Review on SKS-Germany X-Blade Fender: Ultimate Protection and Style for Your Ride by Eduardo Davis

I live in Oregon, where wet winters and the occasional light rain are the norm. the wing blends in perfectly with the "killed" look. It was pretty easy to install and set up and covers the rear wheel well. The maximum tire width is 2.5 inches, but I don't know why. The main blade span seems to cover at least 95% of the width of my WTB Ranger 3.0" tires. (The wide spatula on the end *definitely* at least covers the full width.) SKS makes several similar models and I've seen some complaints in other reviews about the clip strap being too squishy to adjust properly, but I found it it is easy . I had to adjust the strap a few times to get the correct tension, but that's a one-time job (or should be - we'll see). it will turn it sideways a few degrees so you need to pre-compensate. I didn't find any of these factors to interfere with the initial setup. The color difference is more subtle in person: more like black on black, more like front and back "charcoal" inserts or something (in the photo I think). You can certainly see the difference, but it's more of a difference in texture than color, and the entire blade is about the same flex. The joint cannot be moved without the application of force. One could wish for a little more finishing touches, but I don't see how the teeth could be made much smaller. Seems to be a deliberate technical compromise. Of course, it doesn't make mounting difficult - I just wanted it to sit a little tighter on the tire. The pivot points on the underside of the control arm are more like a friction fit and are part of one of the "lighter black" inserts. seems to act like a rubber friction washer. While the rear insert is fixed, the front insert is a separate piece and can be flipped down from the standard position shown. (I don't understand why you need it or need it, but it is.) I haven't ridden the bike with the fender installed, so I can't comment on how much it wanders or not. . But the fender curve is much flatter than my 29" wheel with 3.0 tires. Even if it sags, it touches the center of the fender and doesn't stick with the end in the tire tread. Revise this review as needed in the future. Overall it lives up to the description, looks good on an all black and/or "invisible" bike and seems to offer the lighting promised. For me it's usually 5 stars. It's not much, but the wing came zipped on a hanging card, not in its own box. Looks like it should be on some sort of shelf long enough to to have a slight bend from end to end in the flexible, rubbery plastic of the blade. This is enough to deflect the wing line without straightening the wheel. For example, with the clip end and "wishbone" centered, the rear tip of the blade is about half an inch to the right of what it should be and skewed to one side. I was able to relocate the mounting bracket to c above the tire without looking too weird, but any look at the bike from the back or front and you'll see it's crooked. This does not appear to be a manufacturing defect, just a lack of protection against rolling on a shelf or under another item. I suspect if you lean your bike against the wall you park against every day and it pushes the blade out of the way, it's likely to bounce off it, not rebound. I'll come back to that. This review after hitting a few puddles, some seals rattling, and general hooligan commuting, as well as reporting any cons or pros found and whether this twist works on its own. The time will show. However, I am not sending it back; For the price I can live with a little sacrifice. [UPDATE a few months later] Looks like our wet spring is almost over and I've taken the fender off. It stayed in place well and the curve seemed to loosen up after about a week. The friction pivot on the wishbone was much stronger than I expected, and when I adjusted the fender it was surprisingly difficult to move. It certainly never migrated from one place! It might have to do with how tight I got the screws so YMMV, but as far as I can tell it could definitely be durable. Upgrade your rating from 4 to 5 stars! =