I own two ROKON's manufacturer in the 1980's & one vintage Rokon. All with the 2 cycle Super Bee Engines. Very Expensive Machines which cause people to not buy them, but made in America since the 60's. Thank You For Your Channel, Keep Making Rokon Videos.
I've had mine for 6 months I am a heavy older rider some things I've learned. At 218 lbs it is a powerful mule.... that I can put on rack easily. Bush guards aka knuckle busters should come as standard. I adjusted the front shock and the one under the seat higher no more bottoming out. 2nd gear is king only used 1st when I was dragging a log and 3rd on the open trail back to camp. Yes price is up there but number 20 and 30 year old rigs out there and the fact that you can still get parts for them is a value added statement.
When I was a little kid in the 1960s, I was at my local county fair, where I saw a demonstration of the Rokon. The demonstrator was navigating an obstacle course which included logs as big as the Rokon's tires. The Rokon's impressive towing/dragging abilities were also displayed during the demonstration. This was over 50 years ago, and yet it is still a vivid memory. Yes, the demonstrator was trained, but that's the point. The machine is only as good as the rider. It's purpose-built, and too many charter members of the "More Money than Brains Club" buy these beasts, simply don't know how to operate and maintain them, and then cry about its perceived shortcomings.
I just picked up a 71 myself (yesterday). I've been out riding it thru and over everything. It would be really interesting to compare old vs new. Looks like your having great fun! Keep up the good work!
I had a new 1987 Trailbreaker....thing was pretty awesome and definitely would gather a crowd. Biggest failure I had was an off road trip in Knoxville, California. I was trail riding in the rain and the soil changed from a normal mud to the stickiest gumbo I had ever seen. The tires loaded up with mud and the rear tire jammed against the fender. Putting it in the low range and trying to power through resulted in a broken rear chain. The bike would not move. I had to scrape out all the mud jamming against the frame and remove both the front and rear fenders, walk the bike about 20 yards back to the normal "mud" and ride 5 miles back to the truck with front wheel drive only. My friend with his Yamaha Big Bear just laughed as he had enough clearance around his tires that the mud would eventually slough off and he could keep driving in the gumbo. A mud scraper at the back of each tire should be standard equipment for those that live in areas with gumbo mud.
That sounds like it would have made a great video! Lol maybe I'll look into adding a type of removable mud scraper in the few times I'd see it up in north idaho!
About 20 yrs ago found a rokon for sale at a outdoor show in KY ..told the owner that I couldn't afford it but would love to try it..he told me to take it out,had my daughter on the back..we were just talking about that a few days ago! Anyway I took that thing up a hill that would of been really hard to crawl up! Never did get one YET but my daughter and I will never forget that experience! Love the channel!
Great video's that you put out. You really put it through the the test of time. Can not wait to get mine, I completely forgot about this machine for years. I'm an outdoorsman now, perfect for the outdoor person.
I don’t have one, but always thought about it. I had a friend who bought one in the mid~eighties awesome but it would bounce your teeth out. It definitely should have more horsepower, about 10 or 15hp would do. Still awesome.
Towing heavy weight with a tip back garden trailer makes it a little squirrely. Got to keep it at low speeds with that trailer. Maybe the 2 inch ball hitch will makes it better. I have the flat metal with a hole hitch.
I bought the trail breaker with the side car new in 2004. the bike is a beast. Here is one example I once recovered an elk that was 200 yards off the side of a logging skid trail. It was so steep that two of us slid down the hill with both brakes fully locked on the bike. Once we got the bike turned around at the recovery spot we loaded about a 100 lbs on the bike.The load ratio was two thirds on the front and the rest on the back of the bike. I was too scared to get on and take of so I just leaned on side and gave it some throttle once it took off I jumped on and away i went. Four trips later to the skid trail .We put the side car on loaded the meat and 3 friends on the bike and road two mile out the trail and strait onto the trailer. I still have the bike and it still runs great. It brings a smile to my face just thinking of all the adventures I have taken with my Trail breaker. Happy trails and remember you can kill yourself at one mile an hour !!!! Ridge Runner
I agree with the comments that the bike is expensive. I’ve had mine for about 10 years now and it was pricey back then. I don’t regret it though. It is the most low stress way to ride single track there is. If you are not comfortable on a big bike or you don’t want to have to use speed to get over obstacles, this thing is the ticket. It also carries weight very well. If you’re just going out for a ride in the woods, a lot of bikes will get the job done but if you’re trying to transport weight or gear or supplies, this is just flat out easier. One thing I wish the company would do, though is to put out a detailed series of RUclips videos that cover all of the maintenance that you might encounter with the bike. Over the 10 years I’ve had it I have figured out a lot of the nuances, but it certainly would’ve been helpful to just call up the video on RUclips.
