I fell in love with this wheel!
This is the Bavarian Simtec Alpha, a highend screenless wheel that impressed me to the point of saying that this could be the last wheel that id need. Its not perfect, but in terms of functions, woowee does it have a lot of them.
Disclosure: The Alpha was sent for review as a loaner unit by Bavarian Simtec which Ive been using close to 2 months now, so this is more a long term review, I have an affiliate link below with them, use code randomcallsign3 for 3% discount. As always opinions my own.
The Alpha wont be for everyone as it starts around the 700pounds plus VAT, 949euro for the standard version, or around 880dollars. Iif you need extra paddles and a clutch add 150 for the advanced. Considering the background of the channel, plenty will scorn at the price, as they can get something else for much cheaper. Whilst that is true, different people will value different things, and this and many other wheels of the kind are built to another standard or a feature set that a non trivial number of people will enjoy and actually require. Since we are all adults, I assume, nobody is making you spend or not spend this money as these transactions are purely voluntary between consenting adults, and if this wheel makes sense or not for you, its going to be purely personal.
The unboxing experience is simple, open the box, the components are inside. The box is pretty though. Theres a set of tweezers and a sticker sheet, but since this is a loaner unit, Im leaving it plain.
In terms of specs, we have a two shell construction in a package that weighs around 1200g, minus the quick release. Its a 295mm wheel, so pretty good for GT or prototype driving, maybe a little bit too much for Formula. Still, it should cover most use cases. The wheel features LEDs in the 3 12 3 configuration, compatible with simlab and it will have custom trickery with lights, we will take about that in a second. 12 frontal buttons, 2 7 way funky switches, 2 thumb rotaries with clicks, 1 of them can be linked to the multi link switch, 2 rotary knobs and 1 multifunction rotary knob that can have up to 7 different functions plus brightness. All of these rotaries have clicks as well. The selection can be changed by pressing the rotary and rotating left or right. So essentially you can have up to 10 different rotaries for everything, plus the thumb ones.
Then theres the Shifters, the secondary paddles and the clutches. In total theres around 51 buttons. Its at the same level of craziness as the forte wheel, but simplified and looking much better.
The wheel is connected by a coiled usb cord. For the Asetek users theres a Asetek version to connect directly via Asetek QR. To use this wheel you should connect it to a powered USB port or Hub.
If you are using your own QR system, like I am, it should be compatible with everything under the sun. Im using it with a fanatec clubsport and a Logitech Pro, and the standalone quickreleases are simple to install to the holes in the back. If needed, BST sells an extension. They have sent one to me, and like the wheel itself is well built, but I didnt need it in the slightest.
As for the physical thing. The build is exceptionally strong, the wheel feels rigid. No torsion, no creaks from the shell. Its incredibly comfortable. The buttons are easily reachable and the silicon rubber is comfortable. Ergonomics is definitely something well done here.
The buttons have a great positive click and need a decent actuation force. So do the rotaries and funky switches. Theres a little movement from rotaries, expected when theres a click. The LEDS are strong, even with red. That color tends to be the weakes in most LEDs even outside of simracing. The shifters are rather nice. Really nice strong positive click with a good dampened end feel. Good stuff.
One of the main features of the Alpha is Beamtec, which will receive TC and ABS info from the game directly into the wheel. This works with iracing, Comeptizione. You can use these rotaries however you may want, but it feels nice to have the ABS and TC assigned there and see the settings change as the rotary change. This is compatible with a bunch of cars in iracing, but more games and cars will be added.
The wheel can be controlleld via the latest versions of simhub. Its just a standard activation. Select a new device and install it. Simhub should have some default LED profiles, some for specific cars, others will be more general so it has compatibility with all cars. but regardless, BST discord has more LED profiles for you to install.
The other way is via Pitstopapp which is currently not available, but has a release for the end of the year. This software has pretty much everything its needed to change LEDs, activate functions or change bite points. Its a pretty simple software. It will work as well as simhub in its simplicity and options.
These two months using the Alpha have been great to be fair. Its probably the first wheel Ive used that would completely fit the bill to my needs in many ways, except for one… the price. Kind of expected really. Starting with the ergonomics, they are simply perfect. Its an absolute treat. The grips contribute a lot to the hand being relaxed and in the correct grip position to grab the handles or operate the controls. The 295mm width is well within the size I prefer the most. Not too big, not too small. The shifters are precise, a bit on the loud side, but I like the shifting action. But I think the main point is how the ergonomics make it simple to operate the car controls. Most buttons are, including the bottom ones, are very easily reachable. Then the other hight is the synergy between the smartlink In iracing, for example I use one of the funky switches to operate the black box controls. Binding the black box page to one of the smartlink options, it clears the way for a lot of button clutter, that would require a lot of assignments on the wheel, or a separate blackbox. The fact you can use the smartlink to clean a lot of random assignments, that I normally have to run, is an absolute godsend.
The Leds are incredibly bright with zero light bleed between buttons. Theeres is plenty to like in this incredibly rigid wheel and well thought out wheel.
There is not so good as well. At the front the LED lights go through a diffusion layer that is sticked to the front. Im not sure how long this can last or if it peels off. The silicon grips could have a better finishing, we can see seams kind of flaking. and lastly, im not fond of the magnetic clutches. They feel flimsy, they dont feel very precise. Then again I dont use clutches in what I race. The last point is a big one. This wheel seems to me to be incredibly sensible to EMI to the point the wheel wouldnt recognise, and would even disconnect. Ive had to core multiple cables and that seemed to have fixed it. Just for the sake of it, ive also changed to another powered USB hub. Since then, no more problems have arisen.
I know I have a fanatec wheelbase as a main, but I didnt have any issues like this before.
Ive been using this wheel for well over a month now. During that time Ive grown attached to it because the feature set simplifies the usability of a lot inputs. while the wheelbase doesnt have many physical buttons it still lets me do everything due to the rotary functions. The rather simplistic nature and ergonomic feel of it is fantastic. The wheel is comfortable, well built and honestly, it looks really good. The price isnt for everyone, but the feature set is here for those who need it.
Sadly, Ill have to send this back. Gonna miss it.
