Saitek J16 R4 Force Feedback Force Wheel

Saitek J16 R4 Force Feedback Force Wheel Review

Saitek J16 R4 Force Feedback Force Wheel Feature

• Ratio Digital and Force Feedback technology
• Shift stick and 2 shift paddles
• User-selectable wheel height
• Single-lever clamping mechanism
• Adjustable wheel and foot-pedal resistance

If you're serious about racing on your PC, you'll want a serious racing wheel. While it may cost you a bundle, a high-end racing wheel should come with all the latest features, including force feedback. Saitek's R4 Force Wheel is such a product, using the same technology as the Microsoft Force Feedback Wheel, making it a remarkably similar product.

The R4 isn't the easiest peripheral to set up: in addition to the normal set-up activities--such as plugging in the pedals and hooking up the wheel to your PC's game port--you have to screw on the actual steering part of the wheel, snap on the crossbar, and attach the clamp. But Saitek threw in all the tools you'll need for setup (including a nifty adjustment tool that hides away in a storage compartment on the wheel), so you should be able to get the wheel up and turning in less than a half-hour.

The R4 boasts a slick design, and almost everything's adjustable, from the height of the wheel right down to the force required to push the pedals. The wheel itself features a comfortable rubberized grip, and the twin shift paddles are within easy reach. We had some trouble getting the right action button to register in our tests and games, but that was because it had been stuck in when the wheel arrived. After popping it out, we were ready to go.

So how's the force? Pretty darn good. The wheel includes a variety of realistic feedback actions, such as running over a pothole or smashing head-on into an oncoming vehicle. As with the rest of the wheel, you can easily adjust the Force Feedback levels.

At 0, this wheel ain't cheap. But if you envision yourself as the digital Jeff Gordon, you'll need to sit behind a wheel with all the virtual bells and whistles--and the R4's got 'em.

Pros:

• Great Force Feedback effects
• Comfortable design
• Easily adjustable

Cons:

• Fairly expensive
• Setup can be tricky

If you're serious about racing on your PC, you'll want a serious racing wheel. While it may cost you a bundle, a high-end racing wheel should come with all the latest features, including force feedback. Saitek's R4 Force Wheel is such a product!The R4 boasts a slick design, and almost everything's adjustable, from the height of the wheel right down to the force required to push the pedals. The wheel itself features a comfortable rubberized grip, and the twin shift paddles are within easy reach. The wheel includes a variety of realistic feedback actions, such as running over a pothole or smashing head-on into an oncoming vehicle. As with the rest of the wheel, you can easily adjust the Force Feedback levels.