Unfinished Business - LED HighBeam Indicator

[RedShift]

Practically a year ago there was an LED user group forming.  I joined the group and converted all my indicator and gauge backlights to LED.  Posted my exploits I the mildly famous Dashboard is now All LED.

Egaeus (the clairvoyant) made a comment that I learned to respect – that a 5-LED bulb under the high-beam position would be a veritable supernova when riding in the dark of night.

It quickly became annoying to force my gaze away from my gauges, but I rarely rode at night so I tuffed it out.  However, if I ever had the time and some pocket change, I promised myself I'd swap it out with something a lot less intense.

Being 83 days into the traditional winter layover, I have found the time to make the change.

SuperBrightLED.com was once again the supplier.  They still have a great assortment of Miniature Wedge Base Bulbs.  Bought a Blue single LED (Part WLED-B) to replace the overly intense WLED-B6.  Here's what they look like in comparison:

The single LED is the lower of the two.

I won't bore you with the mechanics of how to access the bulbs, but there are the before (left) and after (right) images:

  >>>

Easily two orders or magniture less intense.  Some day soon (within the next 30 days I'm praying) Spring will break out here in Michigan and I'll be able to give it a field trial.  Until then I'll assume I'll be happy with the change.

I encourage you who haven't done it to replace all the incandescent bulbs with LED's.  You'll never have to "re-bulb" again.

Go for it.  IMHO it's the best "under $25" modification you can do.

[l3uddha]

that's an awesome idea

I'm switching mine to colored LEDs very soon. I've completly ditched the stock housing so I'll be mounting them somewhere else in the front. Thanks for the info!

BTW- the details on how to access these bulbs ARE boring. It's so easy.

[RedShift]

It's unfortunate but the camera's flash has obliterated the effect of the Blue LED backlight of the gauges.  But if you follow the Dashboard is now All LED thread link, as well as the equally popular Speedo and Tach Guage LED lights thread, you'll learn a lot about about what it looks like to convert.

[aaronstj]

One note for anyone who's thinking about going to an all LED dash:  Not all years use the same size bulb for the indicators.  The old ones are 194s, the newer ones are smaller.  Ask me how I know.

[Crew_dawg]

how do you know?


just kidding, good info....what size are the newer ones ( bulb number )?

[aaronstj]

I dunno, I never got around to buying a smaller set. 

[Egaeus]

Clairvoyant my ass.  I know from firsthand experience.    I changed it out fairly soon afterward.

[Susuki_Jah]

I switched mine over to color led's a while ago even put blue ones in the gauges lol. I get a lot of compliments on them too

[GSRider]

One note for anyone who's thinking about going to an all LED dash:  Not all years use the same size bulb for the indicators.  The old ones are 194s, the newer ones are smaller.  Ask me how I know.

If they aren't a 194, and smaller, they just might be a 24 bulb.

They are the only ones I can think of that have the same type of base, but are smaller than the 194's.

[RedShift]

Clairvoyant my ass.  I know from firsthand experience.    I changed it out fairly soon afterward.

Well, I should have listened to you.  Night riding will be more pleasant from now on.  Now there are two of us that know better.   

[pbureau69]

Suzuki lists the gauge (2005+) bulbs as T10 (slot thinner than 194)  12v 1.7w and the indicator lights as T6.5