I completely agree with everything you said, I'm planning on some go faster parts for the Kohler but it does OK considering its limitations. 2016 Scout with Autograb upgrade.
Had one for years and loved it. In rough country, however, you are working also. You don't get to relax like on a quad, but then you can often leave the quads behind.
I always wanted one for getting to some of the more remote areas where I have cut timber. Those long long packs in would wear me out and take a lot of cutting time out of the day. Not enough career left in my life to buy one now though. Thanks for a "real" review.
Assuming the stock engine still has its governor, most any higher HP engine with their governor intact will give you more power/torque but should not increase your top speed. I.e., more pulling power, better climbing, etc..
Great non sugar coated review. The existing Kohler has 7hp at about 3600-4000rpm. What hp and rpm are you shooting for? I am also thinking that some higher rpm parts (5000-6000rpm?) would enlarge the mph ranges of 1st and 2nd gear, perhaps increasing the utility some in those gears. What do you think?
I haven't come up with a set hp I'm shooting for, mostly just trying to help it get out of its own way lol I have started looking into a billet flywheel and a cam upgrade at the moment but still waiting on the funds lol
I may just need to see more of your videos, but I am curious how tough the every day maintenance is on one of those. Is it hard to keep the chains and sprockets in line?
Definitely check out some more videos, this thing has been put to the test over and over (with minimal maintenance) but it's all vert straight forward and easy to tension and align the chain. I think I mention it in one of the videos but I can't remember for sure lol
Need to investigate the different types of Locktite products available to put on bolts and nuts to help prevent them from vibrating loose. You might be able to take your Rokon to a good welding and fabrication shop and show them some concerns and ideas about what might make it better. You might even be able to find or fabricate a trailer to pull behind it that is a fold out camper with space to put extra stuff in like camping gear or whatever else you may want to do with it. Just a few ideas that may make it better.
Bought a new one in 1995 with the Honda gx 160 engine , fantastic machine,will never part with it,not many here in oz mine is a ranger,and I have never found a hill I couldn't climb😮😮😊
Absolutely fantastic all-terrain vehicle, only a couple of minor setbacks. Shock absorption, no, not very much. Horsepower, barely above zero, but on the positive side almost no fuel consumption. Anything that sticks out of the vehicle bends easily. Quite difficult to handle but has 2 wheel drive with almost zero horsepower per wheel! Should I have this as a Christmas wish? No, life is short and kidneys are essential.
Great videos. I have a 2018 mototractor that i love. I have put it through it’s paces multiple times. I have found the one thing that will stop it in its tracks. East Texas red clay. After stopping and removing the clay many times, it finally got caked up enough to make the chain pop off. I have had an issue with the carburetor, but other than that, it’s been a beast. Fyi you can find many parts on line way cheaper than from Rokon themselves. Keep up the good work.
Tall Johnson grass will also stop just about any bike . It's easy to plow through it but it will wrap around the sprocket and form a rope like wheel jamming clog . A small patch is no problem but a long stretch of it is . The only way to remove it is pull on it and turn the wheel backwards . Not easy .
