Topeak's TetraFender M1/M2 mudguard set addresses mud and spray protection at the front and rear of the bike. Providing coverage options, the mudguard set offers ample protection at the front, while the rear could be improved. Despite not being for the weight-conscious and being a little tricky to fit, the TetraFender set is a solid option in the best MTB mudguard market.
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Topeak’s TetraFender M1/M2 set is a quick mounting, adjustable, large-coverage fender set that fits 26-29-inch tyres up to a whopping 2.8in with the rear fender mounting directly to your frame's seat stays.
I strapped on Topeak’s TetraFender M1/M2 set to my beloved trail bike to see if it could handle tough trails, keep the crud at bay in proper muddy conditions and win me over in the looks department.
Topeak TetraFender M1/M2 mudguard - Technical details
Both fenders are constructed from two sections of injected high-impact resistant plastic in two tones of dark grey with a matte finish on the outside and a shiny mud-shedding finish underneath. The rear M2 features a clever split design to remove the longer rear section to create a short, more summer-specific fender.
Chunky aluminium struts support both fenders, these attach to your frame's seat stays and fork legs at mounting bases that use thick rubber boots to protect your paintwork and are held firmly in place by robust-looking hook and loop velcro straps. The M2 gets a second thinner metal strut for added stabilisation. Both ends of each main strut feature a 2.5mm Allen bolt for fine-tuning the fit laterally. There’s also a small Velcro strap to secure the front M1 fender at the fork crown.
The front M1 weighs 232g and the rear M2, 366g. I measured an internal clearance of 3in from the bolt mounts in both the front and back fenders, which should accommodate the mentioned 2.8in tyres with no problem. Front coverage is huge, with the M1 measuring 16.74in (425mm) approx from the fork crown, with the rear M1 providing a total coverage of 22in (558.8mm) approx.
These should fit most bikes, but you’ll need to check you have a width of between 115-145mm between your fork legs and 95-125mm width between your seat stays with 200mm of unobstructed seat stay length with no cable routing or bosses in the way before you buy.
Topeak TetraFender M1/M2 mudguard - Installtion
I timed the installation and it took me a slightly fiddly 25 minutes. It's a lot longer than any other fender I’ve fitted previously. That said, most of the time was spent reading the instructions, fine-tuning the fit for good tyre spacing and using the 2.5mm bolts for the correct alignment and coverage.
You need to be careful when fitting the M2. To route the Velcro straps under cables to avoid pinching them and causing any shifting and braking issues, and to ensure a secure fit. But once the chunky mounting brackets and rubber boots were seated in the right position, they provided ample protection for my frame and forks. I also found the chunky buckles a bit of a faff to use but, once done up, the hook and loop straps delivered a secure fit.
Topeak TetraFender M1/M2 mudguard - Performance
Starting at the front, the M1 is solid. The aluminium struts and velcro closure – whilst not the most svelte looking, certainly kept it firmly in place. It's a little odd to look down on from the seated position, being used to one-piece designs previously, but hey it does the job very well. With 425mm (approx) of coverage to the wheel, it might well be the longest on the market – even longer than the Crud XL fender. It kept me clean(ish) from mid-shin upwards, dirtying up my frame from mid-downtube down, meaning my water bottle stayed pretty clean.
I did encounter a bit of clogging when hacking through long-cut grass in muddy fields though. I found that grass could get forced into the joint between the two sections from the forward motion of my wheels. But other than that, for thick or wet mud I didn’t encounter any clogging or other problems and it kept my vision muck free.
Moving to the rear, I tried my hardest to rattle the crap out of the M2, hitting rough, rocky and stepped trails, but it stayed firmly in place. The only reason I noticed, was the odd buzz off my tyre when I hit a notchy off-camber line, but that could be down to my slightly flexy carbon wheels.
I wouldn’t say I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of mud and spray up the back of my jacket by the ride's end, but it was dramatically less than it would have been sans-fender.
From the waist down I fared a lot better. Yes, the seat of my trousers was wet through, but rather than a full-length coating of cack it was centralised to the seat and a small section of the inner thighs, leaving the back of my legs pretty much clean. Mud build-up was dramatically lessened at the back of the seat tube, under the saddle, and around the bottom bracket area of my frame, meaning I carried less mud and weight around, which is a bonus.
Topeak TetraFender M1/M2 mudguard - Verdict
There are a lot of great front fenders on the market. At £35 the Crud XL fender is lighter at 202g and offers massive rear coverage of 405mm. It’s an outstanding fender and offers amazing protection.
The Mudhugger Evo at £30 is cheaper and offers a good rear extension of 330mm and a big weight saving at 139g. It looks great and there’s also a bolt-on version that fits many fork models.
Mudhugger also produces the MK2 rear Mudguard, which offers protection thanks to its full-wrap design. It sits on the seat stay and fits most rear triangle frame designs, extending down for some BB protection and out to a whopping 775mm. It’s also slightly lighter than the Topeak M2 at 300g, but I’d argue it's not as nice looking as the M2.
Another option that certainly wins in the looks department is the Rapidracer products ProGuard rear at £27. It's designed to protect the lower linkage and seatpost areas from mud ingress rather than the rider.
In short, I’d be quite happy riding with the Topeak TetraFender M1 front fender fitted, although the chunky struts aren’t the prettiest, it certainly delivers a high level of protection and is super solid. I’d also imagine it could survive a decent crash. Although both fenders are quick and easy to remove, I still can’t see myself using the M2 – or any other rear, unless it was for lighter duties. The rear fender does compromise the look of my bike enough for me to prefer finishing a ride with a mud-sodden rear, which I know may seem a little superficial, but it does look better than some of the other models on the market. It just depends on your personal preference and style of riding.
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