Pick the Simagic TB-1 if you want a precise, easy to tune handbrake for rally and drifting, and the TB-RS if you want the progressive feel of a real hydraulic system. The TB-1 measures your pull with a load cell and has two stage adjustable resistance. The TB-RS uses a hydraulic mechanism, a lever with four angles and vertical or horizontal mounting. Both turn a handbrake into a smooth analogue input instead of a simple on and off button.
So the choice comes down to feel, mounting style and how deep you go into rally or drift. Here is how they compare in daily use.
Why use an analogue handbrake at all?
Before comparing models, it helps to see what an analogue handbrake adds to your driving.
A button locks the rear wheels fully or not at all. An analogue handbrake reads how hard you pull, so you add just enough rear lock to rotate the car. In a hairpin you give a short, soft pull. To start a drift you pull harder and release smoothly. That control is the difference between a clean entry and a spin. A few evenings of practice on one corner teach you that timing.
Simagic TB-1: load cell precision
The TB-1 is the handbrake for drivers who want repeatable input without fluid or seals.
How it works
Inside sits a load cell, the same type of sensor as in a good brake pedal. It turns lever force into a precise signal. The two stage resistance gives you a lighter first part and a firmer end, so you feel where the full lock starts. You choose between a street style and a race style feel, and the all metal body keeps the lever steady.
Connection and mounting
The TB-1 connects to your PC through USB C and offers several installation positions. Mount it on a rigid handbrake plate where the lever moves through its full travel without touching the seat. Many parts are replaceable and adjustable, which keeps the unit useful for years.
Simagic TB-RS: hydraulic feel
The TB-RS is built for drivers who want a pull that builds pressure like a real rally car.
How it works
A hydraulic mechanism gives a progressive resistance: the harder you pull, the more the lever pushes back. That feeling guides your hand in long drifts and helps you hold a steady angle. The aluminium alloy body and the lever with four angle settings let you fine tune the shape of your pull.
Mounting options
You mount the TB-RS vertically for a competition rally layout, or horizontally for a lower road car style. You set it up in SimPro 2.0. For placement tips and tuning, read our full TB-RS setup and placement guide.
TB-1 or TB-RS: what you actually feel
Both models work well, but they reward different driving styles.
The TB-1 feels crisp and consistent. You learn the exact force for each corner quickly, which suits time attack, rally stages and drivers who switch between many games. The TB-RS feels softer at first and firmer at the end, close to a hydraulic handbrake in a real car. Drift drivers who hold long slides often prefer that natural build up. If you mostly drive rally stages, either model works. If drifting is your main hobby, the TB-RS gives the most realistic feel.
Simagic TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake
Where do you mount a handbrake on your rig?
The best handbrake feels poor when it sits in the wrong place or on a flexing plate.
Place the lever close to your right hand, roughly at the height of your hip, so you reach it without leaning. A rigid plate is a must, because a strong pull bends thin brackets. The SIMGASM Shifter & Handbrake Mount is the mount that SIMGASM recommends for the TB-1 and the DS-8X on its cockpits. Always check the mounting hole pattern and lever clearance before final assembly. If you also drive H pattern cars, our DS-8X mounting guide shows a rally friendly shifter layout next to the handbrake.
SIMGASM founder Johan Akkerman worked for years as an automotive technician and workshop manager before he designed sim racing hardware. That background is why SIMGASM mounts focus on solid bolt points instead of clamps that slip. SIMGASM develops its parts at its base in Wijk bij Duurstede and tests them through real sim racing use. A stiff aluminium sim rig keeps the lever exactly where your hand expects it, even after a hundred hard pulls.
Simagic DS-8X H-Pattern Shifter
Which handbrake should you buy?
Let your main discipline decide, then check your mounting space.
Choose the TB-1 if you want precise load cell input, a simple USB C connection and many installation positions. Choose the TB-RS if drifting is your focus and you want a real hydraulic feel with vertical or horizontal mounting. Both sit in the Simagic handbrakes and shifters range at SIMGASM, together with matching shifters and pedals. Did you just upgrade your brake pedal too? Then also read our comparison of the Simagic P500 and P700 pedals.
Questions about Simagic handbrakes
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Does the TB-1 use hydraulic fluid?
No. The TB-1 uses a load cell sensor without a hydraulic system, so there is no fluid to check.
Can I mount the TB-RS horizontally?
Yes. The TB-RS supports vertical and horizontal mounting, so you choose a rally or road car layout.
Do I need a separate mount for a handbrake?
Yes, a rigid plate is best. A dedicated shifter and handbrake mount keeps the lever steady under hard pulls.
Is a handbrake useful outside rally and drifting?
Mostly not. In circuit racing you rarely use it, so buy one when rally, drift or free roam driving is a big part of your week.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
