Flasher from DHDL in the test: Does it solve bikers’ turning problem?

Indicators on bicycles have been a hotly debated topic for many years. In the summer of 2024, members of the German Bundestag shed some light on the outdated paragraphs of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). So §67 StVZO was sharpened and, with effect from June 20, 2024, indicators were also declared permissible on single-lane bikes. Previously, direction indicators were only permitted on multi-track bikes or those with a body.

However, this new regulation only concerns lighting permanently installed on the bike. The StVZO in Germany does not contain any explicit requirements for those that are worn on the body. And some tinkerers have already tried this and, among other things, developed a so-called indicator glove. With the idea for a year-round indicator, two young Austrians took on the challenge of making biking safer in 2020. In the fall season of 2022, the two people from Graz presented their bicycle indicators in the Vox founder show “The Lions’ Den” and brought Ralf Dümmel and Carsten Maschmeyer on board as investors.

In the meantime, the founders Ines Wöckl and Alexander Rech, who have doctorates, have not only expanded their team, but have also developed the flasher app, with which you can use the LED bracelets even more conveniently. Whether that works and how practical Flasher is in everyday life is up to him star tested.

Flasher bracelet: This is how the outdoor flasher works

Flasher comes in a handy box, which contains the two indicator bracelets, a USB-C charging cable as well as the detailed instructions for use (German & English) and a pocket-sized mini start tutorial. We downloaded the free flasher app from the App Store for the test. What is immediately noticeable: the bracelets are not lightweight. A pair weighs just under 300 grams. And you can feel it too, that much has already been revealed here. Each bangle consists of a sensor equipped with LEDs and two wings with which Flasher is placed around the upper arm. The wings are opened using a pressure point at the top. Only then can you put them on safely – according to the manufacturer, ideally just above the elbow.

Around ten LEDs were installed on each of the two short sides of the sensors, which shine noticeably brightly. Otherwise, only the USB-C interface and a circle on the top of each flasher are noticeable. This is also the only control element. The functions are limited to switching on and off and switching between the four available modes. And these are they:

The setup can be completely adjusted via the flasher app. After each adjustment, the flashers must be synchronized with the smartphone. This only works if both bangles are sufficiently charged and switched on. In our test, the flashers communicated with the app without any problems. Although it is rather spartan, it is also very tidy, clear and self-explanatory. But you still can’t avoid a smartphone holder when biking with a flasher. Otherwise you have to stop to switch between modes or adjust the brightness (e.g. in night mode).

In addition to the five selectable brightness levels, two indicator variants as well as the sensitivity of the indicator and emergency brake light can be adjusted manually. Nice: To save the battery, the flasher app also offers various options for automatic shutdown, but this is only intended for day and night mode.

In short: the app is convincing. In the display at the top right, users also receive visual information about the charging status of the two bangles. You can also see whether the flashers are actually connected to the app.

Flasher: The different modes in the test

A quick, bold press of the button in the middle starts the flasher – in the mode that was set in the app. In the Day mode At first nothing happens. Here – in contrast to night mode – only the gesture-controlled turn signal and the emergency brake light were activated. In the startest, the flashing worked very well straight away. In professional mode, the flashing light switched off automatically after flashing four times, as preset. In standard mode, the flashing could be stopped with a quick gesture with the elbow. Tip: The sensitivity of the turn signals should be set to at least “medium”. In our opinion, the elbow has to be turned upwards too violently in heavy mode. Fears that the turn signal would go off with every small arm movement were not confirmed in the test, even in “light” mode.

The emergency brake light, which according to the manufacturer is triggered in the event of an abrupt braking maneuver from 20 km/h, did not work completely smoothly. Only after several test brakes did the light flicker in our test.

In the Night mode You can get out of day mode with a short press of a button or with two clicks in the flasher app. A permanent light switches on here, shining white to the front and red to the rear. Smart: If you switch on the “Auto-Alignment Continuous Light” option in the app, the flasher recognizes where the front and back are and changes the colors of the LEDs accordingly. Their luminosity can be adjusted in five levels, with the 20 percent continuous light still being clearly visible in the dark. The same applies to the intensity of the indicators, whose luminosity can also be varied.

In addition to the two modes for bikers, Flasher has also thought of joggers. The so-called Jogging mode However, it is nothing more than a permanently lit yellow-orange LED signal. Our opinion: Flasher is too heavy for jogging. If you want to see and be seen while running, you are well equipped with a bright headlamp and reflector bands. To be on the safe side and for athletes who regularly have to cross roads on their training laps, flashers are an option. In our opinion, one is enough.

Last but not least, the bike tinkerers from Austria have Flasher with one Emergency mode equipped. If this is activated, both bracelets flash bright red. The first practical use that comes to mind is securing a dangerous spot on the sidewalk or street.

Flasher from DHDL: The conclusion

It is difficult to assess whether flashers can reduce the number of cyclists injured or even killed in traffic. After starFrom our point of view, the test is clear: is a reliable and eye-catching tool that makes life easier for cyclists on the road. When installed correctly, they flash or light up at eye level for drivers. In addition, both hands remain on the handlebars when turning thanks to the well-coordinated gesture control using the elbow. This is a clear advantage over the indicator glove, which has been on the market for a few years. Day, night and emergency modes are useful without any restrictions and worked reliably in the test. In our opinion, jogging mode is nothing more than a “nice to have”.

In the end we still drip some water into the Grüner Veltliner. Flasher is asking for just under 200 euros for the set of 2 for his bicycle indicators, presumably relying on the fact that the safety factor is worth this amount to many cyclists. That may work, but we still think the price for two smart LED bracelets is excessive.

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