Low Beams Extremely Bright?

[donaldb]

My neighbor told me that my lights even on low beam are extremely bright, looks like a 747 coming in for landing. He made this observation while leading and my lights in his mirror. He seems to think I need to aim them lower, but I like the current position, it casts real good light even on low. Has anyone else had complaints about how bright the lights are?

 

[twowheelnut]

Mine are the same. I like 'em the way they are even if I do get opposing traffic's flick of the brights.

 

[Geezer]

My lights are a lot brighter than the ones on my car or truck, but I don't get flashed by oncoming traffic.

Come to think of it I don't remember ever getting flashed, but that would be a different thread...

 

[wheatonFJR]

Having lights up a little higher annoys the cagers around you and others in your group ride...

 

[Warchild]

I dunno.... whaddaya think, is it a little on the bright side?

 

[Fabone]

Has anyone else had complaints about how bright the lights are?

Yea.....all the time. I once had PIAA Extreme Whites and got flashed all the time, so I checked the aim one day in the warehouse. The factory aim was spot on. Keep in mind with loaded sidecases and your butt, you're going to have some sag, so the lights may be higher. I turned them down some, but still get flashed. OH well!

 

[JohnBryer]

Here's mine!

 

[SkooterG]

Its quite simple. Your lights are aimed too high. You may like it that way, duh, who wouldn't, but nobody else around you will like it.

So pick your poison - More light for you and everybody else and all the associated malcontent you will be causing, or deal with a little less light for the beneficial trade-off of not pissing off the entire world.

BTW, I did a weekend long ride with forum membe vectervp1 and his freaking lights are aimed too high. I did 95% of the leading since the poor baby didn't want to use his radar detector and instead wanted to listen to tunes.

Well, let me tell you, there were several instances at stops that if I would have had a weapon, I would have shot out his lights. Maybe him too. Word.

 

[FJRocket]

Mine were set too high. If I could see the beams over the trunk of the car in front of me, or on the signs at the side of the roads, I cranked them down.

Last thing you want is:

A.) target fixation or ducking away from the light by the ONCOMING CAGE

B.) Road rage: "Freakin' bastard, I'll show him MY brights. Up close and personal" Kinda thing.

Not good.

What are the parameters for starting the headlight setup? 31 inches up at 20 feet back on the center stand?

 

[Fallen Jim Rides again]

When solo, the top of the beam comes just to the top of the trunk of the car ahead, assuming some reasonable following distance.

When my daughter is on, it is a few inches higher and I get flashed some. Wish there were a two position switch 'cuz I mostly ride solo and don't want them too low most of the time.

 

[FJRocket]

When solo, the top of the beam comes just to the top of the trunk of the car ahead, assuming some reasonable following distance.When my daughter is on, it is a few inches higher and I get flashed some. Wish there were a two position switch 'cuz I mostly ride solo and don't want them too low most of the time.

You have a stock shock set on soft? Maybe ride solo with soft and dual with it set hard, and you might not have so much beam (or geometry) change?

 

[tyronewildman]

Yep, my '04 came way too high. Adjusted em down 10 to 20 turns (unscrew or counter clock wise to lower) ea to get them just below an average cars rear window. Used a towel to cover each one over to adjust the other to get em the same while shining on garage door. Best lights of any so far. Later,,,De B)

 

[BlueWing]

Well, let me tell you, there were several instances at stops that if I would have had a weapon, I would have shot out his lights.  Maybe him too. 

Well just invite him to the annual "Barbie Shoot-out" and......accidents do happen.

 

[donaldb]

I don't make a habit of riding much at night, it just adds an additional hightened safety issue w/me, personal comfort zone thing I have going on, but w/the time change I will inevitably have little choice from time to time. So far I have not had anyone flash high beams at me, should that begin to happen on some routine basis I will get back w/you guys for further instructions on proper alignment and the how too's, etc. I was just wondering if it was a common characteristic of the FJR lights. Thanx-bd

 

[FastJoyRide]

Mine also came set way too high from the dealer. PITA adjusting them with my fat fingers and the extremely fine threads on the adjusters, but ya gotta do it...

 

[Fallen Jim Rides again]

When solo, the top of the beam comes just to the top of the trunk of the car ahead, assuming some reasonable following distance.When my daughter is on, it is a few inches higher and I get flashed some.  Wish there were a two position switch 'cuz I mostly ride solo and don't want them too low most of the time.

You have a stock shock set on soft? Maybe ride solo with soft and dual with it set hard, and you might not have so much beam (or geometry) change?

Stock shock set on hard. I'm about 6'4" 215 lbs without gear so soft is too soft. Daughter is tall (like her dad) for a girl, and about 5'9" 145 lbs. I know that I might be able to adjust the shock up some but am waiting for the Wilbers thing to go and see where we go from there.

 

[norcal]

Hey donaldb, there's a rocker switch just to the left of the electric windscreen switch--the high-low beam switch. Adjust your low beams so they don't blind and irritate other drivers, then when the time is right you can switch on your high beams. Cool, no?

 

[shuswaper]

@Donaldb and anyone else....instructions for headlight aim (taken from `03 issue of Bike Mag.): A...Find a patch of ground with a white or light coloured wall at one end (you might have one of these at home--it`s called a driveway). B...Place the bike 25feet from the wall or garage door. C...Measure from the center of the headlight to the ground with the bike level. D...Now go over to the garage door and mark one line at the same height above ground, and another one 2 inches lower. E...Use a carpenters level to draw the horizontal lines. Now , switch on the headlight and mount the motorcycle. The low beams upper cutoff point should rest right on the lower line. The center of the high beam should land on the upper line. BTW...I should add, make sure your beams are pointed either straight ahead or just slightly right of center as well. There you have it...how not to blind others in traffic! Hope this helps!!! :assasin: