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SKS Raceblades | $73.57
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SKS Raceblade XL

BikeRadar verdict

45 out of 5 stars

"Ample protection from the elements"

By Paul Vincent

If your bike doesn’t have mudguard eyelet braze-ons, or you’re running larger tyres and have clearance issues, clip-on Raceblades are the answer. 

No tools are required – these fit onto the seatstays and fork blades in seconds using a highly effective yet simple rubber band strap system – and they’re suitable for 18-23mm tyres.

They provide ample protection from the elements with only the minimum of overspray – nothing to make things uncomfortable or get you really filthy.

SKS makes claims about their light weight (235g a pair) and aerodynamic qualities, but if you're more concerned with saving weight than keeping your bum dry then you really need to rethink your priorities.

The stainless stays allow the guard section to slide fore and aft to get the position just right.

The rubber mounts have holes for cable ties (included) to make the fit more permanent, and you can see why: without them the guards can be easily knocked, leading to tyre rub. 

User Reviews

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  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    I owned one, for a month it adorned my bike and kept water from the saddle, then one cold wet morning it started to make funny noises, upon inspection it had snapped just above the frame mount. I will not be buying another.

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    My wife has a pair of these on her bike. They're ok but they wobble about quite a bit.

    What I really want to know is, why are these so much more expensive than the full mudguards? It can't possibly be because of the amount of material used to make them - or research and development costs (I believe that the carbon and non-carbon varieties cost about the same).

    They're extortionate for what they are, and they don't fully protect your bum either.

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    I have been using these mudguards on one of my bike for a couple of years and I am very pleased of them.

    Protection is not as good as the one given by full mudguards, but it is far more than noticeable.

    Installation is quite easy, but elastic rubbers are not strong enough to keep the guards steady, specialy the back one (I've added adhesive tape).

    Price in France was not so high (about 40 euros).

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    Been using these for about 3 years now and find them brilliant. They won't move if mounted properly and are very good at keeping your bum dry. The only thing to watch out is the rubbing against the frame which will occur if you don't apply tape to the frame before fitting.

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    Good at keeping YOUR bum dry. Absolutely no protection for the person behind you.

    Also they DO rub the frame and at an alarmingly fast rate! I have a fixie with full guards that I ride pretty much all winter. I have used my race bike with the rear race blade on 3 times where the fixie wasn't appropriate. This was enough to rub the paintwork!

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    I've used these on my singlespeed commuter for 2 years now. I rate them.

    They're better when you use (the provided) zip ties. Yes they rub the frame, so take appropriate action before you fit them. No they don't provide as much protection as full guards, and they're not as secure, but they are certainly cheaper than buying a new bike or frame for the protection of full 'guards.

    They are relatively pricey; especially if they break after a month, but then you should be able to get them replaced/refunded under guarantee surely? Being able to buy the rubber straps separately would be useful, or maybe you can and I haven't found them?

    So not as good as full mudguards but way better than none!

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    Use them on my winter bike. Excellent for keeping you free from spray up the butt and keeps some of the muck and bullets off the person behind too (but bugger them anyway it's not gonna kill 'em!:).

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    I use these on my road bike and my fixie. How well they fit does depend on the frame, they fit great on my road bike, the rear only fits on my fixie but they don't fit well on my tourer at all (thankfully it takes full-length guards.) I'd say they give substantial protection; no, they are not as good as full length guards but they are not far off either.

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    Good protection and lightweight but that's also their downfall. An absolute pain to fit to the hourglass seatstays on my Specialized Allez, i had to bend them to fit properly which wasn't easy trying not to snap the plastic fixings. After a frustrating hour i got them on and had to fix them with zip ties.

    Also, they wobble about and tend to rub on the tyre to the point it has nearly worn through the fixing. Unfortunately i have not seen any others i would prefer so i have to make do!

    0.3
  • User review of SKS Raceblades

    Work well enough, given their small size. I've had a problem with my back wheel - it's slightly offset, and together with 25c tires that means it's hard to keep them from rubbing on the tire.

    To stop them marking the frame I've applied the clear tape they provide, and also use a section of inner tube under each fixing, which seems to work fine.

    0.3

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Specification

Name:
Raceblades
Built by:
SKS
Price:
$73.57
Description:
A raceblade which fits tyres up to 23mm. XL version also available which accepts 23-32mm tyres.
Weight (g):
235 g
Features:
Mounting time in seconds with rubber straps or cable ties. Super Lightweight Aluminium-Plastic composite material. Superior dirt protection due to snug fit close to the tyre. Does not interfere with clean look of your bike - nearly invisible
Available Colours:
Black, Carbon, Silver

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