Headlight aim

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davenowherejones
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Headlight aim

Post by davenowherejones »

I bought some LED's for the headlights. BrightSourceLED.com H4 They look like these but are not https://www.amazon.ca/Headlight-Convers ... +headlight

I need to know how to aim them on a 2014 Honda Forza. I know where the adjuster is I think but need a way determine how high or low to point them. The Service manual says adjust them to local laws which tells me nothing.

I think they are too high but it is hard to tell with these LED's They are supposed to have the LED's in the same position as the halogens but I have my doubts.

They were relatively easy to install once I figured it out. Well the second one went in a lot faster, the first one was a bitch.

I don't ride at night very often. I was running 60/55w halogens but they do not last long but are only $5. I have no idea if these are any better. The colour is white rather than yellow of the originals.
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by gn2 »

Chances are the up/down adjuster may not work because the reflector is designed to work with the original halogen bulb.
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davenowherejones
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by davenowherejones »

It physically fits in exactly the same place.
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by gn2 »

But the bit which produces the light is not the same so the focus is different.
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by davenowherejones »

So how do you aim a halogen Forza?
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by gn2 »

There is a vertical adjuster behind the headlamp unit.
There is no left/right adjuster.
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by MBMyer »

davenowherejones wrote:I need to know how to aim them on a 2014 Honda Forza. I know where the adjuster is I think but need a way determine how high or low to point them.
My normal seat-of-the-pants procedure is to find a nice, flat piece of ground that has a wall at the end of it. I pull the bike right up to the wall with the low beams on and mark the top cut-off with a strip of masking tape. I then back the bike up by 12 ft. At that distance, I'm looking for the top cut-off to be about 1-2" lower than it was when I was right up at the wall. This way, I know than my beams are pointed slightly down toward the road rather than up in other people's eyes.

There's probably a better procedure out there somewhere, and I'd love to hear about it from someone who knows.

Pax et bonum,
Michael
Current ride: 2014 Forza bought new in mid-2015 with only 15K on the clock
Traded in: 2003 GL1800 with 152K and several IBA rides on the clock
6 other previous bikes
nearly 3/4 million miles logged
now just commuting instead of touring
davenowherejones
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by davenowherejones »

I tried turning the adjusters late the other night with a 8mm? socket. They did not do anything. I might have another look tomorrow. Gotta work.
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by davenowherejones »

I think my LED headlight bulbs might be in upside down. There is an adapter so that they fit the Forza style bulb. I am dyslexic so I do everything at least twice before I get it right. Sometimes I do things wrong 3 times in a row and wonder why its still wrong. I have to take the dog for a walk and then I will tear it apart once again.
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by gn2 »

The adjusters turn with a screwdriver.
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by you you »

gn2 wrote:The adjusters turn with a screwdriver.

Left or right handed screwdriver?
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by davenowherejones »

You need both, one for each headlight.

I flipped the LED's over. I will try it later when it gets dark. The adjuster looks like a gear and you use the screwdriver to mesh with the teeth to turn it???

Someone should teach the Chinese how to write an install manual, you could make a fortune. I had a Chinese Geely scooter for a while. The manual was hilarious. To do an oil change you spill the oil.
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Re: Headlight aim

Post by davenowherejones »

OK, I turned the LED adapter around or turned the LED 180 degrees. It seems to be a better light pattern. It is a very blue/white light rather than the yellow of the original halogens. The reflective traffic signs really pop out with the LED's. I think it might be a little improvement over the originals. I have virtually no milage at night to give it a good comparison. I don't intend to do much night milage if I can help it.

I tried going through pot holes to see the difference adjusting the height would make. It seemed to make very little difference so I will just leave things as they are.

I tried driving around with the hi-beams on. No one flashed their lights at me at all. The low beams give a nice view of the ditches.

I went for the LED's because I had burnt out a few halogens. Hopefully the LED's last longer. I like the blue/white colour. It might make me slightly more visible in the daytime. If nothing else I get to catch up in technology a little to the Harleys. Honda is getting left in the dust.
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