Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake
It seems there is no end to the developments being made in the Simracing world at the moment. One of the manufacturers that is making a significant contribution to this is Simagic. Recently, for example, we had the opportunity to review the Simagic P1000i pedal set with hydraulic brake module, as well as their DS-8X shifter. Not too long ago, Simagic also released their new simracing handbrake; the TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake. As the name suggests, this is a simracing handbrake equipped with a hydraulic braking system. We received the TB-RS handbrake from Simagic, through our friends at Simwear.eu, to put it to the test and share our opinion on it!
The Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake is available at our partner Simwear.eu for a price of €419.00 including VAT and excluding shipping costs. On the Simagic website, the TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake is available for $369.00 excluding taxes and shipping costs. You can get a 3% discount at Simagic with the discount code ‘SIMRACEBLOG’.
Packaging & Contents
The Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake was sent to us by Simwear.eu from Belgium. The package took two days to be delivered to us by DPD. We received a standard brown shipping box containing the elongated, matte black product box of the TB-RS handbrake. The box features a full-color image of the handbrake and Simagic branding all around.
Upon opening the product box, the first things we see are a layer of soft, black foam, a set of Simagic stickers, and a Quick Guide. With much excitement to see the handbrake, we immediately remove the top foam layer, revealing the TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake waiting for us in neat cutouts of an extra thick foam layer. Surrounding the handbrake, we notice included rubber and elastomer pads, a travel regulator, an emblem with the Simagic ‘S’ on it, a bag with tools and mounting materials, and a USB cable and RJ45 cable. It’s nice to see that the bag of mounting materials also contains three T-nuts, which can be inserted directly into an aluminum profile rig. We also find a mounting plate for a Simagic P-HPR haptic feedback motor, which is optionally available.
Engineering & Quality
As the name of the Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake suggests, the TB-RS is a hydraulic simracing handbrake. The hydraulic module is similar to the hydraulic brake system of the P1000(i) pedal set, which we reviewed a little while ago. This means that the TB-RS handbrake operates with a system that can be described as two-stage hydraulic system, with both stages smoothly transitioning into each other. When the handbrake is pulled, pressure is built up in the brake system with the brake fluid. The built-up pressure of the brake fluid then pushes a piston in the cylinder with pads/elastomers, which then – depending on their stiffness- provides resistance. The exerted force is then measured by the load cell sensor. There are 9 rubber pads and elastomers in the cylinder to be compressed. There are a total of four different colors of pads, ranging from soft to hard: black, gray, blue, and red. With the included extra pads, the handbrake can be finely adjusted. The brake fluid reservoir must always be upright and is tiltable, so you can mount the handbrake vertically to your sim rig as well. For a simracing handbrake, a hydraulic module is quite unique; most other simracing handbrakes on the market are equipped with only a spring and/or elastomers or rubbers, with a load cell or Hall-effect sensor attached to them.
The Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake is further crafted from high-quality, CNC-machined aluminum. The finish of it is simply superb; all edges are very finely finished, and wherever we grip the handbrake, there is no sharp edge or tip to be found. As soon as we pick up the handbrake, we also feel no play anywhere. With its aluminum color, black, and distinctive Simagic-red accents, the TB-RS has a characteristic and recognizable appearance. The arm of the handbrake is quite long, but our first impression of it is positive. The handle is made of a (very) soft material and is also replaceable with other or even aftermarket ones. On top of the handle, we can attach the silver emblem with the Simagic ‘S’ for a stylish finish. Finally, on the side, we find the USB port, the RJ45 connection to connect the handbrake to a Simagic wheelbase, and ports labeled with P-APS and P-HPR, which represent the haptic feedback motor and accompanying power supply.
Altogether, we are thoroughly impressed with the build quality and finish of the TB-RS handbrake, and we are eager to connect and configure it, and finally put it to use!
Mounting
We will be mounting and using the Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake on our TREQ ACE sim rig. When it comes to simracing hardware and accessories, not all are designed with mounting directly onto aluminum profiles in mind, but with the Simagic TB-RS, that’s not the case. The mounting materials provided are sufficient to mount the handbrake onto aluminum profile using the included T-nuts and bolts, but there’s also the option to mount it on a plate and secure it from below using bolts and nuts.
