FOX is one of the largest and most popular suspension brands on the market and offers an in-house mudguard for their forks. For the 2021 season, their mudguard was developed along with the updated forks. What advantages does this have and is the Mudguard as convincing as the fork itself?
You can find an overview of the test fleet in the comparison test: The best Fender 2024 – 8 models in the test
When suspension fork manufacturers like FOX develop mudguards, they only fit their own models. If you have a fork from another manufacturer or even an older FOX suspension fork, such as the 36, 38 or 40 from the 2020 model year, the Mudguard is unfortunately not compatible with your setup. Apart from poor compatibility, this also has many advantages. The mudguards are designed around a fork type, which means they are easy to assemble and look nice together. The FOX Mudguard’s design language also flows nicely into the fork. It sits rock-solid and doesn’t wobble a bit, as it only has to fit on one type of suspension fork. FOX wants €36 for its 350 mm long and 93 g mudguard. It is still small enough to look quite inconspicuous, but in many bike parks it can cause problems when transporting the bikes. In addition to the XL version that we tested, FOX also offers a smaller standard version for €6 less.
Mounting the FOX mudguard
Before installing the mudguard, it is best to check whether your fork is compatible. If you don’t know what model year your fork is, just take a closer look at the lowering. Compatible forks have a bleeder valve on each side as well as two small threads on the back of the fork clamp. For installation, the vent valves must be unscrewed with a 13 mm socket wrench. Caution is advised because the heads are very flat, meaning they slip off easily and leave unsightly scratches on the valves. After unscrewing the bleeder valves, remove the plastic spacers, which can be easily done by hand. Keep it in a safe place and remember where it is because you will need it again if you don’t use a mudguard. Next, insert the bleeder valves into the grommets of the FOX fender, screw them back in place and tighten. Finally, you can attach the mudguard to the fork bridge with two small screws. The installation takes quite a long time compared to the other models. In addition, the plastic spacers are easily lost, which makes it difficult to quickly assemble or disassemble the fender in the parking lot.
The FOX Mudguard on the trail
Thanks to the complex mounting interface, the Mudguard sits very securely on the fork. It’s not surprising that it doesn’t rattle. The positive connection to the suspension fork also offers good protection for the fork seals. However, the most important thing about a mudguard is that it keeps dirt out of your eyes. In this regard, you can’t go wrong with the FOX Mudguard, although the protection isn’t quite on the same level as the longer MUDROCKER from SKS. Despite being the same length, the FOX offers more protection than the foldable mudguard from Slicy, which is partly due to the greater width of the FOX Mudguard.
Conclusion on the FOX Mudguard
The FOX Mudguard connects seamlessly to compatible forks, making it pleasantly quiet on the trail. It doesn’t offer as much protection as the best mudguards in the test, which we don’t see as too critical as it still offers enough protection for most situations. Only the comparatively long and complex assembly makes the FOX Mudguard fall behind the competition. If you want to keep your mudguard on your bike permanently, we recommend the shorter model, as it doesn’t get in the way on chair lifts and can stay on your bike.
Tops
- fits the fork wonderfully
- no rattling
- proper protection
Flops
- Some competitors offer even more protection
- complicated installation
For more information, see FOX website.
For an overview of the group test: 8 mudguards in comparison
All mudguards in the test: FOX fender | Mucky Nutz MugGuard Long | Mudhugger EVO Bolt On | Trickle design kol:oss stealth | RockShox ZEB fender | Slicy Enduro/DH long mudguard | Zefal Deflector FM30 | SKS MUDROCKER FRONT
Did you like this article? Then we would be happy if you would support us with a monthly contribution. By supporting ENDURO, you are helping to ensure a sustainable future for quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to find out more.
Words: Sebastian Dirscherl Photos: Simon Kohler
