MOZA R9 Wheel Base – Review

MOZA R9 Wheel Base – Review

If you are active in the simracing scene, you will have come across the name MOZA again and again in recent months. This name was previously known mainly for high-quality high-tech camera stabilizers and similar accessories. With the MOZA Racing R9 Wheel Base, the manufacturer is now also attacking the budget direct-drive market, with 9 Newton meters for under 500€ taking direct aim at Fanatec’s CSL-DD. This review will examine how far the wheel base is worth recommending and in which areas it might even be superior to Fanatec’s top dog.

Order and shipping

The products of Moza can be ordered directly from the manufacturer in China, but in this case relatively high shipping costs and customs fees + taxes are incurred on import. It is therefore recommended to purchase the products from a European retailer. In Germany, for example, there is the provider Sim-Motion, which also provided the base for this test free of charge. Of course, there was no influence, and there were no conditions from the German retailer.

The following prices are currently called for the products in Germany:

• R9 Wheel Base: 459€
• GS Steering Wheel: 499€
• CS Racing Wheel: 299€
• Quick Release: 79€
• RS Racing Wheels: 499€
• Tischklemme für R9: 65€

Scope of delivery

MOZA includes everything you need for the operation of the base and also includes screws for mounting, a sticker set and a cloth bag.

Note: A quick-release is not included (as with Simucube and Fanatec, for example), but all Moza steering wheels are delivered with a pre-mounted QR anyway.

Here is the complete scope of delivery:

• Wheel Base R9
• DC power supply/supplies
• Power Cord
• Data cable
• Screw Kit
• Cloth Bag
• Quick start guide & Warranty card
• MOZA Sticker

Technical data

Below you can find the manufacturer’s technical data for the MOZA R9 Wheel Base. Particularly noteworthy are the compact dimensions.

Compatibility

Moza states a wide range of games as fully compatible for the R9. In the test, both Assetto Corsa and its indirect successor Assetto Corsa Competizione as well as iRacing and Dirt Rally worked directly without problems. For Forza Horizon 5, however, a relatively complicated tutorial (link) from the manufacturer had to be followed and an additional software, Vjoy, had to be installed.

• Assetto Corsa
• Assetto Corsa Competizione
• Dirt – Serie
• F1 – Serie
• Project CARS – Serie
• iRacing
• Forza Horizon 4
• Forza Horizon 5 (Win 10)
• Live For Speed
• Automobilista – Serie
• rFactor2
• Euro Truck Simulator 2
• American Truck Simulator
• KartKarft
• WRC 9
• WRC 10
• BeamNG.Drive
• MudRunner
• Wreckfest
• RaceRoom Racing Experience

Native compatibility with the current console generation is not provided.

Mounting

Four threaded holes are provided on the bottom for mounting the Wheel Base, which can be used to create a direct connection to the rig. The matching table clamp is recommended here in any case. This offers the possibility of both adjusting the tilt angle of the base to your own needs as well as creating more flexibility in positioning through the use of slotted holes. The two clamps, which can be used for mounting on a desk top, can be removed for mounting the base directly on a simrig.

After mounting, only the included USB-A cable has to be connected to the PC and the power supply to a power outlet and the assembly is complete.

Steering wheels and quick release

The Quick-Release is one of the Wheel Base’s greatest strengths. It not only provides a stable connection between the steering wheel and the base, it is also able to ensure a stable power supply for MOZA’s wireless steering wheels. The advantages of the Fanatec and Simucube systems are thus combined without the need for an additional screw or locking pin. The MOZA GS Steering Wheel used in the test could be connected without any noticeable play and there were no problems at any time. The assembly is done with a flick of the wrist and the engagement of the Quick Release is acknowledged with a rich noise.

Besides the already mentioned Fomula-style steering wheel, there is currently only a choice between two round steering wheels (RS / CS Racing Wheel). Here it would be desirable if MOZA adds more steering wheels to the range in the future. Until then, however, it remains possible to use steering wheels from other manufacturers with an individually available quick-release.

A separate review of the MOZA GS Steering Wheel will be published at a later date.

Software

MOZA has created a software for the entire ecosystem of the manufacturer with the MOZA Pit House. Here, countless settings can be made for both the wheel base and the steering wheel. A special feature is the FFB “equalizer”, which promises to amplify or attenuate different effects separately (for example, driving over curbs at 80 or 160 km/h). This led to mixed results in testing, but for some scenarios this is a great feature that will certainly be expanded by MOZA in the future.

Updates are of course possible at the Pit House, as is a reset or recalibration.

The only feature that was not yet implemented at the time of the test is the creation of game/vehicle-specific profiles. However, MOZA is already working on a solution here.

App

A nice gimmick is the in-house app that lets you adjust the settings on-the-fly with your phone. Here are the links to the two app stores including some preview images:

Force-Feedback

The most important factor for the purchase decision for or against a wheel base is of course the force feedback. The nine Newton meters of the MOZA R9 certainly don’t have to hide here. They enable a rich steering wheel feeling without delay and noticeable errors. The quick-release is free of play and there is no unwanted noise. You only have to reckon with an oscillation of the base in very sharp settings. The R9 is a bit more susceptible to this with the current software than the Simucube Sport, for example. Thus, you either have to make small compromises or simply keep your hands on the steering wheel.

For some of the different games there are hardly any “known good” profiles so far, here you either have to do it yourself or work your way through various profiles in Facebook groups or MOZA’s Discord server – Just the right thing for simracing enthusiasts, but beginners could definitely be taken a bit closer by the hand.

Overall, the force feedback leaves a very good impression, especially in conjunction with the comparatively light Formula wheel.

Impressions

Comparison with the CSL-DD from Fanatec

In direct comparison with the probably biggest competitor in terms of strength and price, the new Wheel Base from MOZA certainly does not have to hide. However, both systems offer both advantages and disadvantages. Fanatec currently has an unbeatably diverse range and is still the top dog in terms of compatibility and profile selection. On the other hand, the R9 offers a bit more Newton meters for a (slightly) lower price and a better quick release.

Once again, users have to decide for themselves which points are decisive for their own product choice. You cannot go wrong with either of the two manufacturers.

Verdict

MOZA has succeeded in creating a really good product with the R9 Wheel Base. Apart from small weaknesses in the software, you have everything you need here: an overall very well done force feedback combined with a really good quick release at a comparatively small price.

The manufacturer is currently in active exchange with the increasingly active community. If it succeeds in eradicating the small weaknesses, the R9 could become a new standard recommendation for the direct drive market under ten Newton meters.

But even so, especially if you’ve taken a liking to one of the steering wheels in MOZA’s lineup, the base is a very good product and thus worth recommending.