led bulbs

General discussion about Street two-stroke Suzuki motorcycles.

Moderators: oldjapanesebikes, H2RICK, diamondj, Suzsmokeyallan

Post Reply
two-stroke-brit
Novice racer
Posts: 947
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:59 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt750
Location: HOUSTON USA

led bulbs

Post by two-stroke-brit »

hi everone does anyone have a lead on a good place to get L.E.D. bulbs for a buffalo , as i cant seem to find them in the correct dia (12mm) for the gages. (just back from alan the gage master tucker)
cheers mark
She will never be pretty but hoping she will be a fun ride.

1973 SUZUKI GT750K.=SOLD
yamaha speedtwinn 100 barn find =SOLD
1x 1973 kawasaki H1 (restored)
1x 1973 kawasaki H1 (basket case) =SOLD
1982 HONDA CB900F =SOLD
1982 YAMAHA RD350LC.
1985 RZ350N
User avatar
tz375
Moto GP
Posts: 6204
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:47 am
Location: Illinois

Post by tz375 »

I tried a bunch of different ones from SuperbrightLEDs.com but the results were disappointing.

The problem is that insuid eteh gauge,, the light has to be radially dispersed and bounced back from the inner case and LEDs are too directional even in wide angle varieties.

You may have better results, but i called that one a bust and went back to regular bulbs.
two-stroke-brit
Novice racer
Posts: 947
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:59 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt750
Location: HOUSTON USA

thanks

Post by two-stroke-brit »

thanks tezer. :(
She will never be pretty but hoping she will be a fun ride.

1973 SUZUKI GT750K.=SOLD
yamaha speedtwinn 100 barn find =SOLD
1x 1973 kawasaki H1 (restored)
1x 1973 kawasaki H1 (basket case) =SOLD
1982 HONDA CB900F =SOLD
1982 YAMAHA RD350LC.
1985 RZ350N
User avatar
Suzsmokeyallan
Moto GP
Posts: 4326
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:11 am
Location: Mostly Barbados, sometimes Florida and western Canada
Contact:

Post by Suzsmokeyallan »

Ive used LEDs in my Bandit gauges with great results and they are better /brighter than the stock bulbs. The main issue is to find the right LED bulb for the right application due to the differences in shine pattern and what you are expecting to achieve in illumination.
Two strokes, its just that simple.

69 Suz U70
69 Suz T500
72 Suz GT750 cafe
74 Suz TS250
74 Suz GTXVR project
75 Suz RE5
75 Suz GT750
76 Suz TS400
76 Suz GT750
81 Suz GSX1100
86 Suz RG500x2
88 Hon CR500
93 Hon CBR900RR
98 Suz GSF1200x3
15 Kaw Ninja H2
User avatar
tz375
Moto GP
Posts: 6204
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:47 am
Location: Illinois

Post by tz375 »

Allan,
You were trying different LEDs in a GT750 as I recall. Did you find any that worked into that application?
two-stroke-brit
Novice racer
Posts: 947
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:59 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt750
Location: HOUSTON USA

Post by two-stroke-brit »

plus +1 to that
She will never be pretty but hoping she will be a fun ride.

1973 SUZUKI GT750K.=SOLD
yamaha speedtwinn 100 barn find =SOLD
1x 1973 kawasaki H1 (restored)
1x 1973 kawasaki H1 (basket case) =SOLD
1982 HONDA CB900F =SOLD
1982 YAMAHA RD350LC.
1985 RZ350N
User avatar
Suzsmokeyallan
Moto GP
Posts: 4326
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:11 am
Location: Mostly Barbados, sometimes Florida and western Canada
Contact:

Post by Suzsmokeyallan »

The model of bulb i did find that works well in the GT gauges for illumination is this model from super bright LEDS, its the one at the bottom of this list of three shown
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... 9s_120.htm

This model, BA9S-W-WV in 12 volts warm white in 120 degree shine pattern is equivalent or better to the stock 3.4W bulbs in the large gauges.
However when i was researching this they sent me an order of these bulbs but some were different colours of white. Only when i drew it to their attention did they update the website for these models.
Somehow that data is not shown anymore on the page but you can ask them about it.
What ever you do make sure to get warm white, or white, cool white is too weak for good reflective shine in a gauge housing. It looks almost mauve in contrast to the warm white and white colours and it dissipates really fast with little reflective value.

For the Buffalo temp gauge this one works really well,,naturally you will buy white.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... 2Fba7s.htm

This is also another version id like to try for GT750 gauge illumination and see how it stacks up but i have not bought any yet.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... s-xhp9.htm

To add to this i was planning on building a bulb to test a theory, by this I mean combining a bulb with a wedge base to a socket base since its not made as a socket based model. This style of bulb i believe will get into the GT socket hole and be tall enough to reach closer up into the gauge.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... HP15-T.htm

The trouble here is that just because the performance data says one thing does not mean its the way it will work visually. Its more of a trial and error thing for finding the correct illumination for the area you are working on and looking at some of these prices it can be costly too.
Two strokes, its just that simple.

69 Suz U70
69 Suz T500
72 Suz GT750 cafe
74 Suz TS250
74 Suz GTXVR project
75 Suz RE5
75 Suz GT750
76 Suz TS400
76 Suz GT750
81 Suz GSX1100
86 Suz RG500x2
88 Hon CR500
93 Hon CBR900RR
98 Suz GSF1200x3
15 Kaw Ninja H2
gyrocfi
On the main road
Posts: 182
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:50 pm
Location: Pensacola, FL USA

lites

Post by gyrocfi »

Allan, thanks for the info!! I had problems geting regular lamps locally that are close wattage rating for my GT500 gauges.

Bye the way, good to see ya at the Gap!! I had a nice ride back home towing my dinged Franken400. I will be out of town the next two weeks so cant get the bugger back on the road till I get back. My scratches are healing up, maybe make the trip up in Fall for a longer stay, missed riding all the roads I had planed to hit.
77' RD400 Stock
77' RD400 work in progess
76' Suzuki GT500A Titan 2 of 'em
76' RD400 frame, 79' rd400 Daytona bottom 77' top, 75' rd350 wire wheels, Factory products pipes
96' Honda PC800 for towing my RDs
Post Reply