Monkeylectric M204 Bike Wheel Light

Product Description

Monkey light bike lights provide great front, rear and side visibility. The M204 mounts on the spokes of nearly any bike - road, city, cruiser, BMX and more. It also fits most bike trailers, folding bikes and kids bikes with 16" or larger wheels. The M204 is perfect anytime you want to be visible after dark or in the rain. If you've loaded down your ride with a rack, panniers, basket, baby seat or trailer - the M204 keeps you visible from every Direction.

Features

• 40 Lumen Brightness, 4 Full Color LEDs, 360 degree visibility
• Rugged and Waterproof for daily use in all weather conditions
• Made in USA with 2 year warranty
• 8 Colors and 5 Themes included
• Lasts up to 60 hours on 3 x AA batteries

Top Reviews

Great active lateral low light visibility.
by T. Hawthorn (5 out of 5 stars)
March 4, 2015

I commute 5 days a week about 12 miles per day mostly by bike path. I have been doing this for 9 years. I live in the Seattle area, so half the year my evening commute is in the dark, often with rain. I mounted the light on my front wheel about a month ago (February). I use the rainbow mode where the light cycles through various color modes.

Pros:

Appears to be water proof.

Rugged so far, no problems with durability.

It is quite bright at night, even in the rain.

The rainbow mode is highly unusual compared to other lights drivers have to sort through at night.

I feel (but have not measured) that drivers give me significantly more leeway with these lights. They seem to notice me earlier... There are fewer panicked close calls with drivers at intersections.

They are less distracting to me than I originally feared.

They did not imbalance my wheel noticeably. I have fairly heavy wheels and tires... Not sure if this would be the same on a light racing wheel.

Cons:

The wire has to be run along a spoke... Hopefully it will never come loose and wrap up in my front spokes during a ride.

The light doesn't make a continuous ring like the picture shows. It's more like what you would expect... You see a little light spinning around the wheel with a bit of a light trail.

Not sure about battery life... Haven't replaced them yet.

Summary:

Best lights for side visibility, an often overlooked safety angle. I would definitely recommend these lights.
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Great spoke light -- *almost perfect*, but certainly the best you can buy right now.
by Rajan Agaskar (4 out of 5 stars)
March 8, 2016

I've been riding a bike to work every day without fail for at least the past 5 years, and on and off before that. I am convinced that some kind of spoke light is a necessity for any after-dark riding. I've previously tried the Spokelit-style lights
, a knockoff LED spoke light
, and LED valve caps
. The MonkeyLectric 40 is the best spoke light I've been able to find so far, although there are a few improvements that could be made.

What I like:
1) Build quality (mostly, see below). The parts all seem rugged, with no weak points that could break.
2) Brightness. I was worried that only 4 LEDs would not be enough, and spent quite a bit of time deciding between this one and the 8 LED version. In the end, I wanted a smaller light on my spokes so went with the M204. I didn't need to worry; this light is so bright it lights up the ground around my front tire as I ride. Super visible. Provides more light than any other spoke light I've used. It's bright enough that you really only need one.
3) Battery life. I changed the batteries *once* this season (I only use them during my evening ride, and only from October-ish to March-ish). With the cheap LED knockoff I had to swap batteries once every few days. The valve caps lasted maybe 3 weeks. The Spokelit-type lights performed better, but take watch batteries and throw much less light.
4) On-off switch. Both the valve caps and the LED knockoff came on "automatically". The valve caps came on whenever moving. The LED knockoff supposedly only came on in low light and when moving, but was unreliable (usually ran whenever moving). This caused frequent battery changes.
5) Simple control of lighting color and pattern. The LED knockoff didn't have a selector switch. The colors for the M204 are quite nice looking, and I like the ability to pick an LED color that matches the rest of my bike.
6) No issues with rain/water. Rode this light through some serious El Nino rainstorms this year with zero problems.

