Delboy's Garage, 'Headlight Aim' Explained
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- Опубліковано 27 бер 2016
- A Much Requested Video explaining "Motorcycle Headlight Aim" and How-To set it up for MOT and Road Safety.
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Very helpful precise and detailed guide. Helped me set the aim on my bike which had been way off, blinding drivers. Many thanks Delboy!
Glad it helped!
You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar, no big ups, no shout outs, no fannying around, straight and simple.
Many thanks to you, and your charming assistant Penny.
Thank you so much for your very kind words Adrian, we're glad you enjoy the videos and really appreciate your generous feedback, Take care and keep safe. Del.
Brilliant video. I just upgraded my 2010 Harley Davidson Ultra Glide Classic head light and spots to LED. After watching your video, I realized that if I tried to ride with the set up I had I would have blinded everyone on the road. That was on low beam. High beam would have blinded low flying aircraft. Thankfully I saw your video, avoiding disaster. Keep up the good work.
Hi Joseph, Thanks for your kind feedback my friend, im glad the video was able to help you out.. and Ultra Classic... that's one awesome bike buddy... Ride safe and enjoy the sunshine.. summer's coming..
Huh, I've always used the "Drive at night and adjust" method. I guess I've always known that there was a way to set you headlight, but never thought to look it up. I hardtailed my Harley this past winter and adjusting the headlight is still something I haven't done yet. Thanks for this!
Love the way you explain things, repeating the key points and very logically!
Last week my little bike failed it's MoT on headlamp - having followed this guide yesterday, today it passed.
Cheers!
Extremely useful info! You can see the facet pattern on the headlight lens with the upward cast to it. I am also willing to bet the pattern on the E3 lens is different than a DOT US spec Scrambler would have due to the traffic being on the other side of the road. Excellent! Certainly worth the support of a Patreon membership and valuable. Thanks for making the vid. Cheers!
Mike
+Michael Rench Hi Mike, I considered whether to cover that lens section and explain how it works, but wanted to keep the video concise... the E4 lights have no cast either side, but any light with a cast is easily dealt with when we go to Euro and switch road sides, you just cover that 'pie slice' section of lens with black tape, as long as you don't cover more than 50% of the lens you're good to go! You can also cover it with a yellow diffuser, which they usually sell at the customs gate lol ! ...
cheers del this was something I was researching yesterday as I have just built my bandit from scratch and will be going for not soon but your vid has simplified all the complicated ways I found on the net cheers bud ride safe👍
+Barry Morehen Hi buddy, that's very kind of you, I know what you mean, just try looking up the government sponsored websites and you need to be able to read Chaucer, and understand it, before you can evern get close to understanding anyting on the .gov websites lol ! Thanks for watching!
I just need to say I have watched a lot of your videos, and not to take anything away from anyone else. But your videos are all great, keep it up. Y'all are awesome!
+Jill Zolun Thanks Jill, you are so kind! You have no idea how encouraging it is to receive such generous praise...there are many great creators on the Tube, but also some who are very successful that don't have much to offer, it's a constant battle to keep the contet interesting, so we really appreciate your kind support... take care and thanks for getting in touch, Del & Penny
Spot on my Bro from the other side of the pond! We do not have the MOT inspection in the States, but I wish we did. My opposing traffickers appreciate your insight! Cheers mate!
Thanks Glenn, good to hear from you all the way from the States... ride safe buddy, all the best, D&Px
thank's Delboy fantastic video and advice no MOT here in Ireland taught my headlight on my shadow was high have it sorted now cheers mate🏍
Glad it helped buddy -appreciate your support!
Thanks for shining a light on this often overlooked subject.
+Hunter Thanks mate, these days bikes are so efficient and reliable, that this has become the kind of triviality that bikes now fail on... if you know how to set it up, then you won't even fail on that !
A very useful video for the "How to" library. Thanks again, D & P.
+Edward Richards Thanks buddy!
Cheers D & P, back to basics, the street fighter is a proper good long term but this is the bread and butter stuff and the reason why we all started watching in the first place. Great job.
