Conspit CPP LITE 3

Our rating : 9.2/10

The market for sim-racing cranksets is largely dominated by Load Cell products, i.e. a resistance system on the brake with elastomers for pressure. Of course, there are also products that combine Load Cell with one or more pedals for greater racing immersion, although in reality, the pedal that gives the most feedback is the brake pedal.

Every manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals offers at least one pedalboard in its catalog, and there are often 2 products to cover a wider range of virtual drivers.

We’re all familiar with names like Simucube, Asetek, Fanatec, Logitech and Thrustmaster (who entered the Load Cell market not so long ago), but there are also competitive brands from China. Moza Racing and Simagic are two examples that spring to mind when mentioning this country.

But there’s also a new player in the game from the same place, and that’s Conspit. This young manufacturer offers a complete sim-racing range, from steering wheels to chassis, Direct Drive bases and pedalboards.

Speaking of cranksets, we’ve got the CPP Lite 3, a hydraulic peripheral for very little money. Is this peripheral worth the detour? Well, let’s find out.

Main features and technical specifications of the crankset

• Full aluminum structure for pedals and part of the pedal plate (except footrest, which is plastic)
• Brake pedal with hydraulic system and elastomer for preloading
• Gas pedal and clutch with Hall sensor
• Available with 2 or 3 pedals
• Vibrator motors for gas pedal, clutch and brake feedback
• Spring-loaded gas pedal and clutch pedals, which are non-linear on the clutch.
• PC and Conspit Link compatible

Design

Let’s start with the design of the CPP Lite 3. It’s a beautiful crankset, with a perfect blend of black and purple. The latter color is found mainly on resistance system components, such as the brake’s hydraulic reservoir, and the gas pedal and clutch cylinders.

The 3 pedals look very similar, with the only difference being the pedal plates, which are not identical. I find that black and purple go very well with the CPP Lite 3, as the former color dominates this device, and the latter plays an extra role.

Customized assembly

The CPP Lite 3 can be mounted in 2 ways: either you use the pedal plate supplied with the device to mount the 2 or 3 pedals, and then fix the whole thing to your chassis. Or you can set this plate aside and attach the pedals directly to the chassis.

Assembling the pedalboard to the chassis isn’t all that difficult, as is the case with virtually all peripherals of the same style. All screws and bolts are supplied with the CPP Lite 3, as are the wrenches required for assembly.

Manufacturing and finishing

The entire CPP Lite 3 is made of aluminum, including pedals, plates and part of the support plate. I say part, because the footrest is plastic at the front, but metal at the rear. You have the option of taking the whole thing in aluminum, but you’ll have to pay more, obviously. It’s not structurally problematic, as only your feet will be on the footrest.

In terms of finish, the CPP Lite 3 is a quality device. The 3 pedals are well made, well machined, and certainly CNC cut. The edges are rounded, so there’s no risk of injury when handling this device.

Bottom bracket adjustment

Is a crankset with no settings really an immersive sim-racing device? Well, no, and fortunately for us, the CPP Lite 3 offers riders several settings.

We start with the height-adjustable pedal plate. This applies to all pedals, whether you have the clutch or clutchless version.

Now to the pedals themselves. You can adjust their inclination at various angles to get the right driving position, and also the right resistance for gas pedal, brake and clutch. Yes, changing the pedal angle has a direct influence on the pedal feel. What’s more, the pedals move on their own plate, which I think is quite nice.

For the hydraulic system, there’s a cylinder on the side that acts as a preloader. On this cylinder, there’s a knob to harden or soften it, with a key supplied by Conspit to ensure good brake granularity.

In a few words: the CPP Lite 3 allows you to be set up as you like on the race course.

Sensations during play

For in-game feel of the CPP Lite 3, I’ll start with the throttle. The right pedal is very linear in its movement, as is its feel. It’s precise, gently depressing, without sticking. The adjustments available are in terms of its inclination, thanks to a pin, and this allows you to change the feel produced by the pedal.

If you opt for the 3-pedal version, the clutch is also tilt-adjustable, and this has an impact on resistance and feel. The first few centimeters of travel are quite pronounced, after which the pedal becomes supple under your foot, ending up on the tipping point at around 70% of travel. As soon as you reach this point, the pedal tilts on its own thanks to its non-linear mechanism. Honestly, it’s a good pedal to use if you’re a fan of clutch shifting.

Let’s move on to the main course: the brake. On this last pedal, or rather the middle one, you’ll need to spend a little time finding the right settings, whether with the software, the pedal inclination or the resistance mechanism.

But once you’ve got the hang of it, the CPP Lite 3 will give you plenty of racing thrills. It manages to be very communicative very quickly, whatever the discipline you like. GT, Formula or rally, it’s a good little Swiss Army knife.

Let me briefly mention the vibration motors. They’re very simple, with an electric motor and a half-weight that makes the whole thing vibrate as it turns. They can be found on all pedals, and provide feedback for ABS intervention or wheel locking, TC actions, and also for the slip point on the clutch. In terms of feel, I found it fine and discreet. It’s there, you can feel it, but it’s not intrusive. I think it’s a plus.

Compatibility

Of course, the CPP Lite 3 is only compatible with Windows PCs. The pedalboard uses Conspit Link software for all the device’s software settings, which is very intuitive by the way.

Value for money

The CPP Lite 3’s biggest surprise, apart from the sensations it provides, is its price: expect to pay around €700 for the 3-pedal version. Frankly, it’s barely more expensive than a Load Cell pedalboard from the competition, and that’s a game-changer as far as I’m concerned. The CPP Lite 3’s value for money is just exceptional, that’s all.

My verdict

I was surprised not only by the CPP Lite 3’s build quality and price positioning, but above all by the feeling it provides. Conspit has really struck hard with this device, taking on well-established brands on the international market with a solid hydraulic proposition.

It’s positioned in a fairly high price segment, but remains coherent in view of the features it offers. This is clearly a product designed for those seeking performance, build quality and sensations. As far as I’m concerned, I’m in.