Asetek Forte S-Series Racing Simulator Bundle Review

TweakTown Rating: 95%

Our Verdict

Asetek offer a great bundle here. It's perfect for those who want a long term investment into sim racing that will repay you with consistent performance for many years to come.

Pros

• Bundle deal offers great value
• Overall performance/experience
• Build quality
• USB Hub / External power buttons
• Upgrade path/expandability

Cons

• ARGB implementation isn't for everyone
• Not a fan of touch screens on steering wheels

Should you buy it?

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Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

If you are looking to purchase a whole new sim racing wheel bundle, it can be hard to decide what to go for. You have to factor in what you want and need right now, but also consider what else is available within that ecosystem down the road. Today, for instance, you might want to throw some laps in an F1 car, and then next week decide GT is more your thing, and having the ability to swap out just the steering wheel is a lot more budget-friendly than replacing the whole lot.

With some research, it's not that hard to find a manufacturer that offers a wide range of extra steering wheels, handbrakes, pedal upgrades, and more to choose from when you are ready to start expanding your collection. In recent years, each mainstream manufacturer has opened its own ecosystem to be more friendly and compatible with others. This means things aren't as restrictive, and you can essentially mix and match across different brands to get the exact setup you want to run.

As a starting point, a bundle will certainly be a little cheaper than buying the components separately. For example, Asetek offers the Forte S-Series Bundle, which gives you a discount when you buy it as a package. The components in this bundle usually retail for $2216 and are discounted to $2003.30. That saving could go back into the bank, or towards other components, such as an extra USB hub, a DDU, and so on.

Today, I will be checking out this exact bundle, containing the Forte 18Nm wheel base, Forte Formula Pro steering wheel, with Formula LMP grips, and finally the Forte S-Series pedals. The Asetek Forte series offers a balance of power, performance, and value, sitting below the premium Invicta Series and ahead of the La Prima and Initium lineups. As a bundle to start with and expand over time, it's a big initial hit that serves as a base setup that should last you for years to come, provides a great experience, and leaves you safe in the knowledge that if you want to change something out, you can.

With all the parts here and ready to go, let's get to the unboxing of each component in the bundle.

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Unboxing the Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel

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Asetek ships the Forte Formula Pro in nice, full-color packaging, with the wheel image on the front, and provides information about the included screen. The steering wheel includes a two-year warranty and is only PC compatible.

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The rear shows more detail on the wheel's functions, including handle options to make the wheel your own, and on the included display. More details are included below in a range of languages.

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More detail is included on one side, while the other shows off the contents of the box.

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Opening the lid first, there are the warranty and safety guides, the user manual, and Asetek stickers. There are also decals included to customize the wheel itself. Below, a sheet of foam protects the top of the wheel, which is nestled in open-cell foam, while the magnetic gear levers are placed to either side.

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The range of decals provided is impressive and comes in many color options. Decals for the encoders are also raised, with a domed effect, while the button decals are flat and again offer a wide range of options for the end user, in both black and white variants. I prefer manufacturers who give you the choice to designate which control you want where, while the likes of MOZA have these preprinted on the button caps and can't be changed.

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After pulling out the rest of the box contents, the magnetic shifters will need to be installed using the provided tools. Asetek also includes a replacement set of black aluminum knobs for the funky switches, to swap out the included orange ones if desired. There is also a set of tweezers for applying the decals to the steering wheel, mounting hardware, and small grey inserts for the grips, which we will cover soon.

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The main body of the Forte Formula Pro is made from glass-fiber-reinforced material, resulting in a 1.16kg, lightweight rim that feels extremely well-made. Depending on the handles used with the main body, the dimensions of the Formula Forte Pro vary slightly, from 300mm to 304mm, so there isn't much in it when it comes to the grip choice you make.

