In this review, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Simucube 2 Pro racing wheelbase. This high-end wheelbase is a popular direct drive choice among sim racers due to its advanced features and exceptional build quality. It’s the mid level offering from Simucube, sandwich between the Simucube 2 Sport and the Simucube 2 Ultimate. While we wait for Simucube’s new pedals, lets review their wheelbase 3 years after its release.
Note: This product was not sent to us by Simucube (we didn’t ask). We paid for it and intend to use it for personal use.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Max Torque: 25 Nm
- Slew rate: 8.0 Nm/ms
- 24 Months Warranty
- Full metal housing for a total weight of 11.1 kg
- Brushless motor with 25 Nm Max Torque
- Angle sensor 4 million step readout per revolution
- Ultra-Low Latency
- Smooth Feeling: Zero throttling, cogging, or ripple
- Wireless Wheel Support
- Quick release preinstalled (no wheel side mounts)
Compatibility PC
Note that the wheelbase is not compatible with every racing game.
Compatible Games:Â iRacing, Asetto Corsa, Asetto Corsa Competizione, F1, Dirt Rally, WRC 9 onwards & more
NOT Compatible:Â Forza Horizon/Motorsport, Need for Speed titles, Art of Rally, Circuit Superstars, WRC 6 & 7, V-Rally, FM7 and FH3
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UNBOXING
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BUILD QUALITY
One of the standout features of the Simucube 2 Pro is its build quality. The wheelbase itself is made from very durable metals and feels so solid it feels overbuilt and so heavy. The design is minimalistic and will be easy to keep clean and dusted.
The motor is custom made in Austria, probably by Lenze. So industrial grade and not the cheap version. The electronics and assembly are very neat. For cooling, there are no fans, it’s all passive cooling through the metal housing. And we love that since it will make everything simpler to keep dust free inside. In all our tests, the wheelbase never got very hot, slightly warm, but never hot.
For the mounting, the Simucube 2 Pro only has front mounting holes to allow for mounting options.
QUICK RELEASE
The Simucube Quick Release mounting is also well-made and provides a very secure attachment for the wheel to your sim racing rig. The design is very different from the competition, and the Kingpin is a novelty for me. But compared to the current Fanatec system, there is no flex at all. Also, the steering wheel attachment is not as expensive as most other quick release, and that’s a big plus in my books.
The only downside I find in this system is that you have to attach the wheel spacer to the wheel part and therefor have a spacer on each of your wheel. Unless you get the SimRacingBay Accessory for 70 euros, but it only comes in a single size. Why am I picky on this topic? Well, it’s simply because with this amazing wheelbase you will want the perfect setup and therefor, the perfect FOV (field of view), and you can only get that by lowering your display as close behind the steering wheel as possible. So please Simucube, make us an optional part for this ?
WIRELESS AND WIRES
Finally, the wheelbase has a wireless receiver built in. You will need to get a wireless wheel for that, but it is a great addition to an already amazing package. If you are not using it, no worries, just plug your wheel in USB as you would with most direct drives.
The included cables are of high quality and feel sturdy, ensuring a reliable connection to your PC. The USB cable is thick and durable, while the power cable is made from a sturdy but less flexible material that is still easy to route and connect. Overall, the Simucube 2 Pro feels like a premium product that is built to last. You won’t feel you overpaid, that’s for sure.
On the earlier versions of the Simucube 2 Pro, there used to be 2 power supplies and apparently there were some power surge problems, but its all fixed, we now have 1 big power supply to connect to the base and no issues.
One flaw I find is that you have to power down the base with the small button at the back of the wheelbase, or the big STOP button, otherwise your monitors will never go to sleep and you sometimes get some beeps coming from the wheelbase.
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SOFTWARE AND SETUP SHARING:
Before talking about performance of the wheelbase, we have to find the right setup. One of the great features of the Simucube 2 Pro is its accompanying software, which allows you to fine-tune the wheel’s settings to your liking. And since this feels like a daunting task when this is your first direct drive, Simucube made it easy, really easy…
In addition to its configurable options, in the software you will be able to browse and import the setups from other drivers, even pros. Change the setup based on the cars driven, load the setups with 1 click, even while you are on the sim.
Let’s be honest, we all want to find a configuration that we feel the most comfortable with, and this can be a great way to quickly try out different setups and see how they affect your driving performance. I was able to test a few in a single session, tweak it a little for me and I was ready to go.
I was dreading this task in the setup, and in the end, it was so easy that I enjoyed it.
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PERFORMANCE:
In terms of performance, the Simucube 2 Pro delivers. The wheel’s force feedback is smooth and realistic, allowing you to feel every bump and ripple on the track as you drive. The force feedback strength can be easily adjusted to your liking, allowing you to customize the amount of force the wheel applies to your hands as you drive. But mort important of all, the Simucube 2 Pro force feedback feels very fast and responsive, making it so much easier to catch a slide, even a big one. I went back to the old Fanatec V2.5 to see and although it didn’t make me faster, but it was so much easier to catch a slide and be a more consistent on the Simucube.
Compared to other direct drives, it felt a little more sharp, and strangely, when the wheelbase is off, the motion is fluid, no small increments due to the magnetic fields in the motor. This has little to no effect when the direct drive wheelbases are on, but could it explain the sharpness feel to the Simucube 2 Pro?
FINAL THOUGHTS
The wheel’s sensitivity can also be adjusted to your preference, allowing for quick reactions or a more controlled driving experience. The sensitivity determines how sensitive the wheel is to your inputs, and can be set to a higher value for quicker reactions or a lower value for a more controlled driving experience. Overall, the Simucube 2 Pro offers a high level of customization, allowing you to tailor the wheel to your specific racing style.
Will it make you faster? Not by much, but you will have more fun and be more consistent. Would I recommend it? Yes, and I would buy it again.
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While the Simucube 2 Pro is on the higher end of the price spectrum for racing wheelbases, we believe it offers excellent value for its price. Simucube provides a lower tier wheelbase, the “Sport” version, and a much more expensive version : the “Ultimate” but considering the price and specification differences, the “Pro” version seems to be the better value. I didnt get the chance to test all the direct drives yet, but I would put the Simucube 2 Pro slightly ahead of the VRS DirectForce Pro and the Fanatec DD2.
The wheel’s build quality and performance are top-notch, and its build quality and software features make it a standout choice among sim racers. The wheel’s durable construction and high-quality cables ensure that it will last for many hours of racing, and its customizable settings and setup sharing feature allow you to tailor the wheel to your specific racing style.
A major drawback to consider before buying is that the wheelbase is for PC and is not compatible with many racing game.
We liked :
- The sharpness and responsiveness
- A Smooth operation
- The software
- The built quality
We would have liked :
- An OEM wheel extension option
- More compatible games
CONCLUSION:
Overall, we are very impressed with the Simucube 2 Pro wheelbase. Its build quality and performance are both top-notch, and its advanced features make it a standout choice among sim racers. While it may be on the pricier side, we believe it offers excellent value for its price due to its durable components and construction, high-quality cables, customizable settings, and setup. For us, this is the benchmark to beat.