The Kinesis Fend Off Wide 700 x 50 Mudguards are a premium option and well worth it if you’re looking for the highest level of protection and maximum durability on your winter, commuter or gravel bike. Unlike conventional plastic alternatives, the Fend Offs give exceptional rigidity and great coverage, making a great argument for spending a little more on your mudguards.
Their performance in wet conditions is excellent. They do a great job at keeping spray away from you, your bike and following riders, which is a boon for group rides.
The coverage is great, going plenty low enough, and this is significantly enhanced by the mudflaps that Kinesis has included.
I really think that Kinesis has done an awesome job with these, and made the packaging double up as flaps. You just need to cut them out, poke a hole in them and attach them to the pre-drilled holes using the included hardware.
Installation and clearance
The guards arrive fully disassembled, and while they do require a little bit of skill and knowledge to set them up, the process is straightforward enough. It took me around 20 minutes, with some hex keys, spanners and a Dremel to trim the excess aluminium stays poking out from the front.
These mudguards do require dedicated mounts on your frame, including the common fixing point near the bottom bracket for the rear guard – a feature present on most winter and allroad bikes, but they won’t fit if you don’t have the correct mounts.
In terms of tyre clearance, the 700×50 Wide model sits cleanly over 35mm tyres. Kinesis states a maximum tyre width of 45mm, which I couldn’t test myself, but I’d imagine the fit would be snug. And of course you also need a decent amount of room in the frame for them to fit in.
They were a perfect fit on my gravel frame with its moderate clearance, and should be suitable for most modern allroad setups.
Design and construction
These are a really well-made set of metal mudguards. Constructed from anodised aluminium, they offer a superior look and feel compared with plastic options. Their rigidity is a stand-out feature; once mounted, they sit extremely solidly on the bike and are silent when you’re riding, with none of the rattling you get from some mudguards. This was a great relief coming from the tired plastic guards I had on before, which had all the rivets coming apart and were making a horrible sound when I was riding.
The metal construction also ensures they arrive in the right shape, avoiding the annoying bends that plastic guards can pick up during transit.
Optional light mounts
Kinesis offers very well made 3D-printed light fittings that integrate seamlessly with the guards.
The Front Light Mount allows you to fit a conventional banded light for added night-time visibility.
The Rear Light Mount is a short post that sticks up over the mudguard that allows you to fit lights you’d normally attach to your seatpost.
At £20 each, these add a considerable chunk to the overall cost, but they create clean and secure light mountings that further increase the guards’ versatility. Like the guards they’re well made, and can be a handy option if bags are obscuring traditionally mounted lights.
Value
At £65 a pair, the Kinesis Fend Off mudguards aren’t cheap. However, considering the high-quality metal construction, the outstanding rigidity, the complete lack of noise, and the excellent coverage (plus the included mudflap), I think the price represents pretty decent value for high-quality, long-lasting mudguards.
The SKS Speedrocker Mudguards cost £44.99 and are attached using straps, so you don’t need specific mounts. They fit tyres up to around 38mm as long as your frame has the clearance, but they won’t offer quite the same rigidity as the Kinesis option.
> How to cycle in the rain — endure the downpour and make riding your bike in the wet enjoyable
The SKS Raceblade Pro XL Stealth Series Mudguard Set comes in at £56, making them slightly cheaper than the Kinesis. They strap on and off, so are quick and easy to use, but again won’t sit as rigidly or offer quite the same coverage as the Fend Offs.
Kinesis also makes its short rear-only Fend Off Shorty Gravel Guard that Patrick rated on our sister site, off.road.cc. They cost £35 each, and require mounting points.
For more options, check out our best road bike mudguards buyer’s guide.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for durable, silent, highly effective mudguards, the Kinesis Fend Offs represent an excellent winter bike purchase. They look fantastic in their metal black finish and function flawlessly, giving you the peace of mind you need to tackle miserable weather. I recommend them highly if you’re looking for a premium, permanent mudguard solution.
Verdict
Excellent mudguards that are effective, easy to live with, and look great
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Kinesis Fend Off Wide Road Mudguards
Size tested: 700 x 50
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Kinesis says: “FEND OFF Mudguards feature a full wrap coverage – these are made from anodised aluminium for longevity and finished with laser graphics.
