Pathetic Headlight -- Am I Crazy?

[jess]

Okay, I've had my R1200R for a few weeks now, and I genuinely love it. This bike handles like no other bike I've ridden. Absolutely magnificent.

I do, however, have my first beef: this headlight is perhaps the worst headlight I've ever encountered.

Looking at the ground in front of me, I have very, very little illumination of the actual road. I can see some bright rings at the sides, and the overhead road signs (the kind that extend across the freeway) are extremely well illuminated. If there's dust in the air, I can even see the headlight beam headed straight up to those signs like a spotlight.

Naturally, my first thought was that I just needed to aim my headlight a bit. When I took delivery of the bike, the headlight housing looked to be aimed pretty much straight out. I loosened the bolts on the side and tipped it downward a bit, but this didn't seem to appreciably improve the situation. It's almost as if the whole housing were upside down, aimed at the sky instead of the road.

Does this description sound like what everyone else has? Any helpful suggestions?

[deilenberger]

I'd suggest taking a photo of the headlight pattern at night, directed at a blank light color wall about 20' in front of your bike - and post it here.

If the headlight shell was upside down, you'll see a small weep hole that is supposed to be at the bottom - at the top. The screw for removing the bezel would also be at the top. I don't believe it's possible (or at least easy) to mount the headlight assembly in the shell upside down, but guess you never know.. (rule of idiots: Make something idiot proof and along comes a greater idiot.)

As seen on the wall - the low-beam pattern should have a sharply defined horizontal line, with a kick upward on the right side (meant to illuminate roadside signs.) The high beam will be a more oval shaped pattern.

To correctly adjust the headlight - pull the bike up near the wall. Mark the top of the horizontal cutoff line for the low-beam (I use blue masking tape.) Back the bike up 20'. Look at where the line is now. Correctly adjusted the line should have dropped about 1-2". This is done with the rider on the bike, suspension settled, and requires a flat/level surface for the bike to be on.

The headlight isn't awful, and isn't great. I found it usable, but I prefer to also have a set of auxiliary lights that can be aimed exactly where I want them (low on the bike, aimed almost level so they get maximum reach, and a tiny bit to the side so I can see the edges of the road well.)

[gezerbike]

I actually think this headlight is one of the better ones BMW has put on it's bikes, especially the passing , or high beams, and I have had alot of different models. So pleased in fact that I won't be changing out the stock bulbs for Piaa's, as I have done with my other bikes. Don is right about adding a little something extra though. You can never illuminate the sides of the roads enough for riding around here, where the deer population just continues to grow as hunting goes down. For that, I have a pair of Motolights with 50 watt bulbs in them that work well. I use Don's method of adjusting my lights, but I go a step further and once adjusted, I go for a ride in the country and find a nice dark flat stretch of road and fine tune both the low beam and high beam.

[mogu83]

Something to check for - but this has to be a rare situation.
At a recent BMW rally we somehow ended up comparing headlight lens on the bikes. Started with a conversation about converting old incandescent lamps to H4s. After much head scratching and conversation we came to the conclusion that one on the bikes (12 years old) had a right hand drive (England) headlight lens in it. The rider that bought the bike new in the USA said he never was satisfied with the headlight pattern and that oncoming drivers often winked him the high beams.

I also have no problem with this headlight, but it is nice having driving lights. I don't use the driving lights to see further down the road (you can always slow down), but more to illuminate the sides of the road in rural areas (where the large furry things live).

[jess]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I appreciate it. My biggest issue is that, while apparently bright, none of the light seems to be directed at the road in front of me. I'll try and find a wall this evening to point the bike at and see what kind of pattern it makes.

[Lost Rider]

Something doesn't sound right from your description.

Have you removed the lens assembly to check if the lamp is seated properly?

I too find the 12R headlamp to be more than sufficient, a great improvement from the 1150R... but everyone's eye's are different and I'm blessed with exceptional eyesight.

I always run my hi-beams during the day and it's adjusted so the hot spot is right about at average car side mirror height. At night I get good distance with just the low beams, and stays out of peoples eyes for the most part.

[gezerbike]

Just a thought.....I remember reading in the owners manuel that, though both bulbs are the same, the connections are specific to the low and high. I wonder if when the bike was assembled they assembled the high beam to the low and vice versa. Per the owners manuel, the low beam is actually the top bulb and the botton bulb is the high beam. If they were plugged in incorrectly....the low beam in the high beam, and they can, this could explain the wierdness you seem to be getting.

[gezerbike]

Duplicate post

[Tarmac]

It's much better then the one on my DRZ-400SM or Triumph Thruxton.