+750spud Thanks buddy, had a few videos to kill whilst stocking up on parts and materials, and getting ready to carry on with the project, back to business from the next video !
I can remember watching this video ages ago, today I am trying to raise the headlights on my R1. I remembered this video and watched it again. very informative Del, you have a great way of explaining things.
Let me tell you one thing tho, the headlight set up on the r1 is a right pain in the a*se to adjust.
Thanks Shane, im glad the video can help... i had a Blackbird that was the same.. took an hour just to get all the inner panels off to get to the adjusters... good luck with the R1 fella.. ride safe.. del.
Thanks for the advice. Interesting to see an old CZ in your collection there. My first bike was a CZ 125. Boy, what a strange bike!
5h4k35p34r3 I had a 72 cz125 and never really liked it at all
very good info guys, due my MOT next month I will be checking that in the morning. ride safe
+CC Ryder Thanks buddy, pays to be prepared aye!
Excellent clear and lucid tutorial. Cheers.
Thank you. I'm in the USA and we have an annual inspection. I'm unsure if the rules vary from state to state. I saw someone in Texas do the distance rules there but I'm in Massachusetts. I own a Street Twin (used) and I suspect the lamp is WAY off. All the information I found was on replacing the lamp, not adjusting it. So this is appreciated. All I need do is find the up/down and Left Right for my state and I think I should be fine. But frankly, as you say, I need it right for safety. I knew it had to be done but had no idea how to do it. Much appreciated.
Thank you my friend,I've always had a common sense attitude to these things and I take the view that safety is one thing and rules/regulations are another, so if you can't find any information, then do it the long way.. park the bike facing your car but off-set as if you're riding along the other side of the street, face the head stock of the bike forward and turn the lights on... then sit in your car and see if it's glaring at you... judge whether you need to tip it down a bit... I know it's a bit long winded and you'll need a bit of space in an empty street, but it works in real time and ensures you won't be blinding any on coming drivers... good luck with your inspection !
I must say I did not realise just how useful this would be. Thanks I will set this up.
+Richard Greaves You'll probably find it's ok unless you've altered the bike!
Super helpful even here in the states. Cheers from a fellow Triumph rider
Most welcome buddy.. Ride safe.
From the US, you are always a big help. Thank you very much.
Thanks my friend, that's very kind of , always love to hear from our brothers across the pond, ride safe, keep in touch, Del
Thanks for this. I've been afraid to ride my bike at night because I know the headlight wasn't properly adjusted. I was going to wait til MOT and get them to do it. Now I've done it myself
Good news mate, a great little skill to have under your belt!
Best explained video I can find, spot on fella 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Cheers Del, I had no idea headlight aim was this involved. I noticed on my Hornet there are little direction arrows on either side of the headlight (near the bolts) and when lined up parallel to the ground the headlight appears to aim down as it should. I'll need to check mine out and see for sure. MOT basics is such a great topic to cover for the DIYer like myself. Thank you once again !
+Orenchis That's right buddy, those arrows are actually a fatory set up facility - when the dealer un-boxes the bike from the crate, and sets it all up during PDI, it gives them an instant point to set the light correctly... which is the same reason there are holes in the handlebars and pegs in the switch blocks, so the switches are in the correct place first time!
Great video Del & Penny. There's no M.O.T over here in Ireland, although there's talk of it coming in. A easy to understand how to of how the headlight is all set up.
Ride safe, Cheers, Al.
+Alan Bell Thanks Al, glad you enjoyed it, it's odd that most countries in Europe and USA don't have MOT, can't see the point in it any more with modern standards, but heyho!
Alan Bell p
Thanks very much, a bit out of my depth but I replaced my headlight to an LED setup so I need this to make sure I’m good!
Many thanks!
Glad it helped mate!
That's good info even to us across the puddle. Even if the standards are different it still shows how to meet standards and a novice can use this and simply adapt it to their local measurements. Nice job.
