A Beginner’s Guide to Filming Motorcycle Trips

This beginner's guide to filming your motorcycle trips will show how easy it is to relive your rides, share adventures with friends, and document stunning scenery. With the right helmet camera mount, tools, and techniques, creating high-quality videos has never been easier. Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve, this guide will help you get started and capture smooth, exciting footage every time.

Choose the Right Camera for Your Motorcycle Trips

The first step to filming your ride is selecting the right action camera. The best action cameras are compact, durable, and designed for rugged environments — perfect for going along on your rides. Popular brands like GoPro and Insta360, and even DJI offer excellent action cameras that deliver high-quality results. 

Key features to look for are:

• Stabilization: Smooth out bumps and vibrations for steady footage. Look for cameras with built-in image stabilization. Pair your GoPro action camera with a GoPro racing helmet mount for the most immersive and stable recording experience. 

• Durability: Choose a camera that's waterproof, shockproof, and weather-resistant. You never know what conditions you'll encounter. The GoPro Hero 13 is an excellent option for durability and performance.

• Resolution: A minimum of 1080p works is acceptable, but for sharper videos, go for 4K to 8K resolution. The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is an excellent option with an 8K resolution. 

• Battery life: Long rides can drain batteries quickly. Pick a camera with a good battery or carry spares. The GoPro HERO13 Black offers up to 2.5 hours of recording at 1080p, with reduced battery life for 5.3K recordings.

Pick the Best Mounting Location

Where you place your camera on your motorcycle or helmet significantly impacts the type of footage you get. Each mounting spot offers a unique perspective:

• Helmet mount: Mounting your camera on the helmet gives a natural point-of-view (POV) perspective. It captures exactly what you see as you ride, making viewers feel like they're along for the journey.

• Handlebar mount: A handlebar mount provides a stable, fixed view of the road ahead. It's easy to install and ideal for capturing wide, steady shots.

• Tank mount: Mounting the camera on the fuel tank offers a lower angle of the road, including your handlebars and part of the dashboard. This perspective gives a dynamic and immersive look.

• Rear mount: A rear-facing camera on the back of your bike can capture trailing scenery, friends riding behind you, or even your riding position.

Why Chin Mounts Are the Best Option

When it comes to helmet mounts, the chin mount is hands down the best choice, especially for beginners. Positioned on the chin bar of your full-face helmet, it gives you a natural, balanced point of view that perfectly matches what you see on the road. Unlike top mounts that create wind drag or side mounts that can throw off your helmet's balance, a chin mount keeps things smooth, stable, and aerodynamic for the best footage possible.

If you're adventurous and looking to hit the slopes or mountain trails, a snowmobile helmet chin mount or a mountain bike chin mount is ideal for minimizing shakiness, reducing wind drag, and preserving sound quality.

Gather the Right Accessories for Filming

While your action camera is the centerpiece, having a few accessories will make filming much more manageable and improve the quality of your videos.

• Extra batteries: Carry fully charged spares to avoid missing key moments.

• Memory cards: To store all your footage, use high-capacity, fast memory cards (64GB or higher).

• Mounting kits: Adhesive, strap, and clamp mounts let you position your camera securely.

• Safety tethers: These are backups to keep your camera attached if the mount comes loose.

Manage Battery and Storage on Long Rides

To keep filming without interruptions, manage your camera's battery and storage effectively. Turn off unused features like Wi-Fi, voice commands, or screens to conserve power. Always bring a portable power bank to recharge on the go and carry spare batteries so you can swap them out as needed. Use large memory cards, like 128GB or bigger, to store hours of 4K footage, and keep backups handy in case one fills up during your ride.

Stay Safe While Filming Your Motorcycle Trips

Filming your rides is exciting, but safety should always come first. Follow these precautions to keep yourself and your camera setup safe:

• Secure the mount: Make sure the camera is firmly attached and doesn't wobble. Use safety tethers as a backup.

• Follow helmet regulations: Mounts must not compromise the helmet's safety. Federal guidelines restrict protrusions to under 5mm. Be sure to check the motorcycle helmet laws in your state for more information.

• Don't get distracted: Start recording before you ride and adjust the camera only when stopped. Stay focused on the road.

• Avoid drilling: Never drill into your helmet to attach a mount, as this weakens its integrity. Use adhesive or strap mounts instead.

Tips for Recording High-Quality Footage

Getting smooth, professional-looking footage on your motorcycle takes a bit of planning and practice. Here are some beginner-friendly tips to help you improve your videos:

Stabilize your footage: Motorcycles generate vibrations that can make your footage shaky. Use a camera with built-in stabilization or invest in anti-vibration mounts to smooth out bumps and rough rides.

Angle the camera correctly: Before starting your ride, check your camera angle. Record a test clip to ensure it captures what you want — the road, scenery, or a mix of both. Adjust the angle if necessary.

Lighting plan: Good lighting makes all the difference. Ride during golden hour — early morning or late afternoon — for soft, warm light that looks stunning on camera. Avoid the midday sun, which can create harsh shadows and glare.

Keep your lens clean: Dust, bugs, and dirt can blur your footage, so clean your camera lens before and during breaks on your ride. Use a microfiber cloth or lens cleaner for the best results.

Vary your shots: Don't stick to just one angle or perspective. Mix things up with forward-facing shots, expansive road views, rear-facing angles, and stationary clips to make your video more dynamic and engaging.

Edit Your Motorcycle Footage for Professional Quality

Once you've captured your ride, good editing will turn your beginner footage into a polished, professional video worth sharing. Here's how to approach the editing process:

1. Trim the footage: Remove unnecessary or repetitive shots and focus on the best moments, such as scenic views, exciting turns, or unique landmarks.

2. Add music: Replace wind noise or engine sounds with music that matches your ride's mood. Upbeat tracks work nicely for action shots, while calm instrumentals suit scenic footage.

3. Use transitions sparingly: Stick to clean cuts between clips. Overusing transitions like fades or spins can distract viewers from the main content.

4. Tell a story: Arrange your footage to create a flow, from gearing up and hitting the road to the ride's highlights and final destination. Adding shots of you and your bike can make the video more personal.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How do people record on a motorcycle?

Riders typically use action cameras mounted on helmets, handlebars, or fuel tanks to capture stable, high-quality footage while riding.

What do beginners need to know about recording motorcycle trips?

Beginners should focus on using a reliable action camera, selecting the right mount (a chin mount is recommended because it's low-profile and stable), planning their shots, and ensuring their camera stays charged and secure throughout the ride.

What camera is best for recording motorcycle trips?

Action cameras like GoPro or Insta360 are the best options because they are durable, waterproof, and offer advanced stabilization for smooth, high-quality footage.

Where is the best place to mount a camera on a motorcycle?

The chin mount on a full-face helmet provides a stable, natural point-of-view perspective. In contrast, handlebar or tank mounts deliver wide-angle shots of the road ahead.

How can I keep my camera charged during long rides?

Carry spare batteries, use power banks, or connect a USB charger to your motorcycle to ensure your camera stays powered throughout your trip.