Just my 2cents- i've used old-style CatEye(non LED) untill the batteries died. I didnt expect much for my $20 so that was a lesson learned. Next step was GEN3 Digital(by PerformanceBike). Its single LED was very bright and had long lasting NiMH rechargeable batteries. But since this was for street commuting only and NYC streets arent exactly Autobahn quality, GEN3 was very shaky at 15mph+.
Last step was L&M ARC HID NiMh system. wow. Expensive, but WOW. No more buses pulling out in front of me at 4am(yeah twice a week work sucks). Once even NYPD pulled me over thought i was a motorcycle, riding on sidewalk
. Just got a second system for the same bike and the brightness is unbelieable. Now gotta get the LioN batteries(half the weight of NiMh).
BTW: commute usually is 35minutes long and i ride through half of Canarsie in BK.