Initially, we intended to mount the Simagic TB-RS on the aluminum profile of the shifter frame of our TREQ ACE. However, we already have the Simagic DS-8X shifter mounted there, so we need to find an alternative. Even with additional profile mounting alongside the shifter frame, we couldn’t find a satisfactory solution in combination with the shifter. We took a wild guess and grabbed the Sim-Lab XB-1 Handbrake Angled Mounting Bracket (Sim-Lab discount code available), which turns out to be a perfect fit for the Simagic TB-RS and provides us with enough space to use it alongside the DS-8X shifter. Now it’s just a matter of mounting the Sim-Lab bracket, placing the Simagic TB-RS handbrake, determining the angle we want to have the handbrake in, and tightening the bolts and nuts. With the handbrake mounted, we connect the USB cable and we’re ready to go.
Software
The Simagic TB-RS handbrake, like all Simagic equipment, is controlled through their own software package called SimPro Manager. After connecting the handbrake, it is immediately recognized in the software, and we can click on the TB-RS handbrake under ‘Devices’ to open its settings. To start, we see an image of the handbrake on the left side of the screen, and at the top of the screen, we find the ‘Calibrate’ button to calibrate the handbrake.
On the right side of the screen, under the heading ‘Basic’, we find the actual settings for the Simagic TB-RS. Here, we can adjust the dead zones of the handbrake and indicate how linear, progressive, or degressive we want the handbrake to be. We do this by adjusting the ‘curve’ in the graph. For drifting and rally driving, we prefer a handbrake that quickly locks the wheels, so we choose a curve that builds up very rapidly. Through the visualization above these settings, we can see the sensor registration, which consists of a combination of the actual force we exert on the handbrake and the output of the software in combination with the curve we have set. Furthermore, we find the ‘Feedback’ tab. Here, the P-HPR Haptic Feedback Motor of the handbrake can be configured. We did not receive one with our handbrake, so we will not be testing or discussing it further in this review.
Using the Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake
We are going to test the Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake in Assetto Corsa and Dirt Rally 2.0. We start with drifting sessions in Assetto Corsa using the virtual BMW M3 E30 drift, the ideal starter car for learning to drift, and later the Nissan Silvia S14 mod from the World Drift Tour Street Pack. Besides calibrating the TB-RS handbrake, we start driving with the configuration as it comes out of the box; a medium-hard setting with blue, gray, and black rubber pads and elastomers.
The first impression we get of the handbrake during drifting is simply superb. With the medium-hard setting, there is still quite a bit of travel in the handbrake, which is accentuated by its relatively long lever arm. This requires a certain level of assertiveness when pulling the handbrake, which we appreciate and gives us the feeling of really driving a drift car with a big, long handbrake. The resistance on the TB-RS builds up well with the brake fluid system and the rubber pads and elastomers, making the progression of the handbrake feel smooth. Initially, we found the handle of the handbrake to be on the (too) soft side when unpacking it, but during driving, we actually find it quite comfortable to use, both with and without gloves. However, we would have appreciated if, especially considering the price of the handbrake, an extra aluminum handle had been included so that we could have had a choice in this regard.
After the drifting sessions and completing various courses in Dirt Rally 2.0, it’s time to try out some more adjustments to the TB-RS handbrake. We are already familiar with the hydraulic system from the Simagic P1000i pedal set, so adjusting the hardness of the handbrake is not a mystery to us. To do this, we simply unscrew the cap of the black, upright cylinder. Inside this cap, the stack of rubber pads and elastomers is clicked together, with a metal ring on top. With the wide choice of included pads and elastomers, we can pick them together as we see fit, place them back into the cap, and screw them back into the cylinder. Surprisingly, clicking the pads together is much easier than it was with our P1000i review; they fit together snugly and remain well-connected even when upside down. Unfortunately, the same cannot always be said for the metal ring. The ring sits on top of the stack and, depending on the pad or elastomer, tends to fall into the cylinder when we try to insert the cap. First, we try the lightest setting (9 black rubber pads) and then the hardest setting (9 red elastomers) to experience the range in which the handbrake can be used.
