How to Align Motorcycle Headlights

Night rider or not, headlights need to be aligned

Motorcycle headlights are as much a part of your safety gear as a helmet and boots are. Making sure that your headlights are aligned correctly is a part of insuring your ride is safe. Unlike a car, which has a larger frame to protect and support the headlights, motorcycle headlights are not as protected from the bouncing and jostling of road use and you will need to align motorcycle headlights on a frequent basis. Fortunately, the hardest thing about how to align motorcycle headlights is figuring out where your adjustment knobs are located. A quick look at your manual will show you and from there you can follow these easy steps.

Things You'll Need

• Blank Wall
• Tape Measure
• Flat Head or Phillips Head Screw Driver (If Necessary)

Instructions

1. Have someone sit on your motorcycle and hold it upright 25 feet from a blank wall. If you have a center stand you can set the bike on this, making sure the front tire is pointed straight at the wall. Turn on your low beams.

2. Measure from the ground up to the center of your headlights on your motorcycle. Put a mark on your blank wall at the same height.

3. Look at the beams as they appear on the wall before you. You want the beams to be even and aligned with the mark you placed on the wall in Step 2. If your motorcycle only has a single headlight, you will also want it to shine on the wall at the same height.

4. Turn the adjustment screws with your screw driver or turn the adjustment knobs by hand to change the aim of your headlight. One of your knobs or screws will move the headlight up and down, and one will move it left or right. Consult your manual or experiment with the adjusters to find out which is which.

5. Using a tape measure, measure from the ground up to the center of the left headlight on the motorcycle. Repeat this for the right headlight and then make adjustments as necessary until the beams are even. If your motorcycle only has a single headlight, skip this step.

6. Make a mark on your wall 2 inches above where the center of the beams are shining on the wall when turned to low beam.

7. Turn on your high beams and make adjustments as needed until your beams are evenly aimed at the mark you placed on the wall in Step 5.

Tips & Warnings

• Find a light-colored wall to shine your beams against; this will let you clearly see their light even if the sun is out while you are making your adjustments.

• Even if you do not ride at night, always check the aim of your headlights after long rides, riding over rough surfaces and/or every 1,000 miles to make sure that your headlights are aimed in the right place to keep you safe on the road should you need them.

References

• are only two adjustment screws or knobs for each headlight.

Resources

• Night Riding Vision for Motorcyclists