Review | Vantrue F1 motorcycle dash camera

Sherbert enjoyed a Vantrue F1 dashcam install in September 2024. So, how's it turned out?

the rear Vantrue F1 camera mounted on the licence plate lamp cover

Utility

The Vantrue F1 is a dash cam and not a substitute for an action or vlogging camera. It does record every minute of your ride from the front and rea cameras. That offers a way to relay moments of your journey to loved ones and to enjoy recounting "that overtake" or "ijiot" driver doing something stupid.

Once set up, you can forget the Vantrue F1 is aboard. It starts up when the ignition is turned on and stays on until the ignition is off or you turn it off. It's that simple.

Video options

Using the Vantrue app we can set how the video is recorded. This includes its resolution and whether to combine the front and rear cameras in one screen on playback. There are some other settings to modify and you'll learn of those by downloading and reading the Vantrue F1 manual PDF.

Sound options

Not having read and understood the manual, I accidentally disabled sound. It took a while to realise and it's worth noting how the buttons affect your settings when miscalculating a click-click-count menu structure.

With the sound enabled, the Vantrue F1 makes a good effort of recording the sounds around you when at a halt. As the speed increases, the wind takes over. It's good enough that, when a geographical misplacement led me and others down some less navigable trackways, it picked up my giggling like a child. I so knew I was in for a slating.

Device buttons

As already hinted, the on-device buttons follow menus and you need to count presses and seconds. That's beyond my abilities, so I set everything in the app. You can turn off the sound and take photos, and I can't tell you how without looking it up. Read and understand the manual, I guess.

I've turned the loud woman's voice off. It can be jarring. At least we can turn it off.

Recordings

The Vantrue F1 does a great job as a dashcam and only suffers from obstructions landing on its lenses. Rain will blow off and often leave "that" one drop that obscures the main field of view straight ahead. Keep the cameras clean.

The recordings follow some rules. To get the GPS information and map trace, you need to download a file onto the phone or from the SD card into your Vantrue computer app. That's not really a worry when, following a "moment", you can immediately join the Vantrue F1 using the phone app and wifi. YOu can then choose the recording to review and download it after confirming it has all the action.

The Vantrue F1 automatically marks recordings as an impact. That's a great concept that falls over on our Irish roadways. I'm sure it'll help navigate the one time you need a recording most.

Downscaled video example

Quality

The quality of the front camera depends on your settings. It can record up to 4K with the rear camera turned off. The default resolution is enough to read licence plates and reveal people coveting their smartphones in hands.

The contrast can get jumbled between shadowy areas and brighter spaces, and again - it's a dashcam and not a vlogging camera.

GPS and mapping

As expected, the GPS and mapping is excellent and only displays when you download the video file from the Vantrue F1 SD card to your app or computer app.

Screen recording of the GPS data displayed in the phone app

Ownership

The Vantrue F1 is easy to live with. It starts recording the moment the ignition or ACC are turned on. Remember that when you are working in the garage and you're pushing out karaoke.

Keep your lenses clean and that's about all the maintenance needed.

Incidental use

Software updates

The one major firmware update went OK. The instructions are in Chinenglish and need some effort to ignore. The most important point is that the update resets factory settings: your licence plate, speed units, and that shrill voice. You'll also need your default - or maybe updated - password handy.

Summary

  • The Vantrue F1 is easy to live with and capable of capturing "moments".
  • It's not an action cam or vlogging cam, and you will have usable B-roll.
  • Reviewing footage is useful when evaluating your ride.
  • The GPS and map view is worth downloading a file.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vantrue F1 dashcam install Goldwing 2023

Image
I installed the Vantrue Falcon 1 motorcycle dash cam on Sherbert the Goldwing 2023 today. It took a while longer than I expected, and when you consider my learning to strip a part or two, then that's OK. If you are an expert with the Goldwing's skins, then you can take much less time. This walk through will help too. Research Before running any cables I watched the following three YouTube videos from Chris Dickman, Robert White, and Larry Ryan. Chris Dickman (Cruiseman's Garage) Don't Buy A Motorcycle Dash Cam Until You Watch This | Vantrue F1 | Cruiseman's Reviews Chris highlighted the need to mount the camera off-center to avoid being struck by the front fender. Robert White VanTrue F1 Dash Cam, Install Robert installed the rear camera on the licence plate light cover. He drilled a hole for the cable off to the left of the cover and taped the cable to the rear fender. I didn't like that bit although he does give the best hint on "finding daylight" t...
Read more

Picking up Sherbert

Image
To recap, we'd been awake and travelling to Offenburg, Germany since 2:30 am. Bikemoto's offer of a free coffee felt overwhelmingly generous while we waited for Sherbert's paperwork to be readied. There was a hire agreement to cover our ride back to Ireland, the ownership documentation, Certificate of Compliance, manuals, sales agreements, and more. It all took time. All the time I was taking stock of the enormity of the day and second-guessing the plan. Self doubt I'd not ridden for nearly 5 years since fixing Arod's speedometer sensor and finding his fork seals were leaking. COVID 19 and working from home were little motivation to set things right. Now I am about to ride a new-to-me model of bike I've not ridden before. Sherbert is heavier than an ST1300, a weightier insurance liability, and has a dual clutch transmission (DCT). He's extra expensive to buy and more-so to fix. I'm riding on the right side of the road in Europe and with my wife rid...
Read more

HeliBars Gen 2.0 handlebar risers for Goldwing 2018 plus

Image
I love riding Sherbert and experience backache. As a sports-tourer, Shadowfax did the same. Fitting the Bike-Quip handlebar risers  eliminated most of my discomfort. It's natural to expect the same outcome from fitting handlebar risers to Sherbert. I chose the HeliBars Gen 2.0 handlebar risers against a field of cheaper alternatives and imitations. Everyone reviewing the Performance Handlebar Risers for 2018+ Gold Wing gave a positive outcome. They listed the following benefits, which matched my needs: Improved low-speed control Relaxed arms with improved reach Exceptional quality Proven manufacturer's record So, how did that turn out? Fitting the HeliBars Gen 2.0 handlebar risers The HeliBars arrived from WingStuff in a cardboard box containing labelled bags with the risers, the bolts, a pair of covers, and two small zip ties. An instruction booklet came with them. Preparation includes protecting the bike's surfaces. I used masking tape and blankets that survive from my...
Read more