Headlight issues.....

[Johnny_Swindle]

I generally don't do a lot of riding at night but I have encountered a "problem" or area for improvement with my headlights.

Friday night I was riding through a residential neighborhood when a driver in a truck decided I was driving with my "high beams" on. He decided to punish me my putting his light on high and kept them on high. I flashed my lights from low to high to show him I was following the rules.

Instead of putting his lights on low, he kept them on high and repeatly flash his lights at me.

By this time I was getting a bit "P.O'ed" so I put my on bright and left them there. I guess he got the message as he immediately placed his on low. :thumbup:

Is there a rule of thumb as to how far ahead of the rider the low beams should shine? If my lights are adjusted too high, this might be what the guy was complaining about.

 

[NancysToy]

Your headlights are likely aimed too high. With the shutter type low beam, that cuts off the top of the focused headlight beam, properly aimed headlights should not shine upward enough to shine into an oncoming driver's eyes...especially a truck driver. There are aiming specifications and procedures in your owners manual. My favorite way of checking is to observe where the cutoff from the shutter hits the car ahead of me. If the "line" cannot be seen on the trunklid of the car ahead, the beam is too high. If it is down near the license plate, it is too low. If it reflects off road signs on low beams, it is too high. Play with the adjustment and find what works best for you, but doesn't blind oncoming drivers. Low beams are always a compromise.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: That's a slick way to do it, Scotty! :thumbup:

 

[Johnny_Swindle]

Thanks...........

Your headlights are likely aimed too high. With the shutter type low beam, that cuts off the top of the focused headlight beam, properly aimed headlights should not shine upward enough to shine into an oncoming driver's eyes...especially a truck driver. There are aiming specifications and procedures in your owners manual. My favorite way of checking is to observe where the cutoff from the shutter hits the car ahead of me. If the "line" cannot be seen on the trunklid of the car ahead, the beam is too high. If it is down near the license plate, it is too low. If it reflects off road signs on low beams, it is too high. Play with the adjustment and find what works best for you, but doesn't blind oncoming drivers. Low beams are always a compromise.