Brighter Instrument Lights (Standards and Tourers)

Disclaimer

Information has been provided on these pages in hope that it will be useful.
Each of these pages contains steps followed to complete certain modifications on my bike.
This is not a shop manual. I am not a mechanic.
I assume no liability for any damages, direct or otherwise, resulting from the use of this information.
If you choose to follow the steps on these pages, you do so AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Note: Click on any image to view the full size picture.

A fair number of messages from people looking for brighter instrument lights on their Standards and Tourers have been posted on the VRCC Tech Board this past year (2002-2003).

One suggestion posted by Master Blaster caught my attention. He suggested using miniature Halogen bulbs made by GE (part number 2040/BP).
I have found the equivalent 2040 bulb at Canadian Tire. I’m sure that these are available in many auto part stores (and Wall Mart).

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Parts used:

Aluminum Foil Tape (to protect from heat)
2040 Halogen light

Remove rear of speedo/tach, etc.
Since I had been working on the front end of my bike, I already had these instruments in hand. However it is not necessary to remove these from your bike. Remove your windshield (if any), and you will see that a screw in the bottom holds on the instrument covers.
Note: For the speedometer, use a mini Philips screwdriver to remove the knob on the left side.
Slide the covers off and you will have access to the sockets containing the bulbs.
Pull the sockets and you are ready to swap bulbs.
Important: NO FINGERS ON THE HALOGEN BULBS!

Pull light bulb from instrument.
Since the speedometer and tachometer covers are plastic, the chrome is easily blistered by heat. In order to avoid this, place two layers of aluminum tape (3-inch strips) over the bulb socket area (on the gauge body) to serve as heat shields between the gauge and the outer shell.

In one of his previous posts, Master Blaster mentioned: “They have been great and the dials stand out even in the bright sun. Neither one has had any other problem in all this time. They are as bright now as the day they were put in. Just don’t forget the tape...TB”

Note differences between the two bulbs. OEM on the left, halogen on the right.

More on Inst. light fix...

Bill Bray (Morpheus) posted:
I rode The Beast tonight and noticed that in both tach and speedo the lighted part of the dial did not show up AS WELL from about 10 to 2 position. I took it back into my shop and dissassembeled both and trimmed both rubber bulb holders back to almost the base of the holder (where the bulb plugs into the holder) That seemed to correct MOST of that problem.
When I increase rpm the difference is almost unnoticeable now.

New light bulb in rubber boot.

Place tape in shown location.

Tape on the side, light bulb in the socket.

Hats Off to Master Blaster

For coming up with such a bright idea and patiently explaining each step (many times) involved.