Did you know that they have one around 35 hp 2 stroke for rokon ? I believe they were manufactured back early 1970’s Kaplan Cycles has one for sale in mint condition too :)
i remember the always thinking the rokon was underpowered which it is, but at the same time to use a engine that is very torque-y and tough fits it since the bike as well isn't about speed but being tough and able to go anywhere. that all said as a guy whos built small engines a 224cc that has 14.5:1 compression would be an absolute unit to power that thing as it just makes tons of torque and would give it a top speed of around 55 with the gearing being the limit. drawback being it would need to run e85 which then goes back to the main purpose of the thing being able to run on about anything so you wouldn't be stranded
I would love to repower it some that's got a few more buff horses in the future and I like the 224cc idea. But no matter how hard I push it the thing keeps going lol I have a new video coming out soon where I took it on its hardest adventure yet so keep an eye out for it lol 🤘
@@ThrottleWorks well if you need incentive to repower it, the 224 on my go kart puts out around 22hp and around 18 foot pounds which doesn't sound crazy but the thing spins the tractor tires loose on my 250 pound kart and will get it up to 40 in about 4 to 5 seconds which is especially impressive with the fact that the thing was geared for 50 before slapping on tires that are double the size. the 224 even manages this with a charging flywheel which while the charging system only puts out around 120 watts its still definitely nice for LEDs or to charge a phone. its main downside is it can only run race gas or e85 which is fine as Colorado has the stuff everywhere and it'll still get me around 50-60 mpg
Dang, that's super impressive! If this Kohler 7hp ever quits on me I will defiantly look into the 224!! I've been hunting for a decent engine to put into other projects I have lol
@@ThrottleWorks if you've got the money there's also the 263cc which can make 30+ hp however you would not have a charging system and they're not known for torque either cause of the fat cams. but if money is an issue then the 224 is a steal as i built it for around 450 bucks total including the engine
I bet the machine would make it through the brush however you may not be on it when it does haha I'm going to a "No BS towing" video soon so maybe you just drag the moose 💪
I remember my brother looping a Rokon out. He was heavy with hunting camp, wall tent, and wood stove on bike, and frame pack on rider. Here in Idaho any bike would eventually come in handy for packing meat. Seen elk packed on all kinds. I pack on foot to the nearest open trail or road, then with a yz250. In Alaska, I suppose aircraft, or boat would be king. But I can verify that a Rokon will climb anything, leaving you behind, or underneath!
I’ve always wanted one of these bikes. Have you ever floated it across a stream or small river? How many miles can you ride it on a tank of gas? Great video. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I have planned to do a floating video but I might have waited too long(it's cold now) but I can typically get 150 - 200 miles on a tank depending on how it's ridden haha And thanks for watching, I appreciate it !
Hmmm... I really want to see a Rokon crawling through snow. I appreciate the discussion but it doesn't mean anything if I don't have a good idea of how well it works. I want to use it to set fatbike trails in the winter.
I asked Dave Canterbury if he still has his and if he still uses it. He said he still has it, but rarely uses it because he can do so much more with his ATV. Great review. JT
You must run low low low (5 psi ) tire pressure on rokons and learn to shift you weight from back tire to front tire to make tires bite as needed. Then you will never say it is under powered.you must learn how to ride rokon!! it is not the the same a motorcycle!! Have rode dirt bikes for 55 years and a rokon fore 30 years. Rokon will go places where you can not use speed . You can stop in the middle of hill climb and start from a stop, crawl over large logs and rocks with a rokon. I am 6'4" tall and weight 310 pounds. I can climp hills so steep that i must put my feet on the back pegs. Put my chest and head forward over the handle bars to keep front end down and hooked into the dirt moving forward in the right gear. And do not forget to put a few drops of oil on the over ride spring on the drive under the seat/tank area .when i first got a rokon i thought it was a p.o.s. had 35 psi in tire ,would not climb any thing. went riding with other rokons they tought me the rokon tricks.You should be dumping you rokon several time a day very slow speed , or your not in rokon country if you can go fast ride a dirt bike.and yes been looking for years for vids of what a rokon will do with a good in tough conditions. There are none!!!
@billjames3148 What they mean is the rims are hollow to allow you to fill them with fuel or water. Each wheel is capable of holding about 2.5 gallons. And it's not directly tied to the fuel system, you would have to carry a pump to transfer the fuel from the wheel into the fuel tank.
That's right all built here in the USA 🤘 also yes they can do financing through a rokon dealer. I bought this bike for about 9k, litte steep but I truly believe it's worth it for what I use it for.
I used to have an old ranger with 15 inch aluminum drum wheels . With 2 stroke . It was more like a 2 wheel tractor . Really. I get major rokon vibes from my 5 inch tire middrive fatbike . Electric fatbike is far superior in terms of speed . Rokon needs major revisions or it will continue to be a hunting tractor
Put a cam in it, over sized piston, im sure there's options! And you gotta be able to gear it differently id think most motorcycles you can! These are definitely neat but not 10,000$ neat!
