $150.

I was unable to get mine to work while I was in Colorado, which would have been the ideal place to start a video record of interesting rides.

I read the instructions and discovered the manufacturer warns against using regular alkaline AAA batteries (it takes two), and recommends instead rechargeable NiCad or Lithium AAAs. So I borrowed a couple of NiCads from Tim Balough, but couldn’t get it to work.

I packed the camera and accessories away and sent an email to GoPro customer support. That was on the eve of the Labor Day holiday. I didn’t get an answer until I was on my way home and too busy with riding to fiddle with it.

So yesterday I bought a four-pack of Lithium AAAs and a new high-speed 2GB SD card. I installed them, pushed the on/off button and, wonder of wonders, it started up.

My only initial complaint is that the LCD display on the front is so small that the icons describing the various functions are almost microscopic. I’m going to need a magnifying glass to overcome my presbyopia.

Now I have to wait for decent weather to take it out on the bike and see what I can do with it. It was raining yesterday afternoon and it rained like a mofo much of today. But as soon as the weather improves, I plan to mount it on my old Schuberth helmet and take a ride up Crowley’s Ridge Parkway. With any luck, I’ll post the results here in the next few days.

Here’s the specs, from goprocamera.com:

The world's smallest, wireless helmet and gear-mountable video camera for outdoor sports.

The Helmet HERO Wide quick-release attaches to vented and non-vented helmets, bikes, kayaks, skis, snowboards, and even includes a head strap for wearing like a headlamp. Features the industry's widest 170º wide angle lens and 5 megapixel sensor for the most immersive point of view video and photos possible from a wearable sports camera, period.

Shoot 56 minutes of high-resolution video and 5 megapixel photos automatically in "photo every 2 seconds" mode. Use as a hand held camera, too. Shockproof and waterproof to 100 feet/30 meters. Sets up in seconds and is easily moved between different mount locations.

Based on the best selling original Helmet HERO camera, this updated 5MP Helmet HERO Wide camera features improved video, photo, audio, and low light performance. Reliability in ultra-high vibration environments has been improved with an entirely new internal circuit design. Battery life is improved to 3 hours of video record time when using Lithium batteries and 2 hours when using NiMH rechargeable batteries.

Four quick-release adhesive mounts, a suction cup mount and associated accessories are included. Adhesive mounts are removable but require purposeful removal by user. Safe on painted surface.

Additional expansion mounts available separately, including handlebar/seatpost, chest harness,  roll bar, and surfboard mounts. More mounts are always being developed for your convenience.

Works with a 2GB max SD card. 4GB SD card compatibility, allowing for 1 hour 52 minutes of continuous video recording, will be available soon via free downloadable software upgrade from GoPro.