[Product Review] No wiring necessary! One touch operation! Convenient helmet-mounted drive recorder, MiVue!
Drive recorders provide an accurate record in the event of a collision or other trouble on the road. For those who have been hesitant to install one, saying, "I would like to have one in case of an emergency, but the installation fee is expensive and I don't know how to do the wiring myself..." We've got great news for you! Mio, a drive recorder brand developed by DAYTONA, has come out with a drive recorder with front and rear cameras that does not require wiring, the MiVue MP30 GPS. I had a chance to test it and would like to report on its functionality in actual use.
MiVue MP30 GPS, a front and rear camera drive recorder with GPS tracking
As you can see, the main unit is compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand and slip into a pants pocket. Except for the fact that it is a bit thick, it looks kind of like a headset, but that's because it is not installed on the bike, but rather on the helmet. Perhaps because it is intended to be used along with a headset, it is designed to be mounted on the right side of the helmet.
The items packaged with the product are simple, consisting of the main unit, a mount, a manual, and a USB-C cable for recharging. Though it doesn't include a power adapter, it can be charged with a smartphone charger or power bank. It's actually nice to not have an extra charger in the house. The data medium is MicroSD, and it supports 32GB to 256GB. The maximum recording time is just under 11 hours. However, even when the storage capacity is full, the camera continues recording by overwriting the oldest video, so unless your main purpose is to preserve your touring memories, a smaller storage capacity may be fine.
The built-in battery is 3200 mAh, and the manufacturer states that the operating time is about 4 to 4.5 hours. When I used the device, the battery was at less than 20% after a little more than three hours, which may have been due to the fact that it was frequently turned on and off, but it seemed a little low. The method of checking the remaining battery charge also seems to require some getting used to. Since the device is designed to notify the user with vibration and an indicator on the main unit, it was a little difficult to distinguish it from other functions when wearing the helmet. Of course, the type of vibrations are different, so after a few days of use, the user should be able to tell the difference.
Can be turned on and off by attaching and detaching from the mount!
This is not the first helmet-mounted drive recorder from Mio. The M777D, introduced in 2020, which was designed to be used like an action cam, is similar in that it has front and rear cameras, but only the front camera could be used when it was mounted on a helmet, while the rear camera required wiring and to be attached to the bike itself. The MiVue is the first to offer both front and rear cameras without the need for wiring.
In addition, this new camera has been updated in various aspects. The first thing I want to mention is how easy it is to start up. Simply push the unit into the helmet mount until it clicks into place; the power is turned on and recording begins automatically. There is no need to press any buttons or perform any other operations. To turn off the power, simply remove the main unit from the mount.
However, be careful about the position of the mount. If you just attach it haphazardly, the angle of view may be skewed. Try to find a position where the main unit is horizontal to the helmet as much as possible. Using the dedicated smartphone application MiVue Pro, you can view real-time camera images to help you adjust the position, so be sure to do that before peeling the back off the double-sided tape. I neglected to do this, resulting in a camera image that always appeared as if my head was tilted to the side.
As for the vertical angle, don't worry about it because the mount rotates. Whether you are riding off the seat like an off-road bike, or leaning forward tightly like a supersport rider, you can rotate the camera to achieve an angle that matches the line of movement.
Sensors for secure data storing and 2K video
It of course functions well as a drive recorder, it's main function. Whereas most standard drive recorders have a resolution of 1920 x 1080, MiVue supports resolutions up to 2560 x 1440. In addition, the frame rate, which indicates the smoothness of the video, goes up to 58 fps, nearly double that of a typical drive recorder. Three resolution/frame rate settings are selectable via the MiVue Pro app: 2560 x 1440 / 29fps, 1920 x 1080 / 58fps, and 1920 x 1080 / 29fps / HDR.
I decided to test them by actually riding to see how well each setting works. First, I chose the highest frame rate, 1920 x 1080 / 58fps, as I thought it would be most suitable for filming while moving. When I looked at the recorded video, I could see everything. I could clearly see the license plate numbers of nearby cars as well as signs along the road, and I could even make out the license plate numbers of cars that were 2-3 meters away.
At night, as expected, there are many areas that are not lit, and even if they are, reflections from lights made it difficult to make out the license plates. Still, I was able to clearly see everything within 1 meter and when stopped, so it seems that it will function well in case of an emergency.
However, while reviewing the nighttime footage, I became a bit concerned: the camera can save recordings in increments of 1, 2, or 3 minutes, but when approaching the last 5 seconds or so of footage from when riding at 30 km/h or more, I noticed that the screen froze here and there. This did not happen with other resolutions that use 29 fps, so it may be that the high frame rate is causing a lag in the image processing and video storage process. In any case, it would be safer to use 2560 x 1440 / 29fps or 1920 x 1080 / 29fps / HDR when recording at night.
Event recording / GPS function can be used not just in an emergency
An additional feature that should not be overlooked is the event recording function. When the G-sensor detects an impact or fall, it secures 20 seconds of video before and after that point as data that will not be overwritten. I couldn't just charge into a wall or a telephone pole or something, so I tried several ways to apply a force of impact and it started saving footage in the following situations.
- Holding the helmet and shaking it
- Hitting the helmet
- Shaking the head quickly from side to side while wearing the helmet
All of these were activated when the G-sensor was set to "medium" sensitivity (the sensitivity can be selected from three levels). It is quite reassuring to know that the G-sensor will work even with this level of sensitivity. Event recording can also be activated with a single press of a button on the main unit, so it can also be used in the event of a problem such as being harassed by a rage driver.
However, due to the mounting location, it is difficult to press the button on the main unit while operating the throttle, so it is not really useful for event recording of locations and landscapes of interest. However, in such cases, the GPS function is useful. The GPS function records the route you have taken along with the video, so you can check the location of any scenery that caught your eye on the app. In addition, if you turn on the video compression function called "Trip Lapse," you can look back at the scenery in images taken every second. In other words, the video is at 1 fps, which makes it overwhelmingly easier to search for specific locations. However, the video will be choppy, so you will need to decide which function is most important for your needs.
Also, to use the Trip Lapse function the MicroSD needs to be reformatted. If you switch to Trip Lapse while on the road, all previously recorded video will be lost, so if you are thinking of using it, turn it on before you leave.
##Highly recommended for owners of classic models or those who ride more than one bike!
With the ease of one-touch startup, high image quality that is more than adequate for the needs of the user, and full functionality, this front/rear camera drive recorder is a great value. Though you need to wait about 40 seconds after turning on the power before recording starts and the lack of an indicator makes it a bit hard to tell how much battery power is left, those are things you can get used to, and all-in-all it is a great product. I also recommend it for owners of classic models who are hesitant to install a camera because they don't want to ruin the bike's look, and for owners of multiple bikes who thought it would be too much work to install one camera on each bike. The convenience of this item is definitely worth a try!


editor
Yo
Webike Japan's global merchandiser who is passionate about motorcycles. Born in Japan, and spent his childhood in the US. 25 years of riding experience mainly on the tarmac and motorcycle market. He loves products made in Japan and considers himself a "Japan Parts evangelist".