With the aim of competing with the premium brands on the sim-racing market, Moza Racing had its work cut out for it, and it took a lot of hard work to earn a foothold in a highly competitive segment.

A complete range of sim-racing peripherals must include steering wheels, bases, cranksets and accessories such as shifters, handbrakes and so on. All the products I’ve just listed are the foundation of the base, and it’s also imperative to have an ecosystem that can work in harmony with your peripherals.

At present, Moza offers a pretty comprehensive range, with no less than 6 chainstays and 6 steering wheels, 3 cranksets, a shifter, dashboards and a handbrake, plus other specific accessories. And speaking of handbrakes, Moza’s is called the HBP, and it’s looking to make a name for itself in what I think is a rather niche segment. Oh yeah, you’re not going to have a handbrake if you’re doing F1, GT3 or endurance racing. You’re going to use a handbrake for rallying and drifting, or else on arcade titles that are chill. In what follows, I’m going to introduce you to the HBP and tell you what I think of it.

Main and technical features of the handbrake

• Entire structure in aircraft-grade aluminum
• 16-bit angle sensor
• Adjustable handle for great adjustability
• RJ11 and USB connection
• Adjustable resistance mechanism (swappable spring and elastomer)
• Excellent finish and build quality

HBP Handbrake design

The design of the HBP is really quite beautiful, I think, all angled. This handbrake is made up of several parts that fit together perfectly. Black dominates this sim-racing device, with only the Moza logo in white on one side.

The HBP’s handle consists of 2 parts, one of which is removable and adjustable. It’s a slim design, and the upper part of the handle, where the knob is located, is entirely cylindrical. Overall, the HBP is a handsome handbrake in keeping with the Chinese brand’s stylistic code.

Customized assembly

The HBP can only be mounted from below, either directly onto a chassis/cockpit, or via the Moza Table Clamp, which is sold separately. Well, that’s the biggest drawback of this handbrake, and it’s the same for the brand’s shifter. This unique bottom-mounting greatly limits its installation and use on setups with tables or desks as the main structure.

On a frame, you won’t have so many problems with it if it includes a shifter/handbrake mount low enough. But on a table, this handbrake will be too high as far as I’m concerned, unless you mount it upside down as the handle is adjustable.

Manufacturing and finishing

Virtually every part of the HBP is made of aluminum, with the exception of the housing containing the electronics and connectors, which is made of plastic. But it’s so well made that you won’t notice it at all. The finish of the handbrake is exemplary, with no apparent flaws.

When it comes to build quality, it’s premium all the way. Whether it’s the cabinet, the neck or the cables that come with the HBP, everything is top quality in every respect.

Handbrake control

This HBP is easy to handle, and this is largely due to the fact that the handle is adjustable. Simply remove the two screws holding the top of the handle to adjust it to your preference. You can leave it horizontal or vertical, or angle it to suit your setup and riding style. It’s also possible to adjust the height of the neck using the screws too.

The knob is large and entirely cylindrical, as well as being made of metal. Unlike the Moza shifter, the HBP doesn’t allow you to swap knobs. So, either you like cylindrical or you don’t. Personally, I prefer handbrakes with this same shape, as they remind me of those used in racing.

Sensations during play

As for the feel of the HBP, I can tell you that, at first glance, it’s a good handbrake, very linear in sim-racing use. The build quality is excellent, as the handle hardly moves at all on the sides, and even when you release it a little too quickly, there’s a system that cushions everything to prevent damage and other mishaps to the device.

As I mentioned earlier, the spring is swappable, as is the elastomer. Well, it’s not really an elastomer as you’d expect from a Load Cell crankset, but this little bit of rubber provides a slight resistance at the end of the stroke, as well as cushioning any sudden movements.

The HBP handbrake has a linear feel throughout the entire stroke of the handle. Personally, I prefer this linear feel for a handbrake, but I imagine some racers will be much more attracted to progressive products where resistance increases with angle. Admittedly, this isn’t a realistic representation of what you’d find in race cars with hydraulic handbrakes, or even in a car with a standard handbrake, but then, the HBP is an inexpensive product that’s clearly not intended to offer you total immersion.

Handbrake compatibility

This product is compatible with the entire Moza ecosystem via RJ11 connectivity, but can also be used on other setups via a USB cable. In terms of platforms, the HBP is PC-only, as is more or less the entire Moza range at present.

As for the sim-racing titles, I haven’t had any problems with them on Dirt, WRC or any of the others I’ve used. It works as normally as possible, without the slightest problem.

Value for money

Moza’s handbrake costs €119 (incl. VAT) from Moza’s authorized distributor in France, which is a pretty good price, especially considering the build quality and premium materials used. As far as I’m concerned, the HBP’s value for money is very good for its target audience.

Admittedly, the feel isn’t progressive and you don’t have that many mounting options for this peripheral. Clearly, the HBP isn’t trying to compete with Fanatec’s ClubSport Handbrake V1.5, for example. Moza’s handbrake only seeks to complete its range with a quality device that offers good sensations in the end.

My verdict on the HBP Handbrake from Moza Racing

Even if the HBP does have its shortcomings, notably a glaring lack of mounting options on the setups, this handbrake is still a good product that will delight amateur drivers and fans of rallying and drifting.

It’s premium, superbly well assembled, very handsome and does the job properly, without plugging in either. Personally, I’d recommend the HBP to anyone looking for a reliable, inexpensive and stylish product. You won’t get the immersion of a Load Cell or hydraulic handbrake, or even the progressive feel of the stick, but hey, that’s not so bad for this device’s target audience.

But if I’m being completely honest, personally, I’d rather pay a few euros more and enjoy the realism and immersion offered by the German giant’s Clubsport Handbrake from the German giant.

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