Mudguards

🚴⚡ NIX | WHY THE SKS MUDROCKER IS THE PERFECT UPGRADE FOR TORQUE ⚡🚴

Sometimes the Best Upgrades Aren’t the Flashiest

When most people buy a new eMTB, they immediately start looking at upgrades.

Carbon handlebars.

Fancy pedals.

Titanium bolts.

Electronic gadgets with enough flashing lights to guide aircraft into Birmingham Airport.

I’m just as guilty as the next person.

My Scott Aspect eRIDE 910, affectionately known as Torque, hadn’t been in my possession for very long before I’d already started adding orange accessories, planning routes around Cannock Chase and generally behaving like an excited teenager with his first bicycle.

But one upgrade kept appearing in review after review.

Mudguards.

Not exactly glamorous.

Not exactly exciting.

But according to experienced mountain bikers, one of the best upgrades you can make.

The product that appeared time and time again was the SKS Mudrocker Front and Rear Set.

So naturally I bought a set.

And I’m delighted I did.

⸻

Meet Torque

For those who haven’t met him yet, Torque is my 2026 Scott Aspect eRIDE 910.

Finished in a gorgeous Midnight Grey, equipped with a Bosch motor and sporting a growing collection of orange accessories, he’s rapidly becoming my favourite way to explore Staffordshire.

Torque has already transformed the way I look at cycling.

At 63 years old, I’m not trying to win races.

I’m not chasing Strava trophies.

I’m simply enjoying being outdoors, exploring trails, and seeing places I would otherwise never visit.

An eMTB removes the suffering and leaves the enjoyment.

And that’s a trade I’m more than happy to accept.

⸻

Why Mudguards Matter

Let’s be honest.

British mountain biking isn’t exactly a dry-weather activity.

Especially around Cannock Chase.

You can leave home under blue skies.

Ride for ten minutes.

And suddenly find yourself negotiating puddles that appear to have their own postcode.

Without mudguards, every ride becomes an exercise in dirt distribution.

Mud reaches:

• Your glasses

• Your helmet

• Your jacket

• Your backpack

• Your battery

• Your motor

• Your drivetrain

And somehow places you didn’t even realise existed.

After every ride comes the cleaning ritual.

The wiping.

The scrubbing.

The muttering.

The discovery of mud in places that should be physically impossible.

This is where the Mudrocker comes in.

⸻

First Impressions

The Mudrockers arrived in a surprisingly compact box.

Inside were two beautifully engineered pieces of German practicality.

No gimmicks.

No nonsense.

No unnecessary complexity.

Just components designed to solve a problem.

The plastic feels strong and flexible.

Everything feels well made.

Nothing rattles.

Nothing feels cheap.

The first impression was simple:

These looked like they belonged on a serious mountain bike.

⸻

Installation

Fitting the Mudrockers turned out to be remarkably straightforward.

The front guard uses a clever strap system that mounts securely beneath the fork arch.

The rear attaches to the stays and can be adjusted for optimal positioning.

The whole process took around half an hour, including the mandatory periods of standing back and admiring my handiwork.

If you’re anything like me, fitting accessories involves:

• Fit part

• Stand back

• Admire

• Move slightly

• Stand back again

• Admire more

Repeat until satisfied.

⸻

The Transformation

This was perhaps the biggest surprise.

I expected the Mudrockers to improve practicality.

I didn’t expect them to improve appearance.

But they do.

Torque suddenly looked more purposeful.

More adventurous.

More capable.

The black guards blend beautifully with the Midnight Grey frame.

Rather than looking like an add-on, they look integrated.

The orange grips and pedals now stand out even more dramatically.

The overall effect is subtle but impressive.

It’s the cycling equivalent of fitting all-terrain tyres to a 4x4.

You immediately know the vehicle means business.

⸻

The Cannock Chase Test

The true test came on the trails.

Dry trails are easy.

Any bike can look good in sunshine.

The real challenge arrives when Staffordshire weather decides to remind everyone where they live.

Within a short time I encountered exactly the conditions I’d hoped for.

Puddles.

Mud.

Spray.

Wet sections.

Perfect.

Normally this would result in a face full of muddy water.

Not this time.

The front Mudrocker immediately proved its worth.

Mud that would previously have launched itself directly at my glasses was being deflected harmlessly away.

The rear guard was equally impressive.

The infamous muddy stripe up the back was dramatically reduced.

My backpack stayed cleaner.

My jacket stayed cleaner.

And perhaps most importantly of all…

My dignity remained largely intact.

⸻

Protection Beyond the Rider

One thing many people overlook is that mudguards aren’t just about protecting the rider.

