The BavarianSimTec brand of sim-racing peripherals operates in an elitist segment, with little competition. In terms of ranking with other high-end or even premium manufacturers, it’s above Simucube, and naturally not in the same league as Fanatec, Simagic or Moza Racing.

As far as BavarianSimTec products are concerned, the brand focuses on the steering wheel market, and more specifically on Formula and GT wheels. The catalog includes 5 entries in all, 2 of which are upgraded variants of a “simple” steering wheel.

Today, we’ve got the Alpha on our setup for a full test. This is the brand’s entry-level offering, and it’s specific to the competitions that BavarianSimTec targets, namely GT and Formula. Let’s see what it’s got under the hood and whether it’s the perfect candidate for single-seater driving.

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

Alpha wheel design

As with all Formula and GT sim-racing wheels, the BavarianSimTec Alpha is a very colorful wheel, with RGB on virtually all faceplate controls. You either like it or you don’t, but I’d say it’s the standard you’ll find on the market and on racing cars too.

The steering wheel is rather rectangular in shape, with closed grips, a black finish over the entire periphery and carbon-fiber paddles at the rear. Aside from the RGB and its tens of thousands of possible colors, which can be configured via SimHub, the Alpha is a handsome steering wheel that fits perfectly into the brand’s stylistic code.

Customized assembly

To attach a Quick Release, or hub, to the BavarianSimTec Alpha, you have two options: the 6×70 mm pattern and the 6×50.8 mm. The former is, I’d say, standard for the discipline, and you have a wide choice of bases and Quick Releases available from brands such as Simagic, Simucube, Fanatec, etc. The latter is not very widespread in the industry. As for the second, it’s not very widespread on the market, but Asetek offers an adapter that takes both mounting patterns into account.

Naturally, connection to the platform is via USB, as BavarianSimTec doesn’t offer a Direct Drive base as such. On the one hand, you have an aviation plug that attaches to the steering wheel, and on the other you have a USB socket.

Manufacturing and finishing

The Alpha uses aluminum for its structure, and silicone for the handles. The metal is CNC-machined to give it its shape and curves. On the faceplate, you can see the small gaps between the structure and the handles, which are just for the silicone, as the “shell” continues underneath.

The build quality of this steering wheel is just exceptional, as is the entire BavarianSimTec range. The brand is in an elitist segment, well above mainstream sim-racing manufacturers. It’s premium, with top-of-the-range materials, meticulous assembly and a finish worthy of a British luxury car.

Handling the steering wheel

The Alpha’s diameter is 29.5 cm, with a fairly rectangular shape. The buttons, as well as the funky switches and 2 rotarys, are very close to your hands, so you can use them without leaving your grip.

Speaking of the latter, it’s just exceptional, especially the thumb moldings and the 13° handle inclination. It’s designed to give you maximum comfort on the run, limiting hand fatigue.

For the rest of the controls, there are 3 rotarys in the center of the faceplate, overhung by LEDs for the RevLED, and 3 more on each side, so 6 in all, for flags, overtaking, etc. At the rear of the Alpha are magnetic paddles for shifting gears. Depending on the steering wheel version, you’ll have either 2 or 6 paddles in all. The upper ones can be adjusted for spacing, but the lower ones cannot.

Sensations during play

Let’s move on to the feel of the BavarianSimTec Alpha. After spending a while configuring the controls, LEDs and RGBs, as well as the base for all feedback, the Alpha is a steering wheel that feels superb in the hand.

The buttons fall naturally to your fingertips, and you’ll have no trouble using them in the middle of a race. The riding position is upright, at 9:15, with handlebars molded to the shape of your hands. So no fatigue, no discomfort, no short sim-racing sessions. The Alpha is a steering wheel designed to be used for a long time, on long races like Formula or GT.

The aluminum construction gives this wheel excellent cornering rigidity, capable of withstanding the torque of the most powerful chainstays currently available on the market. What’s more, the use of this material keeps the weight of the wheel to a minimum, with only 1.25 kg on the scale for the standard version, and 100 g more for the advanced variant. This results in better feedback, as the DD base doesn’t have a huge mass to drag behind it, favoring both light and heavy feel.

Wheel compatibility

As with virtually all manufacturers in the “premium plus” segment, the BavarianSimTec Alpha is only compatible with Windows PCs. This is no random choice, as it’s the only platform where you have total control over the entire device.

As far as setups are concerned, you’re not limited by any particular ecosystem, as the Alpha uses the standard 6×70 mm rear mounting pattern, and the less common 6.50.8 mm. You’ll find hubs with QR that are compatible with the big names in sim-racing, such as Asetek, Simagic, Simcube, Fanatec and others.

Value for money

In its standard version, the Alpha is priced at €1,090 incl. VAT. And if you decide to go for the “Advanced” version with 4 additional paddles, it will cost you an extra €215, or €1,305.

Obviously, the brand operates in an elitist sim-racing segment, and if you compare the Alpha with other offerings on the market, I think the value for money of this steering wheel isn’t too bad. It’s expensive, yes, if you compare it with Fanatec or Simagic, for example, but it’s clearly superior in terms of quality, features and engineering.

My verdict on the Alpha steering wheel from BavarianSimTec

BavarianSimTec’s Alpha represents the German brand’s entry-level steering wheel. It’s a budget-friendly option for drivers wishing to enter GT and Formula racing.

If you’re planning a high-end sim-racing setup, then the BavarianSimTec Alpha is a steering wheel to consider, alongside a Simucube or Asetek base, for example, to complete the “premium plus” theme. Depending on the type of single-seater you’re aiming for, you can choose between the standard version of the Alpha, and the Advanced. The additional paddles are very useful in F1 for the Dual Clutch, in addition to being able to map other controls to them.

As far as I’m concerned, I’d recommend this wheel if you can afford it. It’s a beautiful wheel, perfectly capable of giving you pleasure on F1 cars without the slightest problem.