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Mudguards
SKS P35 Chromoplastic mudguardsJamis Quest Audax - SKS chromoplastic mudguards 4

SKS P35 Chromoplastic mudguards

9
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Aug 27, 2012

8
£33.99

VERDICT:

9
10
An institution for a reason: they're sturdy, they're not expensive and they work
Weight: 
488g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk, www.raleigh.co.uk, www.chickencyclekit.com
How we test

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  • Appalling

The venerable SKS Chromoplastic mudguard has been a staple for audaxers, tourers and commuters for decades, and the latest incarnation is everything you'd want: sturdy, well made and decent value.

The Chromoplastics are made by sandwiching Aluminium stips inside a plastic housing. The resulting profile is quite deep which makes it stiff and sturdy, and it carries the now-trademark pattern of black strips and see-through channels. Fixing kit is all steel, with a fixed bridge at the rear and a sliding one at the front for better adjustability.

Beefy 3.4mm stays fix them in place; there's SKS's Secu-Clip at the front too which holds the stays securely but is designed to pop out in an emergency such as a stone caught under the guard. You can fit them to the rear too if you're running a fixed or hub gear, as it makes it a good deal easier to get the wheel out. There's a mud flap on the front guard and a reflector on the rear.

Fitting the guards is fairly straightforward but they're not the easiest; I found the plastic covers for the stay ends a bit bothersome and they're no better functionally than a simple rubber end cap. A decent set of bolt cutters makes chopping the stays to size a simple job. Once they're on, they're on; these aren't the kind of mudguards you throw on on a whim. You need half an hour to do a decent job of it and get everything nice and tight.

The P35 version that I tested is rated for a 20-28mm tyre (they're available for up to 60mm tyres) but a 28mm would be a real squeeze as the 25mm Zaffiros on my bike were pretty snug. Pretty snug meant barely any spray though; the profile of the Chromoplastics does a super job of keeping you dry and they're a sensible length too.

If the road surface is really wet you'll still get water splashed at your feet but you won't get spray from the tyre, and your riding buddies sat on your tail will be happy bunnies too. If you want to be really nice to them, fit a long flap at the rear. The front was a bit rattly at first but a bit of judicious plierage locked the brake bridge in place and kept them quiet, and they've been perfectly behaved ever since.

All mudguards rub from time to time but these SKS units are better than most thanks to the sturdy construction. The tight fit around the tyre meant the odd bit of sidewall rub on the climbs, but that's more down to flex in the wheel than any issue with the mudguard itself.

Normally the benchmark of a particular product is one of the most expensive available, but you can spend a lot more than the £34 you'll pay for these and get guards nowhere near as good.

Verdict

An institution for a reason: they're sturdy, they're not expensive and they work.

road.cc test report

Make and model: SKS P35 Chromoplastic mudguards

Size tested: 20-28mm

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well indeed.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Solidity of the guards, classic look.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

end caps are overly fiddly.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 190cm  Weight: 102kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with SRAM Apex

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

 

SKS P35 Chromoplastic mudguards
Mudguards
SKS
Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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8 comments

Avatar
Ad Hynkel | 9 years ago
0 likes

Had mine for a year or so and the rear one snapped at the bridge after several longish trips on the canal tow-path. It wasn't caused by anything getting in between tyre and 'guard. There are a few sections of unfinished surface on the way but it is not enough to make your hands go numb! So, not truly indestructible. In their defence I did not have an exactly even curve on the rear, so perhaps the vibrations combined with the tension at the bridge was enough to crack them through. I too suffered the issue with the bridge wearing away at the rear mudguard and that probably didn't help either. Next time I will put some sort of rubber or tape shield to see if that stops that behaviour and make sure they have an even curve. Yes, there will be a next time. Purchase soon to be made. One more, anyway.

Avatar
harrybav | 10 years ago
0 likes

Replaced the front bridge with a new rear bridge so I can have the front guard sit lower to the ground. 36

Avatar
Arthur Scrimshaw | 12 years ago
0 likes

I've got these on my Boardman CX, running Marathon plus in a 28 with no clearance problems at all. Rear guard went on no problem without any cutting needed but front needed a bit of fettling not least to miss the disc brake calliper. Got to say I was quite pleased with the result. Agree with cutting off the plastic sheaths - I just super-glued them on. This is the second set I've fitted and never managed to do it in less than two hours, but then I do faff around quite a lot.

Avatar
davebinks | 12 years ago
0 likes

"a fixed bridge at the rear and a sliding one at the front for better adjustability."

Shouldn't that be the other way round? i.e. sliding at rear, fixed at front?

I agree the other comment - they are never totally true and have a twist you can never totally get rid of.

One moan, why do they still use aluminium rivets. After a few seasons in the winter, the salt corrodes them and they fall out. Most of mine now have st. stl nuts and bolts or ty-wraps holding the stay bridges in place.

Avatar
John_the_Monkey | 12 years ago
0 likes

Those plastic end caps - snap off the part that you're supposed to fit around the stay bolt, so that you're left with the domed cyclinder, and you can use them like the old rubber end caps, ime. Far less faff.

My only complaint is that the larger sizes have a rigid plastic mudflap up front that's not as good as the flexible one on my P35s. Keep meaning to change it for a bit of damp proof membrane, or something.

Avatar
Simon E | 12 years ago
0 likes

I have similar Tortec chromotec 26" units on my old rigid MTB and find them very effective in all weathers.

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michophull | 12 years ago
0 likes

I've only ever used SKS and ESGE (which are one and the same). Whilst a bugger to fit at times, they're well worth the effort and pay dividends in terms of longevity.

Don't even consider anything else. These really *are* the best. 3

Avatar
axisofweasel | 12 years ago
0 likes

My heart sank everytime a customer wanted SKS mudguards fitted, the bloody things always had a curve to them that no amount of adjusting could correct.

That and you needed a flak jacket and helmet when trying to cut the stays.

They were pretty sturdy though!

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