News

We have just launched a new product. It’s “iruCanal”, detachable mudguards specially designed for iruka.

I had been thinking we should prepare mudguards as an option since we launched iruka, but I couldn’t take it to the top of our task list without any specific reasons. Then, when I joined a YouTube live of a dealer, I was urged by the audience and promised to make it. That was one year ago.

Actually, you don’t need mudguards so often. When the road is dry, it’s not necessary. Even when wet, if raining, you will wear a rainwear so you don’t need to care the splash on your shirt. It means you need mudguards only after the rain.

So, iruCanal was developed to be not only reliable but also super-easy attachable when necessary and detachable when unnecessary. Just like other iruka accessories such as iruCart.

If I write the details of the development process, it won’t be boring though, today I will only introduce the structure and how it’s used. 

iruCanal is composed of the following parts. From the upper left, front bracket, front bracket fixing bolt, rear bracket, and two mudguard wings. The brackets for both the front and rear are fixed on the frame, and the wings are inserted and removed to/from the brackets as necessary.

Once the front bracket is attached to the back of the fork crown and the rear bracket to the coupler with M4 and M5 hex wrench (see the manual for details), the wings can be attached and detached by inserting and pulling by hand. It doesn’t take a second.

The wings are made of PP, which is highly flexible and light. It weighs only 38g. It wouldn’t be a burden to keep them in your bag to be prepared for situations when you need them. You will find the logo is curved on the wings.

I guess some of you are wondering if the rear wing can prevent the water and mud, right? OK, I will show you our test results.

Set iruka on a maintenance stand, put a newspaper over the saddle to handlebar, and place a tray filled with water under the rear wheel.

Then, turn the pedal and check how much of the water rolled up by the rear wheel falls onto the paper.

First, without mudguard. There is a significant amount of water splash on the newspaper. 

Next, with iruCanal. The color is different because it’s a prototype, but the length is the same with the mass-production.

The result is this. We could find just one drop (red circle). It means your back will be protected almost perfectly. 

One caution. We found some drops on the seat post. It means the splash below the wing is not a lot but unpreventable. Even with iruCanal, maybe you shouldn’t go out with white pants after the rain.

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One morning before the launch, I woke up and found that the rain had just stopped. The road was wet, and it was better for bikers to have mudguards. I attached the iruCanal on my iruka and headed for work. When I arrived and removed it, I found that the back of the wings was covered with full of water splash.

I felt relived that iruCanal protected me well, also regretted that I should have made it earlier.

Masaki Mark Kobayashi

Founder and President, iruka Inc.