One of the big focal points of this wheel is, of course, the 800 x 400 pixel, 60Hz, 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen display that sits front and center. Asetek has named this "RaceView", and the screen can be controlled via the Asetek RaceHub software or with SimHub, given its integration out of the box. Users can also swap between the two while in-game, depending on their needs. Around the top and sides of the screen are the RPM and flag LEDs. Fifteen run across the top, with three down each side. LED lighting doesn't stop there, though; all buttons, toggles, and encoders are also backlit. Of course, these can all be customized via the Asetek software.

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I had to look at the Asetek product page to count the total number of options, as I kept losing count; there are a whopping 78 input options and 47 LEDs, for a comprehensive suite of functions to apply. For inputs, the Forte Formula Pro features:

• 3x Absolute Rotary Encoder (12 Position)
• 6x Thumb Wheels
• 2x 7-way Kinky Switch
• 10x Push Buttons
• 2x Rocker Switch
• 2x Gear Paddles

The detail put into the Forte Formula Pro is impressive, and when you activate the buttons, they feel well-made, with no sloppiness or rattle. It's a high-end, near-premium product, so it is to be expected. Little recesses are provided around the buttons for decal placement, to ensure they sit exactly in place, and in line with others, including where they are backlit. The aluminum funky switches and rotary encoders again function well, with snappiness and positive clicks in every location.

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Close up, you can see the small LED arrows for the rocker switches, and the recesses for the decals within the body material.

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The back of the Asetek Forte Formula Pro shows more of the carbon-reinforced plastic, so it's not quite as premium as the drastically more expensive Invicta version. The rear includes mounting holes for your grips of choice, recesses for mounting up to six paddles, and the Asetek QR system. No USB-C port is included on the wheel's back, and a quick-release adapter will be required when mounting to third-party bases.

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With an overview of the wheel, it's time to add some grips and gear paddles. Today I have the Asetek LMP handle set to try out. This set of grips offers a firm, but comfortable place to wrestle with the wheel, and is easily attached using the screws provided. Note that the little grey rubber inserts that were packaged with the wheel accessory kit have been added.

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The magnetic input shifter installation was also quite easy. First, slacken the screw used to adjust the paddle length, then access the screw to mount it to the wheel itself. Once tight, adjust the paddle length to your preference, and the process is complete. Given the magnets within the mechanism, getting the Allen key to the screw proved a little annoying, but overall, it was easily overcome.

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That is the Asetek Forte Formula Pro wheel, all built up and ready to go racing. It is a lovely-looking wheel, and trying to flex it proved unsuccessful. The grips are padded for long sessions and are probably the comfiest I have encountered. They are a little large, but contoured well. Holding the wheel, the majority of the controls are within reach; obviously, the more central, and lower switches and knobs do need some movement, and I like the layout a lot. It's not complicated, but sensible, and well-spaced for practical use. The Forte version shares many characteristics with its more premium big brother, the Invicta, with all the inputs made from the same materials, for a well-rounded, feature-packed wheel.

Unboxing the Forte S-Series Brake & Throttle

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Moving on, we still have a lot to cover, and next up are the stop and go buttons, well, pedals. The Asetek Forte S-Series pedals are available in two forms: either as a single unit or as individual pedals, as shown on the front of the packaging. Pulled from the Asetek product page, the Forte S-Series is just the standard Forte pedals, but they allow separation for a more customized install. Asetek mentions the M.L.C.P.C technology used for the load cell on the front of the box, and we will cover that in more detail later.

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The rear shows four key points of the pedal set: the brake technology employed, the Asetek RaceHub software, the ability to change out the pedal faces, and, finally, the inclusion of ARGB lighting. I am not sure about the last point, but I will leave my thoughts until the end.

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After sliding off the outer cardboard cover and opening the box, the pedal arms and the accessory kit are visible.

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Along with warranty information, the accessory kit includes wiring to connect the pedals, mounting hardware, a USB cable, tools, and both a spring and an elastomer to adapt the pedals to your liking. I would like to see more elastomers and springs included, but Asetek offers them as an add-on kit on its website.

