SKS Speedrockers

Just picked up a set and planning on installing them tomorrow. They come with some clear protective tape for where the mudguards strap on the frame. Are they really needed since al the parts that contact the frame are rubber? Or will the rubber still mark the frame?

Its a new frame so a little hesitent to put loads of tape all over it.

Not had any issues with mine rubbing

I should imagine a mixture of grit and rubber will muck up paint.

Let us know how you get on – I like the idea of Speedrockers but I’ve not tried them or even seen any out in the wild. I’d quite like a pair for my gravel bike.

I fitted the protection tape for my Raceblade Pro XL on my CX bike – grit will get inbetween the rubber and paint and rub at the paint.

The guards only go on when I’ve got the ‘road wheels on – they won’t fit the 38c gravel tyres, and being canti brakes, speedrockers and similar won’t fit.

Let us know how you get on – I like the idea of Speedrockers but I’ve not tried them or even seen any out in the wild. I’d quite like a pair for my gravel bike.

My Speedrockers are on their third winter on the gravel bike.

Better coverage than the Gravelhuggers I had before. Better looking. A bit of a faff to get set up the first time like all mudguards, but then easy to take on and off as the conditions change.

They will occasionally slip a little and rub if you hit a big bump, but just slide them back into position, no big deal.

Yeah, I put the tape on, as others have said, rubber + grit will scratch the frame otherwise. I also think the rubber grips better to the tape than eg a gloss painted frame; I’ve had zero issues with them slipping on bumpy ground.

Love my Speedrockers on the dog bike.

Yes as said they can slip after big hits and so I would deffo put the tape on to protect.

Slide them back and all good.

Tape is aimed at new bikes. It will peel off later.

Speedrockers are great although somewhat lacking in coverage around the BB and are no good on group rides as they are now where near long enough at the back. But then no standard guards are either.

You can get a rear extender.

Just finished installing them. I put them on without the tape at first to get them set up then used bits of electrical tape to mark where the protective tape needed to go. Only criticism is the amount of protective tape supplied; there were 6 80mm long strips that all had to be cut in half to have enough pieces (the instructions said to cut them in half as you need 11 pieces)

The parts that strap onto the frame are 40mm long so if anything does move, it will move off the protective tape. If they do move I’ll probably just use electical tape to protect the frame instead.

I just used some old bits of invisiframe I had knocking around. Also I only use the rear guard, the front seems a bit too fiddly and wobbly to bother, and I normally wear overshoes or/and sealskins.

front seems a bit too fiddly and wobbly to bother,

I use the front guard, but don’t bother with the little bit that sits in front of the fork. Perhaps get a little bit more splash, but not enough to make it worth fitting.

I found a cable tie will fit through the upper mounts, over the top of the rubber straps and let you cinch them down a bit tighter. Fork stays (and rear stays) I’ve dismantled the rotational part and attached to the proper mudguard mounts with a bolt and some washers to take up the slack. Properly rigid now and clear my 650b 2.2″ tyres on a stigmata.

Beware of rolling the bike around on its back wheel, especially with the extension. I’ve cracked my rear guard by catching it on the floor a couple of times.

ALWAYS cover the frame. Small grit gets in and frets away at the frame if you do not cover it. For a titanium frame, this is not an issue as you just whip out the 3M and give it a Polish. For a painted frame and forks, you’ll regret not covering the frame. I use electrical tape strips.

I have saved the clear strips for another day and used a couple of wraps of electrician’s tape. I’ve since added the rear extender for politeness on group rides but don’t think it does anything to keep my back dry. Without it I can get the bike upright for train cupboards etc.

Do the extenders add more to the rear than in the pic?  Can’t work it out and too tight to buy if they don’t. At the rear any guard needs to be at at least 8 o’clock  and the front to protect the mech.

It’s always going to depend on the geometry of the frame, as the connector spurs are fixed, so if your bike has dropped seat stays the whole thing has to rotate that bit further forward and you would have more coverage near the BB.

Another Speedrocker fan here. Brilliant things. I didn’t bother with protection because they’re on an alloy frame which is marked anyway. On a bike I cared about the finish of, I probably would.

The extender seems expensive for what it is but I like being able to put it on for wet audaxes and still be able to manoeuvre the bike on the back wheel the rest of the time.

I found a cable tie will fit through the upper mounts, over the top of the rubber straps and let you cinch them down a bit tighter.

Thats a good idea.

I managed to mount the rear one quite close tothe rear axle. Theres about 6mm of space between the mount and the disc rotor so might move it tomorrow.

I forgot to tape up the seat tube, where the rear mudguard is attached. I had a nice patch of bare, grooved aluminium when I removed them.

Good mudguards though. 2 minute job taking them off or putting back on.

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Ta da ☹️

How lpng were they on there to do that kind of damage? When i installed mine, the actual plastic guard doesnt touch the frame at all on the seat tube. It uses a rubber coated velcro strap.

They were on there around 6 months I would guess. The rear mudguard is up against the seat tube

I put the strap in a different way to the photos above. So the rubber coated strap is between the frame and the plastic guard. Ended up putting some electical tape on the frame anyway just in case.

After fitting them and looking at the bike, it would be so much neater if id just used the threaded pannier holes near both axles. I guess 8 could look for some longer arms and eylets to make use of them if anyone knows where I can buy some?

I have a brand new, still in packaging, set of these if anyone wants to buy them. Bit bulky to post, so collection or drop off Glasgow south. Say £20 ?

I put the strap in a different way to the photos above. So the rubber coated strap is between the frame and the plastic guard.

Hadn’t thought of that.

Luckily it was on my old 2015 Arkose which is my winter gravel bike rather than my newer gravel bike.