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[UK Dave]

Here's a question I haven't seen before - has anyone tried brighter bulbs for the small gauges so you can actually read the suckers at night?

[CVOwner]

Hey Jerry, I just realised something I said earlier in the thread

I put in a 5w lamp to replace a faulty original - the originals are 3.4w or thereabouts so the 5 should be half as bright again...

I will check next time I'm out after dark

Cheers

Dave

Where did you get the 5w bulb? I'd like to replace them with brighter bulbs myself. they are very hard to see.

[UK Dave]

Where did you get the 5w bulb? I'd like to replace them with brighter bulbs myself. they are very hard to see.

Well it looks like - it's the 3.4w that's difficult to find (except at the dealer)

I need to double check this, I must admit I ASSUMED it was a 5w I put in because they are the standard size here in UK.

I have looked into it a little more and the 5w looks to be a bigger capsule so I need to check it'll fit into the gauge and also whether the infamous condom will stretch that far...

I'll update this when I pull the fairing off next

Cheers

Dave

[grc]

Where did you get the 5w bulb? I'd like to replace them with brighter bulbs myself. they are very hard to see.

This is one source for true red bulbs (no "condom" required) http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm .

[UK Dave]

This is one source for true red bulbs (no "condom" required) http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm .

[70_GTX]

Just wondering, will the higher powered bulb cause a fire problem or discolor the gauge or lens ? Too much heat for the application ?

[UK Dave]

Just wondering, will the higher powered bulb cause a fire problem or discolor the gauge or lens ? Too much heat for the application ?

Good point and the LED replacement may well be the optimum solution in terms of brightness and long life

Cheers

Dave

[UK Dave]

OK - here's what I found

1. The lamps (5w and 3.4w and - see below - 10w) are the same physical size - about 10mm across the bulb/envelope and the bases are identical

2. I didn't swap out anything on THIS bike - it must have been on another... (CRS again) or one blew on this bike and I had a spare off another or something like that

3. I found the 2 lamps I bought today (5w) and fitted them in place of 2 of the original Toshiba ones

4. The red condoms came off OK (roll gently) although one had a pinhole already and the other was sticking somewhat

5. The HDI headlight has a "pilot" lamp below the main lamp same physical size as the instrument lamps and also I have a fendertip lamp same which is the physical size lamp and they are 10w !!

Oh yes - because

 [smiley=worthless.gif]

Here's a photo of the change

Fuel and Volts (top 2 outer) have the new 5w lamps

Air and Oil (lower 2 inner) the old 3.4w lamps

Not quite "night and day" but an improvement I think

Nest stage - since I have the fairing apart - is to get some LED replacements and see how that looks

Cheers

Dave

[UK Dave]

This is one source for true red bulbs (no "condom" required) http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm .

[grc]

Dave,

Thanks for all the effort and the photo.  There is a definite improvement with the 5w bulbs, I think I'll try that approach first.

Jerry

[UK Dave]

Dave,

Thanks for all the effort and the photo.

[CVOwner]

OK - here's what I found

1. The lamps (5w and 3.4w and - see below - 10w) are the same physical size - about 10mm across the bulb/envelope and the bases are identical

2. I didn't swap out anything on THIS bike - it must have been on another... (CRS again) or one blew on this bike and I had a spare off another or something like that

3. I found the 2 lamps I bought today (5w) and fitted them in place of 2 of the original Toshiba ones

4. The red condoms came off OK (roll gently) although one had a pinhole already and the other was sticking somewhat

5. The HDI headlight has a "pilot" lamp below the main lamp same physical size as the instrument lamps and also I have a fendertip lamp same which is the physical size lamp and they are 10w !!

Oh yes - because

 [smiley=worthless.gif]

Here's a photo of the change

Fuel and Volts (top 2 outer) have the new 5w lamps

Air and Oil (lower 2 inner) the old 3.4w lamps

Not quite "night and day" but an improvement I think

Nest stage - since I have the fairing apart - is to get some LED replacements and see how that looks

Cheers

Dave

I think the difference is huge! Very nice picture! Thanks. I'm going for it.

Mike

[CVOwner]

OK - here's what I found

1. The lamps (5w and 3.4w and - see below - 10w) are the same physical size - about 10mm across the bulb/envelope and the bases are identical

2. I didn't swap out anything on THIS bike - it must have been on another... (CRS again) or one blew on this bike and I had a spare off another or something like that

3. I found the 2 lamps I bought today (5w) and fitted them in place of 2 of the original Toshiba ones

4. The red condoms came off OK (roll gently) although one had a pinhole already and the other was sticking somewhat

5. The HDI headlight has a "pilot" lamp below the main lamp same physical size as the instrument lamps and also I have a fendertip lamp same which is the physical size lamp and they are 10w !!

Oh yes - because

 [smiley=worthless.gif]

Here's a photo of the change

Fuel and Volts (top 2 outer) have the new 5w lamps

Air and Oil (lower 2 inner) the old 3.4w lamps

Not quite "night and day" but an improvement I think

Nest stage - since I have the fairing apart - is to get some LED replacements and see how that looks

Cheers

Dave

I sent you a pm, need to find the bulbs.

[CVOwner]

I have never taken the fairing off. I need to do it to add XM antenna and do this light upgrade. I'm going to do all of them with the 5w bulbs. I'm thinking there might be a color difference If I dont.. Does anyone think the bigger wattage bulbs will do some harm?

[Twolanerider]

I have never taken the fairing off. I need to do it to add XM antenna and do this light upgrade. I'm going to do all of them with the 5w bulbs. I'm thinking there might be a color difference If I dont.. Does anyone think the bigger wattage bulbs will do some harm?

Bright light from those 5 watters will burn out the muffler bearings.  Might even cause cavitation in the water pump.  Be careful.