The ProGuard Front Cable Tie Max Protection is Rapid Racer Products’ large front mudguard that fits your bike using cable ties, rather than bolts. The coverage and protection it offers are comprehensive and a must for chest-mounted action camera users. However, it requires careful attention when fitting for a rub-free experience, otherwise, it's up there with the best MTB mudguards.
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Rapid Racer Products ProGuard Front Bolt-On Max Protection mudguard - Technical details
Rapid Racer Products’ ProGuard Front has been built for trail, enduro and downhill riding to increase tyre clearance and improve fit. The designers also claim decreased mud-clogging issues that are seen on similar mudguards.
The Max Protection version of Rapid Racer Products’ ProGuard Front is the largest version of the ProGuard Front available. Compared to the standard version, it’s 21mm longer at the front and 68mm longer at the rear, wrapping around the front wheel much more than the brand’s two other sizes.
A lot is going on here so, to start, it’s built using a special polypropylene that’s been crafted to achieve durability as well as good flexibility, even in cold weather, so it should stay in one piece after a spill. On top of that, there’s an indent for the fork brace to boost tyre clearance and what the brand dubs a ‘flick’ at the rear, which has been added to reduce spray when the front wheel is turned.
This guard is shaped to work in 26-, 650b, and 29-inch wheel sizes and, because it uses cable ties to fit, it can work with almost any fork, apart from those with reverse arches. It’s well worth noting that there isn’t a bolt-on fitment version of this guard.
As an RRP product, of course, it gets the special seal protection design which adds extra coverage to the fork seals.
A neat and handy inclusion in the pack is a pair of rubber stickers that stick onto the sides of the guard. This adds a buffer between the fork stanchions and guard to offer a bit of protection and quieten down any potential rattling. There are six cable ties in the pack too and the guard is built with snap-off hole covers.
Rapid Racer Products ProGuard Front Bolt-On Max Protection mudguard - Performance
Installation for the most part is an easy job. There are 24 holes, which can be opened by using a screwdriver, allowing the user to then poke cable ties through. It’s a simple job of lining things up, opening the holes and zipping up the cable ties while adjusting for any potential clearance issues when cinching the cable ties.
We were also given RRP’s Velcro straps and they’re a great idea for this particular guard but these were incredibly difficult to insert through the holes. I managed to get a couple through but resorted to classic zip ties for the rest.
Once in place and tightened down, the mudguard can be tweaked and moved around. It’s worth spending a bit of time doing this to make doubly sure that there are no clearance issues. During my time with the guard, I found it rubbed from time to time and it needed some serious manipulation to stop the rubbing. This is understandable given its size but it can be a bit of a pain.
But fit niggles aside, the protection that the ProGuard Max Protection offers is super impressive. It does so similarly to the ProGuard Front bolt-on I tested last year, and still love but the coverage is, of course, extended. This keeps spray and filth from flinging onto the front of your body, making it an ideal choice if you like to film your winter rides using an action camera.
It also does an excellent job of fending off high-flung spray thanks to the extended front. Simply put, it’s a top mudguard for deep winter riding.
Once again, the seal shield design is present and it’s a fantastic touch for any mudguard, especially one that’s built to take on proper wet riding. This shaping is simple but incredibly effective and has kept the fork seals free of muck throughout even properly muddy spins.
But because the guard is so large, it can run into some minor stability issues, especially when landing larger drops or charging through high-frequency vibrations. There’s just a lot of plastic hanging off of the bike, so it’s understandably difficult to support the whole mudguard. It’s a mere trade-off. If you’re after tonnes of protection against the wet and filth, expect a slightly flappy mudguard that needs adjustment from time to time.
Rapid Racer Products ProGuard Front Bolt-On Max Protection mudguard - Verdict
For £29, it is getting to the pricier side for a single mudguard without bolt-on fitment but, if it’s all-out coverage and protection you’re looking for, few come in a similar size or look this good.
A contender in terms of size is the SKS Mudrocker Front but it’ll set you back £32. It can be more stable as there’s a neat bolt-on adapter, and when combined with zip ties on the fork legs, it’s immovable. However, installation is a faff and it still doesn’t quite provide the coverage of the ProGuard Max Protection.
Then there’s Mudhugger’s Mudhugger EVO Long which beats the ProGuard in terms of price by a whole £1.50. It’s not as long and it gets pre-cut holes that look to work well with Velcro straps.
The Rapid Racer Product ProGuard Front Cable Tie Max Protection mudguard is all about providing the most protection possible and it does so very effectively. If you hate mud spraying in your face, and on any chest-mounted action cameras, this is a go-to bit of kit. However, fitting needs to be precise, and it can wobble under heavier impacts.
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