Topic: Headlight bucket angle

[evanphi]

Relative to the ground, what angle should the front edge of the headlight bucket be on a stock-height CB750? 90 degrees? Slightly more/less than 90?

[Bob Wessner]

Seem to recall the shop manual includes an alignment procedure. It involved facing a wall and aligning the beam so many inches above the ground/floor.

[LesterPiglet]

Yep, there isn't an angle. You move it as needed to align it.

[ekpent]

I leave the bolts tight but just loose enough, not sloppy loose, to where I can reach my hand over and adjust the angle while I am on the fly to suite the different situations.

[Dream750]

Relative to the ground, what angle should the front edge of the headlight bucket be on a stock-height CB750? 90 degrees? Slightly more/less than 90?

The headlight bucket angle is not adjusted in degrees, but measured in distance. This is taken from the 750 K4 owners manual, should be the same spec for your 750 K5: 

[PeWe]

Must be same as for cars.
LO beam upper shape should lit on a wall in max knee height from 10m when sitting on the bike....

Maximum upwards, you'll see when the meeting cars get the beam in the faces. Be aware of angry truck drivers they have horrible lights, daylight by a click. At least here in Sweden.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/122_0310_headlight_aiming/

[evanphi]

Relative to the ground, what angle should the front edge of the headlight bucket be on a stock-height CB750? 90 degrees? Slightly more/less than 90?

The headlight bucket angle is not adjusted in degrees, but measured in distance. This is taken from the 750 K4 owners manual, should be the same spec for your 750 K5: 

Yeah I know about that one, I just thought there might have been a general consensus. My new setup uses the blinkers as the bucket bolts, so I just wanted to try and get the angle right before I close up the headlight. Looking at photos of my previous setup with stock ears, the bucket appears to have a slight downward tilt. I think I will set it at about 10 degrees forward from vertical and see how that turns out when I get a nice dark area to test the light's throw.

[LesterPiglet]

My turn signals mount to the bucket. They are fully tightened. The bucket will still move vertically if you nudge it. I set my light while riding in the dark. Tilt the bucket up or down with low beam on and you can see the sweet spot.

[Dream750]

Yeah I know about that one, I just thought there might have been a general consensus. My new setup uses the blinkers as the bucket bolts, so I just wanted to try and get the angle right before I close up the headlight. Looking at photos of my previous setup with stock ears, the bucket appears to have a slight downward tilt. I think I will set it at about 10 degrees forward from vertical and see how that turns out when I get a nice dark area to test the light's throw.

I got it now.
 
As Ekpent mentioned in reply #3, I also adjust my headlight on the fly. I use the old trick of adding a “reinforced” rubber washer on each fork ear to hold the desired position of the headlight aim. The “reinforced” rubber washer gives just enough adjustment drag without the bolt or blinker mounting hardware coming loose when snugged up. Regular rubber washers don’t work well as they are too soft.

[evanphi]

Ah awesome! This is a great idea. I'll do some searching for reinforced rubber washers.

EDIT: Found some toilet tank washers at my local Home Hardware.

[70CB750]

My turn signals mount to the bucket. They are fully tightened. The bucket will still move vertically if you nudge it. I set my light while riding in the dark. Tilt the bucket up or down with low beam on and you can see the sweet spot.

That's very practical.  Tilting the headlight allowed me to ride for quite few days without high beams 

[PeWe]

I'm used to be able to tilt the headlight when driving. For many years ago I became mad on meeting car drivers that did not want to switch down from HI to LO. I decided to have my revenge on next car, so I tilted it upwards and flashed HI at the same time I angled the bike so the car driver got max light in his face.

Only one thing.... that car was black and white with blue lights on its roof.... so I had to gear down 2-3 steps and twist the throttle maximum. I'm sure they heard my RC 4-1 and gave up almost direct
Adjustable headlight is needed when the LO beam stop work as mentioned earlier.
Yamiya750 has rubber washers...