Motorcycle road trip: Insta360 X4 or GoPro HERO 12?

The point of view: rider or outside shot

The GoPro films in one direction. Mounted on the helmet or the handlebars, it shows the road as you see it. It is the classic shot, immediate to watch.

The Insta360 X4 films all around, in 360° up to 8K at 30 frames per second. With the 1.10 m invisible selfie stick supplied in the pack, you get an outside shot that looks as if it were taken by a drone following the motorcycle. The framing is chosen in editing, which avoids missing a bend because the camera was looking elsewhere. We detail the stick in this how-to.

If you are torn between the two camera families, also read our 360 or action comparison. The 360 cameras for rental are all on one page.

On the road: mounts, wind, battery and rain

Vibration and mounts

A motorcycle vibrates, and the mount matters as much as the camera. Both brands have software stabilisation: FlowState and horizon lock for the Insta360 X4, HyperSmooth 6.0 with 360° horizon lock for the HERO 12 Black. It corrects shake, not a mount that moves.

Mounts are chosen as an option when you book. On the Insta360 side: bike/motorcycle clamp, U-bolt mount for motorcycles (subject to stock), harness and adhesive helmet mount, which is a consumable. On the GoPro side: helmet mount, also a consumable, Chesty chest mount and handlebar mount.

A tip from the field: mount the camera on the motorcycle rather than on the helmet shell when you can. Never drill the shell, follow your helmet's manual, and do not cover its retroreflective elements.

Wind

At 110 km/h, a camera's microphone often picks up only a rush of air. The Insta360 X4 offers active wind noise reduction, which the manufacturer explicitly cites for motorcycling and skiing. It reduces the rush without removing it: a camera sheltered behind a fairing or a windscreen will always give better sound. For the HERO 12 Black, plan to replace the soundtrack with music when editing if wind dominates.

Battery life and evening recharge

Over a day on the road, the battery sets the limit. The Insta360 X4 states 2,290 mAh and about 135 minutes in 5.7K30, measured in the lab at 25 °C. The HERO 12 Black with its 1,720 mAh Enduro battery states about 1 h 30 in 5.3K30. Cold, Wi-Fi and high frame rates reduce these figures.

The Insta360 X4 pack contains one battery, the GoPro pack one Enduro battery. An extra battery is offered as an option for both. For several days, add it: you will film without watching the level. Each pack also contains a dual charger and a 1 TB microSD card. In the evening, offload the card, recharge the batteries, then start again.

Rain

Both cameras are waterproof to 10 m, which comfortably covers a shower. After the rain, wipe the seals and the lenses before reopening the battery door. A drop on the lens ruins a shot, all the more with a 360° camera: the lens is exposed on every side. The X4's dive case (50 m) has no use on the road.

Editing on your return

This is the real difference. A GoPro video can be watched almost as it is. A 360° video requires choosing the framing shot by shot, which takes time, especially after several days on the road. Plan an evening of sorting per day of riding, rather than a whole weekend at the end. To find out whether your computer or phone will keep up, read this guide on 360 editing. We also offer an editing service.

What the HERO 13 would change

The GoPro HERO 13 Black, announced on 4 September 2024 and still on sale, brings a 1,900 mAh battery that is not compatible with older GoPros, interchangeable HB lenses (macro, ultra-wide, ND filters, anamorphic), GPS and a magnetic mount. It keeps the 5.3K60, 4K120, HyperSmooth 6.0 and the 10 m waterproofing of the HERO 12.

It is not part of our fleet. If GPS or the lenses are decisive for you, you will have to buy it or find it elsewhere. For a road trip, the HERO 12 Black does most of the job. The HERO 12 Black has no GPS. Neither does the Insta360 X4, but it can use the phone's via the app.

The legal framework and the footage

On a motorcycle, an approved, fastened helmet is mandatory (article R431-1 of the Highway Code). Failing to wear one is a class 4 offence, with 3 points removed and possible immobilisation of the vehicle. The helmet must carry four retroreflective elements: front, back and one on each side.

Article R412-6-2 also prohibits placing in the driver's field of view an operating device with a screen that helps neither driving nor navigation. Keep the camera's screen out of your view.

No official source we have found expressly allows or prohibits a camera on a helmet. We therefore do not take a side: if in doubt, mount it on the motorcycle.

Finally, if you publish a video in which a face or a number plate is recognisable, data protection applies. Blur them when editing.

X5 and X6: moving up a level

If you like the X4 but want more, there are two steps up. The Insta360 X5 films in 8K30 and 4K120, weighs 200 g, is waterproof to 15 m and has replaceable lenses. The X6 goes up to 8K at 50 frames per second, with 20 m waterproofing. They are rented on the same terms as the X4. To choose, see this comparison. On the GoPro side, the HERO 12 Black page and the action cameras page detail the pack.

Our choice depending on your route

• You want an outside shot and free framing in editing: the Insta360 X4.
• You want shots ready to publish, without spending evenings editing: the HERO 12 Black.
• You ride for several days: take an extra battery, whatever the camera.

The cameras ship with tracked delivery in Europe, the day before in France, or can be collected in Lyon by appointment: you can receive them at the address your road trip starts from.

See 360 cameras for rental