VNM direct drive wheelbase simracing review 

Thanks Gregory it means a lot for me to hear that! Glad to fly the flag 💪

@@DrAlanQuan ❤️💪

Thanks for your kind words! I think this wheelbase is well above and beyond the quality of the shifter - the complexity of everything needed to get it running is unfathomable, yet here we are driving this thing! Really incredible work

I have the same shifter. theres two thing I dont like with it. I wish there was a reverse lockout avd the side to side resistance was too weak. I add a lots of elastic in the spring loader system inside and it's way better. I still think it's a good price/quality shifter.

I would love to see Simagic or Moza to get PlayStation compatibility! I'm tired of being treated like crap by Fanatec service.. That's the only thing that's making me staying with them, I like to play on both, PC and PS5 Really hope for another brands to get console compatibility, would change in a heartbeat

Oh thanks Frank I really appreciate that. I didn't realise you did it and I posted it myself and got called out for that not being on 😱 whoops It's crazy how the goal posts move over time though, not that this coming out changes how good your VRS is to be fair

@@DrAlanQuan Oh shucks sorry about that. I'm a bit new to posting on Reddit. I hope that wasn't uncouth to do. Thank you for your response my friend. I am now subscribed looking forward to more content. Top notch stuff Dr. Quan 😄👍

They have lower torque DDs in the pipeline which will be very interesting. They know that a single halo product only won't be suitable for all customers, so expect smaller and lighter options soon

That's awesome! I saw a lot of people on discord happily running DIY kits with the VNM control hardware, but it seemed a bit too daunting of a project to try myself at least back then. But seeing what VNM can do with a turn key product, and knowing it came from the roots of the DIY projects, I know you have a heck of a DD system 👍

Yeah they really do things properly!

Yeah VNM did a great job with the packaging, it looks great. The QR is a bit chunky but I think that's ok since I don't personally use the shaft space for anything

Haha thanks man, I bought a 20Nm base because I wanted to know that I had the option for high torque (I was using a G27 at the time) and after a week of trial and error I settled on 5-6Nm as my peak torque target. I just like it there! Glad to have you here with me :)

Yeah the nose (even if it's huge) looks very professionally done. And very user serviceable - I like it!

Haha actually I don't! The software comes with all those settings sliders maxed out as default, but the checkbox deactivated. I was just doing a screen recording showing the check boxes, I actually really enjoyed the drive with all of them deactivated as per the default settings. I ran this wheelbase at 8Nm, gradually increasing it to about 20 just to see how the software reacted, and then right back down to 8Nm where I like it 👍

Hi Viet, honestly I've spent very little time on Simucube - I should get more familiar with it since I'm at RaceKraft all the time The majority of my DD experience is the Fanatec DD1, and the Simagic Alphas (Mini and Ultimate) and I'm able to drive quickly and comfortably on them all. The VNM is definitely on that list as well now though. I think also compared to others I'm not especially sensitive to force feedback details? Or maybe we use different words to describe what we experience. Ultimately my lap times were the same on all the bases and my ability to read the conditions was very very similar. What I can say is that with no tweaks, straight out of the box I was catching slides on cold tyres without even thinking about it. So it's definitely communicating details to me in a way that I can use them!

@@DrAlanQuan thank you for your quick response! here in the US Simucube seems to have cornered the market in terms of what is perceived as top tier. Looks like I need to find somewhere to try out the VNM direct drive.

Regardless simucube software is so refined you can’t beat simucube. And doubt anyone will ever catch up to them

I'd love to do that comparison! I'll make some enquiries :)

If u can’t decide what base to buy then you should just sleep

I can't answer that definitively - but I suspect it's partly to go gangbusters on the specs to get people's attention. I can't think of a single commercially available DD system with more torque. It drives really well, and at a fraction of the cost to competitors with similar specs. That said, for me personally I am more than happy with a 10Nm base - the 32Nm base works perfectly for me but I'm only running it at 8Nm anyway.

Hi there, this product is pre launch at the moment. All the usual VNM distributors will have them, but I'm guessing they aren't listing them for sale until they receive stock. It won't be long at all, I'm told the pallets are ready to go, just awaiting final certification before leaving Vietnam

@@DrAlanQuan Thanks for the reply - just found you, and really like your content and soothing voice :)

23 bit!

