Introduction

As a sim racing enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for new pedals that can enhance the realism and immersion of my virtual driving experience. Over the years, I’ve tried various high-end pedal sets from brands like Fanatec, Heusinkveld, and others, but the new Asetek Forte pedals really caught my attention.

Asetek made a big splash in the sim racing world recently with their high-end Invicta hydraulic pedals, and now they’ve followed up with the more affordable Forte pedals. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a set of the Forte pedals for testing and review. After spending several weeks using them for all kinds of sim racing, I’m ready to share my definitive thoughts on whether these pedals are worth your hard-earned cash. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get into it!

First Impressions and Unboxing

Right out of the box, the Asetek Forte pedals make an excellent first impression. The pedal set I reviewed included the two-pedal brake and throttle combo along with the optional Forte clutch pedal add-on.

Everything is neatly packed with quality foam lining and quick start documentation. The all-metal construction looks and feels very premium, with the dark anodized aluminum pedal plates and arms contrasting nicely with the powder coated black accents.

While the overall aesthetic is muted and serious, the integrated LED lighting strip under the pedals adds a subtle dash of style. More on that lighting functionality later!

Design and Build Quality

In terms of design and build quality, it’s clear that Asetek put a lot of thought and engineering into these pedals. The Forte pedals share much of the same DNA as the more expensive Invicta hydraulic pedals, featuring solid aluminum construction and high attention to detail.

Every pedal surface has nicely textured grip taping, and the smooth action of the pedal arms shows the care put into assembly and adjustment. Small touches like the hidden cable routing channels and the clever shaping of the heel plate further demonstrate the careful planning.

Overall, the Forte pedals inspire confidence in their construction quality and durability. The pedals have a reassuring heft at about 7kg altogether, while still feeling precise in their movements. For a mid-priced set of load cell pedals, the build quality is fantastic.

Features and Adjustability

Asetek designed the Forte pedals to offer an excellent driving experience right out of the box, while still providing some key adjustments for personalization.

The default elastomer spring in the brake pedal is medium stiffness, which should work for most users. But the pedals also include softer and harder elastomer options to change the brake feel. There is also adjustable preload on both the brake and throttle pedals to tweak the initial stiffness.

While the pedal arms themselves have limited adjustment, the pedal plates do allow some height changes by using different mounting holes. This helps dial in the right positioning and angles for your specific rig and driving style.

The throttle and clutch pedals are smooth and responsive, if a bit simple in design compared to competitors. However, the excellent Asetek software unlocks more customization capabilities.

Software and Calibration

The included RaceHub software really opens up the versatility of the Forte pedals. The app makes calibration easy by allowing you to precisely set the deadzones and overall travel range for each pedal.

One of my favorite features is the ability to create custom nonlinear response curves independently for the throttle, brake, and clutch. This lets you fine tune the sensitivity of the pedals for different cars in various simulation games.

The software also controls the integrated LED lighting effects. This feels less important for performance, but it’s a neat aesthetic touch to match the LEDs to your rig’s colors.

Throttle Pedal

After calibration, the throttle pedal provides smooth incremental control throughout its range of motion. The default spring tension is on the lighter side, which some users may want to increase with the preload adjustment for a stiffer feel.

While the throttle pedal gets the job done, it doesn’t have any special features or adjustments beyond the basics. The face plate is also slightly short for heel-toe downshifting technique. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but more serious drivers may want a longer pedal.

Clutch Pedal

The optional Forte clutch pedal is a must-have addition in my opinion. The pedal uses a cantilevered mechanism to simulate the engagement point of a real clutch. Driving manual transmission cars feels so much more immersive with the two-stage bite point of this clutch.

Asetek designed the clutch to be highly adjustable, with options to set the engagement curve to your liking. Whether driving rally cars, drift cars, or GT racers, this clutch performs admirably. At its new reduced price, the Forte clutch pedal is a great value add-on.

Brake Pedal and Load Cell Technology

The highlight of these pedals is without a doubt the brake unit. Rather than using a pressure sensor like the Invicta pedals, the Forte brake relies on an innovative load cell design.

This pedal uses a single elastomer spring inside a “bell housing” that limits the physical travel. This focused load allows the precise force measurement of the pedal pressure. It also prevents over-compression of the elastomer compared to other designs.

The result is a very stiff, short-throw brake pedal that provides exceptional control and trail braking capability. The patented M.L.C.P.C technology gives excellent brake feel and minimal pedal deformation over time.

While the brake may be too stiff out of the box for some users, the preload adjustment can soften the initial bite to find the right balance of stiffness and modulation. This is a brake tuned for serious racers who want to master threshold braking.

Overall Performance and Feel

After everything is dialed in with the adjustments and software customization, the Forte pedals provide an excellent driving experience. The aluminum construction gives smooth and precise pedal control.

The brake pedal stands out for its unmatched stiffness and sense of direct connection to the car’s braking system. Modulating the brakes becomes intuitive with the finely tuned load cell sensor.

The optional clutch with its two-stage engagement completes the package for immersive driving of manual transmission cars. While the throttle pedal is good, it doesn’t have any special features that distinguish it from the competition.

The only potential downside is that the extremely stiff brake pedal feel won’t suit every driving style or preference. But for aspiring sim racers who want to up their trail braking game, the Forte brake pedal excels.

Pricing and Value

With an MSRP of $449 for the two-pedal set and $249 for the clutch add-on, the Asetek Forte pedals are priced competitively. Considering the quality and performance on offer, they represent a great value for serious sim racers.

The exceptional brake pedal feel far exceeds other pedals in this mid-tier price range. Factor in the versatile software and responsive controls, and the Forte pedals punch above their cost.

For drivers wanting to invest in durable high-end pedals with excellent longevity, these hit a sweet spot of quality and value.

Competitors and Alternatives

The Asetek Forte pedals compete directly with other mid-priced load cell sets like:

• Fanatec CSL Pedals
• Heusinkveld Sprint Pedals
• VRS DirectForce Pro Pedals

They offer better build quality than the Fanatecs, along with more brake stiffness and adjustment capability. Compared to the Heusinkvelds, the Forte pedals have a more serious focus on stiff brake feel rather than adjustability. The VRS pedals are similarly track-focused but cost more while lacking the Asetek’s software ecosystem.

For non load cell alternatives, the Fortza T-LCM pedals from Thrustmaster provide lots of flexibility in a belt-drive system. However, they can’t match the precision feel of a dedicated load cell.

Conclusion

With excellent construction quality and innovative technology in the brake pedal, the Asetek Forte pedals earn an enthusiastic recommendation. They provide a dynamic and responsive connection to your virtual cars with intuitive controls that should only get better with practice.

If you’re seeking durable, high-performance pedals to take your driving skills to the next level, the Forte pedals absolutely deliver. The premium brake pedal feel gives confidence and consistency when approaching thresholds and