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[2PAK]

I hardly have any complaints with my new CUSE3 bike but, I need to ask you for some advice on your experiences. .  

Yesterday after a great ride with Capo in the Seattle area, I came back to the house for some dinner.  At darkness I decided to go out for a putt to see how things looked while riding at night.  I tend to go on long trips so I need to make sure I feel comfortable about the lighting package for those times when I am riding at night.

I was happy with the gauge package lighting and with the lighting at the rear of the bike.  However, I am unhappy with the front headlight and even the passing lamps although I may be too focus on the headlight weakness and the passing lamps are fine.  Previously I had a 2003 Road King and most recently a 2008 Ultra Anniversary Edition that I traded for this bike so those are my frames of references and both bikes have different headlights than the CVO CUSE3.

In a nutshell, the headlight seems really weak.  It works but it seems pathetic for a headlight compared to my last to bikes.   While riding, I notice a small illumination close if front of the bike and a somewhat weaker illumination farther out but it’s nothing like the two previous bikes I’ve had.  I mean this just jumped out at me as I was riding.   Has anyone else experienced this?  The bulb isn’t broken so it can’t be that kind of problem, it’s just weak and pathetic in my opinion.   I’ll take to the dealer next week for a check but I had to ask.

[Twolanerider]

Check here for a similar discussion and potential answer at this post:

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=22659.msg365599#msg365599

[RJ749]

HID is the best set up for our NW riding especially if we get caught at night on the unlit roads and if it is raining or has rained.  I did it right up front on the 06 SEUC and plan it for the 05 SEEG.

Not an inexpensive solution but it will light up the night.

Then you can do mods on the passing lamps as well to get more light.

[naitram]

stupid question time, i assume you have the dual haloge lamp, which bulb is lit on low?

[2PAK]

Not a stupid question at all and hopefully, I wont give a stupid reply since I've never had a bike with this dual set up before so yes, it's the dual Halo set up. Apparently, it's the low beam that is pathetic.  The high beam seams fine but while the low beam works I just feel its very weak compared to my last two Harley's.   Not sure if it's because of the Lens setup on the headlight or just a weak bulb or what..

[Twolanerider]

Not a stupid question at all and hopefully, I wont give a stupid reply since I've never had a bike with this dual set up before so yes, it's the dual Halo set up. Apparently, it's the low beam that is pathetic.  The high beam seams fine but while the low beam works I just feel its very weak compared to my last two Harley's.   Not sure if it's because of the Lens setup on the headlight or just a weak bulb or what..

I'm guessing that what Neal was getting at was whether or not the correct bulb was being illuminated for high and low beam.  They're pathetic when they're working normally.  Even more so when working backwards.  The low beam should be the upper bulb.  The high beam is the lower more focused bulb/reflector.

[naitram]

more a question of on low is ithe the inner bulb lit or the outer? many have been wired backwards

looks like 2lr beat me to that

[motor1]

          Ok, while I'm no expert, I think I can help, I am on my third new FLHTCUSE ( a 1,2, and now 3). All three of them came home with a major lighting problem, the headlight is aimed way too low from the factory. Now the problem; if you go to your owners manual, or shop manual, to adjust it, you WILL NOT be able to raise it to the shown height. There are 3 springs  behind each of the adjusting screws ( they are so long that the coils of springs bottom against each other before you can move the adjusters in far enough for the correct height.
          On my first FL I took the upperscrew spring and cut off approx 4 coils of the coil spring, with the chrome headlamp bezel off, the aim was perfect; however problem came back as soon as reattached the bezel. Reason was the bezel was now pushing and compressing the right and left adjusting springs which pushed the aim back to the ground. Took it apart a second time and cut away 4 coils on the remaining adjusting springs. Next, I realigned the headlamp, reinstalled the trim bezel and the alignment remained fine.
          I know I have written a lot, but trust me, this makes a HUGE difference. One last tip, make a crescent shaped templet, the two ends of the templet will touch at the bottom. You can tape it to the headlamp, the idea is to block the low beam while you are doing your alignment ( it interferes with the high beam hot spot you need to see for a clear and accurate alignment. Dont forget the highbeam is low bulb, the lowbeam is the upper bulb.
          Good luck, let me know if I have not been clear,( it makes sense in my head), or if my answers give you more questions let me know.

                                                                      WB

[2PAK]

Okay, checked the headlight bulbs again.  Yes, the upper low beam works and, the lower high beam works.  It's just still pathetic on low beam.  It seems to defy logic that this set up is actually more lame than my recent 08 Ultra or my 03 RK.  I say lame because of the amount of money I spent on this bike.  Dont get me wrong, I like the bike but I would have thought for the price I'd practically have aircraft landing lights in there instead of something similar to a 40w bulb you find at a cheap hotel in eastern europe. 

Motor1, thanks for the advice but I am mechanically challenged.  I will even have to beg for Capo to come over to help me do the garage door opener install    I'll need to go to the shop for something like this.  Having said that, I might be able to change the bulbs to HID's if that's really the only fix for this which again, I cant imagine I have to do but oh well.  Another item to add to my purchase list (new windshield, SERT, etc.)

[RJ749]

Alignment will be critical even if you go to the better bulb wattage.

If the light is off like Motor1 describes the foot print won't improve without the alignment.

[2PAK]

Good point, I'll have it checked out and will also try looking at it within my garage to see exactly where that beam is pointing too.

[RJ749]

Good point, I'll have it checked out and will also try looking at it within my garage to see exactly where that beam is pointing too.

I know that with cars an easy check for the high beam is level with the light, straight in front of the light at twenty feet on high beam.  I use the garage door, but if you have that room in the garage it should work.