Using an Insta360 X4 on an Urban Arrow

[americanfietser]

I recently picked up an Insta360 X4 to try out for content creation on my cargo bike. I was very frustrated when trying to find out information about it online as every reviewer was some sort of extreme sports guru. I just wanted to see what the camera could do for a regular person on a regular bike doing regular things. So, my video isn't anything over the top or special, but it does show what you can do if you attach one of these cameras to your handlebars.

 

[Bike Shop Girl]

This is great! I typically have a sunshade or rain cover on so I've started mounting it off the side with the clamp on the rails. I would prefer your setup!

 

[rik]

How’d it do in the cold? I’ve given up on trying to record outdoors in winter since devices with batteries just lose their charge so fast that they’re useless. Winter temps here are typically around 20F with 20 mph winds.

I’ve tried cameras from Insta360, GoPro, and various iPhones. All have just shut down after about 15 minutes. Even a pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses with the temple arms tucked under a winter cap shut down quickly.

 

[Benjamin in WPG]

I’d like to see how you’ve mounted it, my partner has a 360 X4 and we clamped the post to the bottom of her front rack and then I use super strong Velcro to hold the post to the top of the rack so it would be stabilized. That way we can telescope it above her head and have full view and all directions without her obscuring it.

I haven’t played with her X4 at all, so I don’t know much about it. Are you able to power your X4 by an external pack, or does it only “charge” through the USB-C?
I asked because my two extremely affordable-and low performance Akaso EK7000’s it can be set to operate “dash cam” mode where they start recording when they see power at the USB jack and they stop recording when power is discontinued. they both get powered on and off by the same switch-which results in perfect synchronizatio. I use a 12v 16 amp-hour separate battery pack to power my two cameras and my front fog light that I use as a headlight. Capacity is never a problem.

 

[americanfietser]

This is great! I typically have a sunshade or rain cover on so I've started mounting it off the side with the clamp on the rails. I would prefer your setup!

Check RAM Mounts website. They have tons of options for mounting items of all sorts. Maybe you'll find at attachment that gives you more of what you want. Another angle I want to examine is utilizing the holes at the front of the Arrow, which the Raincover poles go through, but to run some sort of bolt on bar that I can then clamp mount the camera to.

 

[americanfietser]

How’d it do in the cold? I’ve given up on trying to record outdoors in winter since devices with batteries just lose their charge so fast that they’re useless. Winter temps here are typically around 20F with 20 mph winds.

I’ve tried cameras from Insta360, GoPro, and various iPhones. All have just shut down after about 15 minutes. Even a pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses with the temple arms tucked under a winter cap shut down quickly.

I can't really attest to it yet since this was the only test I've done.

 

[americanfietser]

I’d like to see how you’ve mounted it, my partner has a 360 X4 and we clamped the post to the bottom of her front rack and then I use super strong Velcro to hold the post to the top of the rack so it would be stabilized. That way we can telescope it above her head and have full view and all directions without her obscuring it.

I haven’t played with her X4 at all, so I don’t know much about it. Are you able to power your X4 by an external pack, or does it only “charge” through the USB-C?
I asked because my two extremely affordable-and low performance Akaso EK7000’s it can be set to operate “dash cam” mode where they start recording when they see power at the USB jack and they stop recording when power is discontinued. they both get powered on and off by the same switch-which results in perfect synchronizatio. I use a 12v 16 amp-hour separate battery pack to power my two cameras and my front fog light that I use as a headlight. Capacity is never a problem.

You can power the X4 while using it with an external source, although I have not done this yet.

 

[Benjamin in WPG]

You can power the X4 while using it with an external source, although I have not done this yet.

Perfect
Now it’s definitely a contender

 

[Forrest Baum]

Whoa, that detail is impressive!
I agree with the commenter that it looked like an amazing ghost town for the first few minutes

 

[Fred]

How’d it do in the cold? I’ve given up on trying to record outdoors in winter since devices with batteries just lose their charge so fast that they’re useless. Winter temps here are typically around 20F with 20 mph winds.

I’ve tried cameras from Insta360, GoPro, and various iPhones. All have just shut down after about 15 minutes. Even a pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses with the temple arms tucked under a winter cap shut down quickly.

I have two inst360s on my bike and while the battery drops a little faster, they still work just fine. My Garmin computer, on the other hand, says "Naaaah" under 15 degrees when it's out there too long (like 15 minutes and it just shivers, awards me for being a better gadget than it is, shuts off).

 

[Fred]

I’d like to see how you’ve mounted it, my partner has a 360 X4 and we clamped the post to the bottom of her front rack and then I use super strong Velcro to hold the post to the top of the rack so it would be stabilized. That way we can telescope it above her head and have full view and all directions without her obscuring it.

I haven’t played with her X4 at all, so I don’t know much about it. Are you able to power your X4 by an external pack, or does it only “charge” through the USB-C?
I asked because my two extremely affordable-and low performance Akaso EK7000’s it can be set to operate “dash cam” mode where they start recording when they see power at the USB jack and they stop recording when power is discontinued. they both get powered on and off by the same switch-which results in perfect synchronizatio. I use a 12v 16 amp-hour separate battery pack to power my two cameras and my front fog light that I use as a headlight. Capacity is never a problem.

I use this on a selfie stick attached to a screw claw grip clamp thing... Yeah I should find that, huh? The gopro attachment feet in the image below fold flat and there is a 1/4 screw hole to screw the frame to the pole. The little red bit on top unscrews and the camera slips right out -easy and fast and super secure when in the cage.

there are two versions... the "quick release" is not great. Cost more but more importantly it's not very solid by comparison. Fortunately it also has the 1/4 connector so I jus ditched the quick release thingy and use both without (I have two on my bike -one in front and one in the rear).

Amazon.com

screw clamp thing... it has 1/4 threads on the back side... you can screw a selfie stick to it and the cage... cage opens to release phone with red twisty bit

 

[whoalansi]

This is great! I typically have a sunshade or rain cover on so I've started mounting it off the side with the clamp on the rails. I would prefer your setup!

This is my problem too. All winter, we ride with the rain cover cuz we get pretty brutal wind chill (I think we've averaged below -15C for the last 18 days). I have mine mounted on my handlebars with an extendable selfie stick. It works ok...but...I wish I could mount it a bit nicer. My handlebars are getting VERY full.

 

[Fred]

This is my problem too. All winter, we ride with the rain cover cuz we get pretty brutal wind chill (I think we've averaged below -15C for the last 18 days). I have mine mounted on my handlebars with an extendable selfie stick. It works ok...but...I wish I could mount it a bit nicer. My handlebars are getting VERY full.

My name is Fred and I'm addicted to stuff on my handlebars.... so I bought a bar for my bar

 

[whoalansi]

My name is Fred and I'm addicted to stuff on my handlebars.... so I bought a bar for my bar
View attachment 721

ooo that's a good idea - & my issue with the mount that I have is that the brake cables etc get in the way so I'm limited in how I can angle it...this would solve that. hmmmm

 

[Fred]

ooo that's a good idea - & my issue with the mount that I have is that the brake cables etc get in the way so I'm limited in how I can angle it...this would solve that. hmmmm

12 inches for NINE DOLLARS. Take that, truck bruhs, with yer cow catchers on the front!

 

[Benjamin in WPG]

I have one of those accessory extensions on my abound as well, you have to carefully place the mounting brackets, or they leave your pogies wide open

 

[PedalingAstronomer]

Engaging result, first use or not. Panning sideways to show backhoes blocking the path? Imaging executing that move so seamlessly with an action camera glued to a helmet. Thanks for sharing the experience.