There is no such thing as too much light. To be DOT compliant, all automobiles need two (2) headlights in working order. That is almost 4,000 lumens and it is not enough. Many drivers run HID headlights and put even more light on the road, and it is not enough. During the 80's it was quite common for drivers to run an additional set of Hella driving lights for an additional 3,000 lumens on the road! Sure bicycles are only going a fraction of the speed of a car and so they don't need 8,000 lumens of light.... but 200? 100? 500? Don't kid yourselves... the consequences of a motorist going out with one headlight might mean that Muffin never comes home in the morning. The consequences of a cyclist hitting a twig at speed in the dark because s/he thinks she is really rocking the light fantastic with his/her NiteRider Classic might be a broken collarbone... or worse. If a $500 light really did output 3,000 lumens I might buy it. More likely it is 1500. Respectable, but not worth $500. I don't know about anyone else but I paid $52 for my MagicShine lighthead and $78 for a 4800ah battery and smart-charger to power it from Batteryspace. I've got a Y connector to run two lightheads but I don't have the second lighthead yet. I can survive without it but I don't think it would be overkill. If anyone wants my NiteRider Classic barely used which cost $150 new and puts out maybe 1/4 the light of the MagicShine... make me an offer.

H