They’re also about protecting the bike.

Torque isn’t cheap.

The Bosch motor isn’t cheap.

The battery isn’t cheap.

The drivetrain certainly isn’t cheap.

Every ride through mud exposes these components to grit, water and debris.

The Mudrockers significantly reduce the amount of dirt reaching critical areas.

This means:

• Easier cleaning

• Reduced wear

• Less maintenance

• Longer component life

Over time, that alone may justify the purchase.

⸻

Perfect For Campervan Adventures

As many readers know, I spend a lot of time travelling in my campervan, Vanilla.

Torque is destined to become a regular travelling companion.

Whether it’s CamperJam, North Wales, Scotland or future European adventures, the bike will often be carried on Towzer, my towbar-mounted bike carrier.

Having proper mudguards means fewer issues when riding around damp campsites, muddy festival fields and gravel access roads.

It also means arriving back at the van looking slightly less like a contestant from a survival programme.

⸻

Who Should Buy Mudrockers?

If you only ride in perfect weather on perfectly dry surfaces, you probably don’t need them.

But if you:

• Ride year-round

• Explore trails

• Visit Cannock Chase

• Enjoy gravel paths

• Like keeping your bike cleaner

• Value practicality

Then they’re one of the best upgrades available.

⸻

What I Like Most

After several rides, what impresses me most isn’t any individual feature.

It’s the fact that I no longer think about them.

They’re simply there.

Doing their job.

Quietly protecting both rider and bike.

The best accessories often disappear into the ownership experience.

The Mudrockers do exactly that.

⸻

Final Thoughts

Not every upgrade has to be exciting.

Not every purchase needs to involve electronics, apps or Bluetooth connectivity.

Sometimes the smartest upgrade is the one that simply solves a problem.

The SKS Mudrocker does exactly that.

For my Scott Aspect eRIDE 910, it’s become one of those rare purchases that feels completely right.

It improves the riding experience.

It improves the ownership experience.

And it makes Torque look even better.

That’s a winning combination.

⸻

NIX VERDICT ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Product

SKS Mudrocker Front & Rear Set

Best For

eMTBs, trail bikes, Cannock Chase adventures and British weather

Value

Excellent

Ease of Fitting

Excellent

Appearance

Excellent

Recommendation

Buy once. Fit once. Enjoy every ride.

For Torque, the Mudrockers aren’t an accessory.

They’re part of the bike.

🚴⚡🟠⚫

NIX Rating: 10/10

🚵‍♂️ NIX | Why the SKS Mudrocker Mudguards Are Coming to Cannock Chase With Me

https://youtu.be/nLjBFIzNJNU?si=OIi4_fYrMhZXuMlD

There are certain purchases in life that aren't particularly exciting.

A new washing machine.

A replacement lawnmower blade.

A pack of AA batteries.

Mudguards probably sit somewhere in that category.

Or at least they did until I bought an e-mountain bike.

Because once you've spent £2,500 on a beautiful Scott Aspect eRIDE 910 called Torque, suddenly the idea of arriving home looking like you've been fired through a muddy hedge at 20 mph becomes far less appealing.

After a lot of research, countless reviews, and more YouTube videos than any sane man should watch, I settled on what many mountain bikers regard as the gold standard:

The SKS Mudrocker Set.

And after looking into them properly, I can see exactly why.

🌧️ The Reality of Riding in Britain

Let's be honest.

We live in Britain.

If you wait for perfect weather before going out on your bike, you'll spend most of your life staring out of the window.

One minute it's sunshine.

The next minute you're being blasted sideways by rain that appears to have arrived directly from the North Sea.

Cannock Chase is beautiful.

It's also muddy.

Very muddy.

Especially after rain.

There are puddles that look innocent but turn out to be deep enough to hide a small submarine.

Without decent mudguards you quickly discover where every bit of water goes.

Your face.

Your glasses.

Your backside.

Your backpack.

Your drivetrain.

Your Bosch motor.

Pretty much everything except where you'd like it to go.

🚴 Meet the Mudrockers

The SKS Mudrocker mudguards are made in Germany.

Now Germans are very good at making things.

Cars.

Tools.

Beer.

And apparently mudguards.

The Mudrockers aren't your traditional mountain bike mudguards.

They don't hang miles away from the wheel looking like bits of plastic someone attached as an afterthought.

Instead they sit close to the tyre and almost become part of the bike.

The result is a cleaner look and significantly better protection.

On a modern eMTB they simply look right.

⚫ Why They Suit Torque Perfectly

Torque is my Scott Aspect eRIDE 910.

