In the range of "reasonable" Direct Drive bases in terms of power and budget, the MOZA R12 clearly establishes itself as a serious mid/top-of-the-range option. With its 12 Nm and RS V2 flywheel in this bundle, we're aiming at an audience that wants to take a real step up from a belt-driven base or a small entry-level DD, without going overboard with power that's hard to exploit.

On paper, this combo promises a precise, clean FFB that can be used both in the league and in advanced leisure use. The RS V2 steering wheel brings the "GT / all-rounder" touch, with enough buttons and a modern look without going overboard. The whole package is designed as a serious setup core, around which a complete cockpit can be built.

For my part, I approached this test from three angles: the sheer precision of the information (grip reading, load transitions), comfort over time, and versatility between different types of cars and sims. The idea isn't just to have big, arm-wrenching torque, but a coherent combo that makes you want to drive for a long time, often, and on everything.

Design & manufacturing

The R12 base immediately gives the impression of a compact, serious block. The metal chassis inspires confidence, with no parasitic play or creaking. The design is quite sober and angular, with a build quality that clearly stands above many belt-driven bases and in the same league as competing mid-range Direct Drives.

Visually, it exudes density and rigidity. In hand, when you manipulate the base and steering wheel, nothing feels hollow. The assembly tolerances are tight, the motorsport-style quick release dry and straightforward, and there's no perceptible wobble once everything's locked in place. You get the impression that it can withstand years of sessions without flinching, provided of course that it's firmly attached to a sufficiently rigid cockpit.

The RS V2, on the other hand, is clearly geared towards GT / all-rounders. Rounded, slightly thick rim, coating that offers good grip without being aggressive. The magnetic paddles have a clean, mechanical click, with a more qualitative feel than on many more mainstream "plastic" steering wheels. The buttons are well positioned, with a stroke that's neither too hard nor too soft. Far from a toy.

What's most surprising is the overall coherence of the package: compact base, well-balanced steering wheel, no stray vibrations, no play in the QR. What's a little disappointing, however, is that the RS V2 is still visually a bit of a "sim racing product", and not quite up to the level of an ultra-premium steering wheel in full-grain leather or very high-end carbon. Ditto for certain plastic details that remind us that we're in the mid/top-range, not the ultra-luxury segment.

Compared to older belt-driven solutions, the difference in perceived quality is clear. Compared with competing DD kits of similar power, we're in pretty good shape, with a slight advantage felt in terms of overall rigidity and quick release, but a style perhaps a little less "pure racing" than some very typical steering wheels.

Settings, customization & compatibility

On the software side, MOZA has created a fairly modern ecosystem. The settings interface is clear and visual, with sliders for intensity, hardness, filtering, friction, inertia and more. You can start with presets for the main games and then adjust according to your preferences. It's clear that the tool has been designed not to lose an intermediate user.

The really useful settings revolve around a few axes: overall FFB intensity, high-frequency filtering, center hardness, and possibly a little damping to smooth out some nervous sims. The advantage of 12 Nm is that you can reduce power while retaining texture. You don't have to push everything to the limit, which makes the combo much more usable over time.

The learning curve is not brutal, but it does take a little time to fine-tune. The basic presets allow you to ride fast without getting carried away, and then, with a little play on a few sliders, you can easily find your own personal balance. You're not drowning in dozens of opaque parameters, which is a nice touch.

In terms of compatibility, this is clearly a PC-oriented solution. Integration with various PC sims is good, the games recognize the hardware well, and the MOZA software manages everything in the background. As for consoles, it's important to remember that this is not the bundle's natural playground. We're talking about users building a serious PC setup, possibly with triple screen or VR.

The MOZA ecosystem encompasses various steering wheels, cranksets, shifters and handbrakes. The R12 + RS V2 bundle is therefore a good base from which to upgrade the rest: upgrade to a more F1-style steering wheel, add a more advanced load cell crankset, etc. From a scalability point of view, this is clearly a base that can last several years without becoming obsolete. From a scalability point of view, it's clearly a base that can last several years without becoming obsolete. We're on a platform that can serve as an ambitious entry point, or as a durable base for an already experienced rider who doesn't necessarily want to go beyond torque.

Sensations in play

On the track, the R12 quickly shows its true colors. The first thing that strikes you is the cleanliness of the power feedback. The 12 Nm are more than enough to transmit variations in load to the steering wheel without giving the impression of tearing out the arms. You can feel that the torque available gives you a firm, precise center, without it becoming a constant battle.

The FFB's precision is particularly noticeable in transitions: corner entry, mass transfer, and the slight understeer that begins to appear. You can read the car's steering very clearly. You immediately understand what the front axle is doing, if you overload a tire, if the car starts to slide. Compared with a belt-driven base or a small DD, the gain is in sharpness and reaction speed. There's less of a "mechanical" filter between the play and the hands.

