Quick verdict: The compact Aiologs sequential shifter proved quiet, reliable and satisfying, offering strong quality for its mid-range price. The matching handbrake shared that excellent construction but felt less convincing to me, with a light linear action and abrupt end stop that fell short of a real hydraulic mechanism.
After spending heavily on a rigid rig and direct-drive wheelbase, finding room in the budget for a shifter and handbrake can be difficult. This compact Aiologs pairing aimed to deliver proven sequential controls without the price or bulk of more elaborate hardware.
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Product link: https://shop.aiologs.net/
Introduction
Jump to: First impressions · Price · Installation · Sequential shifter · Handbrake · Final thoughts
Review context: This review was originally published in April 2024. Prices, options, availability and ordering information described below reflect that period and may have changed. Aiologs supplied both products free of charge but had no editorial control.
Aiologs built its reputation around straightforward, high-quality sim-racing controls at relatively accessible prices. I subjected both review units to intensive use, and each remained mechanically reliable throughout the test period.
Although both products were supplied for review, the conclusions below are entirely my own.
First impressions
I received both of these at the same time, in separate boxes and the similarities are very obvious. This worried me a bit as they are fundamentally different devices, however, it makes sense that they have re-used proven concepts to keep manufacturing costs low. They remind me of the Heusinkveld sequential shifter somewhat in their appearance, albeit perhaps a little more polished— literally. The assembly of interlinking sheets of metal is a tried and tested pattern that we see mainly in pedals, but also occasionally in devices like this. The blasted finish makes for an attractive aesthetic and the shiny handles and knobs complete their elegant design. I think they’re a nice looking set, but they stood out like a sore thumb on my rig in this world of ‘everything must be black’ sim racing rigs.
Price
At the time of the April 2024 review, each product cost $180, placing them in the mid-range of sim-racing shifters and handbrakes. Direct ordering was generally the most economical route, although import taxes and charges could increase the final price. Check current pricing, regional availability and import costs before ordering.
There are also some customisation options available like a longer handle, different sized knobs and even the top plate is customisable. I got all the options here and I must admit that I prefer these with the metal top plate. This is mainly because there is a red LED inside the devices which is quite bright and cannot be switched off.
Installation
You get all the bolts you need with these devices. You can base mount them but you also get a little side mount bracket which I used. I was able to get the shifter and handbrake in a decent position on my rig. The mounts were rigid and simple. They’re clever and much stronger than they look. They connect by reusing bolts which are key to the structural integrity of the products. There are loads of mounting holes so you should be able to achieve the angles and mounting solutions that you are looking for.
Sequential shifter
When I put the shifter on my bench and tried it, it felt a little bit soft and I wasn’t sure whether I’d get along with it. You see, I’ve been somewhat spoiled with shifters and I have seen many people say over the years that you don’t need anything more complicated than the Aiologs shifter. So maybe I was a little underwhelmed as it’s not particularly clunky or noisy or stiff. But over time with this product I began to see so many positives to this too.
I plugged it in and went for it. At the end of the day this is a product with a simple binary upshift and binary downshift output. I tried both the long and short handles and preferred the longer handle. This does however dampen the feel a little due to increased leverage. This shifter is not a world-beater and I don’t know if it’s enough to convince your real race driver friends that it’s not a toy. However, it is very good. It is as effective as you need a sim racing shifter to be. It gives a pretty clear click on shifts although I think it’s mostly audible and not necessarily something you feel. As it’s just a shifter, you know that the end of the travel usually means that it has already engaged, so for some, the feel isn’t that important. When you couple this device with a bass shaker or a rumble motor for gear shifts then it becomes a different beast. I do recommend this shifter and it is one of the better sequential shifters I have tried. It doesn’t quite have the feel of a high-end sequential shifter but it also doesn’t carry the same price tag. And ‘high-end’ is a term that is subjective. Some owners will reasonably consider the Aiologs shifter a high-end product in its own right.
I’d be happy if this was my forever shifter. It’s compact on the rig and doesn’t wake the house while in use, despite being clinical and satisfying.
Handbrake
Like the shifter, the handbrake felt light when tested away from the rig. It uses a simple spring and a hard stop rather than elastomers, producing a linear action with an abrupt end to its travel. I found it less convincing than the shifter and, despite its higher-quality construction, preferred the feel of the less expensive Fanatec handbrake available at the time. An elastomer or more progressive resistance could have made the Aiologs mechanism feel closer to a real hydraulic handbrake.
That’s definitely not to say that this is a bad handbrake. The quality cannot be faulted and given what I have put it through the reliability has been great too. I was able to use this handbrake effectively and intuitively throughout this long-term review.
Final thoughts
This review has been a long time coming. Every time I review similar products I get questions about how they compare to the Aiologs. Well, now I know. At their price point, the quality is certainly high-end. The products are very functional and their use and reuse of parts between the products is clever. I feel like the cost savings are passed on directly to the consumer. The long and short handles as well as the clear or solid top plates are options which keep the costs down and also the waste.
This is one of those examples though where you do not need a one-to-one replication of the real-world counterparts in order to get a great simulation experience. The shifter is lighter than real racers would be used to but it’s effective and accurate. I found it quite satisfying. The handbrake is great for all levels of drifter or rally driver featuring a long throw and high-quality materials. It will underwhelm those who have used a real-world handbrake and are used to that aggressive movement but it’s perfect for learning or for those like me who understand that the forces you need to exert on your sim rig are far less than in a real race car.
Over the past few weeks the shiny metals did scratch quite a bit due to my wedding ring. The knobs got a little duller and I’m more of a fan of a brushed look than a scratched chrome look, so the looks dwindled a bit for me. The silver looked out of place on my black rig. I’d gladly pay extra for a black variation of these products.
All in all I would recommend the shifter without any concerns. It is the type of product that would be quite easy to resell if you choose to upgrade. As for the handbrake, it’s good if you have limited space or only use the handbrake occasionally but a frequent or real-world user will be left wanting. Those looking for a solid sim racing experience without getting caught up in the hype of what real cars feel like will absolutely love these devices.
Overall, the sequential shifter was the stronger of the pair and was easy to recommend. The handbrake made sense for compact rigs and occasional use, but experienced rally or drift drivers seeking a heavier, more progressive action may want to consider alternatives.
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