+Kheldarren Thanks buddy, it certainly is more a safety issue, than a legality one... and just good common sense!
Great stuff thanks mate, just put an led on my sv650 and been looking for this
No problem 👍
Hi Del, a 'Brilliant' tutorial ;-) and Penny, Great camera work :-)Martin / Wiltshire
+Martin Hodgson Thanks Martin, I try to capture everything Del explains that I would wanna see if I was watching - thanks again Penny!
cheers del very easy to follow and now i understand fully cheers
Very informative, I've learned some thing new today, cheers guys.
+Phil Core Thanks Phil !
Thanks, useful and informative as always!
Really well explained as normal!
Never worry about being boring, this is good stuff... bikes are finely tuned instuments like spitfires so need fine tuning which means detail, you guys will never bore us.
Great vid Del and Penny, really enjoyed it and am looking for a wall as I've just taken he old man fairing off the Bandit 12 and put the 7" round headlamp back on with some aftermarket black brackets, I've Cobra lines coming and a Simmi carbon fibre can coming with some Black Widow down pipes, will be phoning the insurance folks to get the value bumped up. I also have a GSXR 1000 K8 rear shock coming. I've got the bug with your fighter project. I want the Bandit to be an extension of my spirit and not some old tired thing, which I'm not.
Thanks again guys, loving the whisky and your vids, you have to have whisky, it just wouldn't be right! No!
+James McCreadie Hi buddy, if I wasn't driving tomorrow, I'd join you in a few lol ! Thanks for watching fellah, very much appreciated, as always mate !
+Moonfleet41 that's quite enlightening that... I don't have a garage or even a wall but I do have a drive, tripod and whiteboard. So there's me out at 10.30pm, like a mad scientist. I've got the height of the beam right but boy does it pitch up to the right, I mean I should be driving on the right, it's totally pointing the wrong way, I did buy beam deflectors because the mechanic I use told me it was pointing the wrong way. I looked for an adjuster on the Bandit headlight but it's too dark tonight and getting cold so knocking it on the head tonight.
I reckon it a US or Euro lamp I've got! It's opposite to Penny's bike in your vid.
+James McCreadie Sounds like it James, but at least, hopefully, with the video, you can what's what... need some daylight like you so to have a proper look... let us know how you get on !
Thanks a bunch Dell & Penny..another well explained video..Top Team...
+motoedd Thanks buddy!
Thanks both, really worthwhile video.
tried it after watching this vid. very helpful!
can't wait to see more of the Streetfighter build !!!!!!
+spike little Parts arriving thick and fast, update video posted!
That was really well explained. Thank you! I guess, in the parts of the world where we drive on the right side on the road, the 2% line should be to the right of the center, wright?
Could not agree more. Finally the answer iv been looking for. Cheers Delboy you never let us down☺
+Ian S Hi Ian, sorry it wasn't sooner mate, but been up against it with the new garage... glad it could help you mate !!
A massive help. Loving the new videos I cant wait to get home after my long days bus driving to and from manchester to watch them.
Keep up the great work...
@@Moonfleet41 0p.
What is that song?
.
You are simply the best.. Thank you!
A very knowledgable video buddy, thanks for sharing it, really interesting, regards Stu 🔧🔧👍👍
+suzuki750stu Thank Stu, little jobs that often get overlooked aye?!
Went out for the first time at night on a new bike, main beam was pointing at the sky and the road was pitch black😂 thanks very helpful 👍😎
No problem 👍
Great video. Very helpful. Many thanks
Most welcome. Glad it was helpful!
Excellent explanation and great video as always guys :)
+CaptainCranky Thank you mate, much appreciated!
Well explained, I never knew any of that. 👍🏻
Thanks, just the explanation I needed.
Nice one. Explained really well.
Thanks for this , a very clear explanation of what the dimensions actually mean.
Most welcome Gary. Glad it was helpful!
Thank God for a Quality Mechanic!!!
