If you‘re considering buying an entry-level force feedback racing wheel for Xbox or PC, you‘ve likely come across the popular Logitech G920. With realistic steering resistance and vibration effects simulating tire traction and terrain, this officially licensed Xbox wheel elevates games like Forza Horizon 5 and F1 2022 for around $300.
However, looking deeper into G920 customer reviews reveals a handful of recurring pain points in crucial areas. Understanding the compromises Logitech made to hit this low price will set realistic expectations before you buy.
As an engineering student and hardware analyst, I‘ve dug into the root causes behind G920 owners‘ most prevalent complaints. My goal is to explore upgrades and alternatives to mitigate or avoid these commonissues based on your budget and priorities:
- The abrupt, stiff brake pedal feeling
- Underpowered, indistinct force feedback
- Excessive paddle shifter throw distance
- Loud mechanical whirring and grinding
- Fixed Xbox/PC-only compatibility
First, let’s quickly recap what you get from the baseline G920 bundle…
G920 Overview: Features, Target Owners, and Value
The G920 aims squarely at casual racing gamers seeking more realism than a standard Xbox controller can deliver for under $300.
You get a responsive 11” leather steering wheel gripped by sturdy steel spokes. Behind the wheel sit prominent shifting paddles poised to click through manual gear changes.
The G920‘s 11" hand-stitched leather wheel and shifter paddles provide authentic feel. [Image credit: PC Mag]
The included floor pedal set enables independent gas, brake, and clutch inputs just like real driving. And integrated force feedback motors convey underlying road conditions through the wheel‘s motion-based resistance.
This cordless, go-anywhere setup taps into the Xbox Wireless Protocol for strong signal strength up to 9 meters. The G920 also plugs into Windows gaming PCs via USB.
For around $300, It’s no wonder the Logitech G920 appeals to:
- Casual racing fans on a budget
- Xbox console owners lacking wheels
- PC players with limited desk space
When it debuted back in 2015, the G920 delivered unprecedented entry-level racing quality.
But naturally at this affordable price point, Logitech had to cut corners in certain areas resulting in the common complaints we’ll now dive into.
1. The Brake Pedal Feels Abrupt and Unrealistically Stiff
The most prevalent grievance about the Logitech G920 is its awkward brake pedal pressure curve. Rather than gradually increasing resistance as you depress the pedal, it remains quite easy to push the first ~30%. Then there is a sudden rock-hard barrier demanding significant force to overcome.
This binary stiffness feels nothing like a real car‘s more progressive braking. Attaining finer brake control becomes needlessly difficult.
Based on owner pedal teardowns and modifications, we can pinpoint the causes:
- A stiff default pedal spring providing immediate tension
- Short overall pedal travel distance to the floor
- Rubber stop block truncating range abruptly
To illustrate how much more gradual real brake pedal pressure builds, check out this force diagram from a 2017 Honda Civic:
|| Pedal Travel Distance | Pressure Force |
|-|:-:|:-:|
|0%|0 cm|0 N|
|25%|2.5 cm|25 N|
|50%|5 cm|60 N|
|75%|7.5 cm|140 N|
|100%|10 cm |180 N|
You can see the pressure slowly ramps as the pedal presses down towards the floor. Contrast this to the G920‘s sharper tactile threshold spiking from low to high values quickly.
The default G920 brake spring rate combined with confined pedal movement makes it extremely tough to trail brake precisely around corners. And adjusting ABS and traction control sensitivity becomes largely trial and error.
Thankfully, aftermarket upgrades help smooth out the G920‘s brake deficiencies considerably:
- Spring Swaps – Third-party brake springs like the Glodorm Mod Kit offer softer tension for around $30.
- Pedal Extenders – Adding vertical spacers lengthens the pedal arm for wider travel.
- Load Cell Upgrades – The pricier CST Pedals use pressure sensors for ultra-precision.
So with some modifications, you can improve the overly rigid default G920 brake experience.
2. Gear-Driven Force Feedback Feels Weak and Imprecise
The next common grievance revolves around underwhelming force feedback strength and detail from the Logitech G920.
This wheel utilizes a geared belt-drive setup rather than pricier direct-drive motors. The dual-motor helical gearing and rubber belt work together to transfer rotational force to the steering column…but involve some costly mechanical losses.
