mudguards that look good
#1
mudguards that look good
Im a bike minimalist, i like a bike to look minimalistic. I accept that i need lights and coming into winter, mudguards.
I particularly hate mudguards. Functionally they have to keep me splatter free, make an attempt to keep the bike clean and ideally stop spray hitting the guy behind me.
My bike is a bit odd though, its what they call a "fitness/hybrid" bike. Its pretty much a gravel bike with flat bars, running on 40mm tires.
I currently have SKS Speedrockers installed, but they had to be cut up a bit to fit between the rear stays, and are a bit flimsy to boot.
I have been considering some of the more minimal mountain bike style guards, but some look almost like a wing on the back of the bike, and i question if they are any good, but have no experience.
Appreciate any thoughts and opinions on what may look good and what you are using.
I particularly hate mudguards. Functionally they have to keep me splatter free, make an attempt to keep the bike clean and ideally stop spray hitting the guy behind me.
My bike is a bit odd though, its what they call a "fitness/hybrid" bike. Its pretty much a gravel bike with flat bars, running on 40mm tires.
I currently have SKS Speedrockers installed, but they had to be cut up a bit to fit between the rear stays, and are a bit flimsy to boot.
I have been considering some of the more minimal mountain bike style guards, but some look almost like a wing on the back of the bike, and i question if they are any good, but have no experience.
Appreciate any thoughts and opinions on what may look good and what you are using.
#2
Some Weirdo
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Properly installed full-coverage mudguards can look quite sleek. The key word is "properly". Look at SKS Longboards and Velo Orange mudguards as a starting point.
Last edited by Ferrouscious; 10-19-20 at 08:33 AM.
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#3
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If you've taken an emotional dislike to fenders/mudguards, you'll never like looking at them.
Except, perhaps, when you're riding down a wet street, happen to look down, and think, "Wow, if it weren't for the fenders, my feet would be soaked already, and I'd have to clean and re-lube the chain when I get home!"
Except, perhaps, when you're riding down a wet street, happen to look down, and think, "Wow, if it weren't for the fenders, my feet would be soaked already, and I'd have to clean and re-lube the chain when I get home!"
#4
Guest
One problem is that 40mm tires require a big fender to get adequate coverage, and big fenders don't look sleek. Consider reducing tire width so you can mount the hammered Velo Orange mudguards.
![](https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/532x532/untitled_1_8f6b54bb3fa8f0615adfd61059304a1a44f31600.jpg)
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#5
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You really do want full coverage fenders not just a beaver tail.
![](https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/2000x1504/697037a1_d162_473f_85a0_2445546e9842_fb8df42f7da9c48de3ba02feacb1410998758383.jpeg)
I run full metal fenders over 44mm tires. If I didn’t have space between the seat stays I’d trim them since aluminum is stiff enough to take without rattling or getting flimsy.
![](https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/2000x1504/697037a1_d162_473f_85a0_2445546e9842_fb8df42f7da9c48de3ba02feacb1410998758383.jpeg)
I run full metal fenders over 44mm tires. If I didn’t have space between the seat stays I’d trim them since aluminum is stiff enough to take without rattling or getting flimsy.
#6
Senior Member
Rene Herse fenders, which are made by Honjo.
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/640x640/hipstamaticphoto_608692393_673962_59f3e330c910df6555d91612afca4c65168e4a83.jpg)
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#7
Old fart
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If you expect you and your bike to remain relatively clean and dry, not to mention anyone behind you, you will need full-length mudguards front and rear, and probably a mudflap on the front mudguard as well. For looks and durability, I like the Velo-Orange hammered fenders. The hammered finish doesn't show scratches like a polished finish, and aluminum doesn't get brittle in the cold like plastic. They can be tricky to install, however.
#8
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Do you have more pride in your bike or your appearance once you arrive?
For some reason no effort has been spent by the bike industry to make fenders that look good on the bikes that need them the most. $200 hammered fenders are pretty on a polished old steel bike and painted fenders look good on a cruiser. But if you have a Trek FX there really ought to be something better looking than Longboards
Honjo fenders are also available from Sim Works and they might have a better selection than Rene Herse, I have not checked
For some reason no effort has been spent by the bike industry to make fenders that look good on the bikes that need them the most. $200 hammered fenders are pretty on a polished old steel bike and painted fenders look good on a cruiser. But if you have a Trek FX there really ought to be something better looking than Longboards
Honjo fenders are also available from Sim Works and they might have a better selection than Rene Herse, I have not checked
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Last edited by Darth Lefty; 10-19-20 at 12:39 PM.
