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63 About this deal
Most bike-mounted cameras can be run directly off of the bike’s battery. This avoids any recharging issues and the majority of bike-mounted cameras can even be set to start recording automatically when you turn the bike’s ignition. WDR or Wide Dynamic Range – if one thinks of moving into and out of a tunnel or heavily shaded area then WDR is the means to cope with this. If WDR is ON, the system handles sudden lighting transitions by averaging (providing a median) when moving through a variety of conditions (comparative to HDR) with far less impact seen on recorded video. And the 170-degree wide angle lens view from both cameras ensures that not much is missed, no matter whether the cameras are oriented front and rear or otherwise. Earlier research by Aviva indicated that 17% of people who bought dash-cams did so because they’d previously been involved in an accident where they couldn’t prove their innocence. Riding conditions experienced this time of year (late fall) in the northern latitudes provide a good example – the sun is lower on the horizon so its quite common to have very good exposure levels to the front or rear, but not both, depending on the direction of travel and terrain.
Device-wise, the iPAD Mini 4 and iPhones 6 and 8 had no issues in recognizing and connecting to the VIOFO WiFi on the first pass – data connection or other network connections existing or not; so the reluctance to do networking seems pretty much Android related… The Viofo MT1 is a 1080P motorcycle dash-cam with front and rear cameras that promises to offer potentially valuable video evidence in the event of an accident, as well as documenting every minute of your ride. I’ve been testing it on my 1999 Kawasaki ZX-6R to find out if it’s a great value alternative to the Thinkware M1 that I reviewed last year, or the helmet-mounted alternative in the Techalogic DC1. The 2019 Honda NC 750 X DCT, on loan from a friend for some pending test fitments of new SHAD TERRA Top and Side Master kits (pending wBW review) is the current longer term host for the MT1 system – at least while it is sharing garage space and being used along with an older 1975 Honda CB400F sibling and three Beemers of varying ages. Many motorcyclists utilize multiple devices to capture multiple or all views possible and one only needs to look at some of the amazing riding and long-term travel related videos posted by users to understand the capabilities and possibilities provided by video capture products.Front Camera – a flat steel Denali Light Bar hosting small round LEDs configured for primary use as ‘always-on’ daytime running lights (DRLs), along with auxiliary lighting as needed, provides a good stable mounting point for the front camera. You’ll also need to supply power to the camera, which can stop it being waterproof, plus be wary that it doesn’t overheat and shut down just when you need it. While unlikely to be a problem on modern devices, it’s best to not push the camera too hard, so avoid using 4K. Note: This DashCam has No Screen. User Can connect mobile to this DashCam’s Hotspot and then use VIOFO app for all the operations.
This is unfortunate – the marketing company that got the opportunity put in place has been very good in relaying correspondence but the only response received about anything was that a posted (but not previously identified) firmware update for the MT1 would be a good thing to have installed – that simple query and response turned out to be a big positive. In 5 to 10 seconds the MT1 network appears on the phone’s WiFi listing and the connection is usually made on the first pass. With the VIOFO App launched and the camera connected the user interface is live – this procedure works about 80% of the time… Two adhesive mounts are included, along with a universal GoPro-style mount, enabling you to affix it to the top or side of your helmet, your bike or just about anywhere you’d like. The camera’s lens also rotates, allowing you to correct any tilt in your shot. Yes, you can use a GoPro as a dash-cam, but you have to keep in mind that it might not be quite as reliable.
With all panels removed from the bike, you can start to identify the best place to mount the DVR and cameras. The length of the camera wires will dictate where the main DVR unit will be fitted. There is enough cable to run from the front/rear of the bike to the seat area but if you wanted to mount the DVR at the extreme front or rear of the bike you would struggle to make the connection. If you have a tortuous wire route through the bike frame then you might struggle with available wire length. Specially designed for motorcycles, the VIOFO MT1 is a dual-channel camera which allows for front and rear road recording at Full HD 1080P video resolution with Sony Starvis image sensors. Both lenses have a 170° wide angle which makes it possible to cover multiple lanes and capture more details than ever before, resulting in super sharp image quality and a crystal-clear video. In addition to the wide dynamic range (WDR) technology, the motorcycle dash camera delivers outstanding night vision footage even in low light. The device is also dust and water proof to an IP66 rating, meaning riders can use in all weather conditions without concern. Another advantage gained with WDR activated is that it provides a clearer focused view of small details – license plates or signs in very brightly lit conditions or when transitioning low to high to low light areas so often experienced in moving through built-up or urban areas.
In working through all the MT1 features during bench testing and lots of subsequent road use, one feature seems to be performing poorly (if at all), while another, both identified in the User Manual seems to be missing completely. But whether these features haven’t (yet) been enabled or just don’t work for some reason isn’t known – more information is provided below. GPS Info Stamp – this information records speed (km/h or mph) and coordinates displayed as latitude and longitude data. Video recording is done based on timed, loop, manual or emergency conditions, with manual or emergency activation resulting in images or video being saved off to a separate folder on the storage card; this folder is not overwritten and provides a record of any event if needed. A complicating factor is that Youtube use a different form of compression for 2,7 and 4K, it gives (we think) a better final viewing quality than with Full HD video uploads.For comparison purposes, there are five other WiFi (and BT) enabled camera systems here in use or under test and all of them work just fine with iOS and Android devices – in the garage, the driveway or on the road; all of them finding and connecting to their specific network without fuss. G-Sensor – kind of another ‘is it there or not’ feature. The MT1 is identified as having a G-sensor mounted inside the DVR module, and if activated under the VIOFO App, it should sense and measure impact forces. If you’re looking to capture the joy of a great ride then a helmet-mounted camera is the way to go. Helmet-mounted cameras capture a first-person view of your journey; the camera moves as you move and looks where you look, resulting in a more active experience. Body-mounted cameras offer a broadly similar feel, albeit from a slightly lower perspective and without quite so much influence from your movements.
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