Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel – Review

Asetek expands its portfolio again. With the Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel, the Danish manufacturer bridges the gap between its high-end Invicta steering wheel and the Forte Formula steering wheel. Whether the new Pro version is worth its price and how it performs in the test can be read here.

Order and Shipping

Asetek follows its familiar approach with the Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel, offering it both in its own shop and through various distributors. The steering wheel itself starts at €749, though suitable grips are required for operation. In total, the steering wheel costs around €850 before discounts.

Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel: 749€
RegularHandles: 89,24€
Suede Handles: 118,99€
LMP Handles: 83,29€
XL Handles: 101,14€
Clutch Paddles: 45,21€
Magnetic Input Paddles: 45,21€
3rd Party QR Adapter Plate: 49,00€

Steering Wheel Accessories*

Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel*

5% Asetek Gutscheincode / Coupon code: simracingpc

Specs

Below are the technical specifications of the steering wheel as provided by the manufacturer:

Display: 4,3″ LCD Touch Panel
Resolution: 800*480 pixels
Refresh rate: 60hz
SimHub Support: Yes
Diameter:
- Regular Handles: 300mm
- XL Handles: 304mm
- LMP Handles: 300mm
- Suede Handles: 304mm
Quick Release: Asetek SimSports Quick Release Included
3rd Party Quick Release compatibility: USB-C connection for 3rd party Quick Releases
Material: Glassfiber Reinforced w. Forged Carbon Finish
Net Weight: 1160g

Scope of delivery

The scope of delivery remains unchanged. In addition to the steering wheel itself with a pre-installed Quick Release, the package includes sticker sheets and tools. A positive highlight is the inclusion of two alternative black knobs for the two 7-way switches, which can be used to remove the two orange accents on the steering wheel. However, grips are not included, as they are only available separately and are not part of the standard scope of delivery.

Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel
Transparent Button Sticker Sheet
Forte Sticker Sheet
Carbon Fiber Tweezer
2 x Black Aluminum Kinky Switch (Extra)

Compatibility / QR

One innovation is the redesigned Quick Release mount, which, unlike the standard Forte steering wheel, is now also detachable. Additionally, the material has been updated: a combination of reinforced plastic and metal is now used for the area in direct contact with the wheel base. While this might seem like a step back in terms of stability, it has no negative impact in practice. The Quick Release provides completely wireless data and power transmission at an Asetek base.

Thanks to the new concept, other Quick Releases can now generally be used. However, since Asetek uses an unusual bolt pattern, adapters are necessary, and users must rely on, for example, Asetek’s optional 3rd-Party QR Adapter Plate, which comes with an additional USB-C spiral cable. Only this adapter provides the standard mounts compatible with most common Quick Release systems.

Features

Below is a list of the various features of the Forte Formula Pro, with many aspects overlapping with the reviews of its two sister models.

Inputs

In terms of input options, the front immediately reveals the same layout as the Invicta flagship steering wheel:

10 Push Buttons: The Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel features a total of 10 buttons on the front, equipped with aluminum caps. The actuation force is in the medium range, providing a clear pressure point.
3 Rotary Switches: Located in the lower part of the steering wheel, there are three rotary switches that can be configured via software either as standard encoders (+/–) or as switches with 12 positions (hold/pulse mode).
6 Thumb Encoders: Three aluminum thumb encoders are mounted on each side of the steering wheel. These are significantly wider than those on most other steering wheels, making them particularly comfortable to use. They are characterized by smooth operation.
2 Toggle Switches: Additionally, two self-centering toggle switches are integrated into the front plate, fitted into corresponding recesses.
2 Seven-Way Kinky Switches: Lastly, two multifunctional Kinky Switches (also called Funky Switches – push, rotate left/right, up/down, left/right) are included. Their positioning allows operation without removing hands from the steering wheel. These also feature high-quality aluminum caps.

The only difference here is the absence of the two buttons on the back of the steering wheel. To further customize the steering wheel, Asetek offers, in addition to the two included black caps for the Kinky Switches, an Aluminum Button Color Kit that includes caps for the three encoders and the two Kinky Switches in a total of six different colors (black, gray, red, blue, orange, purple).

Paddles

The Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel comes factory-equipped with two shifters on the back and offers the option to install up to a total of six paddles. Functionally, the shifters remain very effective, providing a satisfying shift feel with relatively low noise. However, a drawback is the use of plastic grip surfaces. While the Invicta steering wheel allows for the selection of carbon paddles, the Forte Formula Pro only offers the option to purchase an upgrade kit, which costs around €170 and includes the following components:

2 x Carbon Fiber Shifter Paddles
2 x Carbon Fiber Magnetic Input Paddles
2 x Carbon Fiber Clutch Paddles

Alternatively, both the Magnetic Input Paddles and the Clutch Paddles are available as optional upgrades for approximately €45 each.

