gs main beam (not!)
- Thread starter snow
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Bikerjim
Registered user
You dont have a manual so i will explain 
On the back of the headlight is a litlle lever which goes up and down. This makes the light shine either up or down. It is there so when you put a pillion on your not blinding people. There is also a little knob which can be twitsed for adjustment and two on either side.
If you have ESA and ride around with enduro or off road settings on the road you may also find the beam is "short"
It sounds like it has been badly adjusted. The light is only one bulb remember.
A HID is a lot brighter and better (but it is designed to be) and if your not rididng a lot at night its not worth it.
Be carfull with the inner refelector on the light it comes off its mountings and is a nightmare to get back on.
Good luck
Jim
On the back of the headlight is a litlle lever which goes up and down. This makes the light shine either up or down. It is there so when you put a pillion on your not blinding people. There is also a little knob which can be twitsed for adjustment and two on either side.
If you have ESA and ride around with enduro or off road settings on the road you may also find the beam is "short"
It sounds like it has been badly adjusted. The light is only one bulb remember.
A HID is a lot brighter and better (but it is designed to be) and if your not rididng a lot at night its not worth it.
Be carfull with the inner refelector on the light it comes off its mountings and is a nightmare to get back on.
Good luck
Jim
you're not the first person i've heard say that, but i still don't understand how that can be as my HID main beam has been fantastic
I'm referencing the main beam in relation to dipped beam fitted with a 55w HID. In this context the dipped beam is so good (and the main beam relatively weak) that the main beam adds little light output in my case. With normal halogen in the dipped beam, the main beam is noticeable, but not with the HID on dipped. If you had halogen on dipped and HID on main, the difference would be very noticeable.
i have 55W HID in both. using main gives a very noticeable improvement over dip alone. nothing like as great as an HID dip over a halogen dip, but it illuminates the distance (where it is pointed) pretty well.
a possible explanation for the differing views:
if you have your dip adjusted fairly high, then the main would not be so effective. i have found that i need to keep the dip fairly low to avoid dazzling car drivers.
i could not make good progress on dip alone. i simply could not see far enough ahead.
again, yours and my definition of "good progress" may well differ
i have 55W HID in both. using main gives a very noticeable improvement over dip alone. nothing like as great as an HID dip over a halogen dip, but it illuminates the distance (where it is pointed) pretty well.
a possible explanation for the differing views:
if you have your dip adjusted fairly high, then the main would not be so effective. i have found that i need to keep the dip fairly low to avoid dazzling car drivers.
i could not make good progress on dip alone. i simply could not see far enough ahead.
again, yours and my definition of "good progress" may well differ
If anything my dipped beam is low so I don't blind anyone with the HID. Maybe your long distance vision is better than mine - who knows
I aqree - dipped beam alone is nowhere near enough. I like to make "good progress" at night hence having the FF50's with 55w HID's
i have 55W HID in both. using main gives a very noticeable improvement over dip alone. nothing like as great as an HID dip over a halogen dip, but it illuminates the distance (where it is pointed) pretty well.
a possible explanation for the differing views:
if you have your dip adjusted fairly high, then the main would not be so effective. i have found that i need to keep the dip fairly low to avoid dazzling car drivers.
i could not make good progress on dip alone. i simply could not see far enough ahead.
again, yours and my definition of "good progress" may well differ
+1!
Much the same experience. You can try putting the flash/passing beam on as well as dip. I'm sure you have. Boy, does that light up the surroundings!
I've got a Les W set up on mine inc. the aux lights. Bloomin' good.
Exmoor has just got the Dark Skies award thingy so HID's are a must round here. That and suicidal deer, badgers, foxes, pheasants etc...
Fluff
When I first got my GSA I thought the lights were shocking, they only lit up a tiny amount of road just in front of the bike. However, after reading posts on here I adjusted them correctly and now I can see perfectly well, in fact they're probably the best lights I've had on a bike. And they're the standard bulbs
Snap - you wouldn't think it would be too difficult to adjust them at the factory or during the pdi would you?
Interesting thread this and I have HID on both but what do people think is an acceptable speed at at night personally if I have been riding all day 50 mph is fine unless on the relentless
personally if I have been riding all day 50 mph is fine unless on the relentless Snap - you wouldn't think it would be too difficult to adjust them at the factory or during the pdi would you?
I find the standard lights great too - but adjustment is everything. I don't think factory or pdi adjustment is feasible - the suspension is so soft it needs to be set specifically for the weight of the rider
I ride over 10,000 miles a year, almost all in the dark and I haven't found a need to go HID yet. I do however keep the fogs on on rural roads to fill in the edges - I've had a couple of nasty experiences with wildlife waiting till the last second to try to kill themselves and/or me. There are a couple of deer wandering around the Cotswolds with brand marks from my exhaust
Roymondo
Registered user
You are not wrong - headlamp beam should be adjusted with the bike standing on its wheels and the rider seated normally, so as to compress the suspension at both ends. The adjuster is easy to reach while seated on the bike so it's no hardship to do it properly.
PatM
Registered user
Im on my 2nd GS- My first was an 04 which I put a Les Wassle HID kit on low beam and it drastically improved my light. I dont use High beam much and riding accross Bodmin moor in the dark is a bit scary as the lights not great. Ive now got a GSA and I put HID kits (not Les's) on both- on account that previous experience was good and HIDs are so brighter- I do 100 mile a day all year. The result- the HID s are not as good as before and that might be the bulb but I doubt it- I think the GSA reflector spreads more side to side that the GS. My advice would be to fit HIDS and if you havent played with them before- contact Les Wassell, (HID50.COM) cos he makes the DIY of it easy.
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