Great Review , you captured alot of my comments about the bike. Swapped the Kohler on my 2011 with a Honda ( slightly modified) Went with a shorter and softer front shock on the front end which really helped the handling., especially on hills. Would also suggest scrapping the poor quality seat that squishes flat with a Harley Sportster and bike shock. last but not least - there's a front chain tensioner called a Roll o ring ( or something) ...my chain started cutting into the front fork, keep your eye on that ....
That's great advice! I've been looking into different shocks and seat options so that works out perfectly 👌 how "slightly" is your Honda engine modified? Pushing out more ponies perhaps?
@@ThrottleWorks just the venturi on the Honda carb with a snorkel , K&N Filter, 22 lb valve springs, originally a shaved head at 50 thou but it developed some issues ( basic NR racing upgrade) 8 degree timing key. It had a "claimed" HP of 10+ but reverting back to the stock head its probably back down to 7-8 ( guessing...)
Can you answer me this? I am considering buying one but I've never seen anyone answer my question, when you change gears, do you have to stop fully to switch gears or can you change gears on the fly?
@stevo5521 They say "you MUST be stopped to shift" and "It's not recommended to shift while moving" but i can say from experience, you are able to slow roll and shift but not at speed. The shift nob physically won't let you until you slow down.
@@ThrottleWorks ah, are you thinking of an EV conversion? I've messaged Rokon about the possibility and got no reply. I've also nagged Volcon about making a Grunt that is 2WD 🇦🇺
You are the type of guy who lives on a beer budget but has champagne taste go out in the world and make something of yourself so you can walk in one say and pay cash for a rokon and be proud of one's self
They come out with an urban model I think it’s the Ranger I would like to see the running lights break/turn signals rubber mounted so when you get ready to take it in the field you can take the lights out and if you tip over being that it’s rubber you won’t hurt nothing The foot pegs need to be spring loaded so you can put them up and out-of-the-way One of the other things I’d like to see since they made in urban model “Ranger” There should be a lockout-like the old 4-W D 🛻s It could be incorporated right in the miter box the slip clutch does a wonderful job I would love to see them do that
I think so, when you are in 1st gear it has a ton of torque for climbing and pulling but it's still long enough to be able to cruise down the trails with out have to walk the bike
I understand the foot pegs fold-up under the belly It works great-when you’re going forward but if you flop over on the side (in Rough Terrain) I think they can be redesigned so when you’re in a tight place U can shift-em to an upwards position -where they somehow lock in place Chances of damage is close to Neil unless you drive over the Grand Canyon 😝
Bro. I bought a colman btx200. It was 600 bucks. I've never had an issue. I drove it all around the mountains in alberta. I can't justify 13k canadian.
@ThrottleWorks I would be, too. I was surprised with the btx200. I took it to this place called Brule in Alberta, Canada. Really tough, constant changing terrain and sand dunes. It did its job.
It's long proven to be a great bike and is better for been made in the good ole u s of a you are an unpatriotic American for supporting overseas made bikes shame on you😮
@@ThrottleWorks I see that they have specific aero flex bars for different motorcycle manufactures. Which worked best for your Rokon application? Thanks in advance!
To be Brutally Honest, in the 70's, I ran motocross. Dumped a bike one time and brake handle broke. My fault and yours breaking is your fault. Not manufacturer. Foot pegs bend. Your fault for bottoming out. Not manufacturer. Under power. It is designed to get you from point A to point B. It does exactly what it was designed to do. Get an off road bike if not enough power. Tow bar bent because YOU didn't secure the bike. Not manufacturer problem. Seems 96% of the problem you have are YOUR fault. Not the manufacturer. In a nutshell, you seem to abuse the bike more than the average person.
But they’ll last forever with minimal care and are easy to work on. This is why I want one. Folks don’t want this for motocross, it’s for folks that want a mini tractor for places and that can’t go and they imagine most folks who also want this for riding are what refer to as “putters” just putting along. They’ll go in places other bikes or four wheelers and bikes can’t with minimal terrain damage. Places like to steep, muddy or trees are to tight or stealth. Parts are easy and lots of upgrades available. Nothing else has that kinda possibilities.
