Need to replace the speedo light....LEDs maybe?

[John Schmidt]

Looking to replace both, even though just one has burned out. I've been looking at some old posts re. replacement LEDs and some are referring to Superbrightleds.com as a good source and using the WLED-X5 wedge type. Has anyone come up with something different, I'm looking for some bright blue lights if possible since my three smaller gauges have blue back light. They're from Autometer and come with blue back lighting so would be kinda neat if I could find some bright blue LEDs for the speedo and tach. Any suggestions?

[sixlow]

I can't speak for the blue bulbs John, but the ones you described above I put in my Teal bike and they show up real good at night.

[John Schmidt]

Is there a particular model number or ?? that you used? If I can get some blue with that much light showing I'd be happy.

[sixlow]

Pretty sure it was the WLED CW 5 from Superbright. or this one looks like it

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-vehicle-replacement-bulbs/194-led-bulb-6-led-miniature-wedge-retrofit-car/200/#/attributes/14

[The emperor has no clothes]

I haven't tried them, but these look like they may spread out the light a little better.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-5-smd-led-tower-miniature-wedge-retrofit-car/206/#/attributes/14

[sdv003]

I'm using the 194 6 LED miniature.  They do a good job lighting the tach and speedo.  If I remember correctly, the bulb is in a well, so lighting from the side won't do much.  There is a posting on different LEDs in the tach, unfortunately photosuckit makes the post much less valuable.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,34551.0.html

[Bagger John - #3785]

If you have a 97-99 model (green colored gauges) I'd go with a white #194 from AutoZone. Cheap, bright, effective.

My Tourer has blue LED digital gauges (water temp, fuel level, oil pressure) mounted in MC Enterprises housings right below the speedo and tach. The contrast is easy on the eyes.

[John Schmidt]

Thanks for the tip John, I'd like to find some bright blues to match my other gauges...same as yours; temp, oil press., fuel. They have blue backlighting and finding some bright blues for the tach and speedo is taking up precious riding time now that the weather is cooler down here. Plus....I have to pull the fairing to do it so don't want to mess with it too much. 

[mrgeoff]

Just food for thought... If you get an LED that you want to dim because it is too brite and annoying
as you are riding, you can always use the cotton from a Q-tip to defuse the light in the lens...I did this on my VTX 1800 once because the indicator for the Hi beam was a blue lens and I always rode with my Hi beams on, so it was really distracting...placed a little cotton from a Q=tip in the lens and worked great...Might want to consider this before adding any resistor to the circuitry...!!!

[WintrSol]

... unfortunately photosuckit makes the post much less valuable.

If you search for the Photobucket Hotlink extension for your browser, the images will be restored. I found one for Firefox, and I'm sure there's one for Chrome.

[John Schmidt]

... unfortunately photosuckit makes the post much less valuable.

If you search for the Photobucket Hotlink extension for your browser, the images will be restored. I found one for Firefox, and I'm sure there's one for Chrome.

Hey....it worked. I can now see all the pics on the original post linked by SDV003 above. Of course, I have no idea what kind of other crap I've now opened myself up to.

[mark81]

here is a post on changing mine to blue led. there is a video and pics if photobucket works for you. they're still showing on my end

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,89186.msg881829/topicseen.html#quickreply

[Fazer]

I did the blue light special described in Mark's post.  Easy to do and works great.

[John Schmidt]

here is a post on changing mine to blue led. there is a video and pics if photobucket works for you. they're still showing on my end

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,89186.msg881829/topicseen.html#quickreply

Strange....I tried exactly the same one in blue and didn't get anywhere near the brilliance he shows in the picture. I next tried a Pilot brand blue(from Pep Boys), supposed to be super bright but was disappointed. It comes in a double light pack, has 5 LEDs...one centered at the top and four on the sides. I then tried the Pilot cool white, p/n IL-194W5(the letter indicates the color), it gave good light with a good spread so left them in. Sometime down the road I'll mess with it again when I have nothing better to do. I could reinstall the blue license plate bolts with blue LEDs in them. I used to have them mounted on the handlebars and aimed at the speedo/tach which made them show blue. Wiring is still in place so would be an easy hookup again.

[Chrisj CMA]

I went on my first night ride with the Cobra bike since upgrading the meter lights.  These were pleasant to the eyes and very easy to read.  I was very happy with them.  

These are the ones I posted about before from superbrightleds.com and they are cool white polarized with 120° light angle.  

YMMV