Author Topic: Headlight adjustment 2014 to 2019 DL1000 and 2017 to 2019 DL650 (including X's) (Read 11197 times)

sharealike · « **on:** July 04, 2019, 18:24:39 »

Parts show headlights for these latest VStroms are the same. Hence I guess the adjustment for main and low beams will be the same.

Below is list of the particular Stroms I'm on about.

Suzuki Motorcycle 2017 DL650AL7 Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2018 V-STROM - DL1000XA Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2019 V-STROM - DL650XA Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2019 V-STROM - DL650A Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2016 V-STROM 1000 - DL1000AL6 Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2018 V-STROM - DL650XA Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2018 V-STROM - DL650A Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2015 V-STROM 1000 - DL1000AL5 Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2019 V-STROM - DL1000A Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2019 V-STROM - DL1000XA Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2014 V-STROM - DL1000AL4 Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2018 V-STROM - DL1000A Headlamp

Suzuki Motorcycle 2017 DL650XAL7 Headlamp

And the reason I'm contributing is to share that you don't necessarily need to remove the bodywork and speedometer to adjust the height of dip and main beam. I managed it by reaching up the gap between the back of the speedo and headlight. Need a bit of feel and luck with the right 10mm spanner. Saves a load of time and potential damage/loss of all the fiddly fasteners that hold the trim and speedo on. Plus you can adjust, ride, adjust and ride until you have it just where it suits you best. Not possible with half the front of the bike dismantled.

My VStrom came with the lamps shining far too high. Height of dip cut off flickering up and down due to soft suspension. Realised when a car pulled out right in front of me the other day in our village. Gave me three flashes of his hazards as a thank you as he sped off down the road thinking I'd flashed him out.

Still need to do the strip to change bulbs by the feel of everything up that gap but they might last a very long time.

sharealike · « **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2019, 04:21:45 »

Picture of the back of our headlights.
Height and direction adjusters are the white hexagons (nuts). They also have slots for crosshead screwdrivers but they would only be used with the speedometer removed as it says is needed in the owners handbook.

Top pair adjust dip/low beam. Upper left is height. Turn clockwise raises beam height. Anticlockwise lowers it.

Lower pair are main beam adjustment. The right nut adjusts height. Turn clockwise raises beam height. Anticlockwise lowers it.

Use picture to get an idea for what you will be feeling with your fingers up the gap.

Gassoon · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2019, 15:41:41 »

Nice clear description and pics , cheers

sharealike · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2019, 22:41:53 »

Thank you Gassoon. And here's the spanner that makes it possible.

10mm ratchet spanner. A cross between a ring spanner and a socket. The fine ratchet action let's you turn the adjusters with only the slightest angle of movement of the spanner. And the most important part is the spanner does not have to be taken off to reset it for the next stroke. Just get it on in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction and swing/stroke it from side to side.

Gert · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2019, 07:34:47 »

This tip is on loan from a French site posted as: Alain27 - Easily adjust the headlights according to the load, which reads "Returning I suffered a lot of calls for lights, but set at night at the edge of the road is not obvious!
With Coke stoppers glued to the super-glue on the adjustment screws, we obtain a knob that can be adjusted while sitting on the machine.
No need to look at the screw, we find the "wheel" to the touch.
It is necessary that the cap is mounted tight without play on the head of screw, to the collage to apply flat with a screwdriver then let the glue dry several hours before use.". The pix http://www.DL650.org/photos/pbsoluces/Alain27/bouchonphares.jpg, shows the coke bottle cap and screw setup.
Not sure if this will work on the later models but from the pix, it is does work on the gen 1 Wee.

Gassoon · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2019, 08:13:56 »

Good find, Gert!

Nice and simple solution, hope it works on the later dl's.

sharealike · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2019, 19:50:04 »

For those bikes the subject of this thread it would require the dismantling of tank trim and speedo removal to stick the bottle tops in place. Reaching up to use them with all reassembled would be nigh on impossible. Not enough room and fingers not long enough. Even less chance when still seated on the bike.

Had it in my mind to create a template that indicates where to drill two holes in the below speedo panel. Then poke a cross head screwdriver in and straight onto the screws. Need a 90 degree drill drive and very stubby screwdriver. And drilling could be fraught with danger as wiring looms galore behind the speedo and its panel.

brettchallenger · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2019, 11:19:39 »

Thanks Sharealike, really useful. I found the best way to adjust the full beam was by lying under the machine - its wheel turned fully to the right, and reaching up to the adjusting nut - see pic.. It is easily visible from beneath though you need longish arms to reach up to it. I suspect the low/dipped beam adjustment is going to be a bit more of a struggle.

edbailey · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2019, 00:46:59 »

YES! YES! YES! YES!

