The details
- Every 700 Series left the factory with aluminum alloy fenders installed, in the wide class needed to cover its 27.5 by 2.4 inch Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires. If you need an exact width to match, measure your fenders directly or confirm against Ride1Up's current parts listing rather than trusting secondhand numbers.
- Ride1Up sells replacement parts for the 700 Series through its site, including a dedicated fenders category, and that is the safest source for an exact-fit set.
- Owners point to a useful adjustment on the front fender: its fork tab can be mounted in two positions, one for a tighter fit and one for more tire clearance. Check the fender section of your manual for the specifics on your model year.
- The 700 Series is now discontinued, so OEM fender stock will not last forever. Grab OEM parts sooner rather than later if you want an exact match.
What an aftermarket replacement must have
Three requirements, in order. First, width: a 2.4 inch tire needs fenders in the wide class, typically catalogued around 65 to 75mm, which rules out the common narrow commuter fenders sold for road and hybrid bikes. Second, wheel size: buy fenders specified for 27.5 inch wheels, also sold as 650b in some catalogs. Third, mounting: the 700 Series has conventional fender eyelets at the fork and rear stays plus bridge mounts, so standard bolt-on full fenders work, but check that the stays are long enough for the large wheel and tire combination. Popular wide bolt-on sets from mainstream fender brands fit this pattern; match the width and wheel size on the packaging rather than the brand name.
What owners actually do
Most owners keep the stock set for the life of the bike, since aluminum fenders survive knocks that crack plastic ones. The common repairs are simpler than full replacement: rattles get fixed by tightening the stay bolts and adding a rubber washer, bent stays get bent back by hand, and a scraping fender usually just needs re-centering at the bridge mounts. When owners do replace, the split is between ordering the OEM set from Ride1Up for an exact fit and going aftermarket for a color or coverage preference. Owners on the discontinued-parts clock lean OEM while it lasts.
If yours came without fenders
Secondhand 700 Series bikes sometimes show up stripped, because previous owners removed the fenders for a sportier look. You are not stuck hunting OEM: since the frame and fork have standard eyelets, any wide 27.5 inch bolt-on fender set with sufficient tire clearance restores full coverage. Before ordering, measure your actual tire width at its widest point, since some owners have swapped tires, and verify the eyelets are still populated with bolts rather than stripped or missing. If the OEM set is in stock on Ride1Up's parts page, it remains the zero-guesswork option.