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The Res-Tech X1 is one of the most striking sim racing cockpits ever built. Designed and manufactured in Italy, it combines sculptural elegance with exotic materials like authentic carbon fiber and aluminum. At first glance, it looks more like an art installation than a piece of racing equipment, and that is exactly the point. This is a rig built to be admired as much as it is built to be driven. Yet, after several weeks of ownership, I have come to realize that its beauty is also its biggest compromise.
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Let’s start with the number that hurts the most: $4,140. That is the price of the X1 once you factor in all the optional accessories fitted to my review unit. The base version starts at $2,615, but to get the version that looks like what you see in the photos, you will need to spend much more. That makes it the single most expensive cockpit I have ever tested. For that money, expectations are naturally sky-high.
The unboxing experience certainly helps set the tone. Everything arrived neatly packaged in just a few boxes, with parts individually wrapped and clearly labeled. With only two included tools, assembly was straightforward, except for a few accessories that arrived without an instruction manual, leaving me guessing how they fit together.
The X1’s accessories are both functional and beautiful, but their pricing is tough to justify. My setup includes an adjustable pedal slider, a lateral wheelbase mount, an integrated monitor stand, and a small aluminum side table. The table alone costs $237 despite being made from five thin metal parts that weigh almost nothing, and the lateral mount runs $300, the same price as the entire Moza R3 bundle. The accessories undoubtedly complete the visual look of the rig, but they push the cost into luxury territory.
The main chassis is aluminum, coated in smooth black paint and well-finished. The carbon seat looks stunning under light and feels almost weightless. Unfortunately, the quality story changes when you look closer. The beautiful colored side panels, red in my case, are made of thin, flexible plastic instead of the metal, fiberglass, or carbon you would expect for this price. The seat padding is minimal, creased from the factory, and not particularly comfortable. Worst of all, the seat edges are sharp and unrounded. At one point, I actually cut my hand while getting in.
The seat might look like it belongs in a Formula 1 car, but it does not feel like one. The seating position is steep and immersive, but adjustability is very limited. The seat slider works fine but is awkwardly placed at the back, making it inconvenient to adjust while seated. Getting in and out of the rig is difficult, and the carbon mold flexes noticeably during use. It is a seat that impresses the eyes but tests your patience.
Once you are strapped in, performance is where the X1 redeems itself, at least partially. The pedal deck and wheel mount are impressively rigid, showing no flex even under heavy braking or force feedback. However, the rig transmits a lot of vibration through the floor. My wheelbase’s vibrations echoed throughout the chassis and into my living room, creating a noticeable rumble.
Driving in the X1 is immersive thanks to its tight, low-slung seating position. With a VR headset, I can imagine it being even more convincing. But compared to traditional aluminum profile rigs, the X1 sacrifices practicality and adjustability for the sake of design. There is no way to tilt the monitor mount, for example, meaning the screen angle never perfectly matches your line of sight.
At this price, competitors like Sim-Lab and Trak Racer offer rigs that are stronger, infinitely more adjustable, and far more ergonomic. A well-equipped aluminum profile cockpit paired with a premium racing seat can be built for less than half the cost of the X1, while offering superior rigidity, flexibility, and comfort. Those rigs will not look as artistic or sculptural, but they will perform better on track and support more customization.
The Res-Tech X1 is a paradox. It is the most visually stunning sim racing cockpit I have ever tested, sleek, minimalist, and genuinely beautiful. It transforms any room into a statement piece and impresses everyone who sees it. But as a serious piece of sim racing equipment, it falls short.
If you are a design enthusiast who wants a centerpiece in your living space, something that celebrates craftsmanship and aesthetics, the X1 will deliver that wow factor. But if your priority is comfort, long-session usability, or on-track performance, there are far better options for a fraction of the cost.
In the end, the Res-Tech X1 is the sim racing cockpit of your dreams, just not the one you will want to race in every day.
