Choosing mudguards for a MTB bike is not easy and obvious. Below, we present three solutions that we used in our 28-inch and 26-inch Tornado bikes.
1) the simplest and fastest solution: Mudguards dedicated to MTB bikes, eg SKS XL. The assembly here is tailored to this type of bikes, so it is not difficult and you do not need to do anything extraordinary, just what is in the instructions of the fender manufacturer:
As we can see in the photos, only SKS fenders were mounted here - SKS Shockboard XL on the front, and SKS X-Tra-Dry XL on the back (the photo of which is also at the top of this post). However, this solution, although the simplest and adapted to these bikes, does not completely protect us from mud. Therefore, something different or additional as below may be used.
2) Second solution: We buy fenders for trekking bikes or other similar or ordinary bikes, e.g. SKS fenders from the Velo series. The mudguards from this series that we used have proven themselves well. Their assembly at the front should not cause many difficulties, but the rear end requires a bit of effort, because you should attach the fender to the frame and to the trunk - for the latter, it is best to use hydraulic worm clamps or such as shown in the pictures below (silver clamps with screws on the trunk ribs) - two of them would be useful for a solid attachment to the trunk, of course it does not have to be silver). However, please do not be influenced by our fenders, because there are more and more of them and you can probably find something that is best for you, and maybe even easier to install. We recommend e.g. SKS fenders, because they are nice and solid: https://www.sks-germany.com/en/productcategories/mudguards/
3) Finally, the third, and in our opinion the best, solution combining the ease of mounting the first and the comprehensive protection of the second - SKS Veloflexx 65 fenders. They come in two versions of 26 and 29 inches that fit bikes respectively: Tornado 26 and 28 inches. The manufacturer facilitated the installation of these fenders with Velcro or elastic fasteners. In the photo of the rear fender, you can see that with the help of a riveting tool, we added additional parts of another fender in place of the gaps that are unique to this fender. This is to completely eliminate the likelihood of the driver splashing.
4) There are probably other good solutions and fenders - please share with us.
