Directional fender mounted driving/fog lights?

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

HEADLIGHT BEAM

Maybe, maybe not. One thing I've noticed, and didn't think to mention it, is the pressure in the rear shock air bladder. If you have the ACS then it should stay constant, but if not, like me with the base RT, the air pressure will raise and lower the back end of the bike. That can make a big difference in how the lights project. My air bladder leaks so when I pump it up to about 60 lbs the headlights project a shorter distance.

..............................................................................I have not tested your theory on the beam changing it's height ( I would be interested to know if you have ? ) but IMHO, if the AIR BAG could make that much of a change in the height of the light beam I think it would be ILLEGAL to sell it in this country.......The Spyder would not be INSPECTABLE ......................Mike :thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

..............................................................................I have not tested your theory on the beam changing it's height ( I would be interested to know if you have ? ) but IMHO, if the AIR BAG could make that much of a change in the height of the light beam I think it would be ILLEGAL to sell it in this country.......The Spyder would not be INSPECTABLE ......................Mike :thumbup:

I did see a shorter forward coverage after I pumped up the bladder. It leaks so most of the time it's at zero pressure. The bike will raise quite noticeably when you pump up the bladder so there has to be some affect on the beam projection. Just how much I don't really know. The height of the light bulb doesn't change, but the angle of the bike body with respect to ground plane, hence the centerline of the beam, will change as the rear moves up and down with rider/passenger weight and bladder pressure.

 

[PMK]

Guys, FWIW, yes the rear air bag will alter the aiming of the headlights.

Also, the setting range per the manual has a respectable tolerance.

The manual also states that to aim the lights, the air pressure is set to zero making the "flat" rear end the highest aiming without rider(s).

Also, in the owners manual regarding aiming the lights, the diagram shows dimensions from Spyder to vertical wall, and dimensions for the projected beam from ground level up on the wall.

Aiming the lights is not difficult. The adjusters on the RT series are located behind the left and right access covers that require no tools for removal. The adjuster is a brass colored knob and turning if will ai the light beam up or down.

There is not side to side adjustment I am aware of.

When installed the BRP HID setup in our 14 RTs, to aim the beams I grabbed some duct tape and a tape measure. Went to the nearby Lowes and drove around back. Found a section of flat parking lot / access road, then measured from the buildings wall the manuals dimension. Placed tape on the ground. With the Spyder running, I set the Spyder at that distance from the wall and had the lights shining on the wall. The beams to aim were obvious. I measured and marked with tape the vertical range for aiming the lights. Deflated the rear shock and made adjustments.

I left the tape marks in place on the wall and asphalt. We took a few test rides and came back to optimize the settings.

The RT owners manual details all of this.

PK