BavarianSimTec Alpha

Our rating : 9.7/10

Some time ago, we talked about BavarianSimTec, which is a premium German sim-racing peripherals manufacturer, offering a complete range of steering wheels for all things Formula racing.

The brand has a small team, but innovation, passion and quality products are certainly not lacking. BavarianSimTec covers the sim-racing flywheel segment, and also offers bundles with Simucube bases, the best on the high-end market.

Among BavarianSimTec’s wheels, we have the Alpha, which is the manufacturer’s entry-level wheel. It’s a minimalist wheel, directly inspired by F4/F3 single-seaters, with a sleek, performance-oriented design. In what follows, we take it in hand for a full test.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• Formula-style steering wheel with a diameter of 29.5 cm
• Black anodized aluminum frame
• Closed silicone handles with brand-specific 13° angle
• 12 RGB buttons, 5 encoders and 2 funky switches
• RevLED on top of front panel
• Available in standard version with 2 pallets, and advanced version with 6 pallets
• Spacing-adjustable magnetic pallets
• Standard 6×70 mm pattern on rear to accommodate virtually any Quick Release
• PC only and SimHub compatible
• Weight 1.25 kg for standard version, 1.35 kg for advanced version

Design

BavarianSimTec’s Alpha is a very competition-oriented steering wheel, as are the brand’s other wheels. BavarianSimTec focuses on the Formula/single-seater sim-racing segment, with a product range that covers steering wheels with and without screens.

This steering wheel is all black, with RGB buttons on the faceplate. On top of that, you’ve got two gold thumb encoders, which make the wheel stand out from the sober crowd.

I’ll say it right away: the Alpha from BavarianSimTec is either love it or hate it. It’s a wheel that focuses on performance and feel, before pleasing the eye.

Customized assembly

On the rear of the Alpha, you have a standard 6×70 mm pattern that can accommodate almost any Quick Release and hub available on the market, in addition to the 50.8 mm which is quite rare. Connection to PCs is via an aviation-type cable, which terminates in USB.

The brand offers certain bundles with Simucube bases, but the Alpha is not supplied directly with a Simucube Quick Release. You’ll have to buy it separately, or opt for another compatible mounting system. The good news is that, since the steering wheel is USB-independent, it can be used with most direct-drive bases on the market, provided you have the right Quick Release.

Manufacturing and finishing

The Alpha from BavarianSimTec is a very high-end steering wheel, and this is reflected not only in its selling price, which we’ll see below, but also in the materials used. Aluminum is used throughout the steering wheel’s structure, and the latter is anodized in black.

As for the handles, the manufacturer uses silicone on them to ensure a high level of grip. The Alpha is made up of just a few parts, and assembly is exemplary. It’s perfect, with no manufacturing defects whatsoever, and that’s to be expected, as the target audience is a very small one, with a substantial budget for their setup.

In terms of finish, I can’t say much about this wheel. The Alpha is a top-of-the-range wheel, well above Fanatec, Simagic and even Simucube. BavarianSimTec navigates an elitist segment: there are few competitors in this segment, and if you’re considering this type of wheel, you’re dealing with a clearly high-end product.

Handling the steering wheel

The Alpha’s shape is fairly rectangular, with a diameter of 29.5 cm. In sim-racing, and especially for Formula and GT disciplines, this is the perfect size and shape. The hand position is 9.15, with closed grips this time.

Speaking of which, they feature a 13° angle for the thumb moldings, for superb ergonomics that won’t give you fatigue on long sim-racing sessions.

As for the controls, all the buttons are positioned close to your hands, so you can operate them on the fly. This also applies to some of the encoders, as those in the center are slightly far away, but this is normal, given that you won’t be using them all the time on the run.

At the rear, and depending on the steering wheel version, you have either 2 or 6 paddles. They are magnetic, of course, and you can adjust the spacing of the upper ones. Their size is truly superb, making them easy to use without even thinking about shifting.

Sensations during play

Such a wheel should only be installed on a base that develops more than 12 nm of torque, and this is non-negotiable(Moza R12 or a Clubsport DD+, for example). Once all the base parameters have been set and the controls configured, the BavarianSimTec Alpha is a wheel that naturally takes well to the hand.

The steering wheel grips are superb for everything to do with comfort during long sim-racing sessions. The 13° slope of the moldings is repeated throughout the BavarianSimTec range, if I’m not mistaken, proving that this design works for the brand and, above all, for racers.

The weight of the steering wheel isn’t all that high, even though the manufacturer didn’t use carbon fiber for the Alpha’s structure. It’s true that it’s more premium to have a faceplate or structure with this material, but the BavarianSimTec Alpha manages very well with aluminum, and the weight is 1.25 kg on the standard version, and add 100 gr for the advanced version.

This steering wheel shines in Formula and GT racing, or single-seaters in general. The driving position is natural, the controls are driver-oriented and everything is well illustrated on the faceplate. Admittedly, there’s no screen on the Alpha, but at the same time, you’ve got theOmegaPro V2 for that, which represents the brand’s top-of-the-range.

Compatibility

The BavarianSimTec Alpha is only compatible with the Windows PC platform. This applies to the brand’s entire range, and all other manufacturers of premium sim-racing peripherals.

As far as DD bases are concerned, as long as you have a hub with a 6×70 mm, or even 6×50.8 mm pattern, the Alpha will be compatible with its QR. What’s more, connection to PCs is via an aviation cable, which terminates in a USB socket.

Value for money

The Alpha represents BavarianSimTec’s entry-level product, with a retail price of €1,090 for the standard version, and €1,306 for the advanced version. Is it expensive? Without a doubt. Is the price justified? Absolutely, at least as far as I’m concerned.

The BavarianSimTec Alpha is a premium steering wheel, above and beyond anything offered by other brands, and should be priced accordingly. Its value for money is very good when you consider the materials, build quality and dedication of the team behind it.

My verdict

It’s clear that the BavarianSimTec is aimed at a very specific sim-racing audience: those seeking the most advanced racing sensations, on a par with what you’d feel in a racing car.

The drivers who will be racing at BavarianSimTec are passionate about cars, motorsport and sim-racing. Are they counting their budget when setting up a setup? I doubt it. Is the BavarianSimTec Alpha a superb steering wheel for single-seater racing? Absolutely, yes. If you can afford it, treat yourself to one.