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Pulling the pedals from the packaging, they do look lovely and unmistakably Asetek, with the orange-on-black. The throttle measures 406mm x 115mm x 271mm, while the brake measures 410mm x 115mm x 256mm, so there are subtle size differences between them. All-black anodized aluminum is used for the pedal base and pedal arms, with CNC machining providing a contrast.

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The integrated heel rest features ARGB LEDs that can be adjusted, dimmed, or turned off completely in the Asetek software, located on the slightly thicker bar below the Forte-S logo.

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The front of the pedal assembly includes an adjuster with a locking screw. Found on both the throttle and brake pedals, you can adjust the pedal angle here. You have to disconnect the rear assembly first, and then make the adjustment before putting it back together. A mounting hole is located on either side of the base for attaching to a pedal plate.

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On the rear of the throttle is the end stop, which can again be adjusted to allow a fully custom travel distance for the pedal and is adjusted in a similar way to the angle mechanism.

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Tension on the throttle can be adjusted using the preload adjustment and locknut. Asetek includes an additional spring to adjust the pedal's stiffness. The rear assembly is all-metal construction with more mounting holes visible for attaching to your rig.

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Changing out the throttle spring is a relatively simple process. Open the locking catch, slide out the pivot pin, move the throttle rod, install the new spring, and reverse the process.

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The underside of the pedals includes the connector point for linking the throttle and brake together, with the included wiring. All the mounting holes for the pedals are also visible.

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Completing the throttle, the pedal face is quite smooth and adjustable in height. Asetek offers replacement options on the website, but the included face should be fine for most people.

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The technology that really counts within a pedal set is the braking system and how it is implemented. For the Forte S-Series, Asetek is using its Mechanical Load Cell Powered Cylinder (M.L.C.P.C) technology, inspired by their T.H.O.R.P hydraulic cylinder, which can also be added on as an upgrade if required.

With up to 180kg of pedal force, the brake pedal includes two stages: soft and hard. In the first stage, Asetek state that "It will move 10-20 mm (measured on the pedal plate), while you build up hydraulic pressure, while the caliper pistons are traveling to and pushing the brake pads against the brake disc, and to compensate for the small amount of play in all the mechanical parts on the pedal system that is required for them not to seize up."

Once this stage is complete, it moves into the hard stage; "When hydraulic pressure is built up, the brake pads are squeezing the discs hard, and all mechanical play is compensated. In this stage, your foot is basically 'pressing against a wall', because now your muscles are pressing directly against the hydraulic forces (the brake fluid). Since the fluid cannot be compressed, you will feel the pedal is hard."

Asetek goes on to explain how their design should benefit muscle memory, allowing for precise, repeatable input to reduce lap times and enable consistent performance. They are certainly passionate about this, with everything explained in great detail on the product page and with four whole pages of the manual dedicated to this system. Obviously, testing will tell whether their explanation translates well into the actual experience.

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With M.L.C.P.C., you can adjust the first, soft stage by changing the elastomer. Then, you can change the preload by turning the large wheel adjuster found on the front of the mechanism; again, it includes a locking nut to hold it in position.

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Changing out the elastomer follows a similar process to the throttle; here, you can see the pedal disassembled and the load cell housing.

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Located in front of the brake cylinder is the front-facing USB-C port. Asetek includes a small plastic clip on top of the housing to hold the cable out of the way, so you can then run it back to your PC.

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Rounding out the pedals, the brake features a larger, textured plate that should be nice and grippy for heavy braking.

Unboxing the Asetek Forte 18Nm Direct Drive Base

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The heart and soul of any sim racing setup, of course, is the wheel base. This can dictate which chassis you will use, which inputs you can add, and, most importantly, what the driving experience will be like.

The Asetek Forte 18Nm is, as it says on the box, a high-end wheel base. 18Nm will suit many people who race week in, week out and want some headroom within the system's capability. An image of the base with the built-in LED strips is shown on the front, and the packaging matches that of the pedals.

