Torque numbers get thrown around a lot across Moza's wheelbase lineup, and it's easy to assume more Newton-metres always means a better setup. It doesn't. The right wheelbase depends on your rig, your discipline, and how much force your wrists want to fight through a three-hour stint. Here's what separates the R5, R9, R12, R16, R21, and R25 so you can match torque to your rig.
What the Torque Number Tells You
This Moza direct drive wheelbase comparison breaks down peak vs sustained Nm across the range.
Peak torque is a ceiling: the maximum force the motor can push for a split second, such as slamming into a kerb or catching a snap of oversteer. It isn't what you feel lap after lap. That's why the R21 Ultra lists its 21 Nm rating as sustained rather than peak, holding that output through a full endurance stint without throttling back to manage heat, while the R9 and R12 quote maximum figures under standard peak-torque testing. Two wheelbases with similar numbers on paper can behave very differently once a session runs long.
R5 Pro, 6 Nm
The R5 Pro is Moza's most popular entry-level bundle into direct drive. We sell it as a complete bundle with the ES Lite wheel and SRP Lite2 pedals rather than as a standalone base, from $899.99. At 6 Nm, with a 21-bit encoder and Moza's NexGen Force Feedback Algorithm 5.0, it makes the jump from a belt or gear-driven wheel feel immediate through kerb strikes and weight transfer under braking. It suits desk-clamp setups and smaller rigs well, and stays compatible with the wider Moza wheel range for a later upgrade.
R9 V3, 9 Nm
Step up to the R9 V3, from $749.99, and you're working with 9 Nm from a purpose-built servo motor at 180W peak power, plus support for iRacing's 360Hz protocol. It's the base a lot of intermediate racers land on: strong enough for GT3 and open-wheel titles, without demanding the rig the higher-torque bases prefer. For most people who have outgrown a belt-driven wheel, this is where the upgrade path stops.
R12 V2, 12 Nm
The R12 V2, from $949.99, runs Moza's NexGen 4.0 force feedback algorithm through a 12 Nm motor rated at 216W peak power. The extra headroom shows up as more resolved detail through kerbs, road texture and tyre slip, rather than raw resistance alone. Hand-off Protection detects when your hands leave the wheel and centres it automatically, which matters more at this torque level. Pair it with a stiff cockpit and load cell pedals, and it holds its own against setups above its price.
R16 Ultra, 16 Nm
The R16 Ultra is Moza's mid-to-upper tier direct drive base. Unlike the R5 Pro, it's sold as a standalone wheelbase rather than a bundle, so a wheel and pedals need to be added separately. At 16 Nm it's a clear step up in self-aligning torque and detail over the R12, with sharper feedback through high-speed corrections and sudden weight transfer. It suits dedicated cockpits and rigs built for endurance and GT racing rather than desk-clamp setups, and pairs with any wheel across the wider Moza range.
R21 Ultra, 21 Nm Sustained
The R21 Ultra, from $1,499.99, uses a zero-cogging flat-wire motor to deliver 21 Nm as a sustained rating, so output holds through a full endurance stint rather than tapering as the motor heats up. It suits racers who already have a rig stiff enough to handle that load and want every last bit of detail an FFB algorithm can render.
R25 Ultra, 25 Nm
The R25 Ultra sits at the top of Moza's current direct drive line-up. Like the R16 Ultra, it's sold as a standalone wheelbase from $1,799.99, with a wheel and pedals to be added separately. At 25 Nm sustained torque, using Moza's True Torque sensor technology, it delivers the most detailed wheel feel in the range: kerb strikes, load transfer and traction breaks come through with essentially no filtering. It's a serious step up from the R21 and is best suited to a dedicated, purpose-built rig rather than a desk-clamp setup, given the mounting demands and force involved.
Which Moza wheelbase should I buy?
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New to direct drive or running a desk clamp: the R5 gives you the jump from belt or gear drive without a heavy rig.
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Racing GT3, open-wheel or rally titles a few nights a week: the R9 V3 is the most common upgrade path, balancing torque against rig demands.
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Running load cell pedals and a fixed cockpit, chasing more FFB detail: the R12 V2 rewards a sturdier setup with sharper feedback.
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Doing endurance stints or wanting torque that doesn't fall away over a long session: the R21 Ultra holds its rating from green flag to chequered flag.
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Running a dedicated cockpit and want more torque than the R12 without the R21's rig demands: the R16 Ultra.
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Chasing the most detailed wheel feel Moza offers on a purpose-built rig: the R25 Ultra.
Our Ultimate Guide to Moza Racing Products covers the rest of the ecosystem, and our Moza wheelbase and wheel, and Moza bundles collection are the fastest way to compare stock. Still not sure which one suits your rig? Get in touch with our team, or browse the full Moza Racing range to see everything side by side.
Pricing shown in NZD and correct at the time of publishing; please check the product page for current pricing and stock.
Moza Wheelbase Torque FAQs
No. More torque means more resistance to fight, and past a point, it will just tire your arms. Match the wheelbase to your rig and your own stamina.
Generally, yes. Above 12 Nm, a wobbly desk clamp will flex and rob you of the detail the motor is producing; a stiff cockpit gets more out of these bases.
Yes. Moza's wheels share the same quick-release system across the R5 through R25, so you can start with a bundle and swap in a different wheel or pedal set later.
Peak torque is the highest output a motor can produce briefly; sustained torque is what it holds continuously without throttling from heat. The R21 Ultra quotes its 21 Nm as sustained, a more demanding standard than the peak figures on the R9 and R12.
Most GT3 racers land on the R9 V3 or R12 V2. Both resolve tyre load and kerb strikes clearly, and the R12's extra headroom suits drivers running load cell pedals and a fixed cockpit.