Asetek SimSports Invicta pedals review 2
The Invicta, engineered by Danish company Asetek Simsport, is one of the most anticipated simracing peripherals of 2022. A hydraulic pedal set, destined to revolutionize the market with an innovative design. The selling price is set at 849€ for the two pedals version and 1198€ for the three pedals version. The structure of the Invicta is made of die-cast aluminum with contrasting details and logos made by CNC.
The pedals are attached to the base made of die-cast, consisting of two elements. The base is equipped with an integrated heel pad, characterized by a rounded front profile and Invicta serigraphy. On the front side there is an RGB led strip, customizable in color and light intensity through the RaceHub proprietary software. In the rear region we find a cover made of rigid plastic that hides the custom PCB Asetek with 16bit resolution and USB-C connection.
The three pedals, made of die-cast aluminum, share the same basic structure. The pedal rod, designed by Asetek to withstand pressures exceeding 200kg, features an aggressive design, enhanced by the presence of contrasting millings. The main pedal articulation is handled by two generous 22mm radial ball bearings.
The rotation on the axis is assisted by a large torsion spring that maximizes the return speed and facilitates the adjustments keeping the pedal always in an upright position. In the front region we find the pivot with double aluminium fixing ring, necessary to adjust the initial angle of the pedal.
The pedal plates are also made of die-cast aluminum with contrasting finishes and feature the same basic design characterized by a slight curvature and a series of holes necessary for their adjustment on the x and y axes. The holes protrude slightly from the surface of the pedal and significantly increase grip while riding.
Throttle
The mechanical operation of the throttle involves the use of a steel pin with a front joint that slides inside a plastic bushing fixed on the rear tilting structure made of orange anodized aluminum. The compression spring with circular wire has a diameter of 18mm and is easily adjustable in preload thanks to a ring nut made of orange aluminum.
Asetek supplies two types of springs with different sections of the harmonic wire in order to customize the throttle response even more deeply. The adjustment of the throttle limit is entrusted to a steel screw with a fixing ring in aluminum, which goes to set directly the physical limit of the stroke when pressing the pedal.
The reading of the signal is entrusted to a 16bit magnetic Hall sensor that Asetek calls TPS, Throttle Position Sensor. The sensor is drowned inside the die-cast aluminum base and works in synergy with the magnet encapsulated inside a cylindrical plastic structure attached directly to the base of the pedalrod.
Overall, the feedback that returns the gas pedal of the Asetek Invicta is really convincing. Pleasant and precise in the push phase, responsive and snappy during the return phases. The generous ball bearings ensure an incredibly smooth movement and the total absence of lateral play throughout the pedal stroke.
Brake
The mechanical operation of the Invicta’s brake revolves around the proprietary hydraulic pump, called by Asetek T.H.O.R.P, Twin Hydraulic Opposing Rapid Piston, assisted by a pressure sensor. The hydraulic cylinder, screen-printed Invicta, is made of forged aluminum and features CNC-made contrasting finishes.
The two-stage T.H.O.R.P. pump uses two pistons, positioned parallel to each other, which work in an opposite and synchronous manner. The lower cylinder, on which the piston connected to the pedal presses directly, pushes the oil into the overlying chamber through a small gap. The oil then flows into the upper cylinder and compresses the second piston that acts directly on the elastomer at the bottom.
The elastomer is placed inside an expansion chamber at the end of the pump, which prevents its excessive dilatation. Asetek supplies
three different types of elastomers (black = soft, white = medium, green = hard) to customize the braking experience. The signal reading is entrusted to a 16-bit pressure sensor with a maximum pressure value of 100bar.
By means of the two aluminium rings it is possible to act in a very precise manner on the initial brake stroke, simulating the approach of the pads to the disc. On the whole, the brake of the new Invicta offers truly fantastic feedback. Precise, natural, progressive and modulable in all situations with a very short stroke and a truly immediate feeling. The deep symbiosis between elastomers and T.H.O.R.P. hydraulic pump gives a real sensation and offers wide margins for customization.
Clutch
The clutch is characterized by the presence of a generous cam positioned in the rear region designed to simulate the sensation of the clutch release. The mechanical response of the clutch can be adjusted by means of the holes on the lower supports that allow you to select four different pedal curves. The lateral profiles of the cam, made of die-cast, support an orange aluminum element that integrates a plastic bushing inside which the steel pin slides. The compression spring with round wire has a diameter of 25mm and integrates an aluminum ring nut for adjusting the preload.
Overall, the clutch pedal gives a fluid, realistic and natural feeling; The spring offers excellent resistance to pressure and a very rapid return to position. The response on the pedal is linear in the first section and yielding in the final part, offering a very good feeling of detachment and attack of the clutch.
Conclusions
The Invicta produced by Asetek Simsport proves to be a high-end pedalboard aimed at the most demanding simdrivers but also at those who wish to take simulation on PC to a higher level. The price is highly competitive and the quality offered is excellent from all points of view. RaceHub proprietary software is complete, well designed and easy to use.
How does this compare to the Simtrecs Pro Pedal GT?
Giorgio didnt test the Simtrecs Pro Pedal GT yet, so he cant give you a comparsion. He will probably test the Simtrecs ProPedal GT as soon as there is enough stock available.