I bought an 09 streetglide brand new. The lowbeam on the stock bulb lasted only a few months. I bought the harley high output bulb and had to replace it a few months later. A few months later it was gone again. This time I drop about $50 on a PIAA extra special, high output, super duty, rough service bulb and low and behold it has lasted only a few months as well!
WTF is going on here?

Anyone else having this issue?
Any thoughts?

My volt meter is showing around 14 volts, so I don't believe it is a voltage regulator issue. Besides, I have had no other electrical problems.

For what I have spent on bulbs I could have bought a new LED headlight setup.

 

Really, if your voltage is not very high, which your gauge indicates it's not. The only three things I can think of that would cause the bulbs to go bad are:
1. excessive vibration
2. You are touching the bulb and getting finger grease on them.
3. You got bad axed luck and all your bulbs ar defective.

IMHO

 

[quote=hdmg;8290239...My volt meter is showing around 14 volts, so I don't believe it is a voltage regulator issue. Besides, I have had no other electrical problems....[/quote]

14 volts engine off?
14 volts engine idle?
14 volts at 3,000 rpm?

JR

 

My first guess, vibration . Make sure everything is snug, bulb and housing.

 

I have an 06 and a 07 Road King I have checked everything on both bikes,bought every bulb known to man..They will each burn out at about 4,000 miles..Had one go out again yesterday..

 

had head light problems on mt co. service van after I installed silver star headlights and did some reading on the subject and apparently the bright bulbs burn hotter and there for do not last as long , my guess is like a lot of stuff made these days they are not as good as they used to be

 

Guess I am Lucky still have all my OEM lights on the 09 Ultra with 29K on the Clock but I do cleck all my Sockets, Spray with Contact Cleaner and Dielectric Grease them once a year ..

 

I have been very careful about not touching the bulb during installation. Everything is good and snug.
I don't think my bike vibrates any more than any others I've seen.
As for the voltmeter, it indicates about 14 volts once you get the motor above idle and stays there thrfoughout the rpm ranges. There is no indication of any problems there.

As far as the brighter bulbs burning hotter theory, it makes sense, however the stock bulb lasted no longer than the brighter ones.

Has anyone tried the new LED headlights and what do you think of their looks and performance?

 

I have done a lot of investigating into the LED and, I have one on order
at my local HD dealer.

Click on the link in the 1st post of this thread.