The Zéfal Deflector FM30 was designed with feedback from professional riders for wet weather riding, be it on a lightweight XC bike, a capable enduro bike or a high-performance DH bike. The result is a long mudguard that is largely compatible and affordable. Is that enough to convince us and beat the competition?
You can find an overview of the test fleet in the comparison test: The best Fender 2024 – 8 models in the test
Zéfal is a major French bicycle accessories brand that offers everything from pumps to backpacks to bike locks. They also have a number of different mudguards in their portfolio. The device tested is called Deflector FM30 and is 480 mm long. This puts it just behind the 10 mm longer SKS MUDROCKER. At this length, the Zéfal weighs 135 g, making it one of the heavier models in our test field. The mudguard, which costs €16.95, comes with stickers in three different colors so that you can customize the look. If you want a more compact mudguard, Zéfal also offers the FM20 for €14.95.
Assembly of the Zéfal Deflector FM30 mudguard
The mudguard is attached to your fork with a total of six cable ties. Two cable ties run around the lower fork legs, while the remaining two attach the mudguard to the fork clamp. There are sufficient mounting points on the mudguard to allow compatibility with various forks. Zéfal comes with protective foam covers that prevent the cable ties from scratching the fork. You simply need to cut them to the correct length and slide them onto the cable ties before attaching them. Unfortunately, the foam covers only prevent the cable ties from scratching your fork, but they can still scratch the fender itself. To prevent this, we recommend applying protective adhesive strips to the contact surfaces between the fork and the mudguard. Please note that cable ties are not suitable for frequent assembly and disassembly of the mudguard.
The Zéfal Deflector FM30 mudguard on the trail
Thanks to the use of six cable ties, the mudguard sits securely on the fork. This results in a pleasantly quiet ride on the trails. What’s more important, however, is how well the mudguard keeps your vision clear, and we’re pleased to report that Zéfal’s Deflector FM30 does this brilliantly. Although the SKS is above the Zéfal in our protection ranking, the differences are minimal and apart from the two British models Mucky Nutz and Mudhugger, no other mudguard in the test can beat the Zéfal. Thanks to the wide tabs, it also provides excellent protection for the fork seals.
Our conclusion about the Zéfal Deflector FM30 mudguard
The Zéfal Deflector FM30 is pleasantly quiet on the trails. When it comes to protection, it is also one of the best mudguards and is almost on a par with our test winner. It’s also quite cheap. Unfortunately, the included foam protectors are not enough – we recommend adding some of your own protective tape to avoid scratches on your fork. In addition, the mudguard can only be attached with cable ties.
Tops
- bombproof seat
- good protection against dirt
Flops
For more information, see Zefal 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
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Words: Sebastian Dirscherl Photos: Simon Kohler
