Well here is my problem, i cant get enough miles or days out of my head ligh.
I dont know just how long of a life I should to be getting out of my bulb,
but I'll go through two, or three a year. Is this normal or or is something
wrong with my bike?

 

9 years on my Road King with the stock bulb.

Check you headlight plug, it should fit tight on the light and you should have to squeeze the sides of the plug to release the locks when pulling it off, most peolpe just yank on them, then they get loose dont make good contact. You can get a replacement plug from the dealer to repair it if thats the case.

 

Yep, you got an electrical issue, trace the individual wires in the harness, and all connections.

 

Check for TOO HIGH A VOLTAGE from your voltage regulator.

 

Don't touch the bulb with your hands The oil from your hands might cause it to blow sooner. That is a notice on halogen bulbs I've used in house hold spot lights

 

+1 on don't touch the bulb. Buy bulbs specifically for motorcycles, they have better vibration resistance.

 

+1 voltage regulator... And the not touching of the bulbs!

 

Are you using auto bulbs?
They are not made for the vibration associated with motorcycles.

 

I think we have a winner! I just looked on the back of the package the spare
bulb is in and it says Eiko automotive lamps ect,ect,ect. I never dreamed
that I would have bought an automotive bulb at a bike shop, so I guess
I'll be going to the dealer ship this weekend, and Ill leave this spare bulb
in the man cave where its been for the last three or four months.

 

Lot of good "upgrade" options out there doesn't have to be a HD bulb, sylvainia, Osram, Hella, PIAA (the powersport version has a ruggedized design to handle the vibration)