In fast turns, the base maintains good center stability, with no annoying oscillation as long as you don't push the settings to extremes. The RS V2, with its GT shape, offers good control in long lean, whether you're at 9:15 or slightly off-center. You can really dose out the steering and feel when to let go to let the car turn.

Grip reading is one of the combo's strong points. Small losses of grip at the front are well relayed, and you can feel the micro-slides without the FFB becoming jumbled or overloaded. On the rear axle, the onset of oversteer is relayed with sufficient anticipation to correct, even with slightly nervous cars. This is where the base really changes the experience: you gain confidence to attack.

On the vibrators, the feedback is quite dry and detailed. You can feel the height of the vibrator, its structure, whether you pick it up with just a tire or whether you ride it more widely. Compared to a less powerful base, the amplitude is more pronounced, but above all the signal is cleaner. You can deliberately decide to attack an aggressive vibrator knowing what to expect from the steering wheel. This contributes enormously to immersion.

Over long sessions, the R12 remains usable. At full power, it can become tiring, but all you have to do is reduce the intensity slightly to keep the full power.
texture without ending up with destroyed forearms. The engine remains stable, with no sensation of overheating that degrades the FFB, and no noticeable losses or variations over time. Consistency is a reassuring feature for long races.

In fast corrections, the advantage of Direct Drive is immediately apparent. The base responds quickly, and the wheel returns to the center in a controllable manner, without excessive bounce if the settings are right. On light cars or sharp drives, there's enough torque to feel the stall, but not so much that you're overwhelmed. Compared with an even more powerful base, you lose a little of the brutality and punch, but often gain in comfort and ease of use.

Overall, immersion is at a level that's more than enough to make you forget about the hardware and concentrate solely on the driving. The base + steering wheel combo inspires confidence. You dare to brake later, come in harder, work on your mid-corner feeling. For me, the biggest possible compliment to this kind of product is that, after a few laps, you stop thinking about the base. You're thinking about the car, the time and the trajectory. And that's exactly what happens here.

For whom? + What we like / What we don't like

The MOZA R12 & RS V2 bundle is clearly aimed at a profile ranging from the highly motivated beginner to the intermediate/confirmed racer who wants a solid PC setup for the long term. For a first-time racer, it may seem ambitious, but someone who already knows they're going to invest time in sim racing will find a base that won't be outdated after a few months. For a user coming from a belt-driven base or a small DD, the qualitative leap is clear.

What I really like is the balance of power and control. The 12 Nm offer a real beefy FFB, sufficiently rich, but still within a range that's easy to live with on a daily basis. Secondly, the overall build quality inspires confidence: nothing moves, nothing creaks, it really feels like a serious tool. Finally, the versatility of the RS V2 steering wheel means you can switch from a GT to a proto or a sporty road car without feeling restricted. It's a very coherent "daily" steering wheel.

There are, however, a few limitations to bear in mind. The first concerns console compatibility, clearly not the priority playground for this bundle. If your ecosystem is console-centric, this isn't the most natural solution. Secondly, the RS V2, while solid and pleasing, doesn't rival the luxury feel of high-end steering wheels made from more noble materials or with a more radical design. Last but not least, moving up to a base of this level requires a rigid cockpit and a pedalboard that's up to the task of exploiting its full potential. The investment is not limited to the base and the steering wheel.

In terms of perceived value, we're talking about a product that represents a serious investment, but one that's consistent with what it delivers: a real leap forward in terms of feel, precision and consistency. For someone who rides often, in a league or with an advanced solo career, the quality/price ratio remains attractive. It's not an impulse purchase, it's a well-considered choice for structuring a setup around a solid base.

Verdict

The MOZA R12 & RS V2 bundle changes one thing above all in a setup: it transforms a "correct" installation into a serious platform for progress. We've gone from having hardware that accompanies the game to hardware that allows us to really exploit what each simulation has to offer, without fighting against the limits of the hardware.

On the market, the R12 is positioned as a mid/high-end Direct Drive base, powerful enough to satisfy the majority of simracers, without falling into the delirium of extreme torques that are difficult to control. The RS V2 completes this balance with a versatile flywheel that does everything well, even if it doesn't try to be the most exclusive on the market.

I clearly recommend it to those who ride mainly on PC, who want an evolving and coherent setup, and who are looking for a solid anchor point to build or upgrade their installation. For the occasional gamer, or for console-centric use, there are simpler and more suitable options.

If you're looking for a serious, precise, day-to-day Direct Drive base, with a versatile GT steering wheel and real progression potential, this product can clearly make the difference in your setup.