Logitech G920 Driving Force Racing

Full description of Logitech G920 in Kenya

The Logitech G920 Driving Force Racing Wheel is a popular and well-regarded racing wheel designed for an immersive sim racing experience on Xbox consoles (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) and Windows PCs. Known for its strong build quality, realistic force feedback, and accessible price point, it serves as an excellent entry-level to mid-range option for racing enthusiasts.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of its features, design, and performance:

Core Features & Design

• Realistic Force Feedback: The G920 employs a powerful dual-motor force feedback system. This technology is crucial for simulating the feel of the road, tire slip, terrain changes, weight shifts, understeer, oversteer, and even collisions. This allows you to feel what your virtual car is doing, providing vital cues for precise control and enhancing immersion. While it uses an older gear-driven system (which can sometimes lead to a “clunky” or slightly noisy feel compared to belt-driven or direct-drive wheels), it still delivers effective and detailed feedback.
• 900-Degree Rotation: The wheel offers a 900-degree lock-to-lock rotation, mimicking the steering range of a real-world car. This allows for realistic hand-over-hand steering in wide turns, contributing significantly to the authentic driving experience.
• Premium Construction: Logitech has prioritized durability and a premium feel in the G920’s construction:
  • Hand-Stitched Leather Wheel: The wheel rim is covered in high-quality, hand-stitched leather, providing a comfortable and luxurious grip for extended gaming sessions.
  • Stainless Steel Components: The paddle shifters and pedal faces are crafted from brushed stainless steel, adding to the wheel’s robust feel and ensuring precise force application.
  • Solid Steel Ball Bearings: The wheel shaft incorporates solid steel ball bearings, contributing to the wheel’s weight, durability, and smooth operation.
  • Glass-Filled Nylon Clamps: The mounting clamps are made from durable, glass-filled nylon for secure attachment to a desk or racing rig.
• Helical Gearing with Anti-Backlash: The G920 utilizes helical gears, modeled after those found in automotive transmissions, to reduce unwanted noise and vibration during operation. The anti-backlash mechanism keeps the wheel and pedals tight, minimizing slop and maximizing control response.
• Integrated Game Controls: For convenience, the wheel features a full set of Xbox buttons, a D-pad, and paddle shifters directly on the wheel face. This allows for easy access to in-game menus and controls without needing to reach for a separate controller.
• Steering Wheel Stripe: A visible stripe at the top of the wheel provides a quick visual cue of the wheel’s center position, helping you maintain orientation during intense racing.

Pedal Unit Details

The Logitech G920 comes with a separate three-pedal unit, offering throttle, brake, and clutch pedals for a more realistic driving experience.

• Responsive Pedals: The pedals are designed to provide a natural and responsive feel, allowing for precise control over acceleration, braking, and gear changes.
• Nonlinear Brake Pedal: A key feature of the pedal set is the nonlinear brake pedal. This pedal is engineered to mimic the feel of a pressure-sensitive brake system in a real car. It offers progressive resistance, meaning it gets stiffer the further you press it, providing a more accurate and responsive braking sensation. While some users might find it initially stiff, this resistance can be adjusted in software or by modifying the pedal itself for a more personalized feel.
• Adjustable Pedal Faces: The pedal faces can be repositioned, allowing for easier heel-toe maneuvers and customizable comfort.
• Stable Base: The pedal base features rubber feet for hard surfaces and a patented retractable carpet grip system, ensuring the pedals stay securely in place during aggressive driving.
• Durable Construction: The pedal frames and arms are made from cold-rolled steel, and the pedal piston sleeves are polyoxymethylene thermoplastic (POM), contributing to the unit’s overall durability.

Compatibility & Setup

• Platform Compatibility: The Logitech G920 is specifically designed for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PCs. It connects via a USB 2.0 port.
• Easy Setup: The G920 is generally plug-and-play. For PC users, Logitech’s G Hub software (or older Logitech Gaming Software) allows for customization of steering and pedal settings, button mapping, and fine-tuning of force feedback parameters. On Xbox, the wheel works seamlessly with supported racing titles.
• Mounting Options: The wheel and pedal unit feature built-in clamps and screw mounting points, allowing them to be securely attached to a table, desk, or dedicated racing rig, preventing unwanted movement during gameplay.

Optional Accessories

• Logitech Driving Force Shifter (Sold Separately): For an even more immersive experience, the G920 is compatible with the Logitech Driving Force Shifter. This 6-speed “H” pattern shifter with push-down reverse adds another layer of realism for those who prefer manual gear changes.

Pros and Cons (General Consensus)

Pros:

• Excellent Value for Money: Often considered one of the best entry-level racing wheels due to its feature set and build quality at its price point.
• Solid Build Quality: Durable materials like hand-stitched leather, stainless steel, and steel ball bearings ensure longevity.
• Immersive Force Feedback: Provides a realistic sense of the road and vehicle behavior, enhancing the driving experience.
• Comfortable Grip: The leather-wrapped wheel is comfortable for long gaming sessions.
• Responsive Pedal Set: The three-pedal unit with its nonlinear brake offers good control.
• Wide Compatibility: Works seamlessly with a broad range of racing games on Xbox and PC.
• Easy to Set Up: Straightforward connection and basic functionality out of the box.

Cons:

• Gear-Driven Force Feedback: While effective, the gear-driven system can be somewhat noisy and might occasionally produce a “notchy” or clunky feel compared to smoother belt-driven or direct-drive alternatives.
• Stiff Brake Pedal: The nonlinear brake pedal can be quite stiff initially, requiring some adjustment time or in-game sensitivity tweaks for some users.
• Cable Management: The integrated cables can sometimes lead to a bit of cable clutter, which may require additional cable management solutions for a tidier setup.
• Lack of LED Rev Lights (on the wheel): Unlike its PlayStation counterpart (G29), the G920 does not have LED rev indicator lights on the wheel itself.

In conclusion, the Logitech G920 Driving Force Racing Wheel stands as a robust and reliable option for anyone looking to step up their racing simulation game. Its combination of strong force feedback, quality construction, and a realistic pedal set makes it a compelling choice for both casual and aspiring sim racers on Xbox and PC platforms. While it has a few minor drawbacks related to its gear-driven system and brake pedal stiffness, its overall performance and value proposition remain highly competitive in the racing wheel market.