ROKON TrailBreaker
 

anybody have one of these?
or have experience with one?
http://www.rokon.com/img/prod_trailbreaker_lg.jpg

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

I examined one up close in New Hampshire a few years ago. It looked solid and very well built. I didn't get to ride it. The owner used it extensively in the winters in New Hampshire, up in the White Mountains, and claimed it could handle any terrain.

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

bump ditty bump.
for any who might not know:

Rokon motorcycles use a combination of belt, chain, and shaft drives coupled to gear boxes to drive both the front and rear wheels. Older machines were powered by a West Bend (US Motor/Chrysler Marine) 820 2-stroke engine (134cc), while newer machines have either a Honda or Kohler engine of about 6hp. Collector interest in these very unusual motorcycles has risen considerably following the 1998 creation of the web site Rokon World by Bob Gallagher.

These are slow-speed off-road motorcycles designed for use in the most rugged terrain. Some are capable of 35mph or more, but typical top speed is about 20 mph. Current models are the Trail-Breaker, Ranger and Scout.

an interesting thing, i thought is that it has hollow aluminium wheels that you can store extra gas in....

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

off topic..

How is that yaesu working out for you ....?

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

Not too shabby! i haven't had much time to mess around with it, but i'm pleased as punch with the unit itself...

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

When my mom was a child her parents had one of those things on their farm.

She said you could easily (slowly) ride across a freshly-plowed field with it, no problem--as long as you could keep it balanced upright by dragging your feet, it just kept going.... but it broke down a lot, and was just about the slowest motorcycle around. Do note: that was a early-1960's model.

I have never seen one IRL myself, and don't know anyone who has ever owned or rode one.


-end-

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

Yeah. I've heard them described as a 'motorcycle-tractor'....
i think the top speed of their fastest one is like 35mph...
not really meant for high speed pursuit, but you can go where others can't...
they aren't too darned expensive for a specialty piece of machinery. website shows them new for about 5k. I wonder what you could get a used one for? (assuming you could find one...)

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

There's one in Montana craigslist today for 2K including trailer. It's a 1987 model but looks good. I like four wheelers better myself.

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

Ride one first to make sure it's for you. They are like a Cushman trickster in a way, used in the proper application they can't be beat. Keep in mind not much ground clearance on the 12" wheel models though. Try lifting one over a big rock or downed tree.

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

I love good ,practical utilitarian vehichles like the Rokon ,I ride a Ural myself (2 wheel drive motorcycle /tractor )

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

There used to be a class of Dirtbike that weren't motocross or enduro, but they were touted as being all terrain. They usually had really large wheel clearances and you would find a lot of folks climbing rocks with them and stuff.

The rear wheel was somewhat tiny, but the front was large, and you almost always saw them trying to go vertical with the damn things. I think Husqvarna was one of the bigger manufacturers of these types of bikes. They may have called them enduro before that became synonymous with street legal.

But basically you'd look in a magazine and you'd see people doing things with these bikes that was out of the norm, climbing large berms, rocks, rolling over logs, but slowly.

This was in 1985 of course, I can't really find any reference to the style or type of bike anymore, but I'm quite sure it was a "fad" back in the day.

I'm sorta thinking enduro but now when I search that, it always turns up a "Dirtbike" that is street legal. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

Yup, they are called trials bikes. Object is to go over obstacles feet on the pegs and without your feet touching the ground.

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

That's it Sturdly, awesome. When I was a kid somehow in my brain I equated Trials with Trails, and probably to Enduro now. But that's them. Thanks.

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Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

I know what you mean about equating things in the younger years. Trials usually meant trouble with the local constable for my gang.

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

My 16 yr old and I built a similar bike this summer. We used a Rupp Roadster full suspension mini bike frame from the 70's we got for 20FRN.I adapted a modern Honda clone 6.5 HP engine (99FRN) and installed 3.50x10 wheels. It runs a heavy size 41 dual chain (primary and secondary) and a large rear sprocket. goes about 50 mph and will go through about anything.

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

Gypsybiker, I'm envious of your fabrication skills with used motorhead stuff.
Got any photos of the GYP2009DIRTBUSTER??

Sorry Iptuous. I don't mean to hijack your thread...the Rokon looks like a fun ride, but for 5K I could buy a decent used 4WD pickup...I'm thinking firewood hauling.
Good luck folks

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

Ill post one tommorow

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

not a problem!
i wouldn't want to spend more than i had to for anything either....
and i would also like to see the homebrew 2WD gypsy bike...

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

I had one for a couple years I used it for hauling elk out of the woods in Sept. bow season.

In Sept a lot of the time it would get up to 90 degrees during the day and if you had a bull down in the woods miles from the road getting 3-350 lbs of meat out before it spoiled was a big issue.

If you have a lot of experience with dirt bikes this thing may not mangle you too bad.

Mine would not go over 20 mph down hill with a stiff wind. They are not a pleasure vehicle they are just for work, motorcycle tractor is a good description. They are awkward, slow and stiff. No fun at all.

But they will go places where a quad will not. Yes the rims are hollow for liquid storage. Water in the front and gas in the rear on mine.
They are not that heavy so you can lift them over logs and rocks.

If you can find one with a honda motor you will be happier. The tiny little motor mine had was anything but reliable.
I find that as a tool a good quad is much much more useful.

This was 15 years ago when I would regularly be hunting way back in some hell hole so bad that more than once I had a great shot at a bull when I realized that I didn't want to kill it because I had no chance to get it to the Rokon and out of the woods before it spoiled.

I've ended my hunt with a nice rack and hundreds of pounds of spoiled meat for the last time no more of that.
Mine leaked and squeaked and smoked so bad it was something to behold when it was running.
I sold the rokon while it still had some life in it and just started hunting closer to the road.

Trials bikes on the other hand are great fun.

Re: ROKON TrailBreaker
 

[ATTACH]Attachment 82431

Attachment 82432[/ATTACH]
the top one is the Rupp ,6.5 hp Honda clone, 10"wheels 52 tooth rear sprocket with a 12/14 tooth jackshaft setup. Independent front and rear suspension. It sits 37 inches at the top of the seat. the bottom is my latest creation.(not exactly a survival unit though!)