I have my R5 tach off to fix a whirling noise and it struck me that I could retrofit some LEDs in the gauges.
The R5 has BA9/1893 incandescents in them now. They appear to be rated at 4-5 watts each. The LED equivalents pull under .7 watts. In theory, replacing all the bulbs in the gauges would save me at least 20 watts.
I am not particularly starved for watts as far as I know, I am already running LED in the headlight and taillight.
Has anyone put LED's in there and were the results worth it? A 10pack of LED equivalents are cheap, like under $15.
Existing bulb:
(https://i.ibb.co/gTYfVsL/1-E7-FE788-4650-4542-AD10-ED0-FAFFB3-F59.jpg)
yes! i have
however, the generic white ones IMHO look like ass in the gauges, harshe and reflective. I bought some amber ones and they look right. have them in all the older bikes.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/ba9s-led-bulb-1-led-ba9s-bulb+color-Amber+packamt-20-Pack
Nice. I was thinking the 'warm' spectrum but amber looks like a good option.
I have a 'cool' headlight and it's really really white.
When my BA9S LED bulbs are too bright I put a small piece of white vinyl tape over the top. It's just like regular black electrical tape except that it's white. The light still goes through but not blindingly bright.
I got a $9 package of BA9's in amber LED. They work ok, not super bright but definitely a better "tone" than a bright white would have been...
(https://i.ibb.co/fYmNSWM/BA9-D7223-225-A-4096-A9-B2-2-D11-A98-DF67-A.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/DYcJkpZ/9-C5-CB193-6-B48-4-F8-E-B136-0-CD6-EC3-D3-BBE.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/p3s3xdL/6-E7545-CB-BF1-C-46-BE-8-FBC-2-C7723-ACF27-E.jpg)
yeah, the ones i linked actually spread the light a bit better, ive had the ones like you have and didnt care for them. also, really delicate. :twocents:
I use standard incandescent lamps, but put a coat of orangy/red nail polish on them for my '75 RD350. Definitely like the warmer color.
Nail polish is nitrocellulose. Like ping-pong balls and smokeless rifle powder... Just in case you get a puff of smoke and a familiar smell from your gauges.