So...First thoughts, packaging up to their usual standards. Box contained rim in the usual cloth bag, t-bar allen wrench and two spare allen bolts. A good look around the rim showed it to be in visually perfect condition.
So to the installation.
Removing the old rim was straight forward, and the slight fear of the possibility of cross threaded bolts I have heard about proved to be unfounded.
Replacing it with the new F1 rim was just as easy, less than five mins in total from one to the other and the original bolts were fine to reuse and screwed in nice and snug.
Slight panic when I tried to connect to the PC and I was unable to do so...Then I remembered turning the PC on may help and in no time the connection was made.
First thing that stood out was the nice big LED display, then setting it up...still working on this, many buttons, two little joysticks (nicer feeling than the ones on the CSR and CSRE) and none where I am used to them being. But this is just a matter of getting used to it.
In use it feels just a tiny bit too small, not overall, just where my thumbs go, now years of guitar playing and sword swinging does mean the muscle at the base of my thumb is larger than average and I think this is the issue rather than the wheel itself, also there is an indentation on the grip where your thumbs sit if you rest them outside the wheel so I do that quite a lot.
Using it is more different than I expected, but I do like it particularly in Formula style cars of course, some panic as I try to remember what button I have set to do what, but all in all a painless install, works fine, looks good and I'm quite happy.
As for other cars, well the same as the GT rim works for all, once I am totally comfortable with the F1 rim I expect the same will be true, though it is a bit odd driving Euro Truck Simulator with it :)
is it the same as the one for the csw? Do you find the steering inputs to more precise? Is there a different feel in regards to ffb, just curious due to the shape ....being a normal rim the vibrations continue around the whole rim where this it's only the 2 handles and last but not least how are the paddle shifters?
the million questions is just due to the fact I haven't heard much on them and an upgrade is in the near future....have you tried any fwd cars with it yet? BTcc
Only difference between this and the CSW F1 rim is the row of LED's on the top is lacking on mine and there is a rotary dial on the right where I have a joystick (Thanks for nothing Microsoft) FFB is excellent as the rim is quite light, and on the CSW where the GT rim is so much heavier the difference is even more marked. Paddle shifters are superb, very precise I was concerned about them being so much smaller than on the standard rim but there is no problem in use at all.
The wheel vibrations are what they are, the FFB from the base is the dominant thing for me, engine rumble and the like are fine but don't really add to the feel of the physics more an added level of immersion. Had a blast around in the Clios and was as fast as with the original rim so as I have said once you get used to it any car works fine, user input is more defined yes, I would say so. the smaller diameter comes in to play there.
So after a week or so I am now completely comfortable with this rim, I was tempted to go back to the GT rim for the BTCC but decided as this was a track I am very familiar with I would stick with the F1 rim. I think the results speak for themselves.
I have now used it with rF1 BTCC, Porshe supercup, Enduracers, rF2 FISI, Clio, GT2, GT3, and iRacing Mclaran and Star Mazda.
All cars I drove as well or as badly as usual, some maybe a touch better. So Kurupt, other than having to take care with button placement, I put the pit limiter on a button I found I can hit by accident...though less now I am used to it...I recommend it.
So...First thoughts, packaging up to their usual standards. Box contained rim in the usual cloth bag, t-bar allen wrench and two spare allen bolts. A good look around the rim showed it to be in visually perfect condition.
So to the installation.
Removing the old rim was straight forward, and the slight fear of the possibility of cross threaded bolts I have heard about proved to be unfounded.
Replacing it with the new F1 rim was just as easy, less than five mins in total from one to the other and the original bolts were fine to reuse and screwed in nice and snug.
Slight panic when I tried to connect to the PC and I was unable to do so...Then I remembered turning the PC on may help and in no time the connection was made.
First thing that stood out was the nice big LED display, then setting it up...still working on this, many buttons, two little joysticks (nicer feeling than the ones on the CSR and CSRE) and none where I am used to them being. But this is just a matter of getting used to it.
In use it feels just a tiny bit too small, not overall, just where my thumbs go, now years of guitar playing and sword swinging does mean the muscle at the base of my thumb is larger than average and I think this is the issue rather than the wheel itself, also there is an indentation on the grip where your thumbs sit if you rest them outside the wheel so I do that quite a lot.
Using it is more different than I expected, but I do like it particularly in Formula style cars of course, some panic as I try to remember what button I have set to do what, but all in all a painless install, works fine, looks good and I'm quite happy.
As for other cars, well the same as the GT rim works for all, once I am totally comfortable with the F1 rim I expect the same will be true, though it is a bit odd driving Euro Truck Simulator with it :)
Looks nice and thanks for the review!
is it the same as the one for the csw? Do you find the steering inputs to more precise? Is there a different feel in regards to ffb, just curious due to the shape ....being a normal rim the vibrations continue around the whole rim where this it's only the 2 handles and last but not least how are the paddle shifters?
the million questions is just due to the fact I haven't heard much on them and an upgrade is in the near future....have you tried any fwd cars with it yet? BTcc
cheers
Only difference between this and the CSW F1 rim is the row of LED's on the top is lacking on mine and there is a rotary dial on the right where I have a joystick (Thanks for nothing Microsoft) FFB is excellent as the rim is quite light, and on the CSW where the GT rim is so much heavier the difference is even more marked. Paddle shifters are superb, very precise I was concerned about them being so much smaller than on the standard rim but there is no problem in use at all.
The wheel vibrations are what they are, the FFB from the base is the dominant thing for me, engine rumble and the like are fine but don't really add to the feel of the physics more an added level of immersion. Had a blast around in the Clios and was as fast as with the original rim so as I have said once you get used to it any car works fine, user input is more defined yes, I would say so. the smaller diameter comes in to play there.
Yes mate, on both counts
So after a week or so I am now completely comfortable with this rim, I was tempted to go back to the GT rim for the BTCC but decided as this was a track I am very familiar with I would stick with the F1 rim. I think the results speak for themselves.
I have now used it with rF1 BTCC, Porshe supercup, Enduracers, rF2 FISI, Clio, GT2, GT3, and iRacing Mclaran and Star Mazda.
All cars I drove as well or as badly as usual, some maybe a touch better. So Kurupt, other than having to take care with button placement, I put the pit limiter on a button I found I can hit by accident...though less now I am used to it...I recommend it.