Why ?

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updated: 2026-08-04
(wording and grammar)

FWD RWS design is superior and more natural for 2 wheel vechile for the following reasons:

Ergonomic

Since womb, the most comfortable position for us is when we lay back with our legs forward and our back laying down or leaning backward. We think it is not necessary to spend much time explaining the comfortness of the design and the advantages of being laid back as other brands have done so many times. However, Trần Phước refuses to follow convention and approach the matter at a deeper level to provide the superior solution.

We realize that when our lower body can be stretch forward and the upper half are laid backward, naturally to optimise the entire system, FWD RWS is a much more sensible choice for ergonomic compare to other designs regardless of point of judgement or situation.

Efficiency

When moving in the laid back position, the human body can be arranged longitudinally along the two wheeled vechile. This reduces a massive frontal area which comes in contact with the coming air. Which then reduces the need for energy compare to any other vechile. Base on this, many people have compared the efficiency with the diamond frame many times over thus we won’t talk much more on this.

However, perhaps by habbit, other recumbent brands still choose RWD solution and mostly use a very long chain to deliver power. The distance is about or longer in some cases than the wheelbase of the vechile. This reduce the efficiency greatly.

With the FWD design, Trần Phước optimises efficiency by keeping the transimission distance exactly the same as the diamond frame and at the same time leveraging the aero advatange of the laid back position. This fact is very noticable through out the testing phase of Prototype-00 when the rider had to use very little energy to pedal and most of the time controlling a coasting bike.

For steering, RWS is very different and is a completely superior solution compare to FWS for two wheel vechile.

To steer a two wheel vechile with FWS, the rider always have to counter steer. Meaning to turn left a bike with FWS, we always have to turn to the right first, wait for the centrifugal force push the center of gravity of both the bike and the rider to the left, then the front wheel can turn to the left to balance out the centrifugal force while turning. Even when the bike is already turning, we still have to keep on counter steering.

This fact does not exist with design by Trần Phước. With RWS, the rider always turns to the correct side because the center of gravity always shift to the correct side. Minimize time, distance of travel and most importantly is effort to control the bike.

Performance

RWS design is much more agile than FWS. To refecence, think of a fork lift - a type of vechile that is designed to move very big and heavy load in extremely enviroment. Even though Trần Phước did not focus on solving this issue, I am very impressed with agility of Prototype-00 during testing phase.

With a short transimission distance, FWD design by Trần Phước is superior on at least 2 point: acceleration and grip.

Acceleration is optimised firstly because short of transimission as stated. Second, the wheelie phenomenal is not possible. And third, theoretically, the aero advantage can generate downforce on the driving wheel, helping the bike grip better and optimise the acceleration of the vechile. We do hope to soon verify this fact in the near future.

Lastly, looking solely on pedalling power, when our back has a place to lean on, naturally we can generate much more force onto the pedals than being limited by our own body weight.

Stability

Firstly, because there’s no counter steering, Trần Phước’s bike is way more stable.

Second is that since there’s no way to pull a wheelie, Trần Phước is definately stabler than RWD.

Third, the design of Trần Phước use the weight of the rider to keep the bike straight. Meaning solely sitting on the bike will make it straight - no need to apply any force on the handle bars or depend on the travelling velocity to keep balance - completely different to FWS design. More over, when sitting still on the bike and turn the handle bar, you only need to let go of the bars for the vechile to automatically straighten by itself.

Lastly, about center of gravity (CoG), Prototype-00 has CoG at about top of the wheels, comparing stability base on this to the diamond frames is at best, a silly act.

Safety

Safety is always the number one concern at Trần Phước. We believe that FWD and RWS is the safer design for two wheel vechile.

Firstly, because the bike is more stable in many ways, the rider will have more control which default to be safer.

Next, with the laid back design, the rider has a much better view of the surrounding than other design with head down or forward. More over, it will reduce fatigue or injury due to long period of riding. Most importantly is when accident happens, the contact parts are usually the lower parts of the body.

Third, because there is no counter steering like FWS, other vechile on the road will be able to predict where the Trần Phước bike is going better, reduce the risk of serious accident.

Crucially, we hope that with FWD RWS, damage to the human body from the highside phenomenal will be greatly reduced or possibly eliminated all together. Trần Phước would like to soon have the opportunity to test and verify in the real world.

There are much more we yet to know. We are always learning. Trần Phước needs to research and test much more to improve and optimise the design. Join us on this journey of discover.

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