Midnight Grey.

Orange grips.

Orange pedals.

Orange valve caps.

A bike designed to look fast even when it's leaning against a tree while I eat a sandwich.

The black Mudrockers complement that look beautifully.

They don't shout.

They don't draw attention.

They simply make the bike look purposeful.

Like it's ready for adventure.

Which it is.

💦 Front Wheel Protection

The front mudguard is perhaps the most important.

Without one, every puddle becomes a precision-guided missile system aimed directly at your face.

A mountain bike tyre can launch water at incredible speed.

You don't realise how much until it happens.

One moment you're admiring the scenery.

The next you're tasting Staffordshire mud.

The Mudrocker front guard extends much further forward and backward than most alternatives.

This means less spray.

Less dirt.

Less cleaning.

And considerably less embarrassment.

💩 Rear Wheel Protection

Let's discuss the dreaded mud stripe.

Every cyclist knows it.

That brown line running from the lower back all the way up your jacket.

It makes you look as though you've been involved in some sort of unfortunate agricultural incident.

The rear Mudrocker almost completely eliminates this problem.

The design wraps around the wheel and catches far more spray than traditional mountain bike guards.

Your trousers stay cleaner.

Your jacket stays cleaner.

Most importantly, your dignity remains intact.

🛠️ Fitting Them

One thing I like is the simplicity.

No engineering degree required.

No welding equipment.

No phone call to NASA.

The supplied straps allow the guards to attach securely without major modification.

A few minutes of adjustment.

A bit of careful positioning.

And you're done.

Even better, they're easy to remove if required.

That means when Torque is travelling on Towzer on the back of Vanilla, I can quickly make adjustments if necessary.

🌲 Cannock Chase Test Conditions

Let's imagine a typical autumn ride.

Leaves everywhere.

Puddles across the trail.

Mud that seems determined to climb onto your bike regardless of your wishes.

Without Mudrockers:

• Mud on your face

• Mud on your backpack

• Mud on your legs

• Mud in your drivetrain

• Mud in places that should never contain mud

With Mudrockers:

• Considerably cleaner bike

• Considerably cleaner rider

• More enjoyable ride

• Less cleaning afterwards

The difference is huge.

🔋 Protecting the Expensive Bits

An e-bike isn't cheap.

Torque certainly wasn't.

The Bosch motor.

The battery.

The drivetrain.

The brakes.

The bearings.

All of these components benefit from reduced exposure to dirt and water.

Mudguards won't make a bike waterproof.

But they significantly reduce the amount of muck constantly being blasted into critical areas.

Over time that means less wear.

Less maintenance.

And hopefully fewer repair bills.

🚐 Perfect for Campervan Adventures

One reason I bought Torque was to accompany Vanilla on adventures.

The plan is simple.

Drive somewhere interesting.

Unload bike.

Explore.

Return for tea.

The Mudrockers fit perfectly into that philosophy.

Nobody wants to spend an hour cleaning a bike before loading it back onto Towzer.

The cleaner the bike remains during the ride, the easier life becomes afterwards.

More riding.

Less scrubbing.

That's a formula I can support.

☕ The Café Test

Every cyclist knows the real purpose of cycling.

It's not fitness.

It's not endurance.

It's not personal achievement.

It's cake.

The true measure of any cycling accessory is whether it allows you to enter a café without looking as though you've escaped from a swamp.

Mudrockers score highly here.

They won't keep you spotless.

Nothing will.

But they'll keep you presentable enough to enjoy coffee and cake without frightening the other customers.

💰 Value for Money

They're not the cheapest mudguards available.

But they are considerably cheaper than:

• Replacing worn bearings

• Replacing damaged clothing

• Constant bike cleaning products

• Relationship counselling after repeatedly bringing mud into the house

Viewed that way, they're a bargain.

🏆 Final Verdict

The SKS Mudrockers aren't glamorous.

Nobody stops you in a car park to admire your mudguards.

But after a wet ride you'll appreciate them more than almost any other accessory fitted to your bike.

For Torque they're close to perfect.

They suit the look.

They protect the bike.

They protect the rider.

And they make riding in British conditions far more enjoyable.

Which is exactly what good equipment should do.

NIX Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

Would I buy them again?Absolutely.

Would I recommend them for a Scott Aspect eRIDE 910?Without hesitation.

Will they stop me riding through puddles?Not a chance.

I'm still six years old at heart.

NIX Final Thought

A proper mountain bike should get dirty.

A proper rider should get muddy.

But there's absolutely no reason why either of them should get dirtier than necessary.

That's where the Mudrockers earn their place on Torque.