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Author Topic: 2010 headlamps  (Read 1747 times)

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jmhenrie

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2010 headlamps
« on: July 05, 2010, 02:02:36 PM »

after 2 months and 3000 miles I finally got to ride in the Dark, Thank God this bike came with a GPS zoomed in and used it to see the corners because the Lights were useless.  High Beam was about 10 feet further out then low and very narrow. Low Beam with the passing lights on gave a good wide view but only about 30 feet in front of the bike.
 Does anyone like the stock focus beam headlamps on the Ultra Classic? My 07 cvo was bad and the dealer did many adjustments trying to raise them high enough but never got it right. My 03 road king without the focused lens looked like an aircraft ready to land at night lots of light. Before I tear into the headlight have they fixed the adjustment problem yet?
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1sharprdkg

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Re: 2010 headlamps
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2010, 08:55:46 PM »

after 2 months and 3000 miles I finally got to ride in the Dark, Thank God this bike came with a GPS zoomed in and used it to see the corners because the Lights were useless.  High Beam was about 10 feet further out then low and very narrow. Low Beam with the passing lights on gave a good wide view but only about 30 feet in front of the bike.
 Does anyone like the stock focus beam headlamps on the Ultra Classic? My 07 cvo was bad and the dealer did many adjustments trying to raise them high enough but never got it right. My 03 road king without the focused lens looked like an aircraft ready to land at night lots of light. Before I tear into the headlight have they fixed the adjustment problem yet?

Just got my 09SEUC on June 6 and it's lights are just like you described yours! Almost useless... And just like yours my 03RKC has great lights! To me it seems that even if they are adjusted up where they need to be they are still not bright enough.
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Heatwave

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Re: 2010 headlamps
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2010, 09:49:29 PM »

Very easy fix. I had the same problem and simply turned the up/down adjustment screw so the high beam was out as far as possible but still on the road. After making the adjustment I find that the headlight is outsatdning in both low beam (with passing lights) and high beam (no passing lights). The high beam actually has a great "spread" once you adjust the beam higher.
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grc

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Re: 2010 headlamps
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2010, 10:55:08 PM »


Rather than just crank them up until oncoming drivers flash their brights at you, why not do a proper headlight alignment?  It's really very simple if you have a nice flat space with a wall or garage door 25 feet from the headlight.  Sit on the bike, have an assistant measure from the ground to the vertical centerline of the headlight.  Transfer that dimension to the wall or garage door, mark a line across the wall or door at that height with tape.  Fire up the high beam, and the hot spot of the beam should be centered on the line.  Flip to low beam and the top of the beam should just touch the line.  Cover the headlight with a towel and fire up the spots, they should be just below the line as well.

It would be nice if the typical dealership would do this at prep, but if any of them do you couldn't prove it by me.  It seems that most are delivered with the headlight aimed too low, and the spots low and off in the weeds on the side of the road.


Jerry
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Jerry - 2005 Cherry SEEG  -  Member # 1155

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Heatwave

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Re: 2010 headlamps
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2010, 11:03:12 PM »

Thanks, that's a great suggestion!! After the adjustments do find any oncoming drivers flashing their lights thinking your lights are to bright?  

I've got 10k on the bike and never get high beams flashed at me. Lot's of night riding in the dark backwoods of Maine, NH, PA and NJ so I really feel the need for good lighting. You can try adjusting on the garage wall (I did) but the only way I found to get them right is to take an hr one evening and simply go out and ride on a level road. Keep adjusting the hi-beam upwards until it is no longer on the road. Then dial it back down so at it's furthest range its still touching the road. At that point, you'll have outstanding hi-beam coverage and low beam coverage. So good in fact it swayed me from feeling the need to rewire my passing lights to work with the hi-beam (like I did on my Fatboy). The spread of the hi-beam (no passing lights) is actually as wide as the low beam WITH the passing lights on.

Trust me... you won't be disappointed and you won't find oncoming drivers flashing their hi-beams (so long as you return the headlight to low beam when there's oncoming traffic).
« Last Edit: July 05, 2010, 11:06:43 PM by Heatwave »
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2harleys

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Re: 2010 headlamps
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2010, 11:59:17 PM »

I wish I had a headlight to adjust. Took a rock thru the headlight on vacation last month. Ordered new light when I got home the next day from the local stealer ( and only $125.00). Guess what  ---- it was a back ordered item. They called today to say it had finally come in. WOW that only took three weeks to get.  Good thing I do not ride much at night. Oh well at least the rock missed the fairing.
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mrmagloo

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Re: 2010 headlamps
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2010, 11:00:47 PM »

Get the Kuryakyn HID Xe7R and you'll light up 1/2 the county, seriously. I have one on my Deuce and my crew forces me to ride up front. Getting ready to chit can this worthless HD HID and swap it out as well.
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