Triumph Speed Triple Forums banner

LED replacements for dash lights?

12K views 23 replies 6 participants last post by  rgbeard  
#1 ·
I'm really sick of my '01's panel lights being so dim.

Has as anyone replaced them with brighter LED bulbs? If so, source and part #?, please?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Having heard nothing on this - I figured I'd proceed on and get the swap done.

I just ordered, and received LED replacements for the instrument cluster lights and warning lights from SuperBright LEDs. I also bought 1157 replacements for the brake lights.

When I get to the garage and start installing these, I'll take pix of before/after and see if these are acceptable, and an improvement over the incandescent bulbs.

 
#3 ·
How do you plan on doing that? The instrument cluster and warning lights are those tiny soldered-to-the-board type LEDs already. Or are you a soldering wizard?

(note you aren't the first to think of this. When the D675 came out with blue dash background lights some guys wanted them instead of the clear. I don't recall anyone that actually accomplished it.)
 
#4 ·
Mine were not soldered on. They were plugged in to a socket. I've already pulled the old ones out.

no solder wick required. I'll post pix tomorrow.
 
#5 ·
Must have changed them then. My 05 was all solder.
 
#6 ·
They changed maybe one or two things between 01 and 05.
 
#9 ·
Sorry, but I ride on the track, the same way your Mom likes it.
 
#11 ·
oh, yeah, I guess that makes sense. Oh well.

:loser:
 
#12 ·
Well that explains it. I had it in my head you had a 2010 for some reason.

Cary on.
 
#13 ·
Dyslexia? 2010, 2001. No worries.

Cary Grant.

Pictures of the new (improved?) dash follow tomorrow. We'll see what happens.
 
#15 ·
Don't you make fun of my lysdexia! Don't judge me! Don't you judge me! :crying:
 
#16 ·
Here's the results from my work with LEDs.

The good news: I obtained the results I wanted with the instrument lighting.
The bad news: I tried for bonus points by replacing the 1157 bulbs in the brake/tail light with LED. No bueno.

Here's the bad. Brake lights with LED



Vs. Brake lights with traditional bulbs.




Significantly dimmer with the LED, and I'm not game for that.

Now the good news.

This didn't photograph as well as I'd wanted it to, but the annunciator light to the right is the LED. It's brighter, and a cool-white vs. a yellow.



Here are the instrument back-lights for comparison. The LED vs. the incandescent with a white diffuser.



So here's the tech tip.

A) This is a fiddly-job. Re-assembling the gauge cluster is a royal pain.
B) The small idiot lights are polarized. 50/50 you install it backwards (To no harm of the LED light). You can test every light as you install them, except the low-fuel light. So, either start the job when your fuel light is on or siphon gas. I had to siphon, and determined it was backwards.

The indicator/idiot lights are much more usable. That was my main goal. Now I can't wait for a night time ride and see how the instruments look with their LED light.
 
#17 ·
Mmmm… Next question: Is that a 885 Trophy or a 1200 trophy in the background?
 
#18 ·
1200. Here's a better pic.

 
#21 ·
Here's a fresh pic of the dash - taken inside the garage - it's not in sunlight, but you get the clue - sure beats the factory dim-bulbs.

 
#22 ·
I returned the 1157 LEDs to SuperBright LEDs, and instead ordered a more expensive pair. These are at least as bright as the incandescent bulbs, and perhaps a little more.

Here:


QtyProduct/OptionsPrice/Ea
21157-R18-T Red17.95
SubTotal:$35.90
Shipping:$2.99
TOTAL:$38.89
 
#23 ·
Rode it for the first time today, since doing the LED replacement and what can I say? How about.... HOLY SHIT - I can tell when I'm in Neutral, now.
 
#24 ·
Okay - there's one hang-up with the LED conversion of the annunciators. The turn signal light alternates positive from each direction. Thus: the LED blinks for one direction but not the other, whereas an incandescent bulb will illuminate either way.

For me, I'm not as concerned, but if I ever disassemble the gauge cluster, I'll might put a regular bulb back in that spot. Not sure. Doubt it'll happen. Just sayin'.

Consider yourself forewarned, and you may or may not want to put an LED in that location.