#9
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Because they hug the shape of the wheel, I think a close-fitting set of full-length fenders looks more "minimalistic" than kludgy speedrockers or other loose fitting or partial fenders that draw attention to themselves.
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/1999x1124/20200426_093804_7549229e833bb21a8b6518ba89948f3011c563ed_60f86f3dd1ad1fc23aa6c3bc395d7f8a24dbb854.jpg)
Last edited by BobbyG; 10-20-20 at 06:43 AM.
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#11
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#12
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I love fenders, except when they look like the kind on off-road motorcycles (or MTB excuses for fenders) or anything that's too short to do the job. My favorite ones look like metal and are an appropriate shape/size for properly serving the purpose. How well they keep me dry is much more crucial to me than how well they keep the person tailgating me dry. If you're trying to draft me, you're welcome to eat my mud.
Last edited by Nyah; 10-19-20 at 08:12 PM.
#13
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Those fenders look pretty effective, BobbyG : the front fender, with the mudflap, comes down low enough to block spray from the front tire. (Most front fenders are pretty useless in that regard.)
What is the cylindrical device mounted under your top tube?
What is the cylindrical device mounted under your top tube?
https://designbydelta.com/products/arizound-horn
They offered a metal canister for a few years but are back to plastic. The metal version works better below freezing.
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#14
Maybe you already shared this, and I missed it, but in any case - would you be willing to share details about what mudguards you are using in the picture you posted?
#17
I have the SKS Beavertail fenders that clip on my old MTB. They help keep stuff off my back, but don’t fully keep my feet dry.
Anyway, they look a bit funky, I always think the bike ends up looking like a vintage German motorcycle. I’ll try to post a pick soon... it’s cold, wet and rainy so I can justify swapping to the knobby tire wheels and throwing on the fenders.
Otto
Anyway, they look a bit funky, I always think the bike ends up looking like a vintage German motorcycle. I’ll try to post a pick soon... it’s cold, wet and rainy so I can justify swapping to the knobby tire wheels and throwing on the fenders.
Otto
#18
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Form follows function. Embrace the concept and the beauty of fenders will be revealed.
#19
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I'm still looking for the elusive yellow road width fender of high quality. In the past 50 years I've never seen a pair. I have heard that they were made around 20 years ago and had talked to a shop employee with a pair and a store owner who used to sell them.
My best bike is a custom painted bright red, I intended from day one to put on yellow fenders to have a visible bike in the low sun, low cloud days so common over the next 5 months in western Oregon. SKS has heard my wishes but told me they cannot do yellow with the technology of their silver fenders. I currently am riding painted black SKSs but the paint chips off easily. Probably I can get epoxy in the right color but I keep wondering, should I as a consumer have to work that hard for something as practical and safe as visible fenders? It used to be that you could go to any bike store and by white fenders. Even that is hard now. I have seen exactly one white pair of Planet Bike road width fenders. That pair is on my city bike;
Vent, vent
My best bike is a custom painted bright red, I intended from day one to put on yellow fenders to have a visible bike in the low sun, low cloud days so common over the next 5 months in western Oregon. SKS has heard my wishes but told me they cannot do yellow with the technology of their silver fenders. I currently am riding painted black SKSs but the paint chips off easily. Probably I can get epoxy in the right color but I keep wondering, should I as a consumer have to work that hard for something as practical and safe as visible fenders? It used to be that you could go to any bike store and by white fenders. Even that is hard now. I have seen exactly one white pair of Planet Bike road width fenders. That pair is on my city bike;
Vent, vent
#20
It can be tough when something you want is simply not to be had. Good on you for reaching out to SKS about it, though.
#21
Naturally "winter" means different things in different places. In my locale, super close fitting fenders can be problematic if it's snowy and close to freezing. The slush can cake up between tire and fender. On one particular day, with heavy steel fenders, my bike simply ground to a halt. I prefer a bit more of a gap if possible, though it doesn't look as snappy.
#22
Behold the vintage German motorcycle (taken before a rather messy trail ride this evening):
![](https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/2000x1504/0687e5c2_5328_431d_bcdc_c75149dfb842_4616351a3838b9c75b40b1ce9a8fd251e25d5d3f.jpeg)
Otto
![](https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/2000x1504/0687e5c2_5328_431d_bcdc_c75149dfb842_4616351a3838b9c75b40b1ce9a8fd251e25d5d3f.jpeg)
Otto
#23
Senior Member
There is no such thing as good looking fenders. Some can be less jarring to the eye, but the most effective ones are usually the ugliest, sadly.
Also, why aren't the SKS Longboards available wider than 45mm?
Also, why aren't the SKS Longboards available wider than 45mm?
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#25
Senior Member
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