Here's what I wish could be improved in future models:
1) Terrible fastening system. First off, mounting is kind of a pain. The spoke mount isn't bad, but I succeeded in jamming my hand into my spokes hard enough to draw blood when trying to get a tight fit on the hub-mounted battery pack (pulled on it with needle-nose pliers, which slipped, of course). I get that zip ties probably a) make the product cheaper to produce and b) provide much stronger fastening than other spoke-mounted systems (usually either simple "tension" from the spokes or a plastic screw), but it makes it near impossible to easily remove the light. In concession to this fact, MonkeyLectric provides a metal band that you can use to add security, but I actually don't *want* more security, I want to be able to move the light quickly, either to swap to another bike that I might ride that day or to remove because I don't plan on using it. All my other lights have quick-release systems that make this possible -- I would actually be happy enough with some kind of screw/allen wrench mounting system for the light and the battery pack (much like the ones you see on rear light mounts), no need for a quick release, although I expect it would be possible (e.g., the Planet Bike quick cam release system they use on their lights). Heck, I would even be OK with the stretchy band type system you see shipping with super cheap bike lights. That said, the removal wouldn't be such a big deal except:
2) This lighting system is really unfortunate looking. Even though my bike is a commuter, I've spent a little bit of time making it look nice. I wasn't happy about zip-tying a big honking battery pack to my hub. The problem here is really with the battery pack -- I actually don't mind the looks of the light itself, it would have been nice if there was a way to incorporate the battery into the light somehow. Looks like they did this with previous versions but stopped -- I'm guessing it was to standardize the battery pack, giving it the ability to store more battery power and make it work with more of their product line. I would've traded the battery life for a nicer looking solution (ideally, integrated into the light, but would even be ok with a short wire to a spoke mounted battery pack). I'd also prefer to have it take just one battery instead of three for weight and appearance. As is, I'll probably be removing this at the end of every season. I'll then have to remount it each year, and also not get to use it those rare times I'm out after dark past the daylight savings switchover. My other lighting mounts stay on my bike year-round (often, though not always, with the lights still in them). Additionally, I'd *love* to run two of these (back and front), but due to the mounting system and looks I don't really want two of these on my bike.
3) Other battery system annoyances. The battery pack has two plugs so you can expand your system later. Cool! Unless you choose to stick with one light. Then you have an empty plug that just flopping around of the back of your battery pack. I attempted to tape this down with electrical tape, but it's difficult to make that stick (particularly during the rainy season). Would've preferred removable plugs, so I could take the one I'm not using out although I expect this would add to the cost of the unit (you'd probably also need a cover to prevent gunk from getting in). The other problem with the battery pack is that it often slips around the hub (since the mounting system makes it difficult to get it tight). This increases the slack in the wire, sometimes to the point where it periodically slaps against some of the spokes, making an unpleasant 'tink tink tink' sound while you're riding.

Overall, I really like this light. I actually bought another as a gift, and will advise others to purchase this brand. Hoping in the future they'll be able to add in some of the features I mentioned.
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Overall great lights for visibility and WOW factor
by uberchemist (5 out of 5 stars)
November 29, 2016

First, a bit of background: I've been using a set of these (one on each wheel) for the better part of this entire year. I only bike for exercise, and the only time I can do this is at night, so my main purpose for these is visibility. I'm usually out for about an hour every night. I live in LA and bicycle through a combination of well-lit streets and dark alleys and bike paths next to the beach. I also use a front LED flashlight to illuminate the path in front of me, a blinking red rear light, and an RGB LED light strip attached to the frame of my bike. Here's my takeaway from this product:

PROS:
- LEDs. Very bright, and I always use the brightest setting for these. Creates a visible "lighted wheels" profile that most night drivers will instantly recognize as a bicycle. I like being able to customize colors, though I do wish it had more options (see CONS below).
- Lighting effect. IMO, this type of "programmable" light is miles ahead of the cheaper, solid lights you see on other bikes that are affixed around the rim of the wheel. These lights will turn heads because of the patterns they create. I get compliments on them almost every time I go out.
- Battery. Takes 3 AA batteries, and I use rechargeable Eneloop batteries. (A higher initial investment that pays off in the long run.) I can easily get at least a week's worth of use out of a fresh set of batteries. I like how it is secured to the wheel's axle, and the compartment is safe from the elements. I have not noticed any imbalance issues due to the weight of the batteries, which are significant.
- Durability. I bike at the beach and it gets routinely covered with particles of sand and moisture, but both units have not failed me once. The entire unit is weatherproof, from the battery compartment to the LED circuit board.
- Ease of use. Once you get used to the two-button system, it's easy to figure out. One button cycles the power between bright, brighter (I always use this) and off. The other cycles through the different color modes, as shown in the product image. That said, I hunger for more (see CONS).
- Low battery warning. I love that, when the batteries are running low, the light mode switches to a dimmer, but still bright blinking red light. It doesn't offer as much visibility as a solid light, but it's better than being completely off. I also like that it tells me when to change batteries, as you wouldn't know otherwise.
- 4 LED system. 2 LEDs on each side of the wheel. I know MonkeyLectric makes more advanced (and expensive) models with more LEDs, patterns, etc. But for me, this system is all I want or need. It's simple, but effective, and not too gaudy.

CONS:
- LED color options. This model limits you to only 8 colors, across a few patterns. A single RGB LED can theoretically create over 16.7 million colors. I'd like to see a revision of this model that comes with a remote allowing you to program a custom RGB profile (like all the cheap LED strips on the market already do). It would require an IR receiver and perhaps a slightly larger logic board, which would up the price, but it would be worth it for me.
- Changing batteries. This is minor one, but unscrewing the battery compartment from between the wheel spokes is not always easy, especially if you tighten the cap as much as I do. I don't have to do it often, but it's always a pain when I do and my hands get disgusting because the bike is always dirty (my fault there, I guess).
- MonkeyLectric's promo photos. It would be great if the lights actually looked like they do in the pictures, but they just don't (unless you're Superman). They do this across all their products and it's a little annoying. Keep in mind, the lights DO look good IRL, but you won't get a 360 degree ring of continuous light. Depending on your speed, you'll get maybe half of that or less. But the overall effect is still good and still gets positive comments from pedestrians and fellow bikers alike. You could purchase an additional LED unit to connect to the same battery unit and double your coverage, but I have not tried this feature yet. I will update here if/when that happens. It would be great if they could also communicate in some way to sync up.

