We continue testing parts of the Moza ecosystem. This time it’s the turn of Moza’s slightly less beastly base: the Moza Racing R16 . Review by Rodríguez.
This time Moza has sent us the v2 of one of its bases, specifically the Moza Racing R16 v2, which has recently been released and promises some interesting—hopefully promising—changes.
Presentation and Features
The box this base comes in is the same as other bases—they stick to the mantra: “if it works, don’t change it.” So, there’s nothing to highlight here, either good or bad. The packaging convinced us from day one.
Like other Moza bases, this one features a design inspired by supercars, with a modern and aggressive look. It stands out with a matte black body and gloss black accents applied using high-end automotive painting techniques.
Its aerospace-grade aluminum alloy construction not only gives it a robust, premium appearance, but also serves as a passive heat sink to maintain optimal temperature during long sessions. Measuring 327 x 170 x 130 mm and weighing 8.9 kg, it offers excellent stability and strength for all types of mounting setups, supporting both bottom and front mounting and fitting many cockpit types.
On the technical side, the base delivers a maximum torque of 16 Nm, providing strong and precise feedback, boosted by a 21-bit magnetic encoder for over 2 million points of resolution, and a 280 MHz high-performance processor. Like other V2 models, it also includes the advanced FF NextGen Force 4.0 filtering algorithm, which promises better detection of understeer and oversteer, offering a more natural and realistic driving experience with enhanced feedback detail.
The QR remains physically the same—built with military-grade aluminum—though it now features improved connectivity and a more stable and durable wireless communication system. Several newer steering wheels are no longer compatible with V1 bases but work fine with this V2.
The base includes an integrated thermal management system that constantly monitors motor performance to ensure consistent torque output without being affected by overheating.
With high-torque bases like this one with 16 Nm, overheating is usually hard to reach because we tend to set the FF well below maximum. As expected, the R16 V2 is compatible with the entire MOZA ecosystem, allowing connection and integration with wheels, pedals, and other peripherals—all manageable through the MOZA Pit House app.
Installation, Setup, and Testing
First step is bolting the base to your cockpit. In our case, we’re using a NWS Life Premium with a tray that has an older pattern. As with the R9 V1 and R21 V1, we needed a plate to firmly mount it. Since the bolt pattern is square (four bolts), we used an adapter plate to match it with our cockpit’s triangular pattern.
It’s essential to ensure the base is firmly secured. With 16 Nm of torque and its weight, using just two out of four screws is risky. Alternatively, you can buy a front-mount bracket.
As always, we use Moza’s software—MOZA Pit House—currently at version 1.3.2.12 (May 2025). It’s steadily maturing in functionality and firmware updating across the ecosystem. It’s still English-only with some remote sections in Chinese, so there’s room for improvement, but it’s clearly progressing.
As seen in the screenshots, the configuration options are more than sufficient to dial the base to your preferences. Remember, the goal here is to channel all vehicle feedback through the wheel—unlike in real cars where you feel it through multiple points.
There are also fairly regular updates to the mobile app, which lets you adjust the base in real time via Bluetooth. This feature is especially useful if you have someone assisting during testing who can tweak values while you’re driving—making it easier to understand what each setting does.
With hardware mounted and software tuned, we fired up the sim and hit the track.
By now, most sim racers have probably tried a direct drive base. And as always, it’s a world of difference—smooth, instant, silent. We still remember gear-based bases that felt like they’d fall apart every time you countersteered. For those upgrading from modest DD bases (5-8 Nm), the differences at 16 Nm are twofold: one, the base doesn’t struggle in tough, long corners—it holds strong; and two, it reacts much faster to input changes—like hitting grass or curbs, the acceleration and responsiveness are just higher. But it’s still all through a single axis—steering—so feedback has its limits.
You also need to be cautious with FF strength. At 16 Nm, poor configuration or overconfidence can lead to injury. We’ve had a few scares with various bases, so better to keep things in a comfortable range.
Conclusions
We’ve enjoyed the Moza R21 V1 for months, and switching to this R16 V2 wasn’t traumatic—even if it looks like a downgrade on paper. Truth is, we never used the R21 at 100% and still aren’t maxing out the R16, though we are pushing it more. The V2 upgrades—especially improved connectivity—bring subtle enhancements in feedback delivery that help refine your driving. Still, practice is essential if you want to shave tenths off your lap time.
To sum up: it’s a solid evolution. If choosing between V1 and V2, go with the V2—the slight price increase is worth it. However, if you already own a V1, there’s no strong reason to upgrade for now. Just note that some new wheels don’t work with older bases, so if you want one of those, you’ll need to switch.
Pricing and Availability
As always, you can buy all Moza products—using our discount—at Simufy’s website. In this case, the Moza R16 V2 base with 16 Nm torque costs €849.99, though it’s currently in pre-order with no availability date yet.
- Moza Racing R16 Official Store
- Moza Racing R16 (SimUltimate) with 5% Off
- Moza Racing R16 (SimRacerZone) with 3% Off
- Moza Racing R16 (SimRaceWebshop)
- Moza Racing R16 (Simufy) with 3% Off
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