65nm exists

You need a real car 😂

If you can get your hands on a 100Nm servo I'm pretty sure VNM can provide the back end control hardware for you to create a functional wheelbase - so many people are running DIY DDs using VNM's stuff, have been for years :)

That's one way to put it hahaha

Yeah I saw photos of the nose before I got it in my hands, but once it was in the studio it still took me by surprise how big it was. Compared to the tightest extension I have in the studio, this shaft raises your minimum monitor height by a bit less than an inch - which isn't huge but it's still significant. Easy enough to put a Simcore hub extension between the nose and QR to create a narrow section of the shaft though. I'll ask VNM if the slip ring cables will be long enough to work with a hub extension now you've brought this up!

Just checked with VNM and they've confirmed the USB slip ring will be compatible with extenders - and that they have official extenders ready too Hopefully I can get some in the studio to check them out soon

@@DrAlanQuan yeah it is massive! The issue with an extension is you then have to have your screens further from the base to be where the extension would be. Be good if the whole shaft could be removed and replaced like Simucube.

I did test the T300 against a bunch of DDs as well as the Logitech G29 in my Moza C5 review. The T300 definitely holds its own and is a huge step up from the G29. The step from T300 to DD is nowhere near as big. I would be happy racing on a T300 honestly. The only downside is the rim ecosystem

No but I think most of the servo motors looks like this or closer in pure without modification like asetek or moza r16 and above

Definitely not a rebrand. The hardware is all sourced independently and even if there might be some common componentry (I have no idea honestly) everything was developed from the ground up

they always say its not a rebrand, but I guarantee you in this generation of things. ALMOST EVERYTHING IS A REBRAND. this is a rebrand too. alan just getting paid to be quiet about it

You know something I don't know, especially the part about me being paid 🤷 I personally don't believe it's a rebrand, I haven't seen the connector pattern on anything else, and everything I saw on discord over the last 3 years does point to this being worked on incrementally all this time

@@DrAlanQuan don't know how I even ended up here watching but anyway. Simucube sold or licenced their tech (IP) to Asetek, I would not be surprised they could do the same for other company.

Never is a powerful word!

Certainly not me, but there's definitely an element of a numbers game in the field. Everybody talks about torque and slew rate and if you don't have the numbers, certain buyers won't even consider you. The VNM DD is really good though, I like it a lot.

To me, I don't see how it is a rip off. The fundamental construction process is the same. Just like passenger cars use an internal combustion engine, a steel unibody chassis, and disc brakes - direct drive wheelbases use a servo motor and control electronics in the back. It's the same format, that's it. For comparison I don't have extensive experience with Simucube products - I have a lot of seat time with Fanatec and Simagic though and the experience is very good with the VNM. I am not so good at describing force feedback but I am good at driving. Over 4000 irating on a good day, so I can translate force feedback into on track performance - and with the VNM I can perform well. I would be very happy with the VNM wheelbase on my own rig

Honestly, I'm pretty much 'that guy' right with you. For me, the Simagic Alpha Mini gives me everything I need - but the VNM also performed perfectly for me too. I think as a manufacturer, it makes sense to make a product with the best numbers. Get the biggest numbers, get attention, generate some sales - happens with cars, hot water units, simracing gear, you name it. Having gotten to know the VNM team a bit during my time working with them - they are a bunch of guys that like to push the envelope and see what they can do. And what they've done is put together a well executed force feedback package with higher force feedback numbers AND significantly lower cost than their competitors. It shows the world what they are capable of, and puts them on the map. And when they come out with their cheaper, less powerful wheel they will have an audience ready to buy it. That's my take away from my observations so far anyway. What are your thoughts on that?

@@DrAlanQuan Yes I think you've nailed it. Bigger numbers are better. There's also the possibility that working on methods and processes to finely control a powerful motor means they're learning some lessons along the way which will make future products just that much better. Maybe someone will chime in with real life torque values from racing cars? I understand a typical GT3 may be around 15nm but perhaps other classes or types of cars are much higher?