[Dr. Strangelove]

a little more info on motolights. the width of the beam changes with the wattage of the bulb and iirc the 35 watt bulb is wider than the 50 is wider than the almost-pencil narrow 75.

I am running a 50 on the left and a 35 on the right

John

ps Merry Christmas, y'all

[gezerbike]

a little more info on motolights. the width of the beam changes with the wattage of the bulb and iirc the 35 watt bulb is wider than the 50 is wider than the almost-pencil narrow 75.

I am running a 50 on the left and a 35 on the right

John

ps Merry Christmas, y'all

Check out this site...you can get all the wattages you mentioned in but in several different degrees

http://www.spacosupply.com/index.cfm?sc ... id=12&mc=4

[motoracer8]

Yes the headlamp on a R12R is not the best, I also have a Ducati Multistrada and it is worse.
I have a R75/6 with the std 55/60 watt bulb that does a better job, I don't think it is any brighter it just has a better pattern. I think the best standard headlamps in the motorcycle world are on a Suzuki V Strom, or a Yamaha FJR, I said standard OE lamps.

Ken G.

[jess]

Okay, I managed to find a flat parking lot where I could shine my headlight against a wall (well, fence). Unfortunately, I didn't have enough space to do the full test suggested above, but I now have a much better idea of what's going on.

The pattern is pretty much as Don described. I can clearly see the kick-up on the right, which is the same pattern I'm seeing on overhead freeway signs, and not even from very far away. There's actually a fair amount of light in the center, but my preliminary observation is that this center concentration is actually rising with distance, and not hitting the ground at all. The appearance of the kick-up pattern on overhead signs would tend to reinforce this.

In the second picture, you can see that the ground directly in front of my front wheel is very well illuminated, but it falls off rapidly after that. It's this falloff, and the lack of anything else hitting the road, that prompted me to post the query in the first place. Having a super-illuminated front fender is all well and fine, but ultimately does me no good.

Based on this, I think I'm going to try to aim my headlight down a little more and see if I can get that center chunk on the road instead of in the rearview mirror of the car in front of me.

[jess]

My comparison, if you can believe it, is a modern Vespa. Brilliant, well-aimed headlight with a really good pattern. Much improved over the old 6v AC systems that most people immediately think of when they think "Vespa".

[jess]

Just a thought.....I remember reading in the owners manuel that, though both bulbs are the same, the connections are specific to the low and high. I wonder if when the bike was assembled they assembled the high beam to the low and vice versa. Per the owners manuel, the low beam is actually the top bulb and the botton bulb is the high beam. If they were plugged in incorrectly....the low beam in the high beam, and they can, this could explain the wierdness you seem to be getting.

It's a good thought. I can confirm, though, that the low beam is coming from the top bulb.

[dav]

Mate i hope you solve your problem....I had to adjust my headlight twice when i bought her, i do half of my daily commute at night & the first night was hell, light shinning straight up to the tree tops, adjusted it down abit, but then oncoming cars were flashing me with there high beams & the light was shinning straight into the cars rear vision mirrors, so i adjusted it abit further down & now its spot on... I have to say i really like the headlight on the R12 its wayyyy better then my last ride (GSX1400)..

[redwing]

Hey jess... I had a problem like your's. My first experience at night riding had the tree tops lit when my light was on bright. Like Don's good suggestion I used a wall to tell how much I was moving the light down; but I didn't use the exacting measures suggested. I just lowered the beam an inch or so each time. After a couple three adjustments I see highway signs way off on bright. Now when I pull up behind a suv my dim beam hits about waist high. About half my riding is at night and my first bike gives me a good, safe view of the road IMHO.
Don has also sold me on getting auxiliary lights and they are high on my list. The subject of auxiliary lights have been discissed at length in this forum; but I have not been able to reason which brand is best. Being poor I'll probably choose the least expensive option.

Robert

[ka5ysy]

Solution to problem: HID lights and mounts from Lumalink.

[LumpyCam]

I adjust my lights so the horizontal light lines up with the tops of car trunks in front of me. I'm not shining into the car and blinding anyone, but getting the best forward light possible. The kick to the right illuminates road signs. I ride a lot at night and have never noticed a problem with this setup (though i'm sure there's better or it can be improved).

My comparison, if you can believe it, is a modern Vespa.

What type of lighting do the Vespas use? I got my wife an LX50 and when i ride with her i'm always amazed by the super bright light that thing kicks off.

[Motor 1]

I just picked up a 2010 R1200R and rode it home at night. U really can see the tree tops, birds in nest, airplanes! How the dealer can let a bike go out the shop like that hurts my head!