Thank Del&Penny. I've tried to find some guidance I could use to set my beams correctly but all I can find here are guidelines where the bike has be to be 25 feet away from the wall and my little garage/car port is not that long. I couldn't use the house wall either because the ground is slanted. Now, 12 feet, I can work with that!
SeattleRod.
+rmulchi Hi Rod, good to hear from you again buddy... yeah, 12.5ft is the British MOT standard, and those tolerances work with that distance, the most important thing is that the beam doesn't shine above your 0% line and if you have a side cast (in your case to the right) then that must not raise above the centre line until 80mm from the vertical 0% line... all as in the video buddy, glad it can help buddy!
another great vid del. i now have a perfect beam, cheers mate
Nice one mate, glad it helped !
Good info, I need to check my beams. Perhaps that's why all the squirrels in my neighborhood have been wearing sunglasses.
+Okey Akers haha - it's not the squirrels, it's the badgers that'll get you lol !
Good vids as always never know one day we might have you bridging the missing motorcycle program gap
+400sforever Now wouldn't that be cool... thanks buddy.
Hey brother,
Hoping that all is well with you and yours,
Headlight = Check
Delboy tutorial = check again, thx again
Living the good life
Glad it helped you brother, good luck with it.
Well needed info, thanks.
Great vid.Top notch information for us wanna bees! It's hard to believe it's that darn technical!!Sending off the master to get production on the CDs! I'll send you a pic of the cover.
+BlueOnion Hey Ron, just a note on your Harley, if you have the top mounted headlight, the one that kinda hangs under a cap from your top tree, then flip off the disc cover and there's a huge nut inside, if you break the tightness on that nut, your headlight dangles around like a Buffalo's balls lol ... you can set it where you want it, then tighten the nut....
Fantastic news on the music, I remember our first conversations about it, seems like years ago... you must have put so much work in to it! Nothing has changed, am still locked and loaded over here, ready to do full on promotion and get the word out there and get them selling... just say when you're ready! All the best, D&Px
Its going to be one those videos i will be revisiting in the future, no doubt.
+Spin Dryer That's the aim my friend, poke it in your saved box, or your favourites, and use it some day when you need it ! Thank You
Well done - as always! Thanks!
Very good, really informative
Great video and sorted my headlights in no time. Seems they were pointing at the floor, hoping this means I can see ahead at night now.
Thanks buddy, glad the video could help you out - hope you get it all sorted !
my bike just failed on this today . the bulb what was in it (Chinese) could not make a line so could not be adjusted. new bulb ordered and thanks to you i can set it up . thank
Take great video as always.. But I have a question.. Just went through the Mot but luckily passed but the inspector said my headlight would have failed as its set up for Europe. Inspected the light myself and in deed the glass screen had and extra bit that goes down past the centre on the right hand side(looking at the bike directly) looking at the triumph part list there seems to be left or right dipped headlight assemblys for the scrambler I'm assuming I need to buy the correct assembly and this can not be fixed with my current head light?
Hi Guys, another excellent vid. Just for your info - no mot for bikes in France, EVER !!!
+David Jebson (thebiglad) Perhaps I should register my bike in France & then just ride it in the UK.
Do you think that would be legal, I don't see why not?
Mark Leadbeater I think you might run into problems trying to do this.
To register a bike in France you need to have an address in France that you can justify as yours, with utility bills etc.
Where would you insure the bike - England or France? If it's England are you sure you can insure permanently a French reg bike with a UK company?
cheers del great vid and keep up the good work
Nice one mate! Funnily enough there is no legal recuirement of mot in belgium for motorcycles. I get my bikes check at my dealer every year anyway! These things as you say are very important for your own safety as other road users'! Ride safe
+Chris Dalvik Hi Chris, so many countires have no MOT any more that I think it's only a matter of time before ours is abolished... bikes are so reliable and safe now, which is why the most common failure is a simple thing like headlight aim !
Fantastic video. Thank you. Does anyone know if I use the same measurements (80cm) but to the right of the centre if this will set it right for the Spanish MOT equivalent?
Fantastic info, thank you.
