First Look | The New Mudhugger FR Guard
There is something super cool about throwing up muddy roost, slapping into grimy ruts and getting loose on slick turns. What’s not so cool is getting all that muddy crap in your eyes and up your nose – one muddy ride can transform you into the beast from the bog. We have all been there flat out, hollering and fully pinned, then the front tyre picks up a sodden glob of mud and fires it mercilessly at your goggles (or even worse your eyeball), leaving you to deal with the next two critical turns in the dark. Mud guards used to be the height of ‘uncool’ but now there are plenty on the market that do the job and look cool too. We check out the latest offering from UK Company Mudhugger – the Mudhugger FR.
We were impressed with the original Mudhugger, and were keen to see what had been updated. Mudhugger’s Bruce Gardiner filled us in on the medifucations to the new FR: “The FR was developed during the back end of the racing season following feedback from sponsored international racers such as Innes Graham Mark Scott and Matt Simmonds. It was Matt who had first noted that at high speed and in wet conditions he was still getting some spray on his goggles and asked us if we could come up with a race specific model. After talking to some of the other racers we set about making the hugger longer (approx. 75mm) at the front in particular with a distinctive turned down nose to prevent spray coming up into the air (which the rider at high speed basically rides into). The rear is 25mm longer than the front with a modified radius to allow better fitting to enduro type forks with big volume tyres. It still retains the same tail profile allowing the rear extension to be fitted adding a further 75mm to the rear making it very large if people want extra protection. It is squarely aimed at downhill and enduro racers although any reasonable rider will get the benefit of the extra coverage.”
With the Scottish weather back in force, the trails are running thick with mud and we have mounted up the Mudhugger FR to put it through its paces. The first 1000 Mudhugger FR’s will be available at a special ‘early bird’ price of £23, after that they will retail for £25. The Mudhugger are also setting up a European website www.themudhugger.eu which will have the FR ready for shipping to anywhere in Europe within the next few weeks.
For more information check out Mudhugger’s website
Words and Photos | Trev Worsey
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