SV650: Aiming the Headlight

by Stacy on October 3, 2008

Here’s how to aim the headlight on a naked 2007 SV650. The measurements given are specific to my bike, but these basic steps will apply to almost any motorcycle.

  1. Stand the bike level and measure from the ground to the center of the headlight bulb. If you trust my measurements, it’s 33.5 inches on the SV.
  2. Find a light-colored wall where you can park the bike 25 feet away on level ground. My garage is a bit short, but I made it work.
  3. Draw a line on the wall the same height as the measurement you took in step 1 and about 4 or 5 feet wide. Use a carpenter’s level to make the line as straight and level as possible. I used painter’s tape placed so the bottom edge was at the correct height.
  4. Measure down two inches (31.5 inches) and draw another line.
  5. Sit on the bike, make it level, and turn on the low beam so that the light shines on the lines you drew in the previous steps.
  6. Use the adjuster screw located on the underside of the headlight to raise or lower the low beam so that the upper cutoff point of the light is right on the lower line. An assistant can help, else you’ll need to alternate between sitting on the bike and turning the adjustment screw.
  7. Once the low beam is set, turn on the high beam and confirm that it’s centered on the upper line.

And there you have it: a ten minute job that could save you from a pucker-inducing night ride.

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