SRP HB Handbrake
Earlier this year, we published our review of the GT-R pedal set from SRP (Sim Racing Pro), a Spanish simracing hardware manufacturer that was unknown to us until we passed by their booth at the ADAC Simracing Expo in Germany. We were very positive about the GT-R pedal set; a unique piece of engineering built with a completely independent philosophy to serve professional motorsport drivers. We also received their handbrake from SRP to test and share our opinion. With the experience of their pedal set in mind, we were very curious to get started with the handbrake as well!
The SRP HB handbrake is a USB simracing handbrake for use on PC. We received the ‘Black Edition’, along with a shift knob in an orange color that is distinctly SRP. The advertised price for this handbrake on their website is €357.00 excluding VAT and shipping. Including VAT, this comes to €431.97.
Packaging & Contents
The SRP HB handbrake was shipped to us from Blanes, Spain via FedEx, and was delivered to our door after 3 working days. We received a fairly compact brown shipping box, sealed with SRP tape. Inside the shipping box, we found the white product box with SRP branding all around. This product box was also sealed with tape, which we see as a minor drawback for simracers who like to keep their product boxes in pristine condition.
Upon opening the white product box, the first thing we see is a white layer of foam with a manual on top, which at first glance is fairly extensive and also contains a lot of safety precautions. When we remove the layer of white foam, the SRP HB handbrake is neatly nestled and waiting for us, with the shift knob laying in its own cutout.
After removing the handbrake and shift knob, we initially thought we couldn’t find any mounting hardware, but it was cleverly hidden under a thin layer of foam in the shift knob’s cutout. The mounting hardware includes ring and open-end wrenches, Allen keys, bolts and nuts, and the USB cable is also waiting there.
All in all, SRP’s packaging is fairly straightforward. The most important thing is that the handbrake sits nicely and well-protected in the packaging, and in that regard, it definitely succeeds!
Engineering & Quality
We have already had the opportunity on SimRaceBlog to test a variety of simracing handbrakes, most of which used a load cell sensor in combination with rubbers or elastomers. An exception is the Simagic TB-RS Handbrake, which is equipped with a hydraulic system. SRP takes a completely different approach here, just like with their GT-R pedals.
The distinguishing factor of this handbrake is that it is not equipped with a hydraulic system, nor a system with rubbers or elastomers, but with a pneumatic system. When operating the handbrake, a spring is pressed for the initial travel, which then compresses air, which increases the pressure in the system that is then measured. The SRP handbrake features ceramic membrane sensors. These sensors measure the pressure in the pneumatic system with extreme accuracy. This allows not only the movement of the handbrake to be detected but also exactly how much force is applied. The output of the handbrake has a resolution of 65,536 steps, which translates into room for enormous precision. With the GT-R pedals built on the same philosophy, we were very impressed with this pneumatic system, so we are very curious to see how it will perform on this handbrake.
The handbrake is further finished with high-quality materials and components. The base of the handbrake is made from CNC-machined AL6061 aluminum. Our unit is black anodized with a very hard, 28-micron-thick layer for extra protection. The handbrake is equipped with SKF needle roller bearings and polished shafts made of SUS303 stainless steel, designed to provide an extremely smooth experience during use and contribute to a long lifespan.
Also remarkable for a simracing handbrake is how adjustable and customizable the SRP HB handbrake is. To start, the lever is adjustable in height from 261mm to 331mm in 9 steps, which is quite a wide range. Additionally, the lateral angle of the handbrake can be adjusted continuously across the width. In length, the handbrake can be set in 4 steps from 90 degrees to 45 degrees. Finally, the lever can be positioned not only vertically but also horizontally, with all previously mentioned adjustments still applicable. All in all, the SRP handbrake is by far the most adjustable handbrake we have ever had in our hands!
All in all, the SRP HB handbrake is built without a single compromise, and on paper is truly aimed at simracers who want the very best in terms of engineering, quality, adjustability, and feel. We are curious to experience how this translates into a simracing experience, so it’s time to mount the handbrake on our simrig.
Mounting
We mount the SRP HB Handbrake on our TREQ Ace setup. To start, we look at the mounting options relative to our current setup. At the time of writing, our Moza SGP Sequential Shifter is mounted directly on our frame, with the Simagic TB-RS Handbrake placed on the Sim-Lab XB-1 Handbrake Angled Mounting Bracket. We quickly see that the SRP HB Handbrake does not fit on this bracket, so simply swapping the handbrake won’t work. This is not a shortcoming of SRP. We decide to move the Moza sequential shifter from our frame to the Sim-Lab bracket, where it does fit, and mount the SRP handbrake directly on our aluminum frame.
Mounting the SRP handbrake on our frame isn’t exactly rocket science. We choose to use the T-slot nuts already in our frame instead of the ones supplied by SRP, and insert the included short Allen bolts into them. What does raise some questions for us is the placement of the slot under the pneumatic system. The manual doesn’t show any mounting instructions, so it’s a bit of a puzzle how a bolt could be placed under this system. We decide to position the handbrake at a steep angle, as the extreme points of the slot are still reachable.
After choosing the position and angle, it’s simply a matter of tightening the bolts, connecting the SRP handbrake, and we’re ready to go!
