I don't know,...I think it depends really on what kind of riding you do, but not really though. I've heard a lot of people w/cut fenders tell me they don't get any more dirty than before...and I've observed myself on my fenders after some mud that they only catch about 2 inches of what's thrown up anyhow. I'm gunna cut mine, hopefully this weekend,...but who know's, I've been saying that for a while...