1150 headlight alignment

[petea]

hi i have just fitted hid lights to my 1150gs 2001
when i went out to test the lights i noticed the dip beam is flat on the left
but rises up on the right as cars came towards me you could see the car light up as i passed no one flashed me but it didnt look right.i looked in the riders manual and haynes manual and they both described a instant adjustment for right hand driving and left hand driving i carried out the instructions but the headlamp would not turn as described so i took the whole light out and found there was an additional clamp screw at the bottom of the headlight and also on the left hand side there was a pin on the headlight plate and three holes on the clamp plate the pin was in the centre hole so i loosened everything off and turned the headlamp till the pin was located in one of the other holes.put headlamp back on bike when you look at headlamp the filters on the lens are now at a angle rather than being flat the beam pattern looks better in the garage it is now flat on right and rises on left which looks right to me not had a chance to try a test ride yet.anybody know if this is a correct adjustment procedure or am i missing something.

 

[Packer]

It sounds right, the 1150 dip beam cuts off cleanly straight across the road but angles up at the left to illuminate road signs etc.

Once you have got the height of the dip beam correct, speak nicely to your local dealer and he may check the alignment for free, you can adjust the head beam independantly with the cross head screws at the front.

I raised mine quite a lot as as supplied it was only slightly above the dip beam. Now it lights up the road way into the distance.

 

[Voyager]

Did the bike originate abroad ?

It sounds as thought you have a right-hand dip unit.

My 1150GSA had a replacement headlamp unit fitted when it was brought to the UK - It now has the left-hand dip (beam rises to the left) and the headlamp filters are horizontal.

Bob.

 

[Womble]

It certainly sounds like the bike has been set up for riding on the right. The headlamp assembly rotates so that you can set the bike up for left or right-hand riding. The procedure to change the setting is in the manual.

 

[finglonga]

As said you can adjust the beam for UK or Continental riding. Just a turn of a screw.

 

[petea]

headlight alignment

Hi the bike is a uk model.has anyone tried the instant adjustment?i know what it says in the manual but as described when i tried to carry out the adjustment the headlamp wouldnt turn.has anyone who has fitted hid lamps needed to carry out this adjustment? to obtain the correct beam pattern.i will check with the company i bought the lamps off to see if they have any advice.

 

[Voyager]

Hi the bike is a uk model.has anyone tried the instant adjustment?i know what it says in the manual but as described when i tried to carry out the adjustment the headlamp wouldnt turn.has anyone who has fitted hid lamps needed to carry out this adjustment? to obtain the correct beam pattern.i will check with the company i bought the lamps off to see if they have any advice.

I have adjusted mine for Continental right-hand drive use a couple of times.

Its not as easy as the manual suggests. You have to slacken everything off quite a lot, then move the dipped beam light unit back towards the bike before it will turn.

It needs a bit of fiddling but it usually works in the end. Don't try to force it.

With my UK light unit, the patterns on the glass are horizontal when set for the UK (dip rises to the left). Once adjusted for right-hand dip the glass patterns are slanted (obviously). It therefore looks as though horizontal glass patterns are normal for the different left or right-hand drive light units - which is why they are changed when a bike is imported (or exported).

 

[petea]

Hi Voyager i have spoken to les wassall and he is saying the same as yourself its not as easy as the maunal says.it looks like my bike does have a continental headlamp fitted for some reason.i really just wanted to confirm i was carrying out the adjustment correctly as it is not like the manual says.thanks for the information i have twisted the headlamp and beam is ok les has suggested cutting off the pin so the filter isnt at such an angle to obtain the correct beam pattern.
petea

 

[Motorbike Mike]

Hi Pete,
I seem to have the same problem as you, the day before going to Spain I tryed to change the headlight beam throw as per the manual, a right load of fiddling later it appears that the light is already set for riding on the rhs ( according to the illustration in the manual )and the light will not turn as per the manual says.... i just ended up leaving it as previous and flicking the lever at the back to point the light further downwards whilst abroad.....then forgot all about it til I read this thread !
cheers Mike

 

[petea]

Hi Mike im glad im not alone.the adjustment is easier if you take the headlight unit off the bike then it is clear why it wont turn. ie there is a second clamp at the bottom of the headlight and a pin through a hole on the headlight clamp.my bike has passed 4 mot,s so i guess headlight alignment is not checked.i rang a couple of bmw breakers to see if i could get a uk headlight they said they were like rocking horses s***
pete

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Personally I prefer to have the dip pattern symetrical.