LEDs

For the LEDs, Asetek once again relies on the proven arrangement as seen in the Invicta steering wheel. These are divided into two areas. Around the display, the following LEDs are located:

15 RevLight LEDs
6 FlagLight LEDs

Additionally, all push buttons, both toggle switches, and the three rotary switches are also equipped with LEDs:

2 Toggle switch LEDs
10 Button LEDs
3 Rotary Encoder LEDs

The sticker concept involves placing the labeling and associated lighting directly next to the respective components. This works particularly well for the encoders. However, the small stickers for the push buttons are relatively tedious to apply and allow some light to bleed through at the edges, which means they don’t always look 100% clean if not applied perfectly.

Display

The display used is the familiar 4.3-inch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The display offers good color reproduction, responds very quickly, and now also allows switching between dashboards (not when operated via SimHub) using the integrated touchscreen function.

Griffe

For the grips, Asetek stays true to its proven modular concept and offers fully interchangeable grips in various designs, which differ in shape, material, and slightly in the resulting overall size of the steering wheel:

Regular Handles: 300 mm
XL Handles: 304 mm
LMP Handles: 300 mm
Suede Handles: 304 mm

For the test, the LMP grips were installed, which, with a measured hardness of 60 Shore A, are quite soft and therefore sit excellently in the hand, especially for sim racers who drive without gloves. Unfortunately, the steering wheel does not come with grips as standard. While this offers an opportunity for customization, the available grips, priced at around €100, are not a bargain. However, owners of an older Asetek steering wheel can reuse existing grips, thereby saving costs.

Comparison and Recommendation

The new Pro version of the Forte steering wheel represents a clear upgrade in direct comparison. Both the buttons and the encoders feel significantly more premium due to their metal construction, and the new area around the display, combined with the forged carbon look, makes the steering wheel appear more high-end overall. Only in direct comparison with the Invicta steering wheel does it become apparent where Asetek had to make compromises. Instead of a milled aluminum housing, reinforced plastic is used here, similar to the Simagic GT Neo Steering Wheel. However, this is processed to an extremely high quality and does not feel cheap by any means. Below, you will find the weights of the three steering wheels in comparison:

Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel (Shifter): ~1500g
Asetek Forte Formula Steering Wheel (Shifter + Clutch): ~1550g
Asetek Invicta Formula Steering Wheel (Shifter + Option + Clutch): ~1920g

Overall, the Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel is likely the best value for money among the three steering wheels at present. However, if you can do without the display, the standard Forte steering wheel might be the better choice. For those seeking the ultimate in quality and with the necessary budget, the Invicta steering wheel is certainly worth considering as well.

Software

The software chapter can be almost directly adopted from the review of the Asetek Invicta steering wheel. The manufacturer once again relies on a combination of SimHub and its proprietary RaceHub software. This allows beginners to use the steering wheel in a plug-and-play manner without needing complex settings, or to benefit from significantly more options when combined with SimHub.

RaceHub

As mentioned earlier, all basic settings can be configured via RaceHub. These include aspects such as LED colors, the selection of various dashboard designs, and settings for the RPM LEDs. Unfortunately, it is still not possible to automatically load vehicle- or game-specific profiles.

SimHub

Alternativ können die Dashboards sowie die RPM- und Flag-LEDs auch über SimHub gesteuert werden. Hier hat man volle Kontrolle und kann deutlich mehr Einstellungen vornehmen.

Asetek Invicta Style SimHub Dashboard

An unofficial SimHub Invicta Dash created by Simracing-PC, based on the RaceHub dashboards, can be downloaded for free here.

Download – Asetek Invicta Style SimHub Dashboard

Driving Impresions

Below, you will find some video footage of the Asetek Forte Formula Steering Wheel:

Conclusion

The Asetek Forte Formula Pro Steering Wheel is a successful addition to the manufacturer’s lineup, effectively bridging the gap between the standard Forte steering wheel without a display and the flagship Invicta steering wheel. It offers identical features to the high-end steering wheel, except for the two rear buttons, with only minor compromises in material selection. Otherwise, the steering wheel performs excellently and is currently the most compelling option in Asetek’s range in terms of value for money. Features such as the display, integrated LEDs, and software implementation are very good, making the steering wheel a true recommendation, not least due to its wireless data and power transmission on an Asetek base.