Good job your not covering types of bulbs lol. I currently have HIDs on my thunderace (flew through MOT as they are not allowed to dismantle the bike to look for CE marks) but changing them to LEDs sometime this week when they come. Perks of 80% night time riding lol. See if it passes the MOT next year or if I have to do a quick swap out
Thank you. I am going to try making a chart for my Honda Cub which let’s face it has almost useless lights 😁
Handy video, thank you.
Good stuff as usual.
Very helpful. Thank you!
You're welcome!
You beat me to it Del. In one of your older uploads, I think it was when you were putting the Motone indicators on the scrambler and had the guts of the headlamp open, you mentioned that you had a mark on the door (of the Old garage!!) for re-setting the light. I've put the black motone's on my bonnie now and was about to ask you hw to do this...You my firend are a gentleman and a bloomin mind reader!! Cheer Del, as always worth watching.....Now....where did my wife put her whiteboard?? Doyou think she'll notice its missing??
+mark james Cheers mate, not as much as she'll notice if you use one of the sheets lol ... glad it could help you out, we do try to please lol !
Great tutorial as always......but my 2018 T100 doesn't have any means to make the horizontal adjustment. Both owners' and workshop manual both say only vertical adjustment is available. Manuals that cover the older models do show the horizontal adjusting screw that I'm familiar with and what DB talks about.. Web searches appear to suggest a recent change in regulations to limit beam adjustment to the vertical plane only - I guess that horizontal deflection is built into the headlight itself. Anyone confirm, contradict or know more? Cheers.
Del ... I have the 2012 daymaker light, i set my passing lamps, my dip light is set, my mot pass would suggest all ok ... BUT, when i flick on highbeam the beam goes down lower than dip ??? a mystery.
Hi DG, would any of the headlight protectors or a headlight x block the light throw? are these even safe to install?
Really good and understandable , thank you
Most welcome Dave, glad it could help you..
What is the 2% distance to the left in mm? Ah 80mm. Found it on the second look. Great job.
No mandatory inspection for bikes here in Ireland! Thanks for sharing- I always wondered how it was done.
+Ian O'Riordan Hi Ian, yeah, we keep hearing that the days for the MOT test are numbered, bikes are so much more well made these days, and the pass rate is so high these days that it's largely irrelvant, which is why the most common failure is something as trivial as headlight aim...!
Most mot stations don't measure it anyway, they just flick the switch to see if the light comes on.
what was the distance between first two horizontal lines from top? :)
Very helpful :) thanks .....subbed :)
Left to right centre is centre of the bike or the bulb? My bike have 2 headlight
does this method also works for a moped scooter like a peugeot elystar 50
I've bought a honda 550sc nighthawk from America. Will I need to change the headlight to suit uk roads or is the headlight change not necessary. I know European cars need changing because of the direction of beam but bikes only have one headlight. Are American bikes beam different from the uk. Can someone please help me asap!!!!
Love Your videos, I have learnt so much from them.. Question for you, as I am moving my Yamaha FZ6 S2 with me from Denmark to the UK, can I adjust the headlights as you have shown to meet up standards?
Hi there, it depends on your specific headlight, if you have a flat plain beam, then no adjustment needed... but if you have a righ high cast to the lens, then you can cover a small section of the lens and it will be legal, but not a permanent solution, when you get here, you could just drop into a local MOT test centre, and they will examine the light beam and tell you what you need in your case... of course, if you are permanently importing the bike, and re-registering it here, then you may need a full SVA test, and that involves things like changing over lights etc.. again, the MOT tester will guide you happily my friend.. good luck.
how do you adjust the 07 suzuki c50 light
Great video. I assume the verticle 2% line would be right of the center verticle line for countries such as the US that drive on the right side of the road.
You are correct, flip everything for driving the other side of the road !
I have led converted headlight how do I set them up ?
Hi Delboy, many thanks for the great video. I have one simple question, does the bike have to be on its centre stand when all this measurement is done?