In the lightest setting, with the mentioned 9 black rubber pads, we find the Simagic TB-RS to be very light, with a maximum amount of travel. With this setting, we don’t feel like the handbrake performs well; there’s not much feeling or progression left, and personally, we think that for a simracer who prefers such a light handbrake, an entry-level model could suffice. On the hardest settings, the TB-RS shows a different side of itself; with only the red elastomers mounted, the handbrake transforms into a firm handbrake that requires even more assertiveness, allowing for more force to be applied. The resistance buildup is still pleasant, although it feels much harder from the start. Due to the hardness of the elastomers, the travel of the handbrake also becomes significantly shorter, and the harder settings also make it easier to rely more on strength and muscle memory for braking. What we notice more with the harder settings with elastomers is that there is some play around the resting point of the handbrake, which feels like a kind of dead zone. We notice this a bit when operating the handbrake, but especially releasing the handbrake feels less comfortable and subjectively feels like it’s happening in two steps instead of one smooth motion.
Thanks to the simple system where the rubber pads and elastomers are pressed into the cap of the brake cylinder, it’s a breeze to try out many different settings. We’ve tried out a lot of different combinations and personally settled on a setting that’s slightly harder than the standard setting of black, gray, and blue pads/elastomers which are fitted on delivery of the handbrake. However, we also find the standard setting, and a slightly lighter variation of it, very comfortable, and we might still switch between them. Overall, we find the adjustment possibilities superb, and we can hardly imagine that there are simracers who are not satisfied with the Simagic TB-RS in meeting their needs.
Conclusion
Simagic has certainly grabbed attention with the TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake in the simracing community. Not only does it look good and is it built with the quality we’ve come to expect from Simagic, but it’s also one of the few handbrakes equipped with a hydraulic system. Additionally, the P-HPR haptic feedback motor can be installed, which we didn’t cover in our review but could be an interesting option for those looking for a little extra feedback.
After driving numerous drift and rally sessions, we have few noteworthy remarks about the Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake. Simply put, the handbrake is pleasant to use and feels very sturdy and high-quality. The hydraulic system provides a smooth operation, and the cylinder with rubber pads/elastomers makes it very easy to adjust the handbrake. In our experience, the default setting with which the handbrake is delivered is already very good, but the adjustment possibilities are virtually endless, so it’s worth experimenting. We personally find the lightest setting too light to fully appreciate the handbrake, but on the other hand, the hardest setting is definitely interesting for simracers who want to operate their handbrake with a lot of force and assertiveness. The stack of rubber pads and elastomers of the handbrake clicks together nicely, although the metal ring on the end tends to fall off nine out of ten times for us. A minor inconvenience, but certainly not a reason to overlook the handbrake.
The obvious question when it comes to a handbrake in this price range is: do you really need it? The most honest answer to that, in our experience, is a ‘no’. The Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake is comfortable, high-quality, and feels good, but fundamentally, it doesn’t do much different from a handbrake that costs a third of the price. However, is it a cool simracing handbrake and a lovely piece of technology? Absolutely. Compared to other simracing handbrakes, the hydraulic brake system leans towards being unique, the wide range of adjustment possibilities is definitely a plus, and the option to expand with a P-HPR haptic feedback motor is almost insane for a handbrake – in a good way, of course. We don’t think this will become the go-to simracing handbrake for every simracer’s home, but really enthusiastic drift/rally simracers who have the budget for it and really put the handbrake to the test will undoubtedly enjoy it a lot.
Are you excited about the Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake after reading this review? It’s available at our partner Simwear.eu for a price of €419.00 including VAT and excluding shipping costs. On the Simagic website, the TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake is available for $369.00 excluding taxes and shipping costs. You can also get a 3% discount on your order at Simagic with the discount code ‘SIMRACEBLOG’.
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