Ah yes, this came up recently. I'm personally not interested in fighting my car but there are drivers who try to recreate their exact race car characteristics (force feedback, seating position, shifter throw etc) and knowing you can definitely wind the power up if needed is one less thing to worry about. Me though, I'm happy to be comfortable in my home and that means low torque 😂

@tehsimo think of it like a sound system. We have 3000w systems and 100w systems both give you sound but the 3000w will have better dynamic range and be able to give you all the fine detail its the same with DD wheels. These bases need to be more than just 32nm because the OSW mige simcube that was 32nm was no where near as good as the sc2 pro. Its all about software

@@Simlife101so what % of headroom does 32 give you?

Yes you may not need 32nm but this one for example if someone wants to buy simucube 2 pro for about $1350 he can get something cheaper and better in slow rate Basically when ever you get more torque you get more slow rate which is how fast is the WB to get maximum torque Basically faster response And I’m sure if the motor was 22bit the quality of the force feedback will be close to the competitor VRS, asetek, SC (which’s in my opinion the best 3 bases right now) so why would someone buy a simucube if he doesn’t have unlimited budget And competitiveness between companies is good for the community as we have seen in the entry level for example fanatec CSL DD for $200 which was way more expensive

A lot of people talk about that headroom, I run my bases between 5-8Nm and honestly I'm competitive from a 10Nm base upwards. But I think something to consider is that people like to buy based on stats. People will choose a car with certain listed 0-60 time or certain MPG, same as DD bases and if you can show you have bigger numbers than your competitors, it gives you a better shot at a sale. For me the most important thing is does it perform - yes it does

I think a big 'enter at own risk' sign should suffice

With the power turned down, I had very high confidence my arms would be ok. The wheelbase behaved very well! No surprises while driving at all. Is it reasonable to buy a 32Nm base just to run it at 8Nm? Well then that is a good question...

Yep, still serious money but man oh man some of the pricing of its competitors 😵‍💫

Time to put that massive Moza trucking wheel through its paces!

I actually asked VNM about this because I agree, use an existing standard - it's a win for customers and it's one less barrier for selling your own product. The response was they wanted to make the QR as a design and manufacturing exercise, same with integrating the USB connection into the QR. The nose of the DD does have standard 70mm PCD mounting so you can still mount any QR system you want.

Yeah its absolutely wild tbh

Yeah it's a lot... But the good news is it's really good even if you only run it in single digit torque

@@DrAlanQuan i got 21 nm its fine

​@@DrAlanQuanexplain if you can clearly you can't. Peak torque has nothing to do with it. The ultimate is much better and I've spoken to one other guy who tried and said it wasn't as smooth as simucube and felt slightly less responsive due tp the low slew rate. Also the encoder is low spec for today's offering 12bit 😅

I think that's only the case if you feel the need to go around shouting that you have a 32Nm big boi. I would be quite happy to have the wheelbase and I have zero internal shortcomings 🤪🫣

Simucube thats why. Competition is great. Simucube aint the only big guy in town.💪

Because they have the skills to execute, and have a base that uniquely provides ultimate performance at a less than ultimate price tag.

You know you're watching a RU-vid video and not driving the wheel yourself right? I physically can't do that for you. Thanks for commenting.

@@DrAlanQuan Nah u missed the point. 2 min for actual driving experience and the rest just talking about how it looks? It should be the other way arround, 20 min driving and 2 min spent on looks :)

What makes this a rip off, if Simagic etc are not? Or do you just consider all servo DDs to be rip offs? Even the new Turtle Beach motor looks similar when you take the plastic casing off

Right on cue 🧂

I have a 20nm VRS now, I would consider buying VNM. If it proves to be a good base, much cheaper then the Simucube 2 Ultimate 32nm.

Only the best of the best. Simucube 32Nm. Now this competition.💪 let's go!

What VNM products have you used?

Not the same thing at all. Like saying a porche thag can do 150mph is the same as a ford that does the same speed. Its about slew rate and reaponse time also how high the bit rate is and this base is no where near as high spec as SC2 ultimate. Its not just about peak torque ​@@Leadbelly.

The physical characteristics you described are exactly what I discuss in the video. You have brought nothing new to the discussion, just this unexplainable and relentless hate towards VNM. I'm actually perplexed at why you keep returning to my comments section time and again. How do you keep your motivation levels high to spread this hate? Who hurt you? If you have meaningful input to share, I welcome that. If you wish to reiterate what I have already discussed in the video, sure that's fine as well. If you come back again and again to hate on something you have never held in your hands, your energy is not welcome here. Be your best you. You're not showing that to us, and it's a bummer.