Do Mountain Bikes Have Fenders?

Fenders are a great addition to protect yourself from the spray of mud and water when biking in the rain. Although many bike enthusiasts prefer the appearance of their bikes without the fenders, they serve more than just pure aesthetics. However, while fenders are very welcome on regular bikes, the story is slightly different when compared to mountain bikes.

Mountain bikes do not usually come from the manufacturer with fenders since most fenders have very little clearance making it easy for debris to get stuck. For mountain biking, this can be particularly dangerous. That said, there are still a few fenders that you can add that are safe for mountain biking.

When you want to add fenders or mudguards to a mountain bike, there are multiple sizes, attachment methods, and appearance styles. Keep reading to find out which is suitable for your bike, so you stay dryer, less muddy, and have some protection for your bike’s gears.

The Pros and Cons of Adding Fenders to Your Mountain Bike

While the guards on a traditional bike are usually called fenders, on mountain bikes, they are generally termed mudguards. Many in the community strongly oppose adding proper fenders or guards to their bikes as they come with a more pronounced downside as opposed to traditional bikes.

Fenders do add benefits to the biking experience, but for many the cons outweigh the pros. Here are the pros and cons of having them on your mountain bike. 

Pros of Having Fenders on Your Mountain Bike

These are some of the main benefits of having “fenders” on your mountain bike.

• They minimize the dirty spray that coats your back on a rainy day. When the weather is inclement, mud puddles splatter water on your back and the back of the bike. Fenders minimize this by blocking and deflecting the majority of the tire spray.
• They can increase bike visibility in the dark. When you add reflective stickers to the fenders, the likelihood increases that a car or another rider will notice you at night. Your rides won’t always happen during the day so this is a good option to take advantage of.
• They add a unique look to your mountain bike. While it’s far from the main benefit, many bikers just like the way a fender makes their bike look. You can customize your fender to your preferences. Since it’s easily detachable you can swap them out from time to time.
• They keep mud from flying into your eyes. Perhaps the most important advantage of fenders is the fact that they protect your sight to an extent when biking. That said, a good pair of goggles or a full helmet will give you the same effect.

Cons of Adding Fenders to Your Mountain Bike

Ultimately, adding fenders is a personal choice but it’s important to know the downsides regardless. 

• Mountain biking is rough and flimsy fenders can break while riding. A broken mountain bike fender can be dangerous when riding on challenging trails. Facing a challenging drop is risky enough without throwing a breaking fender into the mix.
• Most fenders won’t have proper clearance from the wheel. Mountain bike tires tend to be fat, giving you a cushion when navigating rugged terrain. 
• Some riders don’t want the added weight. Any extra weight can be a problem when you do tricks and ride aggressively. 
• The fenders can rattle as rocks get caught in them. This noise can be irritating, ruining your focus or disrupting a peaceful ride. 

Types of Mountain Bike Fenders

There are three fender types for mountain bikes. Although there’s only one type that mountain bikers generally use, it’s still important to know the rest.

Traditional Fenders

Traditional fenders frequently have big rubber flaps and reflectors, are the most resilient, and stand up to the most demanding conditions. These fenders give maximum coverage to deflect mud and water from spraying on your back, bike, and gears. 

They are made of plastic and aluminum with thin steel arms to attach to the bike frame. Don’t expect to remove them quickly or often as they are firmly attached to the bike.

Clip-on Fenders

Clip-on fenders can be removed quickly to have them on when you need them, but unclip when you don’t. Since they are lighter than the plastic and aluminum combination, some clip-on fenders can be flimsy and thin. 

You should always double-check the tire clearance since the fit is much tighter than with traditional bikes. 

MTB Mudguards

MTB mudguards are generally the fender of choice when it comes to mountain biking. Ideally, they’re the only thing you should be considering in your choice.

MTB mudguards are vastly different from the fenders you’re likely used to. If you’re new to mountain biking, it’s possible you’ve never seen a proper mudguard. 

Of course, some people call regular fenders mudguards but to be slightly pedantic, mudguards are miniature fenders and are the best choice for mountain biking. 

Mudguards are particularly small, clipping to the front of your bike’s frame. On the other hand, fenders extend over most of the top of the wheel.

You see, while fenders do a lot to protect you while you ride, traditional wraparound fenders can be dangerous while mountain biking as they can trap foliage and debris between the wheel and themselves.

If this caused the wheel to lock, it could be quite dangerous. This could be especially bad if it’s the front wheel as you could go flying over your bike if you were going fast enough.

The smaller size of the mudguard makes them the best alternative. Since they’re much smaller, the possibility of trapping anything while riding is minor. 

However, even with their small size, a properly attached mudguard will provide you with most of the same functional benefits that a full sized fender would.

How To Add Fenders/Mudguards to Your Mountain Bike

Before you can even begin to add fenders to your bike, here are three things you should do:

• You will need to inspect your mountain bike for fender mounts. Confirm that your bike can actually take the fender you want before you get started.
• Consider your tire size. Some larger tires won’t accommodate the required clearance to add fenders.
• Pick a time frame. Will you leave the fenders on year-round or remove and add them as needed? This question will help you narrow down the best fender for you.

Many MTB mudguards attach with zip ties, making installing them relatively easy. Here is how to install the front mudguard on your bike. 

1. Hold the mudguard, so the graphics are facing you.
2. Position the short end away from your body.
3. Insert the zip ties through the holes with the serrated end facing up.
4. Slide the mudguard between the fork arch and the tire with the short end facing the bike’s front. 
5. Tighten the zip ties around the fork arch. 
6. Snip the zip tie excess.

Here is a YouTube video to show you how the front mudguard installation happens:

Here is how to install the rear mudguard on your mountain bike, similar to the front mudguard installation.

1. Hold the mudguard so the short end is facing the bike front.
2. Insert the zip ties through the holes.
3. Slide the mudguard between the rear fork and the tire.
4. Tighten the zip ties.
5. Clip the excess and turn the connections toward the ground.

Here is a Youtube video on attaching a rear mudguard to your mountain bike:

Adding Clip-on Fenders to a Mountain Bike

As a mountain bike riding enthusiast, you likely already know how the snow, muddy water, and other debris can make your ride less than great. This is where clip-on fenders can be a viable option if you don’t want to add MTB mudguards as they’re usually a lot easier to remove when you don’t need them.

Here are some considerations when choosing clip-on fenders for your mountain bike.

• The fenders should be almost an inch (18 mm) wider than the tire. 
• Their position should be close enough to the tires for proper coverage. 
• Make sure they provide coverage for the bike drivetrain.
• Clip-on fenders can attach to several places on your mountain bike, including the seat stays, downtube, and seatposts. 
• Choose a fender style that offers a coverage angle that won’t interfere with your bike’s performance.
• Ensure that your choice is durable. Clip-on fenders are the least durable of the bunch so going for one that will last a little longer can give you more value for money.

Conclusion 

All mountain bikes are designed to be nimble and responsive while navigating off-road conditions that can get treacherous. Although these bikes don’t usually come with manufacturer-installed fenders, you can add them if you wish. 

MTB mudguards are by far the best choice  but you could likely get away with a traditional fender or clip-on option provided that you account for proper clearance.

Most mountain bikers ride year-round, so you need some protection from the snow, mud, and other elements. Remember that they safeguard your bike to an extent too.