Helical gears, belts, and drive shafts connect the G920‘s motors to steering column. [Image credit: NXGaming]
While cheaper than direct drive, this gearbox system filters out crucial nuances and caps peak torque well below higher-end competitors:
| Wheel | Drive Type | Peak Torque | Granularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logitech G920 | Gear/Belt Indirect | 2.2 Nm | ~50-60 steps |
| Thrustmater T300 | Gear Direct | 3.9 Nm | 1024 steps |
| Fanatec CSL DD | Direct Servo | 8 Nm | Over 65,000 steps! |
So the G920 sits on the low end for torque output potential AND the fine steps defining twisting force increments.
During intense races, the wheel often fails to communicate subtle surface variations like curbs or paint strips. And collision reactions tend to have a pulsey throb rather than sharp transient spikes.
So while the G920 introduces helpful immersive resistance in corners and accidents, the nuances get muddled. Upgrading to stronger direct drive bases from Thrustmaster or Fanatec provides more dramatic and detailed feedback.
3. Excessive Paddle Shifter Throw Causes Mistimed Gear Changes
The Logitech G920 comes equipped with ergonomic +/- metal paddles fixed to the upper wheel spokes for snappy manual shifting. Their centrally mounted positioning and finger contours do mimic real race car components quite well initially.
But in practice, their long, vague throw distance sabotages quick reflex upshifts and downshifts. From neutral position, you have to sweep the paddle a full 45 degrees rearwards before the internal trigger actuates.
This slow, ambiguous activation threshold often causes skipped or premature gear changes in demanding driving scenarios. When tenths of a second determine your overtake success, the G920’s paddles fail to match a realtransmission‘s precise feel.
Thankfully, Logitech offer the standalone Driving Force Shifter as a paddle replacement to resolve these issues. This 6-speed gated stick shifter provides dependable mechanical throws. So dropping $50 fixes the problematic paddle ergonomic downsides.
4. Noisy Geared and Belted Mechanism
Another unavoidable side effect of the G920’s interior indirect drive design is loud clanking and whirring noises emanating during racing. The meshing steel helical gear teeth churning against each other produce obvious mechanical sound effects.
Driving assistance mode portraying slippery surfaces or bumpy roads also introduces loud sustained squeaking and clicking from the rubber drive belt. Unlike direct drive wheels enclosing motors in sound-dampening metal casings, the G920 puts it all on full auditory display.
While some owners don’t mind the extra “mechanical immersion”, others find the prominent grinding and fluttering noises distracting next to game audio. Short of soundproof mods or circumaural headphones, this clunky orchestra unfortunately comes with the territory.
5. Permanent Xbox/PC Lock Prevents PlayStation and Switch Use
Rounding out the top complaints about the Logitech G920 is its purposeful exclusive compatibility with Xbox consoles and Windows PCs only. Rival wheel makers like Thrustmaster allow toggling between Xbox and PlayStation inputs to flexibly switch between platforms.
But Logitech decided to permanently embed Xbox controller support in the G920/G29 without option to change modes later on. So if you attempt using them with a PlayStation, Switch, or Android device, they simply won’t interface or power on.
While great for dedicated Xbox houses, this exclusivity severely limits second-hand value for multi-platform gamers. And buyers swayed toward PlayStation’s driving sim catalogue end up stuck having to buy another wheel outright.
Unless you’re willing to mod converters like the Cronus Zen, the G920 locks you into Microsoft’s platforms indefinitely. For mixed gaming households, that artificial restriction rightfully deters buyers away.
Final Verdict: The G920 Delivers Entry-Level Thrills Despite Trade-Offs
Reviewing the most common complaints about Logitech’s budget-friendly G920 wheel reveals various justifiable gripes:
- Harsh brake pedal feel out the box
- Muted force feedback sensations
- Imprecise paddle shifters
- Loud gearbox noise pollution
- Xbox/PC exclusivity handcuffs
Yet it’s vital to weigh these compromises against the sheer quality and immersion the G920 introduces for just $299.
Adding tunable brake mods or the stick shifter largely offsets the worst shortcomings. And leveraging Xbox console capabilities for gorgeous living room gaming plus wide PC compatibility justifies the purchase alone for many.
In the end, avoiding the G920 means spending at least $500-600 more on mid-tier alternatives. Is attaining that final 20% of hyper-realism worth doubling your budget? For diehard sim nuts seeking perfection, perhaps.
But casual driving fans and Xbox loyalists simply wanting improved feel over a basic controller find tremendous value in the G920. Just temper expectations around its various intricacies falling slightly short of flawless.
With some informed tweaking and compromise, Logitech delivers 95% of the desired racing experience for half the price. That trade-off smartly hits the sweet spot for legions of gamepad graders ready to level up.
