With insurance disputes becoming more common and traffic getting more unpredictable, I wanted a simple dash cam solution for my Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Not a vlog camera, not a gadget overloaded with features, just a reliable set and forget system that records front and rear while I ride.
After browsing AliExpress and reading through owner reviews, I settled on the JIUYIN M802. It offered exactly what I was looking for: dual cameras, 1080p recording, minimal setup, and a price that made sense. Under US$50, hard to beat!
Purchase & Shipping
The total cost including shipping was just under US$50 or £38. Shipping from China to the UK takes around 10 days with AliExpress. This is an AliExpress link to the model I purchased.
What’s Included
The JIUYIN M802 includes the following in the box:|
- Main control module
- Front and rear cameras with mounts
- Power loom
- Adhesive mounts
- Allen key and cable ties
- Printed instruction manual (Link to PDF download)
Not included:
- MicroSD Card
Cameras appear well made. Long connecting cables, with a weather-proof sealed connector.
Mounts are adjustable and the design allows it to be either screwed/bolted or stuck down.
Camera resolution is 1080P, with a 160 degree viewing angle and a F1.8 aperture that works “ok” in low light. Remember, this is not high end smartphone level camera, this is a US$50 dash cam.
The image below gives you an idea of size comparison of the components as compared to a standard TV remote.
The actual size of the main unit is 8 x 5 x 3cm. So it shouldn’t be an issue fitting under the seat of behind the main headlight on most bikes.
The SD Card slot has a rubber cover, that should keep out any weather. The unit takes a Class 10, up to 128GB SDCard. You can find these on Amazon for around US$15 or less.
Both the main module and cameras are rated IP67. In real terms, this means dust proof and protected against temporary immersion in water up to 1 metre for 30 minutes. For motorcycle use, that covers rain, road spray, and washing without any issues. More on IP67 rated here.
Video Quality
Video quality is exactly what you would expect at this price point, and that is not a criticism. The footage is clear enough to identify vehicles and read number plates at sensible distances, which is the main requirement for a dash cam.
Low light performance is acceptable. Footage becomes a little grainy in darker conditions and there is some motion blur at higher speeds, but it still captures usable evidence.
The image stabalization is electronic, and works “OK”.
All sample footage was recorded on a low light, muggy December morning.
Download: Dash Cam Front – 30 Second Clip
Download: Dash Cam Rear – 30 Second Clip
App
The recommended free app to view the saved dash cam videos and download them if needed is by a company called Vidure (https://www.viidure.com). The app is easy to use and to date I haven’t had any issues.
Verdict
For the price, I have zero complaints. US$65 total for the dash cam and SDCard, I think it offers great value.
Installation is very easy. It’s set and forget. Make sure the yellow cable marked ACC is connected to an ignition switched +12V source (ACC). If you wire it directly to the battery, you will eventually drain your battery.
Downloading clips through the app can be a little slow, especially for longer files. If speed matters, removing the SD card and transferring files directly is much faster.
Hopefully I will never need it, but it’s nice knowing I have video evidence if required in case of an incident.