Originally Posted by
01 CAt Man Do
Well of course they're not. You can't compare the output of a single LED to something that uses multiple LEDs and displays a graphic. That would be like comparing a keychain light to an HDTV. If your intent is just to increase your side visibility at night a couple single leds on the wheel will work fine. They work even better if you use at least two per wheel ( the more the better ). The Monkeylites are great but have the drawbacks of being heavier and having mounting issues. If you want your wheel to remain balanced you will need at least two per wheel. This of course adds more weight to the wheel and this also of course means more money will have to be spent. This is not something that most people want to deal with just to get seen from the side a little better.
My road setup already has great front and rear lighting. Even without any additional side lighting the bike is visible from the sides to a limited degree. Increasing side visibility doesn't mean you have to add more heavier objects to your bike. There are always smaller, lighter options that will, "get the job done". Finding the best compromise is the way to go ( IMO ).
Apparently we agree, then, that the Spokelits are not bright compared to the competition (which is the context of this thread). If you feel they are 'bright enough,' I won't argue that point, but I do not agree, and feel the increased brightness of the Monkeylights greatly improves not only side visibility, but off-angle visibility. And that's not to do so much with number of LEDS, but the low electrical power available to the Spokelits.
I also do not agree that the Monkeylights require pairs to balance properly. It was true for the 1st gen units, particularly at high speeds, but the hub mounted battery packs of current offerings virtually eliminated the balance problem.