Simagic · handbrake
Simagic TB-1 Handbrake
100 kg load-cell USB handbrake with 2-stage resistance and horizontal or vertical mounting
Simagic's load-cell handbrake with two-stage resistance. An affordable analog handbrake for rally and drift on PC.
AI rating
- Feel
- 7
- Build quality
- 8
- Compatibility
- 7
- Value
- 8
Who it suits
- First rig
- 5
- Console racing
- 0
- Competitive racing
- 5
- Small rooms
- 6
- Tight budgets
- 8
- Enthusiasts
- 6
Scores are AI analysis of public information (specs, manuals, published reviews and owner reports), not a hands-on test. How we rate
Pros and cons
- Load-cell sensing for pressure-based modulation
- Two-stage resistance helps with drift initiation
- Low price for a metal load-cell handbrake
- Feel is a step below Heusinkveld's handbrake
- Needs a rigid side mount
Watch out: USB to PC only; only useful if you play rally or drift games.
What it feels like
- Throw
- Resistance
- Progression
Short, firm pull that builds quickly.
Two-stage resistance gives a step in effort, and you can change it with the rubber stoppers.
Stays planted on a rig, but it needs solid mounting.
Closer to squeezing a rigid brake lever than pulling a loose spring.
What the TB-1 works with
- Connects to a PC by USB. It doesn't work on PS5 or Xbox.
- On PC it works next to any wheel base.
Wheel bases it plugs into
None: it only connects by USB.
Rigs that use it
- Track Day TriplesPC · $6,828
Tech facts
| Sensor | Load cell |
|---|---|
| Analog | Yes |
| Max force | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Connection | USB Type-C |
| Max brake force | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Software | Simagic software (calibration) |
| Size (W × D × H) | 3 × 13 × 12 in (7 × 33 × 30 cm) |
| Weight | 4 lb (1.8 kg) |
| Materials | Aluminum and steel |
Our take
AI analysis of public information, not a hands-on review.
The Simagic TB-1 is an all-aluminium handbrake built around a 100 kg load cell, so it reads pressure rather than lever angle. That gives a stiff, short-travel feel closer to a hydraulic or drift-style brake than a spring-and-potentiometer budget unit. A 2-stage resistance system and swappable rubber stoppers let you tune how the lever builds force. The lever can also be set horizontal for road cars or vertical for rally and drift. It connects by USB-C, so it works as a plain PC device with no wheelbase needed, although it is marketed alongside Simagic gear. Simagic's own page shows it at $139 on sale, down from $189, which is above generic Amazon handbrakes but well below many premium load-cell options. Buy it if you drive rally or drift, or want a firm handbrake that can double as a brake on a budget. Skip it if you only race circuits, because a handbrake adds little there. Plan for a rig or desk mount: it has M6 mounting holes, and side mounting needs the optional L-plate. This is an editorial read of the published specs, not hands-on experience.
Questions buyers ask
Does it need a Simagic wheelbase?
No. It connects over USB-C and works as a PC game controller on its own. It can also plug into Simagic wheelbases, according to retailer listings.
Can I use it vertically for rally or drift?
Yes. The lever switches between horizontal (road car) and vertical (rally/drift) orientation.
How do I mount it?
It mounts with M6 bolts through four threaded holes and six through-holes, so it fits a rig plate or a desk bracket. Side mounting needs the optional L-plate.