Software
We download the SRP software directly from the SRP downloads page. There appears to be a separate download for the handbrake setup and for the pedals. In this case, we choose the download for the SRP HB handbrake. Upon unpacking the download and starting the executable, we only see a black screen, where we expected an installer. We soon realize that it isn’t an installer, but that the software that opens directly. However, it only displays output when the handbrake is connected. With the handbrake plugged in, the software shows it’s user interface and we can proceed immediately.
Just like with the SRP pedals, the software launches in Spanish by default. Fortunately, we can change the language to English through ‘Idioma’. The handbrake software is very straightforward. We see an image of the handbrake, where we can select either the gray or black variant with a dropdown menu. In the center, we see the adjustable settings: maximum brake pressure, idle deadzone, and the ‘adjustment area’, which allows tuning the handbrake’s output relative to the input. We can also adjust the handbrake’s response curve, which is useful if you want to lock your rear wheels immediately and reduce modulation, or if you want more precision with lower sensitivity in the mid-range.
What’s good to see is that after making adjustments, we can save them to a profile and load them again. Nothing more annoying than having to adjust your settings before every session, or losing your previous setup. Finally, on the right side of the screen, there’s a button to calibrate the handbrake.
The SRP software speaks for itself and makes it easy to jump straight in and start driving, which is exactly what we’re going to do!
Driving with the SRP HB handbrake
After assembling, mounting, and adjusting the SRP HB handbrake, it’s time to get our first experience with it. We choose to start a drift session in Assetto Corsa with the BMW E30 Drift, and later switch over to Dirt Rally 2.0.
Our first impression of the SRP HB handbrake is, to put it mildly, very good. The handbrake feels incredibly smooth to operate, and we can feel that it’s built extremely solid and sturdy. We quickly gain confidence to use the handbrake to its fullest, which is especially important to execute drifts or handbrake turns properly.
What stands out to us when using the SRP HB is the smooth transition from the spring on the handbrake lever to the pressure in the pneumatic system. The resistance is practically perfect to us. We like to operate our gear assertively, and the SRP HB handbrake facilitates that well. This transition from spring to pneumatic system is absolutely seamless, and the pressure buildup feels very natural and satisfying. Simracing handbrakes equipped with elastomers or rubbers can sometimes feel a bit inconsistent, or give less confidence when modulating. With the pneumatic SRP HB handbrake, that’s not the case. The operation feels extremely consistent, and of all the handbrakes we’ve tested, this might be the easiest to modulate. At the same time, you could question how important that really is for a handbrake, which is primarily designed to lock your rear wheels instantly.
The lever of a handbrake isn’t unimportant. In fact, it’s arguably one of the most critical parts. The lever is the only part of the handbrake you physically touch, and the experience of a handbrake can make or break on this interaction. On this front, the SRP HB handbrake scores very high. The lever feels solid and sturdy. The grip is very comfortable in our experience, and its weight adds to the sense of confidence the handbrake conveys.
SRP’s software makes it easy to adjust the handbrake configuration between sessions, thanks in part to the configurable profiles. We didn’t run into any issues; the software simply does what it needs to do and makes switching between games and cars hassle-free. Experimenting during or between sessions is also no problem, since we can always revert to a settings profile that we already liked.
Conclusion
With the HB handbrake, SRP, just like with their pedal set, has applied their own philosophy to a product category that already has a huge range of options. And they don’t do it halfway. The pneumatic technology with ceramic membrane sensors clearly sets itself apart from load cell and hydraulic alternatives, creating a completely unique experience.
The pneumatic system delivers extremely consistent and predictable pressure buildup, with high resolution to register the input signal. Whether we’re modulating subtly in a rally stage or aggressively locking the rear axle in a drift, the SRP handbrake inspires confidence and feels mechanically mature and extremely solid. The transition from spring to pressure is seamless, which pleasantly surprised us. Thanks to SRP’s custom-developed system, this handbrake doesn’t have the “spongy” feel that some elastomer-based solutions can exhibit.
The build quality is high-end and is also one of the areas where the handbrake really excels. CNC-machined aluminum, high-quality bearings, and a finish you’d expect more in industrial applications than in simracing hardware. On top of that it comes with an unprecedented level of adjustability; in height, angle, and positioning, this is without a doubt the most customizable handbrake we’ve ever handled. For simracers with a fixed rig who want to fine-tune their ergonomics down to the smallest detail, that’s a major plus.
Alongside these huge advantages, there are a few minor points to note. The mounting could have been slightly more user-friendly in the details, especially around the slot under the pneumatic system. The packaging is functional but not premium, and for a product in this price range, a bit more refinement in presentation would be expected. Furthermore, the question remains how relevant extreme modulation precision really is for a handbrake, which is usually used to lock the rear wheels as quickly as possible. This is something each simracer will need to decide for themselves. If you’re simply looking for a simracing handbrake with outstanding build quality and adjustability, the SRP handbrake is a very solid choice.
All in all, the SRP HB clearly positions itself in the high-end segment. With a price of €357.00 excluding VAT (or €431.97 including VAT), this isn’t an entry-level product, but a niche item for the serious simracer seeking uncompromising engineering, maximum adjustability, and a unique experience. If you’re after the very best and the pneumatic philosophy appeals to you, the SRP HB is without a doubt one of the most interesting handbrakes on the market.
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