LED’s in Gauges

[AAAltered]

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:

[m in sc]

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

[AAAltered]

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.

[Hawaii-Mike]

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.

[AAAltered]

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...

[m in sc]

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.   

[Brad-Man]

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.

[IR8D8R]

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.