When I analyze things these days, I find myself looking back and reminiscing about my journey in this hobby. It starts to weigh on me, and at this rate, one day I might just close the door on it. It’s because I look at the change we’ve undergone in less than a decade, and it’s frightening.
In a corner of the room, increasingly filled with boxes and disorder, is one of the first (or perhaps the first) constructions in Spain of the Open Sim Wheel with IONI. There is the electronics box, practically empty, with the Granite controller in its first version, surrounded by electronic components, and finished with the same detail as a 10-year-old child creating their first electrical circuit on plywood.
Miraculously, no capacitor exploded in my face, everything worked, and over time, I knew what was happening or not happening in all of that. An immense investment for a set that has now become unavoidably old. I have no desire to close the box, cut the cables, and leave something that doesn’t look like a horrible prototype. Kick it, a cable comes loose, and it stops working. As they said in Indiana Jones, it should be in a museum, if such a thing existed in our simracing universe.
The same fate seems to befall the QR that accompanied the whole set. A primary idea, using well-known solutions from other sports, which works very well (and would work) until the end of time for its purpose, which is nothing other than achieving a perfect fit without play between the base and the wheel.
But all of that, despite still working like the first day, has become obsolete. It’s not compatible with the patented methods of the brands that make you leave everything behind. Only something like what we’re analyzing today allows me to rescue the visually most attractive part of all that; the original steering wheel that I ordered in 2015 from a couple of young Germans, one of them named Martin Ascher.
QR and Open Ecosystem
Asetek had a problem with the lack of steering wheels in its ecosystem. Having bases and not having anything to steer them with was detrimental to a potential product sale. At first, they solved it with the Asetek Forte Formula steering wheel that we already analyzed, but more was needed.
At the end of this month, more options for round rims with the modular button panel will arrive, but also this Invicta Quick Release allows reusing all kinds of rims that we already have. It’s a different tactic, as we remember that designing a product is neither simple nor fast. Fanatec takes about three years, while Moza, which is on the opposite extreme, can take about 10 months. With this solution, compatibility with past steering wheels is embraced, while filling an empty ecosystem with third part options.
Construction
As the CEO of Asetek showed in one of the videos, they spent a significant amount on a cutting-edge machine to make QRs as if they were spaghetti, and it shows. First-rate materials and finishes at the same level. All with a black anodized finish to give it the distinctive touch of the brand.
The extenders are also made of the same aluminum and receive the same black finish.
Assembly
As always with this brand, it’s best to check their YouTube channel videos to find out how to assemble it in a few minutes.
Some criticize that the extender is on the base and not on the wheel. This could make it necessary to have an extender for each rim and turn the issue into an expensive accessory if you have a large collection.
Operation
There’s no great mystery. You connect the USB that would go to the PC where you have the Invicta Quick Release , and then you attach it to the base in the usual way in this brand. The Quick Release acts as a bypass for the connection to the PC, so the buttons are seen by Windows as if they were directly connected, as we used to do.
This way, the steering wheel connections are not managed by RaceHub but as you would have managed them anyway, thus maintaining 100% compatibility with all rims that already worked with the PC. At least in our case, it has been like that with a rim made in 2015.
Options
We are given three extension options with the pack, but as seen in the assembly video, it’s not something quick to change. This is why many were asking for a unified extender on the base. For some reason, it hasn’t been done this way, and we’ll have to see what consequences it has in the future.
Another thing we see in the video is that it’s possible to remove the electronic part of the QR, making it only mechanical. This could be interesting for rims that have a different type of connection or those without buttons or paddles. There are options for all preferences.
Price
For 150 euros, you receive the Invicta Quick Release along with three extenders of these dimensions: 80 mm, 150 mm, and 200 mm. The pattern adjustment compatibility is 70mm for the screws, and the USB is 2.0. Tools and screws are also included.
There is a pack of 5 Invicta Quick Release that can be purchased with a discount in case you have many rims.
Considering the prices of equivalent products from other brands, it seems that the price is reasonable and allows our rims to have a second life.
Conclusions
Practical and functional. With quality and as robust as a rock. That’s what this Invicta Quick Release is, addressing a common issue for both the brand and users. Creating a complete ecosystem that allows outdated products to continue in use and expanding the range of options with external manufacturers is undoubtedly something we all should appreciate. It’s not a common move in the market, and hopefully, it will be replicated by other brands. As consumers, these are the things we should applaud.
The Quick Release can be purchased individually or in a pack of 5:
- Simufy (2% OFF using our code: SFYOPTF7ZMR98)
- You can buy it on Asetek official website (5% OFF using this code: SIMRACER.ES)
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