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On the back, Asetek states that a 22-bit encoder is used, with key components made of aluminum and steel. Asetek also includes some brief information on the RaceHub software and ARGB implementation to the wheel base. On the right, a front-on image of the Forte 18Nm base is shown. Sliding off the outer sleeve, a plain brown cardboard box serves as the main packaging.

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Opening the wheel base packaging, the top open-cell foam layer contains the power brick, wall plug, and two small button units to control the wheel base. The product manual and warranty information are also included here.

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Looking over the two included button units, one controls the wheel base's power with an on/off switch, while the second allows you to cut the wheel base's torque. These are great to have included: not only do they make it easier to find the button (rather than search around the back of the wheel base), but they look great too, with metal base plates to allow mounting to your rig. These two backlit switches are included with the Invicta and Forte wheel bases and have enough cable length to keep them spaced apart when mounting.

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Pulling the top foam layer out of the way, we have the wheel base itself and a sticker sheet. The thickness of the foam packaging is great for protecting the wheel base during shipping.

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The Asetek Forte 18Nm wheel base packs plenty of features. Covering the basics, it delivers 18 Nm of maximum torque and uses a 22-bit absolute encoder. The Forte wheelbase features a resolution of 0.000085 degrees; this translates to around 4,000,000 steps per full rotation of the wheel, resulting in highly responsive, accurate feedback thanks to the 6.7Nm/ms slew rate. The Asetek Forte 18Nm wheel base uses a 400W power supply, weighs 8.5Kg, and measures 133mm x 132mm x 293mm. It's similar in size to MOZA and Simagic bases, so it shouldn't throw up any issues if you are looking to swap over.

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Both sides of the wheel base are identical; it includes an ARGB LED light strip at the top and a T-Nut slot along the lower edge for side mounting. Cooling fins make up the body's external design.

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A well-laid-out rear includes a vented plastic cover. Asetek uses passive cooling with anodized aluminum fins integrated into the body to dissipate heat. Below, a power supply connector sits at the top left, with a USB-C port for connecting to your PC. On the right, a five-port USB-C hub is included for adding other components and extras, saving cockpit space where another hub might have been needed. Below, two connectors are located for the front-mounted power, and the torque switches we saw earlier.

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The front includes Asetek's proprietary quick-release system, and while I do like it, it isn't my favorite; that being the MOZA and Simagic equivalent, both of which use an NRG-style quick-release system, and, in my opinion, it is far superior, and more convenient, being more mainstream throughout the motorsport world.

The top features the Forte logo, with the front plastic surround blending into the cooling fins of the main wheelbase body. The front shroud can also be removed to allow the base to be mounted to a cockpit, or to Aseteks' own front mount, which can be fitted to a range of third-party cockpits.

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Underneath, four M6 T-Slot Nuts are included for bottom mounting. These can be spaced anywhere from 30mm to 190mm and are set 89mm apart. For side mounting, the nuts are to be removed and repositioned as required.

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Finishing off the overview of the Asetek Forte 18Nm wheel base, the top features additional passive cooling fins, two more ARGB LED light strips, and a large warning plaque.

Installation & Software

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Installation and mounting are the same as any other mainstream wheel base and pedal set. Four screws attach the wheel base to the Trak Racer TR120S V2, and the pedals follow the same process for the pedal deck. When installing, I was mindful of the connector that runs between the pedals, which allows for the separation. Connecting the cable was a simple job, just making sure it sat within the groove provided as it exits the side of the pedal and didn't get trapped or crushed.

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With everything connected, I fired up RaceHub V4.4.4 and was greeted by the typical update process. A couple of minutes and restarts later, all components were updated to the latest firmware versions without any issues.

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First, the RaceHub steering wheel tab includes all the usual settings. RaceHub is one of the better software implementations I have found when setting up a wheel. It's simple and straightforward, without overwhelming you with too many toggles and sliders.

Split between two tabs, the button lighting effects can be configured on the first tab, with brightness and both unpressed and pressed options available to change the color of each individual button backlight. Moving over to the second tab, more adjustments can be made, including changing the shift lights to whatever color combination you like and adjusting their layout. Left-to-right, center-to-side, side-to-center, and SimHub control are all included. Sound for shift points, and LED color options are located on the right-hand side.

