One-Take FPV Chase with a Super73 Z1: What It’s Like Filming a Music Video on an E-Bike
April 4, 2022
I love e-bikes for everyday rides, but I also love them as creative tools. When you’re trying to capture motion that feels effortless—rolling starts, smooth pull-aways, and controlled pacing—an e-bike can turn a complicated shoot into something you can actually repeat until you nail it.
For this project, I built a one-take FPV drone concept around a Super73 Z1 and a simple storyline: start at the car, move through a tight pass, land the moment on a basketball court, hop on the bike, and ride out.
This wasn’t about top speed. It was about being predictable, smooth, and cinematic.
The Concept: A Moving Shot That Never Cuts
A one-take FPV run sounds simple until you try it. The idea was to track Sonny Dulphi as I steps out of the car, have the drone thread a tight line through the car window/door area, follow me across the park, then transition the energy to the e-bike as I ride away.
In practice, every section has to connect:
The walking pace needs to feel intentional, not slow.
The drone needs room to recover without the shot looking hesitant.
The bike moment has to be clean: a quick mount, a stable roll-out, and a smooth exit.
That’s where the Super73 Z1 ended up being the perfect fit.
Why I Picked the Super73 Z1 for This Shoot
This Super73 Z1 was stock, and that mattered.
On set, I wasn’t trying to introduce a “surprise variable” like an overpowered launch or a bike that wants to leap forward the second someone touches the throttle/pedal assist. I wanted something that looked good on camera, was easy to control, and didn’t raise the stakes for the rider.
The Z1’s smaller form factor also helped the shot. With a lower center of gravity and compact proportions, the bike reads stable on camera—especially in wide-angle action footage where anything tall or twitchy can look exaggerated.
And visually, the orange pops. In a park environment full of greens and browns, that color separation is money. It helps the bike remain the subject even when the frame gets busy.
Real-World Ride Feel: Smooth, Calm “Get Up and Go”
The best way I can describe the Super73 Z1 here is smooth and cooperative.
For the kind of riding we were doing—short bursts, controlled pace, repeatable starts—the bike felt like it delivered just enough “get up and go” without trying to steal the scene.
For filming, that matters more than raw power. The camera (and the drone pilot) can only handle so much unpredictability.
The Z1 made it easier to:
Roll away cleanly without looking jerky
Hold a consistent speed so the drone can stay locked in
Keep the rider’s body language relaxed instead of “bracing” for acceleration
If you’re building an action sequence and you need the rider to gesture, perform, or stay in character, a calmer e-bike can actually be the better creative choice.
The FPV Setup I Used (And What Actually Mattered)
For the drone side, I used a GEPRC CineLog 25 setup with DJI FPV transmission (goggles + controller). The big goal was to fly confidently in tighter spaces while keeping the movement cinematic.
The part that mattered most wasn’t “the gear list”—it was endurance under real conditions.
We were out in the cold and wind, and it punished everything:
Batteries dropped fast
Flight time got tight
Missed takes stacked up quickly because resets take time
I ran smaller batteries to keep the drone light and nimble for that tighter flying, but the tradeoff was limited runtime—made even worse by the temperature.
If you’re planning something similar, the environment is as important as the equipment.
Bloopers, Resets, and the Reality of One-Take Ambition
One-take projects always sound romantic. In reality, you’re fighting:
The wind shifting mid-line
Cold sapping battery life
Tiny pilot errors that compound into big framing problems
Missed cues between the moving parts (car, talent, bike, drone)
We had moments where everything felt close… and then one small thing would unravel it.
A big lesson for me: plan for way more attempts than you think you’ll need, especially when you’re dealing with cold weather and multiple moving pieces.
What We Like
The Super73 Z1’s smooth, manageable pace works great for filming
Smaller, lower bike silhouette looks stable and controlled on camera
The orange color stands out beautifully against park backgrounds
Stock, approachable setup reduces risk when talent is performing
The overall e-bike moment (mount + roll-out) is repeatable—huge for multiple takes
Things To Consider
One-take FPV work demands lots of attempts; plan time accordingly
Cold and wind can crush FPV battery life and increase mistakes
Lighter drone batteries help tight flying, but you’ll pay for it in runtime
If you’re filming with performance/gestures, choose an e-bike that won’t surprise the rider with aggressive acceleration
Final Thoughts
This shoot reminded me why I keep coming back to e-bikes for creative projects. The Super73 Z1 wasn’t the “fastest” or “wildest” option—and that’s exactly why it worked.
For a cinematic chase where the goal is clean motion and consistent pacing, the Z1 delivered a smooth ride feel that made the bike portion of the one-take concept actually doable. It looked good, it stayed controllable, and it let the performance be the focus.
If you’re thinking about filming your own EV lifestyle content—whether it’s FPV, handheld, or just phone footage—start with a setup you can repeat confidently. Smooth beats fast almost every time.
Links
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