go to http://www.mtbr.com and look at the light shoot out. The 2012 one is being finished now. The 2011 has been up for a while. Before you buy, there are some really outstanding lights coming out this year at some surprisingly low price points. If you are looking at what was done last year, you'll be surprised at how far LED technology has come in less than a year. Output is far higher, price points are surprisingly low and the lights are getting really excellent. Looking at last year's stuff is - literally - a waste of time.

Some notes:
1. Magicshine is no where near 900 lumens. That's the theoretical output (maybe even that's a stretch). They had a mass battery recall because they died and caught fire. Cheap but lots of issues. Think that doesn't matter? Have your light die way out on a rural road at night with no moon.

2. There are several new 600 lumen (true lumens) lights out this year - whoever makes the Mini Newt has one out that 600 with a rechargeable battery for <$150. There are several like that.

3. If you want to do serious riding, 600 lumens is really not enough. I ride a lot at night and like 1500 and even more than that. That said, a lumen is not a lumen and a lot depends on the beam and beam quality. I wouldn't ride full speed and certainly not descending at full speed with 600 lumens. With 1500 probably and 2200 definitely.

4. Best headlights IMO are the Lupine Piko 3 at 750 lumens (fantastic light) and probably followed by the Exposure Diablo. Also excellent are several choices from Dinotte lighting that are pretty excellent and cost effective.

5. Riding at night, what you really need as well is an excellent taillight - not a little blinky thing but something that puts out 100 lumens or more and flashes. At about 100 lumens the behavior of drivers change - they slow way down and give you LOTS of room. Best lights for that are from Dinotte but others are starting to come out with some. One of these tail lights is just about the best safety investment you can make in your night riding.

J.