A Northern California company is taking bike lights to a new level by developing LEDs that light up wheels with custom images and animations.

MonkeyLectric's Monkey Light Pro system for bicycle wheels creates a LED light show when the bike is moving. Monkey Light Pro is a set of four rows of LED light strips, which are waterproof for riding in the elements. Using companion web-based software, you can program images and animations that can be sent to the light system via Bluetooth.

When travelling at speeds of 10 to 40 MPH, the Monkey Light Pro LEDs light up when installed on your bicycle's existing wheels. Because of a phenomenon known as the "persistence of vision," humans see and process those flashing lights into a recognizable image. It's quite a sight to see in action; check it out in the video, above.

MonkeyLectric is trying to raise $180,000 on Kickstarter to further develop this product. With 55 days left in its campaign, backers had already pledged more than $84,500 as of Sunday afternoon. A limited number of backers can get Monkey Light Pro for an early-bird price of $695.

The lights do come with a preloaded set of animations to get you started, but you can add your own creations through a USB connection. The lights also recharge via USB.

This is a creative way for cyclists to make their ride unique. And as for companies and advertisers, this could be a new way to spread brand awareness.

While bike lights generally add visibility for safety on the road, a potential hitch with these lights could be if fellow cyclists and drivers get distracted by the eye-catching animations.

What do you think about these unique bike-wheel LEDs: cool or too much? Let us know in the comments.

Images courtesy of Kickstarter, MonkeyLectric