Headlight beam adjustment, riding on the right

[stonetown]

Does anyone know how to adjust the headlight beam for riding on the right side of the road? Or will I have to stick a triangle of duct tape on the light?

The manual shows how to adjust for suspension preload levels but suggests getting a dealer to do beam throw adjustment

 

[DNHunter]

The beam from the headlight is flat and has no right/left bias - so no adjustment is required for driving on the right abroad.

D.

 

[stonetown]

Excellent, TVM.

The beam from the headlight is flat and has no right/left bias - so no adjustment is required for driving on the right abroad.

D.

 

[Bear]

The beam has a definite bvias to the left (see all the threads on hid lights for photos). BMW have advised me to contact my local dealer on adjustment for continental use rather than suggesting a method of adjustment themselves. The BMW club has a very long thread on the subject with no-one offering a definitive solution to the problem.

 

[stonetown]

OK it's back to the duct tape then

The beam has a definite bvias to the left (see all the threads on hid lights for photos). BMW have advised me to contact my local dealer on adjustment for continental use rather than suggesting a method of adjustment themselves. The BMW club has a very long thread on the subject with no-one offering a definitive solution to the problem.

 

[Taff]

Firstly, are you planning on riding at night? If not, then personally I wouldn't bother. I've been on at least 7 group trips to the Continent over the last 5 years and I can honestly say that out of all the riders in the groups, nobody had adjusted anything.

I know that strictly speaking perhaps we should, but TBH it just isn't an issue. I don't know where they go, but if you see more than 2 coppers all trip, I'll be very surprised. As a guide for you, we have just come back from 8 days in France and we saw 1 Police car. Back in the UK, and I've seen 4 today in the square outside my office.

 

[Magwych]

Some details in this old thread about where to mask off..Old Thread Link Here

 

[stonetown]

Yep I think you're right I've never done anything to any of my previous bikes when on the continent and I know what you mean about the rozzers

I just thought that with the GSA being the most advanced gadget bike I've had that there might be a gadget to adjust the beam, it would appear not/the dealer has to do it/can't be arsed anyway.

Firstly, are you planning on riding at night? If not, then personally I wouldn't bother. I've been on at least 7 group trips to the Continent over the last 5 years and I can honestly say that out of all the riders in the groups, nobody had adjusted anything.

I know that strictly speaking perhaps we should, but TBH it just isn't an issue. I don't know where they go, but if you see more than 2 coppers all trip, I'll be very surprised. As a guide for you, we have just come back from 8 days in France and we saw 1 Police car. Back in the UK, and I've seen 4 today in the square outside my office.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

The BMW club has a very long thread on the subject with no-one offering a definitive solution to the problem.

If its the thread I think you mean - that is about the RT which does have a very definite bias.

Last time I was in France I was stopped by the Gendarmes in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. The RT lights are bright at the best of times but I think he did have a problem with the dip. Fortunately my French was even more scary for him so he got rid of me asap.


But generally if you keep your lights pointing fairly low, I agree you are unlikely to have a problem. If you start getting flashed regularly (and its not speed trap warnings), it's probably time to do something about it.

 

[karnevil]

The BMW Service CD has this info......................................................

(+) Affixing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, to headlight
(-) Affixing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, to headlight


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attention
Nature:
Commercially available adhesive tape will damage the plastic cover over the light.

Avoidance:
Use only the special, black adhesive film for bodywork applications available from trade outlets.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Affix the special adhesive film (1) to the headlight at the locations indicated.




(+) Removing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, from headlight
(-) Removing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, from headlight


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attention
Nature:
Damage to the plastic cover over the light.

Avoidance:
Do not use solvents such as acetone, cellulose thinners, or similar products.
Do not use cleaning agents such as scouring powder or scouring solutions, and do not use scouring pads or similar products.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remove the adhesive film from the headlight.


Use only a proprietary alcohol-based windscreen cleaning fluid to remove residues of the adhesive, if necessary.

 

[Nate]

The BMW club is a very long thread offering no definitive solution .

Fixed for free

 

[LiquidLAN]

Your Star! I've been looking for an answer to this for a while now.

The BMW Service CD has this info......................................................

(+) Affixing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, to headlight
(-) Affixing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, to headlight


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attention
Nature:
Commercially available adhesive tape will damage the plastic cover over the light.

Avoidance:
Use only the special, black adhesive film for bodywork applications available from trade outlets.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Affix the special adhesive film (1) to the headlight at the locations indicated.




(+) Removing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, from headlight
(-) Removing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, from headlight


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attention
Nature:
Damage to the plastic cover over the light.

Avoidance:
Do not use solvents such as acetone, cellulose thinners, or similar products.
Do not use cleaning agents such as scouring powder or scouring solutions, and do not use scouring pads or similar products.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remove the adhesive film from the headlight.


Use only a proprietary alcohol-based windscreen cleaning fluid to remove residues of the adhesive, if necessary.

 

[karlp]

I have just come back from Austria with '09 GSA and HID lights.

No adjustment beforehand and no one flashed me either - the light pattern was even for left/right so no bias eitherway.

If you wish to check just go near a vertical wall and check the beam for yourself

 

[D6]

i went to the black sea with HID on the 1150, correctly set , but for our country , and nearly blinded everyone at night that was oncoming on small roads,

 

[GSmonkey]

How many foreign cars in the uk use beam adjusters?

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Be aware if riding in Norway. I didn't bother with beam deflectors because we weren't riding at night but some of the tunnels are very long and poorly lit.
A loaded bike can dazzle oncoming traffic.

Oh, and don't ride into dark tunnels with shades on

 

[D6]

How many foreign cars in the uk use beam adjusters?

not many round here, but thats not the point, u get pulled in some countrys and the rozzers wont tell u off like here, you could end up with your wallet emptied

 

[EggChaser]

i went to the black sea with HID on the 1150, correctly set , but for our country , and nearly blinded everyone at night that was oncoming on small roads,

On an 1150 isn't it a very quick job to rotate the beam yourself I thought the lamp assembly (including the lens) could be rotated in the holder

 

[Magwych]

The BMW Service CD has this info......................................................

(+) Affixing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, to headlight
(-) Affixing adhesive film for tourist solution, RHD/LHD traffic conversion, to headlight

TRouble I have with the advice off that CD is that it is not clear whether they are talking about converting a UK spec to most-of-the-rest-of-world spec, or the other way ?

In the photo it shows the stick on bit going to what we in the UK would call the near side. If that is correct for us, then does everyone else do the same to the other side of the lens? Or is that "photo" correct for everyone else and we should be sticking it the other side, as it were?

I tried to fathom this out on my first 1200GS, but the beam pattern was so vague in the first place neither position had much impact ...

 

[D6]

On an 1150 isn't it a very quick job to rotate the beam yourself I thought the lamp assembly (including the lens) could be rotated in the holder

yes, but i was lazy, looked at it and thought it,d be ok,
however, id HID,d it before i went
it was about 4 times brighter