Adjusting Headlight... Not the knobs...

[darrell]

First time out in the darkness tonight and I see that my headlights are lighting the road nicely.  Too bad it was only the road thirty feet in front of me.

Is there any way to adjust the headlights besides the knobs on the dash?  I didn't look tonight in the darkenss, but I'll take a peek tomorrow.  Just want to know where and what to look for.

I have the service manual on order...

-darrell

[MrFurious]

The dash knobs adjust the vertical. There's also a less obvious smaller knob under the vertical knob to adjust each side horizontally.

[Conrad]

I don't understand. Why wouldn't you use the knobs to adjust the headlights? That's what they're for.

[VirginiaJim]

First time out in the darkness tonight and I see that my headlights are lighting the road nicely.  Too bad it was only the road thirty feet in front of me.

-darrell

30ft...I should so lucky.  Mine only illuminated about 10ft when I got my bike.  There's a lot of turning involved to get them right on the low beam.  I have mine set just a scoche below obnoxious now.    The knobs are the only way to adjust them.

[darrell]

OK, didn't realize the knobs would adjust them that much.  I tried to turn one of them before leaving the parking lot last night, but the resistance I felt made me believe it was already adjusted to it's maximum.

I'll start cranking on them this morning and see how it goes.

Thanks,
-darrell

[jonathan]

It's a fine thread, so you'll need to do a lot of cranking.

[lt1]

The dash knobs adjust the vertical. There's also a less obvious smaller knob under the vertical knob to adjust each side horizontally.

My, my, my.  I thought you were being a smart-alec, because I had never seen any horizontal adjustment knobs.  Lo and behold, they are not "under the vertical knob" on the dash, exactly, but next to the headlight boots.  The left one is at about the 4:30 postion to the left headlight boot, and the right one is at the 10:30 postion to the right headlight boot.

THANKS!  Even some of us old dogs can still learn a new trick.   

[darrell]

I turned them about 20x each side.  I was hesitant to crank on them last night because there was more resistance than I expected.  But, you folks know, so that's why I asked.

I can now see my headlights reflecting off the tailgates/cars in front of me.  Tonight I'll see if I went far enough or if more is needed.

Thanks!
-darrell

[B.D.F.]

The easiest way to adjust headlights is to point the bike at a white or light colored wall and see where the cut- off line is (low beam). Then move the bike back and make sure the cut- off line drops at least a little bit; the usual recommended drop is something like 2 inches at 25 feet distance. This way the headlights are pointed down very slightly so as not to blind oncoming drivers. It also seems to help to adjust the right headlight just a "tad" (technical term) higher than the left one; this is still kind to oncoming traffic but gives a bit more vertical beam spread.

Brian

I turned them about 20x each side.  I was hesitant to crank on them last night because there was more resistance than I expected.  But, you folks know, so that's why I asked.

I can now see my headlights reflecting off the tailgates/cars in front of me.  Tonight I'll see if I went far enough or if more is needed.

Thanks!
-darrell

[B.D.F.]

If you practice at this Clyde, you could become very proficient at making this adjustment. Who knows, maybe there is a 'Master' level of headlight adjuster out there with a certificate and everything.....?

All in good fun.

Brian

My, my, my.  I thought you were being a smart-alec, because I had never seen any horizontal adjustment knobs.  Lo and behold, they are not "under the vertical knob" on the dash, exactly, but next to the headlight boots.  The left one is at about the 4:30 postion to the left headlight boot, and the right one is at the 10:30 postion to the right headlight boot.

THANKS!  Even some of us old dogs can still learn a new trick.   

[ZG]

 

[Tom J.]

Not sure who'll be more excited about the new knobs, me or my wife 

[Wile]

"Disciples of Displacement"

I'm so stealing that.