Insta360 Luna Ultra vs X5: Which Camera Belongs on Your Bike?
One is a gimbal camera, one is a 360 camera, and both go on a motorcycle. Greg tested both on his handlebars: which to buy for riding, and why he carries both.
Image: Greg Toope / gregtooperides
In this article
Two cameras, two different jobs
After testing the Insta360 Luna Ultra on his motorcycle for the tech channel, and running two X5s as his everyday 360 cameras, Greg has the answer most riders are actually shopping for: these are not competitors, they are specialists. The Luna Ultra is a gimbal camera that points where you aim it, and the X5 is a 360 camera that captures everything and lets you reframe after the ride. Which one belongs on your handlebars depends on what you want to do with the footage, and the differences show up the moment you ride with both.
What the Luna Ultra does on a bike
Greg mounted the Luna Ultra on his handlebars and on a neck and chest mount, testing it through real riding vibration and changing road conditions, with comparisons against the Ace Pro 2 and X5. The gimbal's value on a motorcycle is exactly what you would hope: smooth, stable, pointed footage that motovlogs properly, without the wide distortion a 360 reframed shot can carry. It is the camera for the rider who wants the traditional shot without the traditional shake.
What the X5 does better
The X5's strength is that it never misses the moment because it never chooses a direction. Mount it anywhere, ride, and reframe afterward: follow-cam, selfie, the car that passed too close, the view you did not know you wanted. For riders who ride first and edit later, 360 capture means no second-guessing angles while wearing gloves in traffic. The trade is a different look, a bulkier mount and an editing step, which is the price of never having to aim.
Vibration, wind and the motorcycle problem
Motorcycles are hostile environments for cameras: engine vibration, wind buffeting, rain, and mounting surfaces that flex. Greg's test specifically put the Luna Ultra through real motovlogging vibration rather than a desk, and the results surprised him, which is the point of testing on an actual bike instead of trusting spec sheets. Riders choosing between the two should weigh how they ride: commuting and touring footage rewards the gimbal's polish, while chaotic group rides and scenic trips reward 360's capture-everything insurance.
Who should buy which
Buy the Luna Ultra if you primarily want traditional, cinematic footage of your rides and do not want to edit reframes. Buy the X5 if you want maximum creative flexibility, invisible-bike-style shots, or a do-everything camera for travel. Buy both only if you genuinely produce a lot of content, which is why Greg runs both: the Luna Ultra for pointed shots, the X5 pair for everything else. For most riders buying one camera, the X5's versatility is the safer first purchase.
Greg's full test
The full handlebar and chest-mount test, including the vibration results and the comparison against the Ace Pro 2 and X5, is in Greg's video I Put the Insta360 Luna Ultra on My Motorcycle, live now on the tech channel. If you are deciding between these cameras for riding, the footage answers the question faster than any spec table.
Mounting deserves its own word, because it decides more than the camera does on a bike. The X5 lives happily in places a gimbal camera cannot tolerate: low on the frame, under the mirror, anywhere vibration would rattle a mechanical gimbal. The Luna Ultra wants a cleaner mount and benefits from Greg's chest setup exactly because the gimbal needs a stable platform to do its smoothing work. Whichever camera you choose, budget for the mount that suits it, because the best camera in the world pointed at your front fender is still footage of your front fender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Insta360 Luna Ultra good for motorcycle riding?
In Greg's real-world test on his handlebars and a chest mount, it handled motovlogging vibration well and produced smooth, stable pointed footage, with details in his full video review on the tech channel.
Which is better for riding, the Luna Ultra or the X5?
They do different jobs. The Luna Ultra gives polished, aimed footage without editing; the X5 captures 360 degrees so you can reframe anything afterward. Most riders buying one camera are better served by the X5's versatility.
Why does Greg carry both cameras?
The Luna Ultra handles the traditional pointed shots and gimbal polish, while his two X5s cover everything else with reframable 360 capture. Together they cover every style of riding footage without compromise.
Where can I watch the full Luna Ultra motorcycle test?
Greg's video I Put the Insta360 Luna Ultra on My Motorcycle is live on his tech YouTube channel, covering handlebar and chest mounting, vibration handling, and comparisons with the Ace Pro 2 and X5.