The next generation of motorcycle riding cameras is in the house with the GoPro HD Hero2 Camera. GoPro cameras have a history of being a favorite among motorsports professionals, race teams and core enthusiasts. The HD Hero2: Motorsports Edition is the most advanced GoPro camera yet as well as its most versatile as it can be used in all instances whether you want to capture footage of a spirited rip through backcountry roads or you want to capture and study lapping footage to learn how to set a new track record and everything else in between.
The HD Hero2 is waterproof up to to 197 feet(60m), capable of capturing professional full 170º wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel photos at a rate of 10 photos per second. One unique feature of the GoPro HD Hero2 Camera, which is very rare in not only cameras, but just about most if not all battery powered electrical devices, is an integrated battery warmer to give your battery longer battery life in colder temperatures. It is also compatible with the Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote along with GoPro expansion accessories and BacPacs. Additionally the HD Hero2 has a very easy to use LCD interface and LED lights which let you view it from any angle. You can even recharge the battery while recording with a USB cable as well as enable time lapse photography every 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, or 60 seconds.
Included are all the mounting necessities you will need when recording your motorsports activities as well as plenty of optional accessories which can be used with the camera for shooting in a variety of other settings. And for those on a road trip or away from home, the Hero2 lets you stream videos through your smartphone, laptop computer, or tablet along with the option of streaming it through your desktop computer if you are near one. Furthermore, there is a Long Range Remote Control for up to 50 GoPro Cameras. According to your HD specifications which you are using, here is a list of the estimated amount of time the Hero2 will be able to record:
In the end, this is the best camera GoPro has to offer in the motorsports market and for the price, it is an absolute steal with both its versatility and clarity. It won't be long until other manufacturers adapt and come out with cameras similar to the HD Hero 2.
The game-changer of motorcycle riding cameras has arrived and it is in the form of the Drift HD170 Camera. The HD170 is the first full HD riding camera to offer a 1.5" color LCD screen combined with a wireless mountable/wearable remote control and a rotating 170º wide angle lens. Drift was getting close to this level of innovation with the X170, a very similar camera features-wise that only shot with a resolution of 720x480. With the integration of full 1080p HD video in addition to 720p functionality, the Drift HD170 Camera offers the best features and functionality of any action sports cam we've seen to date.
The aspect that really stands out to us the most in the Drift is how easy it is to actually operate. Some other cameras that have come out in the HD wave are extremely difficult to operate, sometimes making it hard to know if you're recording or not. Also, once you hit record on these other cameras, there's no turning the cam off mid-ride. With the Drift's easy setup and included remote control, you can wear the remote on your wrist or mount it somewhere you can access it easily so that you can turn the camera on and off as you please. No more filming the boring parts of the ride that you don't need; now you can edit as you go. The HD170 also features a rugged rubberized construction that is waterproof up to 0.5 meters. Anthony recently road-tested the camera on an Arizona GS ride, the highlights of which we'll show further in this post. He rode through rain and the Drift continued recording without issue, and when he crashed on a dirt road, totaling the GS, the HD170 (mounted to the turn signal) was completely unharmed.
The 170º wide angle lens is not so wide that you get the crazy fish-eye effect as you see with so many other action cameras, but it is wide enough that you can see everything you'd want within the field of view and provides crisp and clear image quality. The lens can also be rotated so that no matter how you choose to mount the camera, you can spin the lens so that it is shooting upright. Full 1080p and 720p video modes are available, and the HD170 takes 5mp photos that can be shot singly or in a three-shot burst mode. To mount, the HD170 comes with a handlebar grip mount, a goggle mount, a helmet grip, a head strap, a velcro strap, and a universal mount that fits into the bottom of the camera. There is also a third-party manufactured suction cup device sold separately if you'd prefer that method.
Complete Box Contents
The HD170 also features a built-in microphone and speaker with the option of the Drift HD170 External Microphone connected via the USB port. It is recommended for use with the Drift HD170 Rear Silicon Cover to maintain waterproofing. This same USB port connects to your computer both to download the footage that you've shot and charge the battery. Speaking of batteries, the length of the lithium-ion that comes stock is roughly four hours. The Drift HD170 Long Life Battery that will increase recording time by 1.5x. For every 1GB of memory you have -- and the HD170 supports up to a 32GB card -- you can record 15 minutes. Basically, you'll run out of battery charge before you run out of memory if you have the largest SD card. Finally, there is an HDMI port that comes with a supplied cable so that you can playback all of your footage on your HDTV at home. Pretty convenient.
Check out the video from Anthony's Arizona GS Ride. Be sure to watch it in HD.
Like I said, we see the innovations of the Drift HD170 as game-changing to the world of action sports cameras. It's only a matter of time before other manufacturers follow suit.
The HD Hero2 is waterproof up to to 197 feet(60m), capable of capturing professional full 170º wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel photos at a rate of 10 photos per second. One unique feature of the GoPro HD Hero2 Camera, which is very rare in not only cameras, but just about most if not all battery powered electrical devices, is an integrated battery warmer to give your battery longer battery life in colder temperatures. It is also compatible with the Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote along with GoPro expansion accessories and BacPacs. Additionally the HD Hero2 has a very easy to use LCD interface and LED lights which let you view it from any angle. You can even recharge the battery while recording with a USB cable as well as enable time lapse photography every 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, or 60 seconds.
Included are all the mounting necessities you will need when recording your motorsports activities as well as plenty of optional accessories which can be used with the camera for shooting in a variety of other settings. And for those on a road trip or away from home, the Hero2 lets you stream videos through your smartphone, laptop computer, or tablet along with the option of streaming it through your desktop computer if you are near one. Furthermore, there is a Long Range Remote Control for up to 50 GoPro Cameras. According to your HD specifications which you are using, here is a list of the estimated amount of time the Hero2 will be able to record: 