This is exactly what I was hoping to find! Just started working back shift meaning I finish at midnight so dark rides home. Really shoddy setup by Suzuki in my opinion to leave an elongated dark triangle between the low and high beam right where you actually need to see.

Brilliant post blokes

sharealike · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2019, 15:25:26 »

Quote from: sharealike on July 08, 2019, 19:50:04

For those bikes the subject of this thread it would require the dismantling of tank trim and speedo removal to stick the bottle tops in place. Reaching up to use them with all reassembled would be nigh on impossible. Not enough room and fingers not long enough. Even less chance when still seated on the bike.

Had it in my mind to create a template that indicates where to drill two holes in the below speedo panel. Then poke a cross head screwdriver in and straight onto the screws. Need a 90 degree drill drive and very stubby screwdriver. And drilling could be fraught with danger as wiring looms galore behind the speedo and its panel.

FORGET THE ABOVE - YES FORGET IT COMPLETELY.

Took it all to bits to have a look at drilling holes in the panel just below the speedo. Then I could get to the screws easy with a screwdriver. Marked position of the holes and deciding what size to drill them when I noticed the teeth on the large washers behind the screw heads.

The teeth work as a gear that turns the adjusting screw. I tried a few ideas and realised the perfect little gear we already have is the cross head screwdriver in the tool kit.

sharealike · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2019, 15:42:47 »

Here's what it looks like with the speedo, tank trim and side trims out of the way.

The back of the dip beam lamp is what we see here (the main beam is below and out of our sight).

Bottom picture shows how the screwdriver in your tool kit fits in to mesh with the teeth and turns the screw for height. Clockwise lowers the height. Anti clock raises the height.

You should be looking/feeling for those inverted funnels to stick your driver in. Best name I could come up with for them.

Screwdriver I tried was a No 2 Phillips. Smoothest and most reliable action as the driver was rotated. Suggest you take some time understanding what driver you have available. Last thing you want to do is bend of damage the teeth on the headlamp adjuster.

sharealike · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2019, 15:51:52 »

Teeth your crosshead screwdriver meshes with up the inverted funnel in brettchallengers picture he took from underneath.

I think this screw is main beam height. Will be the lowest screw on the right hand side if it is.

The even lower screw on the left (other side of bulb access covers) will be main beam direction - which should only need touching after rebuild work.

sharealike · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2019, 15:58:08 »

So worrying Suzuki don't tell you how to adjust the lights this way in their handbook. Goes into all the tank trim and speedo removal gubbins. How about their workshop literature?

Use a Phillips number 2 screwdriver from underneath.

Gassoon · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2019, 21:12:23 »

So what plastics need to be removed (if any) John?

sharealike · « **Reply #14 on:** August 12, 2019, 14:00:29 »

Absolutely nothing needs removing. Contrary to what you would believe from the Suzuki handbook.

To adjust dip beam height its best to kneel facing the front nearside (front left corner of the bike) and just in front of the radiator. Use torch and peer up inside to spot the higher of the two inverted funnels on the back of the headlight. Then feel your way up with the correct screwdriver. Don't be tempted to go for the easier and lower funnel on this side - that is high beam directional adjustment.

To adjust main beam height its best to kneel facing the front offside (front right corner of the bike) and just in front of the radiator. Use torch and peer up inside to spot the lower of the two inverted funnels on the back of the headlight. Then feel your way up with the correct screwdriver. Don't struggle up to the higher funnel on this side - that is dip beam directional adjustment.

brettchallenger · « **Reply #15 on:** August 12, 2019, 15:27:04 »

I didn't realise the adjustment could be done with a screwdriver, I adjusted the beam height with a ratchet spanner. I think a long bladed driver would make this a much easier task. This is really useful, thanks.

Gassoon · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2019, 20:46:38 »

Agreed! Really useful. I'm goimg to note Mr Sharealikes last reply in my handbook for when its needed

Methusela · « **Reply #17 on:** September 14, 2019, 15:57:21 »

I have just used this method to adjust my main beam. I have only just started to ride in the dark since picking the bike up in June and it was much too high. It worked really well. I did turn the adjuster anticlockwise and hope this has lowered the beam, the next ride will tell. Only had a doubt because sharealikes post of Aug 9th says it should be clockwise and the post of July 5th anticlockwise. Anticlockwise seemed logical to me and I went with that.

IanM · « **Reply #18 on:** September 20, 2019, 19:15:54 »

Really helpful thanks, just adjusted mine with ease. Ratchet spanner is the way to go.

martin555 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2020, 18:05:26 »

I need help, having trouble to set my beam on 2017 DL1000XT.

do the small M10 bolt (with phillips slot) rotates INDEPENDENTLY with the round "washer" plate which has a slot to reach in with a (phillips) screwdriver from underneath?

my large beam is pointing to the sky.

Thanks!