Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Headlight aiming

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 24, 2018 | 09:48 PM
  #1  
Frozen Excursion's Avatar
Frozen Excursion
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 60
Likes: 7
From: Ontario, Canada
Default Headlight aiming

Hello all, I hope this isn't a stupid question.......I just installed a daymaker knockoff head light and needed an adaptor ring for the install.

Its for my 2011 Street Glide.

I was wondering is there a specific distance that the low beam should hit the road away from the bike?

I just want to get the adjustment right.

Thanks in advance

Dan
 
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2018 | 09:55 PM
  #2  
dyna rider's Avatar
dyna rider
Club Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Default Headlight Aiming

I don't think it is any different for the baggers, but for my Dyna, the manual says from 25feet away from a target the beam should be at 36inches (the center).
I do have a 17 Road Glide manual, but it's in the garage and it's almost 11pm...not tonight.
 
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2018 | 09:57 PM
  #3  
Frozen Excursion's Avatar
Frozen Excursion
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 60
Likes: 7
From: Ontario, Canada
Default

Excellent thanks Dyna
 
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2018 | 05:13 AM
  #4  
caulk04's Avatar
caulk04
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 870
Likes: 246
From: Transfer, PA
Default

I always aim my headlights an inch below center of bulb at 15-20 feet for low beam. Just a tick below level.
 
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2018 | 05:55 AM
  #5  
Back-n-Black's Avatar
Back-n-Black
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 439
From: Texas
Default

Here is for a 16 Touring.....Should be close
 
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
Headlight Aim.pdf (3.64 MB, 307 views)
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2018 | 07:25 AM
  #6  
Frozen Excursion's Avatar
Frozen Excursion
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 60
Likes: 7
From: Ontario, Canada
Default

Thanks for the quick replies guys.....I will get it done tonight....

Dan
 
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2018 | 08:35 AM
  #7  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Wink

There are plenty of tips on-line if you search for adjusting/aiming headlights. The same principle applies to both cars and bikes:

 
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2018 | 08:53 AM
  #8  
Kay9Cop's Avatar
Kay9Cop
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 82
Likes: 12
From: Wasilla, AK
Default

I don't use any calculations; I ride at night and bring a screw driver. Just make adjustments in 1/4 turns. I always set them up to be below horizontal, but I adjust them to hit the road as far out at the light throws...some weaker bulbs don't throw light as far, so adjusting them higher does no good.


I needed one full turn up from factory to get the stock Daymaker adjusted properly. This was my first bike with the Daymaker and with the factory settings I was initially extremely displeased with it, but after setting it correctly it's like night and day (pun intended).
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 25, 2018 | 09:57 AM
  #9  
TheGrandPoohBah's Avatar
TheGrandPoohBah
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by Kay9Cop
I don't use any calculations; I ride at night and bring a screw driver. Just make adjustments in 1/4 turns. I always set them up to be below horizontal, but I adjust them to hit the road as far out at the light throws...some weaker bulbs don't throw light as far, so adjusting them higher does no good.


I needed one full turn up from factory to get the stock Daymaker adjusted properly. This was my first bike with the Daymaker and with the factory settings I was initially extremely displeased with it, but after setting it correctly it's like night and day (pun intended).
^^This^^
When I bought my bike new, I did not like the adjustment AT ALL. Looked in the manual, they were in line with it. I adjusted it to my liking, including the passing lamp mod to blaze all three on high beam when I want on country roads at night.
I like the beam patterns on my newer vehicles, and that is what I go for on my bike. With good quality LED's, you can get close. I like a good, clean, fairly even line across on dim, and when you hit bright it just fills out the top.
SAFETY FIRST!
 
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2018 | 10:45 AM
  #10  
big- mike's Avatar
big- mike
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 221
From: farmington michigan
Default

I put a set in my 2010 and had to adjust it all the way down to keep the beam on the ground
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mchad
Dyna Glide Models
12
Oct 14, 2017 04:39 PM
har1690
2014-2024 Touring Models
6
Jul 5, 2017 01:40 PM
Jackal
Sportster Models
5
Feb 2, 2012 01:17 PM
RonRock
Sportster Models
4
Sep 7, 2009 09:17 PM
harlyd77
Touring Models
3
Jan 4, 2007 01:52 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:21 AM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE