SKS Bluemels Longboard mudguards review

Germany’s SKS is one of the most trusted makers of mudguards, producing a bewildering array of products to fit just about every bike.

The Bluemels name is applied to a wide range of road bike mudguards that sit alongside road and off-road fenders sold under the brand's own SKS name.

Available in 35 and 45mm widths, and in black, 'latte' or silver Chromoplastic, the Bluemels Longboard is a classic design.

Close-fitting and easy to adjust, it delivers effective coverage that should protect you from the worst road spray.

SKS Bluemels Longboard mudguards specification and features

The 35mm pair I tested come with two SKS fixed steel bridges on each mudguard, which align with the V-shaped 3.4mm-diameter stainless steel stays.

A fixed bracket on the front mudguard bolts against the front of the fork crown, and the stays fix easily to the fork leg or dropout with the SKS Secu-Clip.

This plastic clip retains the one-piece V-shaped stay during normal usage, but should a foreign object get caught between the tyre and mudguard, it enables the stay to break away from the fork, hopefully avoiding an accident.

On some disc-brake bikes, it may be necessary to use the supplied spacers and longer bolt to clear the caliper.

Fitting the rear mudguard is straightforward too, with options to attach the front to the seat tube or chainstay bridge using reinforcing steel plates. A sliding bridge is fixed to the seatstay bridge, and its tabs bent around the mudguard once in position.

The rear stays don’t have the Secu-Clip, but as with the front ones, must be fed through an eyebolt, where they're inserted through one side of a fixed mudguard bridge and tightened.

It can be fiddly, but once all of the stays are connected, the mudguard’s final position can be adjusted. Excess stay can be cut off, and plastic end caps added, which cover the often sharp end and are retained by the eyebolt.

SKS Bluemels Longboard mudguards performance

The 35mm width is effective for road bike tyres measuring up to 30mm, and the slim, snug-fitting mudguards enable easy adjustment for optimum positioning.

Their curved profile and very generous length, with incorporated rear flaps, mean little spray escapes, ensuring both you and your riding buddies remain as comfortable as possible.

The SKS stay-fitting system makes for very rigid mudguards that should shrug off years of abuse and refuse to rattle.

SKS Bluemels Longboard mudguards bottom line

The SKS Bluemels Longboard mudguards are a classic design that remain rigidly in place through prolonged use.

They're reasonably easy to fit and adjust, and don't wobble as you ride.

With their ample length and coverage, these close-fitting mudguards provide good protection both front and rear.