Zefal Deflector FM40 mudguard

As slop season is on the way, it’s prudent to have a decent-length front mudguard fitted. French company Zefal has an offering in the rather nice shape of the Zefal Deflector FM40.
I’ve been very impressed by its robust build, super-stable fit and high level of protection from mud and spray, and the optional bolt-on adaptors are an excellent upgrade that will cover most forks. It’s also a bargain at £20.

Zefal Deflector FM40 Mudguard – Technical details

The FM40 offers full front coverage for all wheel sizes, fitting up to three-inch tyres, so it’s ready to really front up to the worst the weather and trail can throw at it. Measuring 560 x 90 x 170mm and constructed from polypropylene, it’s burly without being heavy, weighing in at 155g.

I really like its almost aggressive angular shape; it’s something a little different to the smooth lines of the current crop of big hitters on the market at the moment. The deeply contoured channels also look like they will work to shed mud quickly and create a bit of bottom-out clearance. The super-wide side wings have a flared rearward-facing lip that’s designed to provide extra protection to your fork seals and stanchions, and it adds to the ‘look’.

The Deflector FM40 comes with two adhesive pads that affix to the side wings to protect the fork’s paintwork from any movement and rubbing. Three adjustable silicon-backed hook and loop straps are used for universal fitting, designed so they won’t ruin your paint, and are quick and easy to fit and adjust.

For a more permanent and possibly even more stable fixture, the Zefal Deflector FM40 also has two bolt-on adaptor options to fit directly to the rear of your fork bridge. The FZ01 is compatible with Fox 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 (2021), Fox AWL, Öhlins, SR Suntour, and Marzocchi forks. The RZ01has been developed for RockShox Zeb, Domain (2021), Lyrik, Pyke (2023), Recon 35 Gold RL, Silver R and TK. Both cost an additional £10.

Zefal Deflector FM40 Mudguard – Performance

It was quick and easy to fit this guard using the silicone-backed Velcro straps. I found I only needed one adjustment at the fork bridge to get it well aligned, and the straps provided a very solid fit. Once out riding, I didn’t need to stop to fine-tune the fit, which is something I’ve had real problems with other guards in the past.

It’s extremely stable, and I didn’t experience any rubbing or clattering on the rough stuff; it also didn’t clog. So it’s a kinda fit-and-forget guard, which is exactly what you want.

The Zefal Deflector FM40 provides a ton of protection from spray and mud splatter, which is something I expected due to its large amount of coverage, keeping my upper half pretty much clean and vision clear. Action camera users would benefit from the use of the guard for clear cack-free edits, as it offers great protection. The wide side wings do offer a decent amount of protection to the fork seals, but it was inevitable that on really filthy rides, some had worked its way in.

Swapping to the direct mount to fit my Fox 34 fork bridge was pretty faff free. For someone who is all fingers and thumbs when it comes to fiddly stuff, I was glad to see 2.5mm Hex bolts with deep sockets, which made the process of fitting a doddle. The direct mount is a step up in terms of stability, and a great option if you don’t need to remove your mudguard repeatedly. It also looks a bit cleaner than the Velcro strap.

Zefal Deflector FM40 Mudguard – Verdict

If you’re on a budget, the Zefal Deflector FM40 Mudguard at £20 is an absolute steal. It easily performs on par with the likes of the Crud XL Fender £30, in terms of quick fitting and protection, although I’d say that the Zefal does a better job of protecting the fork seals, and it looks better.

The Zefal is also £5 cheaper than the Mucky Nutz Mudguard Long at £25 and smashes it in terms of fit and stability, although if you can get the Mucky Nutz Mudguard to fit well, it does offer fantastic protection and is one of the longest on the market.

Adding in the extra £10 for the optional bolt-on adaptor does bring the Zefal in line with direct mount models from RRP and Rapid Racer and is a worthy upgrade, however, the basic mounting option using the Velcro straps is more than secure enough and does make it a model you can easily swap between bikes or remove quickly if you are porting your bike by car.

When it comes to mudguards, Zefal’s really hit the mark with its FM40 mudguard. It’s stable, provides plenty of protection, and it’s easy to fit. It would be great to see the bolt-on adapters included in the pack, but it’s great to see that they’re available, nonetheless.