Best Bike Cam for 2023? Cycliq Fly 12 Sport Review

Testing and reviewing the new Cycliq Fly 12 Sport. Possibly the best new bike cam for 2023 but arguably over-priced.

*** There have been a few Comments about long term reliability and customer service. I've brought these to the attention of Cycliq's General Manager and he's now watching the comments. I'm told the Covid related supply chain disruptions hit them hard. They're aware of the damage this caused their brand and are working to change this.***

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[alamedadanceparty]

Really appreciate this breakdown. So no helpful. I don't have any video gear yet and I'm still researching what might work for me. Reading specs makes my head hurt, but hearing you explain it all is so much more effective. 🙏🙏🙏

[grimmar]

I can wholeheartedly recommend Drift Ghost XL (1080p/30fps) It's waterproof, has 9 hours continuous filming battery, performs quite well in low light also. It has very easy and intuitive settings and LCD panel to read everything you need. Also lens is rotating so you can adjust the angle if mounted on helmet.

[brit-in-czech]

Thumbs up from me. But would have appreciated a mention of the wind noise resistance, if any.

[myyewtube]

I was interested in these, but have been put of by the negative comments around them failing and poor customer service. A long term test would be good

[moobaz]

I’ve used Cycliq for a while, starting with the previous generation rear light camera. They are great quality units and I’ve captured lots of close shaves! What has never worked is the app and phone connection.

[SwampyDuckRidesAgain]

Interesting to see your opinion. I bought both the 12 and the 6 and had to wait 9 months before they were shipped by the company. It took me a while to get a suitable mount as having g very narrow bars it was a problem to mount. I quite liked the idea of having lights in them to save clutter. What a disappointment the battery with light on flashing has about 3 hours the 6 even less and even without the lights on not much more. Now I’m someone who is out on the bike for more hours than that so pretty poor. I contacted the company and they wanted me to do turn it on in the house and sit with it and record the time it lasted all well and good of you have the time in your life to do so. So basically I haven’t bothered using it at all and shall more than likely sell it as it’s just another bit of faffing about before a ride.
It may be fine for short commutes but no point for someone who rides distances.

[chriscohlmeyer]

Locally plates are only required on the rear of private and small commercial vehicles so having a Varia with camera will only give so much information. The Fly 12 paired with a Varia for road riding would allow one to have a better chance to capture the plate number if needed and the Varia radar gives one a warning if quite electric vehicles are approaching. Something to consider.

[randygeyer]

Wow! It never occurred to me to have a safety camera. Brilliant!

[rocship]

Excellent video as always. I’ve been using a head cam for my 3 mile commute for the last 10 years. I recently bought a second hand GoPro hero 3 black for £50 from cex to replace my ageing mobius action camera. It took some experimentation to find the best settings to capture number plates at night. I found 1080p 60fps with protune (raw setting) gave reliable results. A slower frame rate gave blurred results. Protune off looked smoother with little noise but number plates were hard to read. However as you said, the battery life is disappointing

[BikeShopGirl]

Great video, happy to have found your channel!

[philipwoodford]

I’ve had the fly12 without any issues since it came out about 5 or 6 years ago, I’m going to buy the fly 12

[ktbikefun]

Pretty good, now using Cycliq for headlight cam, and tooocycling for rear light cam, considering latest Magicshine too as alternative for rear light cam

[normanjohnston]

I’m still ok with the ChilliTech. It’s less good resolution but battery is good and I’ve had two successful prosecutions of close pass drivers with it over the years

[COM]

Every time I have ever been in a potentially serious cycle accident it has been a hit and run. I was unconscious for one, chased one on foot but he drove the car at me, and I chased the last one down as the bike was not broken, but didn’t have a phone on me (would have been his word against mine anyway) the number plate is the only thing that counts in my opinion. I don’t ride at night at all anymore but based on my latitude low light is important.

[Boopop]

I used to run both a rear and front cycliq ce cameras. I managed to get both used for £200. The rear camera failed some time ago. The front camera is on its last legs.

I would like to replace the setup with newer camera lights, but spending upwards of £400 on the setup is a bitter pill to swallow, and I say this as someone who spent £4.5k on an Orbea Orca in 2020

[stephenhawe]

Another excellent review, pointing me towards the Fly 12. Thank you!

[ramlim]

I owned and used both Cycliq Fly 12 and 6 Front and Rear cameras and they are both unreliable, problematic with horrible battery life. I don't recommend Cycliq, period.

[quarryfield]

Very helpful video. I might get one these, thank you. Here in SW Florida cars don't have number plates on the front so that might limit the usefulness, I wonder which bright spark thought it might be a good idea not to bother with plates on the front? But then again they don't even have MOT's or any safety checks here so nowt surprises me.

[edwardhomson]

I have the previous version of both the front and rear lights. My main gripe is that bluetooth does not turn off when the unit is off, early on I regularly came to use them, only to find the battery dead.
You have to turn bluetooth off on the unit before powering down.

[davidwalker]

Easter, I was struck by an inattentive driver that came up from behind and turned into me. The POS left the scene and me lying in the road with 2 fractures in my hip. I had been looking at cameras, but I hadn't pulled the trigger yet. BOY, I wish I had one. A forward, only, camera may or may not have captured their LP. I can see the advantage of one forward and one rear facing camera. JUST not affordable. I like the FLY12.