LED instrument lights

  • alwaysbroke
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LED instrument lights

28 Dec 2011 13:35
#494986
The instrument lights in my 75 Z1 are really dim. I could barely see the speedo in total darkness. I thought it was the bulbs so I replaced them with new ones and checked out my electrical system. The system checked out fine but they were still too dim.... So, I set out to find a better way to light them up and this is what they look like now. I replaced all 8 with LEDs from superbrightleds.com. It was a direct replacement and well worth the $36.71. IF anyone is interested, I can post the stock numbers.

Without LED's

Attachment 2WithoutLED.jpg not found


Attachment 6Tachwithout.jpg not found


Attachment 4Speedowithout.jpg not found



WITH LED'S

Attachment 5SpeedowithLED.jpg not found


Attachment 7TachWithLED.jpg not found


Attachment 8BothWithLED.jpg not found

'75 Z1900
'74 CB750

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  • MFolks
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Re: LED instrument lights

28 Dec 2011 14:14
#494989
Are the bulbs the older Bayonet(push and turn) or the newer wedge base type?
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)

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  • alwaysbroke
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Re: LED instrument lights

28 Dec 2011 14:25
#494990
I used the same old style push and turn as the OEM (BA9S). They were a direct replacement. Ive seen some LED's that you are required to solder in resistors (?) for them to work but these already have the required parts internally. That company sells all sorts of bulbs with various fittings so they might have what your looking for.
'75 Z1900
'74 CB750

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  • M.B Co
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Re: LED instrument lights

30 Dec 2011 10:51
#495269
Looks great. I have some ready to swap in myself. Did you just get white ones?
82' KZ440 Cafe'/Resto-Mod

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  • alwaysbroke
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Re: LED instrument lights

30 Dec 2011 12:05
#495278
Thanks! I used 4 "Cool White" for the tach/speedo and for the idiot lights a 90deg red, amber, blue and green.
'75 Z1900
'74 CB750

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  • Kapahulu
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Re: LED instrument lights

30 Dec 2011 14:07
#495303
The bulbs are available on e-bay too. Just search for "BA9s led". I replace the bulbs on all my bikes with these LED's.
1978 KZ1000, 1976 KZ900, 1975 H2, 1973 H1, 1973 H2, 1978 RD400, 1977 RD400, 1974 RD350
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  • OldSchoolHr
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Re: LED instrument lights

31 Dec 2011 13:57
#495450
How much leds should bulbs have for idiot lights?
Would this bulb with 4 leds be to much...

[img


...or I must go with 1 led bulb?

[img


For tach/speedo I would buy this one with 5 leds.

[img


Any advice is welcome.
My Gallery - www.wix.com/limit2/z900

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  • alwaysbroke
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Re: LED instrument lights

31 Dec 2011 14:42
#495457
It's hard to say as the LED's that I used are a different style.
The only idiot light that I had a hard time seeing was the blue
High beam indicator light. The LED made it bright enough to cast a
Blue glow over me in total darkness. It's almost too bright now.
With that in mind I would get the brightest LEDs for the speedo and tach
then figure out which idiot lights you have a hard time seeing and replace
those with the same LEDs as the tach/speedo. Replace the other idiot lights
with ones that are less bright. It might be a good idea to buy one of each LED
and experiment with them before you buy replacements for all of them.

What ever you do I hope to see some pics when you get then all replaced.
'75 Z1900
'74 CB750

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  • Kapahulu
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Re: LED instrument lights

31 Dec 2011 19:20
#495489
Yeah tach/speedo 5 leds work fine. For the idiot lights one led is enough, otherwise it might be blinding at night, particularly for the neutral light.
1978 KZ1000, 1976 KZ900, 1975 H2, 1973 H1, 1973 H2, 1978 RD400, 1977 RD400, 1974 RD350
2strokeworld.com

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  • sft1662
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Re: LED instrument lights

01 May 2012 13:59
#519090
alwaysbroke wrote: It's hard to say as the LED's that I used are a different style.
The only idiot light that I had a hard time seeing was the blue
High beam indicator light. The LED made it bright enough to cast a
Blue glow over me in total darkness. It's almost too bright now.
With that in mind I would get the brightest LEDs for the speedo and tach
then figure out which idiot lights you have a hard time seeing and replace
those with the same LEDs as the tach/speedo. Replace the other idiot lights
with ones that are less bright. It might be a good idea to buy one of each LED
and experiment with them before you buy replacements for all of them.

What ever you do I hope to see some pics when you get then all replaced.

Hey alwaysbroke, do you have the actual bulb # that you used? I've heard some of them are too big/wont fit and dont want to get the wrong ones...
1978 KZ650 B2A

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  • alwaysbroke
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Re: LED instrument lights

01 May 2012 15:38 - 01 May 2012 15:43
#519119
This is a copy of my invoice. If I were to order from him again I would add a less powerful blue LED for the high beam indicator. This one I ordered is stupid bright! Good luck and please feel free to ask any other ?'s you might have. Let me know if you get a dimmer high beam indicator lamp and how it worked out for you!


Attachment SuperBriteLEDs2.jpg not found

'75 Z1900
'74 CB750

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Last edit: 01 May 2012 15:43 by alwaysbroke. Reason: I an idiot
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  • sft1662
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Re: LED instrument lights

01 May 2012 16:17
#519129
Thanks for the info! I'll let you know how it goes, hopefully I'll get around to this in the next few weeks.
1978 KZ650 B2A

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