I really don’t need to introduce you to the brand. Fanatecbrand, which is considered one of the world’s leading sim-racing brands. With 25 years’ experience in the game of innovation and peripherals for more or less every budget, the German giant is a Go To for many racers, and understandably so.

If you want to win over customers, you need to have a wide catalog of products so that there’s something for everyone. For Fanatec, it’s taking this philosophy and multiplying it by 10: the German manufacturer has over twenty wheels in its catalog, 6 different chainstays, 5 cranksets and a host of kits and other custom products that will delight any budding rider.

Of course, Fanatec’s products are constantly being upgraded to keep them competitive, and this is the case for virtually all the brand’s peripherals, including pedalboards. Speaking of the latter, Fanatec offers 5 of them, and in what follows we’ll take a look at the second-cheapest Load Cell pedalboard in the German manufacturer’s catalog, the CSL Elite Pedals V2.

Main features and technical specifications of the crankset

• Powder-coated aluminum construction
• Comes with 3 pedals
• Load Cell brake handles loads of up to 90 kg
• Weighs 4.5 kg on the scale
• 1 RJ12 and USB output
• Magnetic gas pedal and clutch sensors
• Fully assembled in box

CSL Elite Pedals v2 design

In terms of design, CSL Elite Pedals V2 is frankly a superb pedalboard, clearly a cut above the V1 it replaces. It’s very discreet and sober, especially with the crankset’s all-black finish. The paint is powder-coated, giving it a unique look, as well as a very pleasant texture between the mails.

On the front, there’s a plate that acts as a footrest, and the 3 pedals are identical in design. The Load Cell at the rear of the brake is also black, except for the spring, which is electric blue. Don’t worry, it’ll run on all sim-racing setups without a hitch.

Customized assembly

The CSL Elite Pedals V2 can be mounted on a chassis or cockpit, and can also be used on the ground thanks to the rubber pads underneath.

As far as chassis/cockpits are concerned, you’ll agree that virtually every name in sim-racing will take Fanatec products into account, and this is the case for the CSL Elite Pedals V2. So we’ve got mounting points on the underside of the pedalboard that make it easy to fit to more or less any chassis available on the market. What’s more, the bolt holes are accessible directly through the pedals, making assembly quicker and, above all, less restrictive than before.

Manufacturing and finishing

This crankset uses aluminum for its structure, which saves a little weight. But don’t expect a strict diet, as the CSL Elite Pedals V2 still weighs in at around 4.5 kg on the scales.

Aluminum is used throughout, from the footrest to the pedals and the frame. It’s beautiful, and superbly well finished, thanks to the powder-coated finish.

As for the finish, I have nothing to say, even though technically this is a CSL peripheral from Fanatec, i.e. an entry-level device. I didn’t notice any manufacturing or finishing defects. It’s simply perfect, both to the eye and to the touch.

Getting to know the pedals

The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up this crankset is its weight: 4.5 kg is a bit heavy. However, the all-aluminium structure gives it strength and rigidity. The CSL Elite Pedals V2 won’t budge when you hold it in your hands, nor will it make the noise of parts having gaps between them.

What’s more, the powder-coated finish feels great when you hold the CSL Elite Pedals V2 in your hands. It gives a textured effect that’s much appreciated by the touch, taking this pedalboard’s premium feel up a notch.

As far as the feeling in your feet is concerned, it will only take you a few moments to adapt to this crankset if you’re coming from another Load Cell crankset. Personally, it took me an hour or two to get the hang of my Asseto Corsa lap times, and I’m assuming it’ll be the same for you.

Sensations during play

Let’s get down to business: the feel of the CSL Elite Pedals V2. It’s worth noting that the brake’s Load Cell comes with several elastomers of different strengths (65, 75 and 85). The box contains all the tools needed to change them quickly and effortlessly.

For the gas pedal and clutch pedals, it’s more or less the same as with the CSL V1: the hardware remains basically the same, but there are magnetic sensors instead of potentiometers. It’s more reliable and more precise too.

As far as the brake is concerned, we’re dealing with a 2-stage Load Cell: a spring takes care of the first stage, or part of the stroke if you like, to simulate contact between the brake pads and the discs. It’s a little soft, but without any dead zones. As soon as you reach the^2nd stage, i.e. the elastomer, things change.

Depending on the configuration of the^2nd stage and its elastomers (65, 75 and 85 for resistance), your foot will come up against a rock roughly speaking. As far as I’m concerned, it’s very precise, communicative and, above all, provides good feedback for most riders. You should know that the brake pedal and its Load Cell can take up to 90 kg of load, and you’ll see this value change as you modify the elastomer configuration.

However, there’s a catch: this pedalboard, even when supplied with rubber pads, is not for use on the floor, as there’s a risk of it slipping to one side or the other. If you put it on a carpet and stick it to the wall, it may work, but you’ll have to reduce the Load Cell’s resistance and sensitivity, which will inevitably lead to a loss in riding feel, thus eliminating the advantages of this technology.

CSL Pedals V2 compatibility

The CSL Elite Pedals V2 is compatible with all current platforms, including PC, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. For PCs, you can use the RJ12 connection to a Fanatec base, or exploit the USB socket to use this pedalboard with any other rig. For consoles, whether Sony or Microsoft, you’ll need to use a Fanatec base, otherwise the CSL Elite Pedals V2 won’t work.

As far as sim-racing titles are concerned, this pedalboard can be used for anything and everything, from arcade (such as NFS) to simulation(iRacing) to semi-arcade.

Value for money

Sold at €299.95 on the Fanatec website, the CSL Elite Pedals V2 is, as far as I’m concerned, very good value for money for sim-racing fans. Admittedly, it’s not on the same level as its big brother the ClubSport Pedals V3, but it’s also €100 cheaper. What’s more, the CSL Elite Pedals V2 is compatible with all platforms available on the market, something that can’t necessarily be said of the competition at the same price.

My verdict on Fanatec’s CSL Elite Pedals V2

Ah well, it’s simple: the CSL Elite Pedals V2 is a crankset that I really like, and that I recommend to all racers looking for a quality peripheral that’s reliable, good-looking, high-performance and, above all, compatible with all titles and all sim-racing platforms.

Pro-racers will certainly not be looking for such a peripheral, as they’ll find it too “basic” for their needs, but sim-racing enthusiasts and budding riders will be delighted with what the CSL Elite Pedals V2 has to offer. In any case, I like this pedalboard and feel it has evolved a lot compared to its predecessor, which still had its share of shortcomings. I highly recommend the CSL Elite Pedals V2, as it remains an excellent product for its price, even if it doesn’t come with a vibration module, and its only console- and PC-compatible competitor is the Pro Racing Pedals from Logitechbut it’s more expensive.