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Our next section covered force-feedback settings for the wheelbase itself. By default, slider options are greyed out. If you open these from the default settings, you can make a range of adjustments. For testing, I will start with the original settings, and then look to change things as we go. As with all software packages, profiles can be loaded and saved.

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Pedal calibration is covered in the next section, with basic, universal settings available across all software variants. Pedal calibration is located on the first tab, with pedal maps available on the second. Dead zones can also be adjusted as required.

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Moving on to the fourth section down on the left, the LEDs, here you can adjust the settings for the ARGB light strips built into the base, and those located on the pedals. As other manufacturers do, you can either assign these a static color or pattern, or use them for telemetry effects such as flags. Once again, a range of adjustments can be made to the colors and their activation.

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The final section to cover is the display section, to control what appears on the Forte Formula Pro in-built screen. Asetek includes several preset dash screens here, but, of course, the main draw will be the integration with SimHub. A drop-down includes a range of presets, and selecting SimHub, it seamlessly displays the dashboard you selected. In this case, I am, of course, using Lovely Dashboard for testing, but I will also use some of the other templates available, too.

Kris' Sim Racing Test System Specifications

Final Thoughts

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After spending quite a lot of time across multiple sims, it's time to draw my conclusion on this bundle. Let's split it down into the three main components, with the Asetek Forte Formula Pro being the first.

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Everything about the Forte Formula Pro lived up to and exceeded my expectations. From the positive, easy-to-reach buttons and encoders, to the fact that, even with my Sparco gloves on, I didn't have to mash around to find anything, I could still feel what I was doing.

The display is nice and vivid, not too bright, and Asetek includes two areas of the screen as touch points to change the displayed information. While having this feature included is good, and some people will make use of it, for me, I don't really use it; I would rather map a button on the wheel to flip between screens. It makes sense to me this way, both hands are kept on the wheel to keep the car under control. Maybe in the pit lane, it would be more useful to quickly go through things, and having it included does free up the buttons for another use. Either way, you have the option, which can't be a bad thing. The in-built dash screens designed by Asetek are actually rather good. If you are not using SimHub, they are well laid out, informative, and, I would say, sensible, compared to some of the garish designs out there.

As a formula rim, it is obviously perfect for F1-style racing, or GT3/LMP, and with a selection of grips available, it's a versatile wheel that will leave you satisfied for years. The LMP grips are especially nice to hold and ergonomic, and even over longer driving sessions, I didn't feel my hands cramping or leaving me uncomfortable. Changing gears was also a snappy, quiet, and beautiful experience, and having simple bolt-on paddle units makes the wheel expandable over time if you want to add more into the mix.

During racing, I didn't detect any flex. I did try to flex it during the unboxing and was unsuccessful, so I am confident this rim can take a beating for years to come. Just keep it clean and look after it, and it will certainly repay you with lap after lap of on-track fun.

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The Asetek Forte 18Nm wheel base is one of my favorite bases I have had the pleasure of testing so far, and while I am not a huge fan of the Asetek QR system, you can't deny that it works well for quick wheel changes and offers a strong connection. The driving experience is highly responsive and smooth, leaving very little to detract from it, if anything at all. Pushing hard around corners, you can feel the grip threshold, knowing where you need to refrain from trying any harder. Catching slides, feeling bumps, nudging other cars on track, and even gliding across the grass all translate very well to the senses, allowing for intuitive reactions to most situations. I played around with the FFB settings and power level, and while 18Nm is great, for me, more towards the 10-12Nm range is more than enough and gives you plenty of headroom too. The base did warm up a little, but pushing it hard, it is to be expected, and it certainly didn't concern me at all. I run a pair of Nitro Concepts Immersion Wind fans, one on either side of the base, so that will, to some extent, help pull fresh air over the base during racing.