CONCLUSION:

These lights are great, both in their quality and effect. For me, it's well worth the higher price tag. And being more visible at night is like adding an insurance policy on top. Drivers and pedestrians will both notice you from greater distances, which equates to a safer overall night ride. Some will actually stop for you and yield the way, just so they can stare a little longer. The head-turn factor is high with these, so don't use these if you don't want the extra attention. For me, it adds an element of fun to my ride.
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Easy to install
by DCbikeguy (4 out of 5 stars)
January 12, 2015

Plenty of light -- I got it to replace a Nite Ize, which several near scrapes with motorists made clear did not produce enough light. Easy to install. My fear that the rather large 3-AA battery canister might imbalance my wheel (front) was entirely unwarranted. I have noticed no imbalance whatsoever.
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Great for visibility, but heavy and expensive to achieve desired cool factor.
by Anon Y. Moose (4 out of 5 stars)
September 22, 2017

My primary purpose for purchasing these lights is safety (night visibility). In this capacity these are just about the best lights you can find at a reasonable price. They look pretty cool, and automobile traffic will certainly notice you. However these do not come without a downside. I didn't see these things mentioned in the reviews before I purchased, so I hope my review will be helpful to someone deciding. The negatives boil down to these:

I bought 2 lights, one for each wheel. It was not clear from the descriptions or reviews before I purchased, but 1 light on a wheel will **NOT** give you a continuous light effect (as pictured), where the wheel in motion will create the illusion of a circular light. If you want this effect, or are after cool factor be aware that you may need up to 4 lights per wheel for regular city speeds (8-14mph), which makes this actually rather expensive for bicycle lighting.

The battery pack is obscenely large (and it does not come with batteries). This uses 3 AA batteries, which coupled with the holder adds a significant amount of weight. I mean these are heavy! Putting 2 lights on my bike easily added a noticeable drag while riding, and a noticeable heft when lifting my bike up stairs. I would love to see the company come up with a single, lightweight rechargeable battery for this light. Since installation I have been hunting online for an easy battery pack replacement, as this is my biggest complaint, and I would love to hear suggestions if anyone has them.

The cord connecting the battery to the LED is also rather large, being about the same thickness as the brake cable housing on my bike. It wraps fairly easily around a spoke, but at this thickness I am concerned that it may interfere with the cassette and/or derailleur on the rear wheel. I am not sure why a smaller gauge wire isn't used. While the thickness hasn't been a problem yet, it is definitely inelegant.

Finally, the battery holder has outlets for 2 LED lights, which is nice I suppose, BUT if you only use 1 light, the unused outlet rattles loose inside the wheel, and has the potential to get caught in cassette or fork stays. I have used zip ties to hold them, but that actually doesn't secure them well either.

SO, if you can live with these faults, these lights are still an awesome purchase for night visibility, and definitely garner a lot of comments from pedestrians, drivers and other cyclists.
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Great light, easy to install if you followed the company YouTube channel videos.
by wim (4 out of 5 stars)
June 20, 2015

Paper manual is crap, the YouTube installation video on the company channel was great and detailed.
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What a let down.
by M.A. (2 out of 5 stars)
August 31, 2017

So bummed about these. You have to be riding super fast for these to look like they do in the photos. We got them for my husband's bike to be more visible during nighttime bar crawls and because it's not like we're racing from one stop to another, it just looks like he has a single light flopping around and around on his wheels. We kept trying to make them look the way they're supposed to and it required him peddling like crazy for a good minute before you could start to see potential. If you're a commuter biking along main streets where you can really pick up speed, these could be awesome but in our scenario, the $11 lights I bought for my bike were the showstopper to all our friends.
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Love it. Love the company. Love the smiles and cheers as I ride past people with these on.
by T (5 out of 5 stars)
February 11, 2015

This is my second Monkey Light purchase, and it's exactly lived up to my expectations. I have an M232 and I wanted to add that same kind of light to another bike without the weight or expense of the bigger unit and this is just great. Very visible and attention grabbing, everyone asks me about it. Since it's winter and the lighter bike is hanging up, I put this on the winter beater with the big one and it makes me smile every time I catch their reflection as I pass a big window or whatever. I'll probably pick up a couple of these as gifts once my local bike shop starts stocking this size. :)
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Best Bike Lights
by Martina Malkin (5 out of 5 stars)
June 27, 2018

I love these lights!! They're extremely visible, durable, and super fun. I have been using them for almost a year, upgraded to the rechargeable usb battery, and will be purchasing from their newest line of lights when they launch. Best bike lights ever. They are tried and true; make me feel very safe riding at night.
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The lights were easy to install and very bright
by D.L.Cross (4 out of 5 stars)
October 21, 2015

The lights were easy to install and very bright, making me much more visible on my bicycle on my ride to work.

They'd have gotten 5 stars, but the pictures are misleading (as others have pointed out). For most cycling, you get what appears to be a blinking bar at different points around the wheel -- still fine for being seen but not what's on the pictures.

If you're fine with that, then this is a great product that I'd recommend putting on your bicycle.

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