Head light adjustment question
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Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 599
From: Eagle, ID.
Head light adjustment question
Does anyone know what distance the bike needs to be away from an object such as a wall to adjust the height of the low beam? And is there a specific height off the floor the beam needs to be adjusted too? Page 3-22 discusses how to adjust the headlight horizontally and vertically, but does not give any information about how far out in front of the road the light should be, like with cars.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 347
From: S.Dak USA
Place the bike 25' from a wall and have a friend hold her upright(not on sidestand).Measure from the ground to the center of the headlight ON THE BIKE,now transfer that measurement to the wall and make a mark and draw a horizontal line.The line should be in the center of the low beam light pattern.If not,adjust accordingly.The center of the high beam pattern should be 1 1/2- 2" ABOVE the line.This method is not very scientific,but I have always found it to be pretty good.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
Steve, isn't there also a vertical axis? I used to do this on cars to make my keep at a local auto shop when I was in high school. We had a device that was rail mounted. It measured both the horizontal height but also the verticle center. It gave you preferred positions along both axis.
That said, when I put my new fairings and headlight module on I don't remember any adjustment at all. There's a shop manual on this forum for download if your question pertains to a Superhawk.
That said, when I put my new fairings and headlight module on I don't remember any adjustment at all. There's a shop manual on this forum for download if your question pertains to a Superhawk.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 599
From: Eagle, ID.
Nuhawk, I have the printed shop manual and all it give is the vertical and horizontal adjustments, but doesn't tell you how far out the beam needs to be like you can adjust on car headlights.
I tried Steve's idea to get me in the ball park as the last time I rode after dark, my low beam light was too far out. A little trial and error to get it right.
I tried Steve's idea to get me in the ball park as the last time I rode after dark, my low beam light was too far out. A little trial and error to get it right.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
Thanks, Reaper! When I assembled mine I thought it would be preset to the proper height and verticle axis. Maybe I should check that. The Superhawk is 10mm into the triples and I have the ride height set in back to match (I think) but you're right - it's worth checking.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,452
From: San Clemente, CA
Place the bike 25' from a wall and have a friend hold her upright(not on sidestand).Measure from the ground to the center of the headlight ON THE BIKE,now transfer that measurement to the wall and make a mark and draw a horizontal line.The line should be in the center of the low beam light pattern.If not,adjust accordingly.The center of the high beam pattern should be 1 1/2- 2" ABOVE the line.This method is not very scientific,but I have always found it to be pretty good.
For cars the method is 25' from wall, center of beam should be 18" to 24" from the ground.
What I did with my VTR, which was aimed too low from the dealer, is adjusted it up slightly, then rode around the block. On the 2nd or 3rd try I had it where I wanted it, with good illumination of the road in front of me.
Plus if it's too high and you ride in the fog...look out!
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BiggDaddyKool
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