LED's Are They Worth The Effort?

Thinking about switching to LED's in my speedo and tach. Do you think it's worth the effort to take the whole cluster apart and switch out the bulbs to LED's and what other mods were needed to make them work.
Please share what you used and how you made them fit.
Also while it was apart what other things did you do?
Thanks
MN

 

You can switch over to LEDs on the instrument cluster without doing anything to the rest of the electrical system.

Most of the XJs are pretty easy to get to the bulbs

 

It depends on your end goals and reasons. Cool factor vs wanting to add more accessories (ie radios heated gear etc).

Leds in cluster might be a bit brighter at night.

Always use same color led as lens. White leds are not really white.

Led in cluster no other mods needed.

Led blinkers needs electronic flasher relay and you lose auto cancel. May not be legal in your area or areas with annual safety checks. (I have expensive real DOT approved signals).

Also most smaller led blinkers are not as bright or visible during the day.

Red stop/taillights that are not bright enough could be dangerous.

All negatives aside its your bike and safety so enjoy the led addiction. LOL

 

It is VERY MUCH worth the effort; I replaced only the instrument illumination bulbs in my Secas and the difference is remarkable. You can actually see the instruments at night.

LEDs in the various indicators were too bright; I went back to bulbs in those.

 

OK I would like to try and change the old bulbs out.
This is on my 82 750 cluster.
Anyone have a list of what I should order?
I bought a pin point oiler for lubing the speedo and tach, anything else I need?
Thanks
MN

 

LED Conversions Kits are all the rave,

Some of the newer conversion kits INCLUDE:
• Modules and Load Simulators to retain Self Cancelling Units.

• There are some with "Variable Flash Rate"
>Slow - Med - Fast
• Programmable Patterns

You can put LEDs everyplace now!

http://www.customdynamics.com/motorcycl ... ignals.htm
> 3-5-3, -- 3, 5, ON, 5, 3, -- 2, 3, 4, 3, 2

Search: Signal Dynamics, GoldWing LED's,

 

What a coincidence, I just put LED's in my instruments today. I like it and would say go ahead and make the switch.

 

NOTE: Click for larger sizes.

These are the 194 style bulbs I bought for my MAXIM cluster from superbrightleds.



My gauge cluster album:
http://s835.photobucket.com/albums/zz27 ... ?start=all

Some after shots:




EDIT: I forgot how much of an improvement the (RED) gauge lights were. But I wasn't riding at night at that point.

 

I'm with Metal_Bob. Stuck LEDS in my speedo and haven't looked back. It's like having new gauges you can actually see lol.

I got mine from super bright leds as well.

P.S. The only one I left stock was the highbeam bulb. I learned from the last bike, you don't need that one brighter than it is lol.

 

did you also put led's in the bright/neutral/oil/signal indicators?

Looks good!

 

I did yes. I can see all the lights in the daylight. I don't consider the "idiot" lights to be to bright at night. In fact the bright turn indicators help me since I don't have auto cancel any more. :wink:

 

good call. My "brights" blue indicator light is hardly noticible at all in the day time.

I'll have to do this mod when i do my steering bearings and have everything apart.

Thanks for looking out!