“When you live in the UK, you gain an appreciation for a good set of mudguards. The beautiful British weather that we experience can be ever changing and trying to keep dry and warm means mudguards become an all-round essential item to fit to your road bike.
“The Fend Off mudguards should fit most bikes (not just Kinesis bikes either), however some manipulation of stays and brackets requiring workshop tools may be needed – and this is made possible with the aluminium construction. In some cases, further modification may be required. As such, we always recommend that Fend Off guards are fitted by a qualified, experienced, cycle mechanic.”
They look great, they’re effective and the polypropylene packaging that doubles up as mudflaps is a neat touch, providing even more protection.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Kinesis:
Whether you ride on your own or in a group, mudguards make rides in wet and muddy weather conditions a pleasure rather than a pain.
Not only do the Kinesis FEND OFF mudguards keep you dry and clean, but they prevent surface water and debris from collecting and clogging up the mechanics of your bike and weighing you down.
They help keep your bike cleaner, so you’ll spend less time cleaning and servicing your bike.
Stiff, tough, durable and rigid the full metal design is rattle and wobble-free.
The Aluminium fender and Stainless steel stays are also malleable so it can be easily modified to fit most bikes.
FEND OFF MUDGUARD KEY FEATURES
Anodised Aluminium and adorned with laser graphics.
They provide full-wrap coverage and are full metal guards.
The header card can be converted to durable polypropylene mud flaps.
Cutouts on the rear mudguard to ease fitting into tight chainstays
Long reach seat stay bridge to accommodate larger tyres
Bolts included for the mudflaps
The all-metal construction is excellent, and gives them the feel of a very high-quality product.
These keep you as dry as any mudguards, while being quiet, stylish and easy to live with.
All metal… What else can I say?
Again all metal… which does make it heavier than similar options in plastic.
They’re expensive, but I think worth it for the quality they provide.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They work a treat, keeping you as dry as possible, and doing it in such a way that they look mint and are easy to live with.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
I love the packaging doubling up as mudflaps, a nice touch that both reduces waste and works well.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing for me, but check you have adequate clearance or you’ll be frustrated.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
More expensive than most plastic options.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Definitely
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes – if they have the right clearance and mounting points.
Use this box to explain your overall score
Supreme mudguards that are well made, easy to use – and they work.
About the tester
Age: 25 Height: 174 Weight: 78
I usually ride: Storck Aerfast My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, touring, club rides, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
6 thoughts on “Kinesis Fend Off Wide Road Mudguards”
I’ve tried a fair few
I’ve tried a fair few mudguards over the years. These are easily the best fit-and-forget option.
I use the aluminium PDW
I use the aluminium PDW fenders on various bikes, and these look like a good, slightly cheaper alternative. I have other ways to mount lights, but I know many people often struggle so the extra light mounts look like an excellent idea.
I treated myself to some PDWs
I treated myself to some PDWs and haven’t summoned the courage to try fitting them yet. I do like that they’ve designed light mounts for these.
If you don’t mind slightly
If you don’t mind slightly ugly and don’t fancy cutting anything, these are even easier to fit (rear light fitting too)
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Bontrager/NCS-Mudguard-Set/JE21
Since using both Kinesis and
Since using both Kinesis and Velo Orange guards which are metal, I can’t really go back to plastic ones. The metal ones are so much more durable, proper fit and forget.
I’ve had the PDW ‘guards and
I’ve had the PDW ‘guards and the Fend Offs. The 40mm Fend Offs provide better coverage than the PDW 37mm road plus. The PDW 45mm are too wide to fit under the fork of most modern road bikes. The grub screws on the PDWs started to give up after 3 seasons on / off the bike. The Fend Offs have large 10mm bolts that will be virtually impossible to round off in removal. The reviewer didn’t mention the angular profile running along the whole edge of the Fend Offs. This is what really gives the superb filth coverage, spaying filth down back onto the road.
The reviewer also needs to cut their rear stays down, they look super dorky left long ,?