My second HD high output headlamp bulb just lost its low beam. That's two bulbs in less than a year. Anyone else finding these to be crap, or is it just me and some weird bad luck with these things? Just my curiosity needing to be satisfied. I think I'll shop online for another brand replacement.

Same HD high output bulb going on 2 years. 05/1200C. Might want to check the connections, use some dielectric grease and clean the lamp with alcohol before lighting it up.

SEMJPM

If it's just the low beam that is going out I doubt it's because the glass is dirty. It still doesn't hurt to clean it w/ alcohol, but if it were from being touched you would have a buldge where it was touched and both circuits of the lamp would be shot. When it burnt out before did the low go before the high?
Do you ride in abnormally bumpy situations, or did you hit a large bump after riding for a while? If the light had been on for a while and was hot and you hit a large bump just right, that would do it.
That being said, I have an 05/1200c with almost 10K miles and haven't had any problem, and I have hit some good sized bumps that took me be suprise.

Do you use the hi or low beam during daylight?

Using the hi beam during the day might help......

Yep, low beam went out both times, but that's what I ride with most often. I know there's debate about which to run under normal conditions, but I prefer to run low and flash high when approaching intersections, cars preparing to make left turns, etc. It's sort of the camouflage principle. Usually it's movement (in this case the change in light level) that catches someone's eye, not necessarily how brightly or dimly decorated (or lit) they are. I do ride somewhat bumpy backroads a lot, and wondered if this contributed, but this latest bulb is only about 3-4 months old. Dunno what's up, but I'm ordering a different one, aftermarket, to see if I get better results. Thanks for the suggestions & input.

Is that bulb higher output then the original bulb? I was told some of the hi-output bulbs heat up too much in our Sporty's smaller light housing and this could be your problem. Try the regular wattage bulb and see if it is better.

Ya I had the same issue, low beam only. Now going to my 3rd bulb. The 1st bulb I bought was a SilverStar and really loved the pattern it sprayed on the road but it lasted about 6 months. Didn't want to spend the money on another so I picked up a 2-pack of cheap H-4s at wally mart and same thing about 6 months. Nothing is over heating, I use a clean rag when I put them in, I just don't get it. I'll try the day time high beam thing see if it works which I bet it will but then I'll be burning out the high beam. Oh well I guess I'll just keep a supply of bulbs on hand. Oh and its an '04 1200c. If that makes a difference. Maybe there is an issue with the stock lights, I still have the stock flutted lens, I was thinking of going to the '05 smooth with reflector to see if that might alive some of my issue. Any ideas?

I think it's using the low beam most of the time. I've been using a super blue from wal-mart that cost about $10 and it's brighter than stock and it's over a year/10,000 miles old, but i use the high beam in the day and low at night. I think that's the main thing use both high and low about the same amount of time to make them last, no matter what brand.

My second HD high output headlamp bulb just lost its low beam. That's two bulbs in less than a year. Anyone else finding these to be crap, or is it just me and some weird bad luck with these things? Just my curiosity needing to be satisfied. I think I'll shop online for another brand replacement.
If the bulb is hot and breaks the ground connection even for a mili-second, it'll burn out. Make sure to slather it with dielectric grease and I'd shop around for something other than the HD brand. Also look for a loose connection.

my stock bulb went for 3 yrs, over 30k miles. I ride with high beam as much as possible. Low beam just burned out last week.

I know one thing, I'm not going to harley for a new one. I'll go to my local NAPA or Ebay.