Moza R16

Our rating: 9.6/10

Chinese manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals Moza Racing clearly intends to compete with the big names in the game, notably Fanatec and Simagic. In the space of two and a half years, Moza has made a name for itself and become an excellent option for runners looking for reliable, high-performance, affordable products.

Obviously, a manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals won’t get very far if it doesn’t have a catalog worthy of the name. And fortunately for Moza Racing, this is the case. This Chinese manufacturer’s range includes 6 Direct Drive bases, including one compatible with Xbox, 6 steering wheels, 3 pedalboards, 2 dashboards and several sim-racing accessories. Granted, it pales in comparison with Fanatec and its 20-odd flyers, but it’s still impressive coming from a player who’s only 2 1/2 years in the game.

And what reinforces Moza Racing’s image is its presence in the high-end segment, with 2 bases to be precise. This is the R16 and the R21and the latter two have several targets in their sights, including the Podium DD2 and ClubSport DD+ of Fanatec. In what follows, I’m going to introduce you to the R16 and give you my opinion on it.

Main and technical characteristics of the base

• DD base with 16 nm max. torque
• 1000 Hz refresh rate
• Aluminium alloy construction
• 18-bit interface
• Wireless and physical connection with the steering wheels via a QR inspired largely by motor racing
• Weight 8.9 kg

Design

We all know that Moza Racing’s bases are very similar, especially the smaller ones (R3, R5, R9 and R12). For the R16, it’s a completely different story. This base looks very much like a Supercar design, with very edgy features and drawn lines, and different paints depending on the version you have.

Indeed, Moza has updated its basics and the R16 now goes V2 with an all-black coat and white brand logo. It’s really beautiful, and makes a welcome change from the X shape so typical of other brand peripherals.

Customized assembly

So for the R16, Moza pulled out all the stops when it came to base assembly. We have a bottom mount, as on the R21 and R16 in V1, but the new base allows a front mount this time, which is perfect for many riders. I’m not going to tell you that bottom mounting limits this base to an audience of racers with a very specific setup. But fortunately, the Chinese manufacturer has corrected the situation with its V2, and that’s a good thing.

Virtually all the brand’s steering wheels can be mounted on this base (except the Bluetooth V1s), with both wireless and physical connection to peripherals. As I’ve said about Moza Racing’s other bases, the manufacturer does segment its range, especially when it comes to steering wheels, and this is clearly seen with the R16, which doesn’t support all the brand’s wheels. Personally, I don’t like it, because it divides your fan-base into those who can afford your high-end products and new models, and those who can’t.

Manufacturing and finishing

As the R16 is a top-of-the-range model, alongside the R21, we’re treated to an all-aluminum alloy construction that’s ultra-strong, providing not only great rigidity, but also total control over engine and electronics temperature.

As for the finish, it’s simply exceptional, nothing to say about that. All parts are machined to perfection, with the most rigorous assembly. There are no protruding or loose parts. It’s just a perfect base, in every way.

As for the paintwork, on the V2 we have a glossy black, with a few yellow/green lines. It’s beautiful, and a welcome change from the orange parts of V1. But then, these are all personal preferences, so…

Getting to know the base

Having an engine with 16 nm of torque is big and heavy. The R16 weighs in at just under 9 kg, and its compact size makes handling and installation a bit of a chore. If you mount it from the bottom, you won’t have any problems. But if you opt for front-mounting on a chassis, I’d advise you to call in an extra pair of hands to carry out this operation, as the base is expensive, and I’ll come back to this below.

Sensations during play

Now let’s get down to the sensations that Moza Racing’s R16 base provides. You should know that this base is currently in version 2 (V2), with improvements only to the software, not the hardware, since the latter was pretty good.

So what does this new software offer? Appointed Force Feedback NextGen 2.0you’ll get much more detailed, and above all subtle, sensations. I’ll pass quickly over the engine’s force feedback before turning to the new software details.

So, for “standard” force feedback, the motor is very precise, suffering no dips or fuzziness when used in sim-racing, even one where you push it to its limits. Admittedly, it won’t be on the same level as an R21 or a Podium DD2, but the R16 isn’t far off, at least in terms of feel. The motor delivers its torque linearly, with the occasional jolt when you hit a vibrator or hard surface. In fact, it was the only grey spot on this base, and that’s been corrected with the R16 V2.

Now back to the Force Feedback NextGen 2.0. First of all, I didn’t feel any jerks at all during my sessions, so this little problem has been corrected. As far as sensations are concerned, I’m happy to say that the R16 is much more immersive than before. The most obvious example is the feeling you get when cornering at the limit of grip. You’ll feel small vibrations in the steering wheel, indicating that if you push the car any harder, you’ll understeer and/or lose control. And that wasn’t there with V1, and I simply love it.

Compatibility

The R16 is compatible only with the PC platform, as are virtually all Moza Racing bases except the small R3. As for the brand’s other peripherals, virtually all Moza steering wheels will be supported by this base, except the ES, CS V1 and GS V1, as will the R12 and R9. It’s a segmentation I don’t really like, but I hear it’s a hardware thing. So…

And for sim-racing titles, you get ACC, AC, iRacing, Forza Motorsport, F1, Dirt and so on. The list is rather long and comprehensive too.

Value for money

The base is priced at €870 by Moza Racing’s authorized distributor in France, and that’s an unbeatable price for what you get in return. The 16 nm of maximum torque is more than enough for almost 90% of riders, and the build quality is simply exemplary, with a rather unique design. As far as I’m concerned, the R16’s value for money is just excellent.

Granted, Moza Racing’s ecosystem isn’t as developed and complete as Fanatec’s, but you’ll find everything you need for sim-racing the R16.

My verdict

If you’re looking for an excellent Direct Drive base with over 10nm of torque, you can turn to the R16 without hesitation. Of course, you’ll have 16 nm of maximum torque, but this can easily be lowered with the software (Pit House) to get the figure that suits you best.

This base is quite simply a wellspring of sim-racing sensations, from the finest to the biggest, via the most advanced immersion. What’s more, you don’t have much competition at this power level, or at this price, for that matter. The only base that can overshadow it is the ClubSport DD+ with its 15 nm of torque, but is more expensive (€1000).

In any case, the R16 from Moza Racing has my stamp of approval.