Defender Mudguard

[Aide Broeckel]

Whenyou choose MudBusters, you're not only getting top-notch protection for your Can-Am Defender, but also peace of mind knowing that our products are made in the USA. We take pride in our craftsmanship and are so confident in the durability of our fender flares and mudguards that we offer a lifetime warranty.

A lightweight polycarbonate mudguard for you and the bike. The Defender keeps both you and your bike cleanish and dryish on all-weather rides, we have no control over the water that comes from above!

Full in length guards with cutouts to fit snuggly around the chainstay give maximum protection, with dual stays front and rear for stability when the going gets rough. Built to last with stainless steel stays and fixings.

Motivating yourself to ride in the rain is hard enough but to do it without mudguards is even harder! Trying to get comfy on your saddle when your behind is soaking wet and covered in mud is almost impossible. The best way to prevent this is with a clip on fender and the Topeak Defender XC11 Rear Mudguard has all the features to keep you and your bike protected from the elements.

Constructed from impact resistant plastic this fender is lightweight and attaches to your seat post in seconds thanks to the quick release mounting system. Unlike lots of rear fenders which stay in one position this one can be adjusted to an angle that suits you so you can guarantee you stay protected.

In order to get the kit you want, when you need it, without ruining the family finances we offer a highly flexible range of finance options to help you get the best products on your bike now rather than at the end of the season when you've saved up the cash to make the purchase. There are even interest free options which effectively spread the cost without costing you any extra.

D.T.(Automotives) Limited T/A Tweeks Cycles is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is the broker and not the lender. Our FCA registration number is 689896. D.T.(Automotives) Limited offers credit products from Secure Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance and Klarna. Credit is provided subject to affordability, age and status. Minimum spend applies. Not all products offered by Secure Trust Bank PLC are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Topeak's DeFender iGlow is a mountain-bike-style seatpost-fixing mudguard for road bikes. There's an added gimmick in the form of LED lighting at the tip and running along the spine. I used it under sufferance.

To be honest, any kind of mudguard like this makes me sigh and shake my head. If you're going to ride your road bike in the wet, stop fannying about and buy one that will take proper, frame-fit mudguards. Those will keep you properly dry and, as a bonus, the cool kids who think Muswell Hill is the Tourmalet won't talk to you.

Even if you bought a close clearance race bike by mistake, there are some pretty good solutions nowadays. SKS Raceblade Longs or Crud Roadracers both do the job and go on and off reasonably easily. I suppose hardcore fashionistas might want something that goes on and off even quicker than this; something they can grudgingly add to their pride and joy only if it's chucking it down and their mates aren't watching. Something like this?

The DeFender iGlow is made from impact resistant plastic and errant capital letters. The plastic is indeed tough. I held the guard in my hand and whacked it on the ground several times and it showed no ill effects.

You can adjust the vertical angle of the guard with an allen key. The horizontal angle is determined by the quick release strap. You have to get this right. It's a narrow guard, designed to protect you from the spray of a tyre no wider than 25mm. Because it's narrow, it only needs to be a few degrees out for water to spray past it. That's the main weak point.

In principle, the strap looks like a good idea. It's rubberised, to stop it rotating on the seatpost, and it's fixed to a dial, so you can wind it in or out for length to suit any diameter post. When it's the right length, you clip the metal bar at the end of the strap into the sockets on the open cam lever. Closing the cam lever tightens the strap and the guard is fixed in place.

Unfortunately, the guard can still move from side to side on the seatpost. Not a lot, but enough so it doesn't sit directly above the back tyre. To try to keep it still, I did it up as tight as I possibly could... which popped the cam lever off its hinge entirely. To its credit, the plastic hinge wasn't broken, and eventually I got the cam lever back in place. I still couldn't get the guard to stay completely still.

The light is a 0.5W LED. It's fairly bright, but small. You can see the tail light okay. The light on the spine of the guard is mostly visible from above and from the sides; depending on the angle of the guard, motorists behind might be able to see it. It works okay, flashing or steady, from a couple of CR2032 coin-style batteries. It's better than nothing but it's not really a substitute for a brighter, more powerful rear light.

If your bike won't take proper mudguards, there are several better options that this. Heck, if you just want something to stop your backside getting soggy when you're riding your faux race bike, save yourself 24 and get an Ass Saver instead.

A sleek rear road fender with Integral Glow (iGlow) technology for safety at night and low visibility conditions. Unique illuminated fender quickly straps to the seatpost for protection from road spray and grime and easily removed in seconds. Highly polished underside prevents dirt buildup and makes cleaning easy. Fits road tires up to 700 x 25C.

3a8082e126