The original Ass Savers Win Wing was a rather revolutionising mudguard that thoroughly changed wet bike rides for me and the updated version pictured here continues to impress with its well-thought-out design. This simple, yet incredibly efficient gadget barely adds any weight or clutter to the bike, yet it keeps your backside dry even in the wettest conditions. Read on to find out where it stands among the best MTB mudguards.
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Ass Savers Win Wing 2 Gravel mudguard - Technical details
Visually, the updated Win Wing 2 mudguard doesn't differ much from the original Win Wing, so updates are subtle. Ass Savers has continued to endorse Scandi minimalism in the design of the Win Wing – in essence, there are only three parts to it.
The thin plastic flap that does most of the work attaches to the sturdy, U-shaped wishbone that then attaches to the bike’s seat stays with two sturdy TPU straps. The straps are stretchy and have little holes in them, allowing for adjustment for different thicknesses and styles of seat stays. There's clearance for 60mm tyres which is plenty.
What has changed with the updated ‘2’ version of this mudguard is not much. Ass Savers says it’s now “Stronger, Gentler, Darker” and that translates to the slight structural change in the wishbone design, contributing to the glass-fibre-reinforced PA material withstanding more beating than before.
In addition to this, Ass Savers decided to add a new colourway to the lineup. Whereas previously the wishbone was light grey, it now comes in black. The actual flap comes in a whole plethora of colours and designs to suit you and can even be customised to your heart's desire.
And in terms of being gentle on your frame, well, the Win Wing now comes with frame protection stickers included, protecting your bike’s seat stays from scratches — even tho the attachment points were already softened by softer strips.
Ass Savers Win Wing 2 Gravel mudguard - Performance
The original Win Wing impressed me in every aspect and I would be exaggerating things slightly by saying that much has changed in the Win Wing 2. All of the subtle changes introduced in this second iteration are great, but they have not altered the core product because really, why change what is already working quite perfectly?
Adding the black colourway and frame protection stickers are relatively small changes but they prove the brand’s attention to detail and listening to feedback. Though the Win Wing is primarily a functional item, it is also something that can add style — or similarly, take it away — to your bike. That said, the black goes well with more frame colours than the lighter grey one does and, with so many blade options, you’re bound to find one that completes your look, or simply opt for the simple black and black combo.
In terms of the performance, I have absolutely no faults to report. Despite its delicate look, the Win Wing Gravel 2 continues to block any spray from the rear wheel even when riding through puddles or in proper muddy conditions. The generous 60mm tyre clearance also means that this flap will suit even those gravel riders who prefer to fit on mountain bike tyres on their bikes.
In addition to the great performance in saving your backside from a soaking, the attachment of this mudguard could not be simpler. You simply check roughly where the wishbone structure is best placed, stick on the provided frame protection stickers, then loop the straps around the seat stays and secure them tightly in place.
Once this is done, you can adjust the angle of the blade by slotting it into a different hole on the wishbone and voila, you’re good to go. There is zero rattle coming from this mudguard, nor does it seem to lose its position even on the roughest bits of the gravel tracks and
Ass Savers Win Wing Gravel 2 mudguard - Verdict
Having used the Ass Savers Win Wing Gravekl 2 mudguard on nearly every bike ride over the last 12 months (because it is hardly ever dry in Scotland) it's not only its unrivalled functionality but also the looks that have grown on me.
The Win Wing Gravel remains unrivalled in its performance and value for money and if the looks were a little questionable before, even those have now been improved.
The Win Wing's only competitor is the Mudhugger Rear Mudhugger MK2 mudguard (£35) but it doesn't offer the same performance or ease of use as the Win Wing does. Musguard Omni Wide mudguard set is also a lightweight option but costs slightly more at £48 – though you do get the front guard, too.
Overall, it's hard to find a simpler and more effective mudguard setup than the Win Wing for your gravel bike and, with the new black colourway, it now looks even better, too.
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