Dash and headlight bulbs

For a 74 Z1. Has anyone tried using LED bulbs for dash indicator lights? Also, any recommendations for stock looking LED headlight. 

Yes I have converted most of my gauges and dash panels over to LED bulbs on my bikes. Dash is the same as a KZ900 so basically a Z1.

Thru trial and error I have found LED's to be no issues on the dash except for the indicators which LED's don't seem to work. LED signal lights and tail light so also not seem to work on these older harness without using resistors or special flasher units.

I have found that just doing the dash and gauges with LED's does make them brighter and reduces electrical load.

As for a LED headlamp, I use a 7" H4 "conversion" lamp shell so I can run a H4 LED bulb. Most I have seen do not look like a old stock Stanley lamp, I don't think you will find one that looks like what Kawasaki supplied. Most are flat lens units, even my old vintage Hella shell is pretty flat. A lot of the Chinese ones on Amazon are not D.O.T. compliant so would not pass a government safety inspection.

 

Hella H4 conversion shell.

 

Chinese H4 conversion shell - non D.O.T.

Both of these are just to get a H4 bulb in there but are not really recommended for LED bulbs. To use a LED bulb correctly you would need a reflective prism at the back of the inner shell like below.

 

You just need to make sure it will take a H4 bulb. A lot of those 7" lamps have a huge box at the back that will not clear the stock headlamp shell.

 

If you use an LED headlamp you may need to keep the incandescent bulb in the high beam warning light ( the internal circuit in the headlamp can cause an LED morning light to glow on low beam)

These are the 3 things i have installed with no issues. All are LED. in order to run LED blinkers and flashers you need an electronic flasher (in the pic). It replaces the factory flasher and is a drop in replacement that uses less current. the small leds are the gauge lights. I replaced all incandescent with these and they are brighter and less current. The headlights are for a car but fit without any modification. brighter and uses less current.

Shifter, here's my take on those dash LED BA9S,s. When i use them i cut down the "focal" portion or tip. The "chip" for lighting is much lower in the potting material so no chance of hitting it while grinding off potting/plastic. This does TWO things, easier assembling especially the one gauge lighting that fits underneath the threaded gauge drive, not as tall so fits easier. And cutting off the tip it diffuses the emitted light so your gauge face doesn't witness a super illuminated spot where both are used, spreads the lighting out so to speak. Also note in the dark the color you see will be a more Bluish color compared to the Green when using incandescent bulbs. But note, your selection of bulbs "might" be different then the ones i have?        

Here's what I used when I replaced my headlight on KZ1000P, www.summitracing.com/parts/PHL-H6024LED   I haven't ridden the bike yet, but I have turned the light off in the shop and new light is much better.  Ignore the yellow coloring in the photo, it isn't there in the actual headlight.

I used a Stanley 001-1970 H4 lense. It fits great and looks correct.

Went with this one. looks stock and has the correct curve profile.  www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-rp22677

And for indicator lights, I got these in warm white. Just had to shave down the concave portion to flatten out the beam.  www.superbrightleds.com/led-light-bulbs-...167aca1b42f4b596cfcb