SKS Raceblade Long Mudguard Set

I've always liked the look of these, but having a dedicated winter/commuter I have the luxury of going with SKS Longboards.

Love them, although I've managed to snap off the front mudflap without noticing it happening.

The things are so long it hardly matters, and is an easy fix.

Just so we are clear here on the plural of anecdote not being 'data', I wasn't lying when I said

"For the last three years I've clipped the RBLs on the moment it got remotely misty hereabouts. I've had them on and off my steel bike literally hundreds of times, and recently added mounts to a new carbon disc-braked acquisition.

I've broken several bits, generally through being an idiot. SKS customer service always came through, replacing broken parts free of charge every time. There's a five-year warranty for manufacturing defects as well. The great customer service makes SKS owners fiercely loyal to the brand and its products – pretty much everyone in my local club now runs RBLs, and whether or not they can be mounted is a key consideration come new bike time"

Some things to bear in mind:

Companies that stand behind inherently rubbish products go broke, fast. Hence, as SKS seem to be doing well, I postulate RBL's aren't inherently rubbish

I nor any members of my club get paid to use SKS RBL's. I have paid for the three sets I own, prior to this set for review.

There will always be people who:

• Don't RTFM
• Are rough with kit
• Are unlucky

RBL's are a quick removable mudguard. This brings inherent design compromise trying to cater for every possible bike and combination of use cases out there. They will never offer the same security or coverage as a fixed mudguard. Nor should they. Because then we'd loose all the benefits of them being quickly removable for putting into cars, onto workstands, or onto sunny dry roads. 

Being out early I often find things at the side of the road and I once found a complete rear 'blade, in excellent condition and complete with all metalwork, on a grass verge.  It obviously hadn't fallen off a bike and wasn't hidden for someone to collect later.  So I kept it.  In fact I've still got it, somewhere.

If you think it might be yours, quote the 16-digit serial number and I'll pop it in the post. 

I bought a set of these based on the reviews and I've had no end of problems. The clips worked briefly, with the rear now superglued on to keep it in place. Both the front and the rear broke in half mid rides, it seemed due to fatigue. I've now got two halves of mudguards minus the end covers.

Theyweren't cheap, so not impressed really.

""some users had experienced unintended disconnections and premature wear of the clips"" How about every single person Ive ever ridden with who has used them myself included.  Weve all had to fabricate (over and over again) our own replacement for that clip - tape it down, glue it, new bolts etc.

Once Id modified mine they were perfect - lets hope the new ones have overcome this...

I must disagree with those saying the front extensions are of no use - they prevent water exiting the tyre at anything above horizontal and then being blown back onto the bike/rider. Yes, they bounce around a bit, and so need to be angled upwards to avoid rubbing on the tyre. Get over it folks - the alternative is a full mudguard or a face full of crap. I have vivid memories of the one soaking wet fast ride I did on newly-harvested lanes where I forgot to put the front extension on - I was absolutely filthy, handlebars too - to the point I couldn't read my GPS and had to keep wiping the light lense clean. 

Agreed re the strength of the new clips - there is a definite knack to them, involving two thumbs and getting just the right angle/amount of pressure applied.

Regarding the length - there's no pleasing anyone. I've ridden behind hardened Audaxers with flaps almosrt down to the ground and still gotten spray in the face. Speed, depth of water and proximity all play a part, so it's a pointless exercise. I use mudguards primarily to keep me clean/dry, and to prevent the need for excessive washing of expensive outer layers.

Fully agree with Bobbinogs. They are very effective mudguards only let down by the design of the clips at the brakes and the flapping front section. On club spins over the winter, they were voted the favourite mudguard to ride behind! BBB have recently launched a very similar design that seems to be as effective but I don't know if they have some design flaws as well.

I try & avoid riding behind people with anything SKS on their bikes as I always seem to get a facefull of crap off their back wheel!  They're simply not long enough.

I have these and they are very good...BUT in fixing the previous problem when the guards tended to become unclipped they have made the fixing a bit too good.  I have one guard that will come off but the other one will not unclip for love nor money.  I must have spent an hour last night (with assistance as well) and we simply could not remove the front wheel longer guard from its clip.  In the end I had to resort to removing the clip (with guard attached) by carefully unscrewing the brake bolt and then threading the clip through the bridge (which was all a little awkward with the guard in place).

I may simply use these now as a permanent fixture on my 'winter' bike but it would be nice to unclip during nicer spells.  I also wanted to have just the one set for two bikes but cannot do that now.

The little flaps are fairly useless and I certainly don't bother with them.  Forward of the front wheel/brake the little flap just does exactly that, flap around uselessly.  Same goes for the rear wheel in that the little flap just adds weight without offering any protection as the majority of spinning water gets dumped at the brake bridge.  

These are a very good idea (and probably one of the best solutions to the problem of minimal clearance frames) but the lack of cover for the brake blocks means that one still needs to clean that area regularly to maintain reasonable winter wear on rim brake wheels.