Rokon Trailbreaker?

[Netpackrat]

Just wondering if anybody has experience with these? I know they aren't for everyone, but I've been lusting after one for a while. I'm definitely going to need to throw a leg over one to make sure I don't hate the way they ride before committing, but I can see certain advantages for getting to and riding around my remote property, plus I won't necessarily need to use a trailer, since I can put a hitch carrier on the back of my truck/jeep. I think I'd even be able to use it year round unlike a 4 wheeler, since there are normally packed down snow machine trails (made by my neighbors) going to where I need to go. I'll eventually want to get a snowmachine, but I doubt I'll be able to afford both a wheeler for summer, and a snowgo for winter for a few years.

Of course, the big disadvantages are slow speed and rudimentary/no suspension. I'm past the age where I find a lot of value in hauling ass down the trail, and I'm still riding a totally unsuspended 1981 Honda 3 wheeler. It definitely reminds me that I'm not 20 years old anymore, but a 2 wheeler is better able to pick a less jarring trail, and Rokon recently started making front suspension available, and offers a suspended seat, so I'm not so worried about that as I once was.

Another reason I'm looking at them is because I'm totally non-plussed with the direction the ATV market in general has gone... Pretty much all the available 4 wheel quads are huge and heavy... We used to have a 300 honda that was a good balance of capability and lightness, though I thought it was a bit on the heavy side, and you've got to have a winch. My 3 wheeler is light enough that I can usually lift it out, or failing that use one of the small folding come-alongs to unstick it. Been kicking myself for years that I didn't buy a pair of Yamaha Timberwolves while they were still making them; that was a light, agile 230cc 4x4. Wish Honda would make a 4x4 version of their Recon 230cc quad.

Just wanting to hear from people who have direct experience using the Rokons, if possible.

[DaveJames]

The Ole man had one of the first to hit the area when they came out, even had the sealed wheels you cold fill with gas and float the whole thing across the river, for the ruff county think of it as riding a billy goat, the damn things will flat climb and go over stuff, never saw use for the side car, but have packed out several pigs and small deer on the rear luggage rack

[Dave Sauer]

Had one and loved it. Wish I still had it. Got it used and refurbed it. Mine had the tractor tread tires. If you could hold on it would climb it...with a load. I took it deer hunting a lot. I had surplus canvas bags I used for saddle bags and rack up front I strapped stuff to. I played with it in the snow too. Drug my kids behind it on a saucer. With the big tires you just run low pressure for the "suspension". A friend had one and had a set of shorter, wider knobby tires that were even better as far as the ride went.

[Czechsix]

I've got a '73, with the Chrysler 2 smoker. Works pretty well for what it is. It's not something that you'd want to spend hours on, or do long distances with. Pretty simple system, not economical on gas though, but the newer 4 strokes (factory uses Kohler), are much quieter and better on the pocketbook. Even better is either buy or build a Hondakon - Rokon frame and drive system powered by a Honda CT or Chicom clone. Good thing about the 2 stroke is that they're light, so you can drag or lift them out of tough spots. Pretty minimalistic too, no safety guards, open chain and sprocket and lots of it hehe. These bikes are for those guys that can keep their boogerpickers to themselves, otherwise they'll get ripped off pretty fast.

As far as how they ride, like you mentioned, they came out with leading link suspension a while back as an accessory.

If you want lots more info, the place I hang out for Rokon info is over at Bob Gallagher's forum.

I like mine. For longer trips or faster ones I have a Honda XR.

[Netpackrat]

Thanks for the replies. My brother is a high speed quad guy and has been trying to talk me out of it. Probably be at least a year or two before I can swing a new machine anyway.

[YARP]

Where's Jack-O? He was the one that turned my attention to the ROKON when I first joined here and has some good info. I too have lost all desire to go a gazillion miles per hour and would much rather go slow, steady and down the untraveled trail. It seems like one of the best solutions for having your off-road vehicle with you all the time as opposed to hauling a trailer.

[Matthew Sweeney]

From what I have heard of them they are pretty awesome...not real fast...but they can get into the rugged terrain.

[Kenpoconsult]

Never heard of them, so I went looking. OOOOh I want one...

[Czechsix]

Well, they're unique. Good load bearing capabilities too, if you need that. Lots of mods out there too, everything from suspension to engine to muffler upgrades. There are some reliability upgrades that are must haves, but those're also model dependant, so until you get one doesn't make much sense to start buying stuff. I personally like the real old ones, the 2 smoker version, just for the simplicity. Having to do pre-mix isn't a big deal, especially since I'm not going very far on the bike, and always stay within range of camp or the truck, unlike with the XR, where I can be 200 miles from camp at the end of a day.

If you look at used ones, and it's your first purchase, stay away from non-runners, or parts bikes. The parts to complete them are still available out there, but the more major assemblies can be tough to find, and will be a bit costly. Especially the three speed trannies, the Albions. IAC, get a runner, and keep it maintained, don't abuse it, and it'll last a long long time.

As far as capabilities go, in extremely rough terrain they're a bit better than a regular dirt bike of the same weight. I can manhandle an XR80 just like a TB, and go pretty much the same places, even faster actually. Where the Rokon shines is in soft, level stuff - mud, sand, and the like. The other thing I like about them is a low footprint. When I go out to Arizona with it, I can go across desert pavements with little trace compared to the XR. A real tracker would still have no problem, but the average person wouldn't see a trace of where I've been. Which can be a good thing.

[Netpackrat]

When the time comes I'll probably just get a new one, unless I can find a near-new one in good condition at a good price. They come up for sale around here once in a while, but not very often and you have to keep watching for them. I hate 2 stroke engines with a passion... I don't think I'd bother with the side car, just a trailer hitch so I can use my existing wheeler trailer and maybe get their single wheel narrow track unit or build something similar on my own. Not sure if I want the hollow wheels for carrying fuel/water. I'd be afraid that much surface area on the sides would be a real liability for crossing fast streams; the spoke wheels would allow for more flow through of water, and therefore a safer crossing. If I want to float it across somewhere I can bring a couple inner tubes, some 550 cord, and a pump, but I doubt if I'd ever have reason to do that. Be nice to be able to mount a rifle scabbard on the front forks like I had on my 3 wheeler for a while. I don't like having to totally dismount to be able to access a long gun.