Having an included five-port hub is a great feature, with DDUs, button boxes, handbrakes, and more soon stacking up the number of devices that need connecting. Being able to tuck all of these away in a convenient central place is something I am grateful for.

The integrated lighting has its place, but for me, if I were to use this wheel base long term, I would turn it off. I don't need flashing ARGB everywhere; I prefer a rawer, immersive experience, thanks to the wheel base's feedback rather than flashing lights. For some, like the Simagic variant, this feature will be loved, and when you look more broadly, everything from PC cases to RAM, power supplies, and more across the PC hardware sector is littered with LEDs. Where it makes sense, include it; don't add it just because everyone else is. Here, I could see it used more as a training tool, providing visual feedback as you learn your race craft, until you no longer need it and can turn it off. A little bit like learner plates on a car, once you pass your driving test, these come off, and the telemetry feedback on the wheel base, I think of it in the same sort of way. Whether you like it or not, it's there, but at least you can turn it off.

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Having an external power and torque button is something I want to see more of from other manufacturers, but I can understand the price hike it would entail. While its inclusion is limited to the more high-end Asetek bases, not having to fiddle and fumble around trying to find it on the back of the wheel base makes things a little easier to manage. Sometimes I forget to turn off my Simagic base because the LEDs aren't lit; there is no visual cue that it's active, whereas here the external power button is a nice reminder.

Would I pick the Asetek Forte 18Nm over, say, a MOZA, or Simagic equivalent? Well, I have said this before: the differences between all high-end wheel bases are getting smaller and smaller, and being able to differentiate between them without side-by-side testing is hard. All I will say is that you certainly won't be disappointed with this wheelbase by any stretch of the imagination; it's a fantastic platform on which to build a high-end setup around.

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The Forte S-Series pedals are fantastic and versatile; that's the main takeaway.

Having the ability to space these out means you can have each pedal directly in line with your foot, for a more comfortable driving position, and allows for controlled pressure to be applied to the brake, especially given the 180kg load cell. The throttle is nice, responsive, and snappy, following the contour of my foot as I lift off for precise control. I didn't play around with the resting position, travel, and resistance too much, because out of the box, it is perfectly acceptable as is.

The brake pedal is stiff, really stiff, but of course, this can be adjusted to suit individual preference. Initially, it took some getting used to versus my P1000 RS hydraulics, but with a little time, I soon started to bed into the experience, and it is a very good experience indeed. Pedal travel is limited, and depending on what you have used previously, it will come as a bit of a shock. However, taking up the slack we covered in Asetek's earlier explanation, the M.L.C.P.C. system is well employed here. Lap times were all over the place at first, but within about 5 laps, I grew accustomed to the pedals and started to get quite consistent with trail braking, and the lap times reflected that, too.

Don't forget that Asetek offers an optional hydraulic system, so there is always that upgrade path down the road. I did play around with the pre-load, but the short pedal really helps build muscle memory and modulation, rather than just stamping on the pedal and hoping for the best. In socks, or with the shoes I use, the pedal faces are nice and grippy, and where I could feel the bolt holes on the Simagic P1000's, here, while I could feel them through my socks, it wasn't uncomfortable at all.

As with the wheelbase, the pedals also feature LED lighting, and, to be brutally honest, I didn't even notice it. For me, it's a waste, while on the wheelbase itself, I do get its inclusion, but if you are looking at an LED light bar, on the pedal base, and behind your foot, then you are not concentrating on the road ahead, and it, for me, doesn't make sense to include it.

Overall, Asetek gives you all the tools you will need for an amazing, immersive sim experience that will take you from beginner to a consistent racer, provided you have the talent to match, of course! If you don't, that's fine, you can use those flashy lights to train, start to see, and feel where the ABS or TC kicks in, and with some track time, it's a package that will last for years to come as you refine your racing skills.

The build quality is right up there, the performance again is right up there, and the value, well, you get a lot of hardware for the price. It includes a screen and some nice-to-have power buttons for convenience, and it's a trinity of components that work seamlessly together to put a big smile on your face.