Next Level Racing Wheel Stand Lite 2.0 review

The frame, which is part of the simracing stand, is in my opinion just as important as the components used in this field of e-sport. According to many, the unrivaled champion among budget frames is the Next Level Racing Wheel Stand 2.0, which has been maintaining its position on the market for years. Today, however, I would like to talk about its cheaper brother – Wheel Stand Lite 2.0. Can it live up to its “older brother”? Let’s find out!

Packaging

The Wheel Stand Lite 2.0 arrives in a fairly large box (which should come as no surprise), decorated with prints presenting its features. Inside, there is the frame itself, almost tightly wrapped in foam, and additional boxes contain elements such as screws, base plate, shifter plate and other such accessories.

Stand assembly

Since the steering wheel has to be mounted in some way, let’s go through this process now. The best way to assemble the Wheel Stand Lite 2.0 is to – honestly – start by dismantling the pedal platform, which is factory-mounted. This will make all maneuvers easier, which, I warn you, will not be the easiest.

Then it is worth screwing in the leveling legs, which – as the name suggests – allow you to level the frame when it is standing on an uneven surface. The next step is optional, but if you are using a chair on wheels, it is definitely worth installing a channel supporting the chair wheels. This is a simple process – just screw it to the frame using two profiles. It can be mounted permanently or in a foldable version.

The next step in the puzzle that is folding the Wheel Stand Lite 2.0 is to set the structure in a vertical position. After completing this step, you should lock the frame using two screws designed for this purpose. It is also worth tightening the screws on the axis responsible for folding and unfolding – unfortunately, as a result of transport, play may appear on them (that’s just how physics works). Tightening these screws will significantly improve the stability of the entire structure. Then we mount the pedal plate – of course after first screwing the pedals themselves to it. In this step, you need to set the appropriate distance and angle of the platform. Note: this process can be a bit time-consuming.

The same applies to the steering wheel platform – you need to mount the base, screw it to the frame, and then adjust the angle of inclination and height. In this case, especially with heavier bases, it is worth asking someone for help – this will make assembly much easier. Finally, optionally, you can screw in the shifter plate, if you have a shifter.

Feelings from use

Starting with the quality of workmanship – it is quite decent. The steel tubes are not the thinnest, and each of them has an aesthetic finish (although it is difficult to tell whether it is anodization or simply paint). As for the adjustment options – it is not bad, although the option of setting a slightly larger angle of the steering wheel would be useful. Currently, the maximum angle is almost parallel to the ground, which forces a very low sitting position, especially for tall users. This can be uncomfortable, especially when using a higher chair. Alternatively, you can raise the base in the Z axis, but this solution has its drawbacks – which I will discuss in a moment.

In terms of stability – there is no tragedy, as long as we make sure that the screws on the axis are properly tightened. What is it about? If we use one of the key functions of this frame, i.e. the possibility of its folding, it is worth knowing that the axis of rotation is four screws on which the vertical part of the structure rests. Theoretically, the mechanism is blocked by two additional screws, but they do not completely eliminate the slight rocking of the base if the main axis is not properly tightened. And this, unfortunately, tends to loosen after a few folds. Additionally, it is difficult to praise the stability in the folded position – with the base mounted, the frame could sometimes tip over. And I guess no one would want a 30-kilogram structure to fall on their leg or damage the Quick Release system.

When it comes to the maximum base power I would pair this frame with, I fully agree with the manufacturer’s recommendations – 10-12 Nm is the absolute maximum. During tests with the Moza R5, the frame maintained stability, although there were occasional rather unpleasant vibrations. What’s more, raising the base in the Z axis only intensified this effect, which negatively affected the ride comfort. Another plus here is the stiffness of the pedal plate, when using the SR-P Lite construction with the Performance kit, I did not notice any significant deflection.

Of the things that didn’t impress me in the Wheel Stand Lite 2.0, the shifter plate comes to the fore. It is, literally, only and exclusively a holder for the shifter. You might get the impression that it is possible to use it in a shifter + handbrake configuration – and indeed, it can be done (I tested it myself). However, only with smaller handlebars. Even with a 280 mm diameter wheel, I sometimes hit one of the accessories with my hand.

In addition, the default mounting element is so small that I was unable to mount the plate in this configuration according to the art – I had to move it a bit back and above the wheel plate, which leaves a lot of room for potential design improvements. The stiffness of this element also leaves much to be desired. The plate is so flexible that with a stiffer shifter (e.g. from Simasters, which I conducted tests with and will certainly tell you about soon), the entire structure would fall into unwanted vibrations.

Finally, it is worth mentioning another inconvenience related to the mounting element – the shifter plate is mounted quite high, which can make using shifters without a desk mount simply inconvenient.

Next Level Racing Wheel Stand Lite 2.0 Summary

After all, the Wheel Stand Lite 2.0 is not a bad product – but it is also difficult to call it really good. At a price of around $160, I would say that it is not impressive, especially if we take into account that its “older brother” (i.e. the version without the Lite suffix) offers a much more stable construction and definitely more adjustment options, and often costs only 50-60$ more.

The situation is not improved by strong competition, especially from GT Omega, which offers solid products at very competitive prices.

Of course, the Lite version has its advantages – for example, a fairly compact design – and for people who are looking for a maximum space-saving design that should not interfere with the desk too much, this may be a solution worth considering, provided that we are aware of its limitations and are able to accept certain compromises.

The review was possible thanks to the Next Level Racing.

Orginal review in Polish