Just upright by any means mate.. the MOT tester will actually sit on the bike while carrying out the headlight aim test.. but it's hard to adjust it while sitting on it.. so centre stand or paddock stand will do.!
Very informative video. Is there an adjustment to change a RHD pattern to a LHD one?
Hi buddy, sadly not, most headlights aim one way permanently for left, or right, hand drive, the bets you can do if you have a faceted lens is cover up the triangular section that casts the beam one way, I believe that usually gets you through MOT, but if you have a clear lens, and the rear reflector does the aiming, then you just need to change the headlight completely for a British one (if you're in Britain obviously).
I have a question concerning headlight adjustment on a Sportster. According to the service manual for the 2001 sportster headlight aiming is done at 25 feet at a height of 35 inches while running high beams. so the question I have is if you adjust your light according to the service manual would it pass the British MOT?
+Charles Hall That's a question for an MOT tester, I took this spec from the MOT.gov. website...
thanks del our mot centres here are goverment run like aircraft hangers with six or seven lanes all civil servants so that out will see what happens when time comes in march been like this in norn iron for decades dont know where you find the time cheers ardie take care both of you
Thanks Ardie, it is a lot of work, but it's nice to know it's appreciated!
Hi Del and Penny. Thanks for this video, and the clear easy to understand way you explained things.
One question: I'm a huge lump of a guy and heavey. If I set up my headlight aim with me seated on the bike, what hapens when the mechanic at the local garage does my mot, as he's only a little guy? - Surely, when he's on my bike the beam will show too high?
Regards David.
Hi David, certainly a valid consideration, but don't overthink it mate, the MOT guys are clever human beings, they understand things like that and if when he checks it, he comments it's a little off, just ask if you can sit on it (as you will be the rider) and can he check it again... trust me mate, it won't be a problem, he'll be happy to get round that with you... thanks for your kinds and we hope you're keeping well there?!
If you have two headlights on a sportbike would you put the centre cross in line with each bulb separately or in the centre between headlights?
Twin lights should give an identical beam pattern that should be a single image on the wall, so adjust them in an identical way to keep that image singular.
@@Moonfleet41 ok great thank you.
Del just watched your update and have a suggestion. If you know any machinists you could get a 1 piece top made for your bar clamps and have a slot machined in the middle for your idiot lights with a hole going through for the wires this will be Deseret and in my humble opinion damn cool looking
+Barry Morehen Now that's a great idea buddy, like your thinking! We have a plan to fabricate a 'dash' for the top of the tank to house the speedo and lights, rather than clutter the bars, but that would have been a great solution had we not ! Thanks for your input buddy, it's great to get good ideas from our viewers!
Im a great fan mate watched just about all your videos more than once while doing my own build. I just wanted to ask if you have still got that extended swing arm you put in the bandit and do you want to sell it?
Cheers and keep up the awesome work. Scott
+Scott Upton Hi Scott, appreciate you watching, I sold the JMC swing arm a long time ago... so sadly not available buddy!
Hi Del; Just to let you know bike passed the mot. Got the proper tools and the wd40 loosened up the screws. Cheers for your help.
Just like to point out a bad thing about mot for bikes in N. Ireland, dont know if this happens in England, but we now have to put the bike in rollers to test the breaks. What happens is when you break the bike is kicked back which actually caused my bike throusers to scuff the tank. It might polish out, I have no tank protector because I have a cruser, but I might get one now. Looks like a dangerous thing for new riders, I found it a bit dodgy
+John Fox Hi John....congratulations mate, thats good news... yes we have the same brake test here...but the MOT tester does it.. he sits on your bike and opperates the machinery with a remote button... same you picked up a scuff... just get busy with the T-Cut, perhaps you can get rid of it..! good luck.. and thanks for your support... Del.
cool vid ...... here's another request, you mentioned awhile back you were going to replace the carb covers on your Triumph .... that would be a great mod to cover ! ; )
+TroubadourJuggernaut Hi mate, yes, I have them on the shelf ready to go, just haven't got near it yet, so many jobs to do, we'll get there in the end!