The Asetek Invicta S Series THORP II consists of a throttle pedal and brake pedal, each separate from the other, so you are able to position each individual pedal at the separation you desire, and also means you may mount the pedals inverted if you so wish!
In the opinion of Upshift's sim racing experts, allowing you to adjust the separation between your throttle and brake pedal is well worth the slightly higher price of the Invicta S-Series pedals compared to the regular fixed baseplate Invicta pedals.
Upshift is an official principal UK supplier of Asetek products, so when you purchase from us, the price we advertise is the final price you will pay - there won't be any duties/fees or delivery charges - delivery is free to all mainland UK addresses and we ship all stock from our UK warehouse, so delivery to you is fast.
The Invicta pedals utilise Asetek's T.H.O.R.P.™ system, with unique 2 stage braking like in a racing car so the brake pedal travel and resistance is designed to exactly replicate the life-like experience from a racing car.
The first stage, the "Soft Stage" can be adjusted to your preference by using a choice of the included elastomers, which are compressed by the slave cylinder and thus will give the initial approximately 20mm of travel. After this, the slave cylinder hits a mechanical stop beyond which there is no more pedal travel. Now you have reached the second stage: the "Hard Stage"
The "Hard Stage" is where the the slave system is mechanically locked and the pressure you are applying is the hydraulic force of the fluid inside. The fluid is incompressible so the pedal feels very firm, this is where the muscle memory can be utilised and trail braking can be efficiently carried out. In the RaceHub software that is included with the pedals, you can configure your deadzone (if required) and also how much braking pressure you want to define as 100% pressure, as well as input maps for the throttle, brake and clutch.
If this seems a little hard to grasp, CEO of Asetek André explains it all fantastically in this video - note: this is using the non-S series Invicta, original THORP I pedals):
The Invicta pedals are available as Brake + Throttle only, or a Clutch can be added to give a full set. Asetek have worked with real racers and sim racers to deliver a flagship set of pedals that will give you the tools to consistently perform at your best. When we say that the Invicta pedals are designed to allow you to consistently perform as your best - this isn't a marketing slogan, this is backed up by the design of the pedals! You will often hear racers referring to 'muscle memory', which is the brain remembering how much your muscles move at a given action. Muscle memory is so powerful and useful because once an action is muscle memory, you can consistently recall this muscle memory again and again with extreme precision and reliability. In the case of real & sim racing, your muscle memory will allow you to train yourself to brake with maximum force at every corner consistently, lap after lap. By maximising your braking force and being the last of the late brakers; you'll be ensuring you are maximising your braking efficiency and minimising your lap times. The science behind the speed!
Furthermore, again with the viewpoint of maximising every last tenth of a second of potential time saving, Asetek have engineered a short travel in the brake pedal for enhanced brake efficiency. By having a short travel, the time taken between you pressing the brake pedal and the brake pedal reaching full travel (and as such higher braking force) is lower than that of pedals with longer travel. This means that with the Invicta pedals, you are braking harder fractions of a second earlier than somebody else using different pedals; when you are pursuing the fastest lap time, anything that can bring you an advantage is an invaluable asset.
The Invicta pedals are assembled by Asetek's trained engineers in Denmark and they also carry out the QC here, so you can be assured of the highest quality products. Asetek has carried out extensive testing on the pedals, to ensure they can withstand very high braking forces over and over again, in fact to over a million activations! Asetek's complementary software, RaceHub, provides an easy-to-use and feature-rich suite in which to configure and customise your pedals to your preferences, including the LED strip along the footplate, custom throttle maps and more.
Asetek's vision with the Invicta was to produce the best in class Sim Racing Pedals, providing race car like feel and performance to help you consistently maximise your braking performance. The brake pedal is not only used to stop the car, but is used to rotate the car also, so having a reliable and quality brake pedal is a must to maximise your speed.
Manufacturer description - Invicta™ S Series Brake and Throttle:
The Invicta™ S-Series T.H.O.R.P. II give you full control over your setup, allowing you to adjust the distance between the throttle and brake by up to 400 mm.
This flexibility lets you customize your rig to match your exact preferences – even enabling inverted mounting – all with a single cable connection.
If you demand complete freedom without compromising on quality, these pedals are the ultimate choice.
The T.H.O.R.P. (Twin Hydraulic Opposing Rapid Pistons) System is Asetek SimSports’ hydraulic brake cylinder which gives you the ultimate experience of driving a real racecar. The brake cylinder features an automotive grade pressure sensor, which makes it the closest you will come to an authentic brake experience in sim racing.
The functionality of the T.H.O.R.P. System is based on two stages – the soft stage and the hard stage – just like in a real race car.
THE SOFT STAGE
Real race car:
When you apply pressure on the pedal, it will move 10-20 mm (measured on the pedal plate), while you build up pressure, while the caliper pistons are traveling to and pushing the brake pads against the brake disc, and to compensate for the small amount of play in all the mechanical parts on the pedal system that is required for them not to seize up.
T.H.O.R.P. System:
Since we do not have a brake disc, caliper and brake pads in a simulator, we designed the slave cylinder to replicate their function. It compresses an elastomer, creating a realistic sensation that closely simulates the feel of a real race car’s braking system.
When full pedal travel is obtained, the slave cylinder will hit a mechanical stop, just like in a real race as described above. We supply different elastomers to mimic different feelings of the “soft stage”, but the different elastomers will not change the pedal travel, only how much force that is needed to fully depress the pedal and engage the hard stage.
THE HARD STAGE
Real race car:
When hydraulic pressure is built up, the brake pads are squeezing the discs hard and all mechanical play is compensated. In this stage, your foot is basically pressing against a wall, because now your muscles are pressing directly against the hydraulic forces (the brake fluid). Since the fluid cannot be compressed, you will feel the pedal is hard.
When a racecar driver complains about a “long” or a “soft” pedal, it is typically because there is air in the system, and since air CAN be compressed, the pedal will feel soft and long. The mechanics then bleed the brakes for air, meaning there is only fluid left in the system, and the pedal is once again hard after passing the “soft stage”.
T.H.O.R.P. System:
When the slave system is mechanically locked, you have 100% the same feeling as in a racecar, when the brake pads are fully pressed against the brake disc, and your muscles are pressing directly against the hydraulic forces.
This is NOT simulated, this is the same and identical feeling as in a racecar, and you can keep pressing the pedal up to a hydraulic pressure of 100 bar, which corresponds to 185 kg of pressure on the pedal plate – the same as a real F1 car!
Compatible with Invicta Throttle Footrest – a quick-to-mount accessory allowing you to rest your foot during long races.