For several years now,Lebois Racing has been developing innovations for demanding simracers. And if the brand’s positioning is above all Do It Yourself , there’s now an exception to this rule: the SRT shifter.
And this SRT shifter is, in the eyes of Lebois Racing, the best shifter in the world. Bold, isn’t it? Well, not really. Until the beginning of 2022, the SRT shifter was reserved for a very small number of simracers. To own one, you had to build it yourself. That meant owning a 3D printer and spending a few weekends on the project.
But that was before NSH Racing saw enormous potential in this model and decided to produce it in partnership with Lebois Racing.
So today, let’s take a look at this shifter together. Is it as revolutionary as Lebois Racing claims? We’re off!
The Lebois Racing SRT shifter from a technical point of view
- Compatibility: PC
- Vibration: No
- Knob: 1 round aluminum knob for use with H shifter. 1 long aluminum knob for use with sequential shifter.
- Speeds: 6 Reverse
- Gear change: H or sequential shifters
- Sensor: Contactless magnetic
- Connector : USB
- Weight : 6 Kg
Design and ergonomics
Let’s face it, the SRTshifter isn’t for everyone. Why’s that? Because you’ll need a cockpit installation to enjoy it properly. So forget the crazy idea of balancing your shifter on a chair armrest held in place by 3 elastics “borrowed” from the office.
But I’m thinking about it! There’s very little chance that the readers of these lines don’t already have a cockpit. After all, we’re talking about a product that’s a long way from the general public. So let’s agree: you’ve got a cockpit and you’re looking for the ultimate in quality to put you right at the heart of the race?
Then its 6Kg and impressive size of 40 x 30 x 20cm won’t scare you! Its imposing chassis conceals the box’s mechanism, which aims to give you the best sensations on the market. In terms of design, there’s not much to say except that you can of course install any gear knob to personalize your setup.
SRT shifter installation and settings
One of the strengths of this shifter is its versatility. This versatility is reflected in its H and Sequential modes. H mode offers 6 gears plus reverse, and all you have to do is turn the knob on the front of the shifter to switch to sequential mode. You’re free to take a few extra seconds to change the knob, and why not use a lever extension to improve the position of the knob in sequential mode.
Another very interesting aspect of the SRT shifter is the track and lever movement hardness settings. In DIY mode, you can 3D print an infinite variation of guide tracks. But what are tracks? They’re plates with different shapes on their upper surface, to give more or less hardness to gear shifting. Changing the feel.
The NSH Racing commercial version comes with 5 different tracks to suit all tastes.
But that’s not all! You can also adjust the feel of the shifter’s movements from front to back and from left to right, using simple knobs. So you see, with this shifter you can create exactly the feel you want.
Oh, and I almost forgot the e-clutch system
Standard on the NSH model and optional on the SRT model, this is another incredible feature!
The e-clutch system is an option that locks the gearshift in position if you haven’t engaged the clutch. It’s a feature compatible with all pedalsets on the market, and will force you to finally pay attention to your clutch-shifter coordination in your road races!
A top-of-the-range shifter at a reasonable price
Another point on which the SRT shifter stands out as a must-have is its price. For do-it-yourselfers, you can even get away with it for the price of a Thrustmaster TH8A! And when you consider that top-of-the-range shifters generally cost in excess of €1,000, it’s easy to see why Lebois Racing is the talk of the town. You have two options if you want to treat yourself to this little gem:
The first is to build your own shifter by visiting the Lebois Racing Discord group. On the group, you’ll find all the building and assembly instructions, as well as a list of materials and suppliers. And you can even buy or resell parts directly from other riders who have spare parts.
If you already own a 3D printer, you’ll need about €180 worth of materials, 6 days of printing and a short afternoon of assembly. If you don ‘t yet have a printer, you’ll need to add another €200 to €250 for a suitable model. The total cost is therefore between 180 and 430-450€.
The second option, for those of you like me who don’t really want to go to the trouble, is to buy the NSH Racing version for 649€. The NSH Simgear shifter is based on the SRT shifter, with a few modifications to meet the expectations of demanding simracers in terms of finish and durability:
- Carbon plates for impeccable finish and enhanced rigidity.
- Easy mounting from below.
- Lateral locking in sequential mode to avoid shifting the lever in the H guide.
- Standard e-clutch system.
My opinion of the Lebois Racing SRT shifter
I’m very, very… VERY impatient to get my hands on an SRT or NSH shifter so I can give you a full review. It’s a promising model that’s going to put a big dent in the world of high-end shifters. In any case, if Lebois Racing or NSH Racing are reading this, I look forward to hearing from you!
What about you, dear reader? What do you think of this shifter? Would you rather opt for the Do it yourself version or the commercial NSH version? We’ll discuss it in the comments 🙂