I own two ROKON's manufacturer in the 1980's & one vintage Rokon. All with the 2 cycle Super Bee Engines. Very Expensive Machines which cause people to not buy them, but made in America since the 60's. Thank You For Your Channel, Keep Making Rokon Videos.
I've had mine for 6 months I am a heavy older rider some things I've learned.
At 218 lbs it is a powerful mule.... that I can put on rack easily.
Bush guards aka knuckle busters should come as standard.
I adjusted the front shock and the one under the seat higher no more bottoming out.
2nd gear is king only used 1st when I was dragging a log and 3rd on the open trail back to camp.
Yes price is up there but number 20 and 30 year old rigs out there and the fact that you can still get parts for them is a value added statement.
When I was a little kid in the 1960s, I was at my local county fair, where I saw a demonstration of the Rokon. The demonstrator was navigating an obstacle course which included logs as big as the Rokon's tires. The Rokon's impressive towing/dragging abilities were also displayed during the demonstration. This was over 50 years ago, and yet it is still a vivid memory.
Yes, the demonstrator was trained, but that's the point. The machine is only as good as the rider. It's purpose-built, and too many charter members of the "More Money than Brains Club" buy these beasts, simply don't know how to operate and maintain them, and then cry about its perceived shortcomings.
I remember the same demonstration, also climbing up a 60 degree incline or something like that!
I just picked up a 71 myself (yesterday). I've been out riding it thru and over everything. It would be really interesting to compare old vs new. Looks like your having great fun! Keep up the good work!
Yeah it would be very interesting to do a side by side with the two. Shoot me an email maybe we can set something up throttleworks126@gmail.com
I had a new 1987 Trailbreaker....thing was pretty awesome and definitely would gather a crowd. Biggest failure I had was an off road trip in Knoxville, California. I was trail riding in the rain and the soil changed from a normal mud to the stickiest gumbo I had ever seen. The tires loaded up with mud and the rear tire jammed against the fender. Putting it in the low range and trying to power through resulted in a broken rear chain. The bike would not move. I had to scrape out all the mud jamming against the frame and remove both the front and rear fenders, walk the bike about 20 yards back to the normal "mud" and ride 5 miles back to the truck with front wheel drive only. My friend with his Yamaha Big Bear just laughed as he had enough clearance around his tires that the mud would eventually slough off and he could keep driving in the gumbo. A mud scraper at the back of each tire should be standard equipment for those that live in areas with gumbo mud.
That sounds like it would have made a great video! Lol maybe I'll look into adding a type of removable mud scraper in the few times I'd see it up in north idaho!
About 20 yrs ago found a rokon for sale at a outdoor show in KY ..told the owner that I couldn't afford it but would love to try it..he told me to take it out,had my daughter on the back..we were just talking about that a few days ago! Anyway I took that thing up a hill that would of been really hard to crawl up! Never did get one YET but my daughter and I will never forget that experience! Love the channel!
They are a ton of fun! And thank you for the support! 🤘
Great video's that you put out. You really put it through the the test of time. Can not wait to get mine, I completely forgot about this machine for years. I'm an outdoorsman now, perfect for the outdoor person.
Hey Thank you! And your right! It's a great machine for the outdoorsman, highly capable 💪
I don’t have one, but always thought about it. I had a friend who bought one in the mid~eighties awesome but it would bounce your teeth out. It definitely should have more horsepower, about 10 or 15hp would do. Still awesome.
I pulled my Ranger out of winter storage today...now I remember why I love this thing! Great honest review.
Towing heavy weight with a tip back garden trailer makes it a little squirrely. Got to keep it at low speeds with that trailer. Maybe the 2 inch ball hitch will makes it better. I have the flat metal with a hole hitch.
I bought the trail breaker with the side car new in 2004. the bike is a beast. Here is one example I once recovered an elk that was 200 yards off the side of a logging skid trail. It was so steep that two of us slid down the hill with both brakes fully locked on the bike. Once we got the bike turned around at the recovery spot we loaded about a 100 lbs on the bike.The load ratio was two thirds on the front and the rest on the back of the bike. I was too scared to get on and take of so I just leaned on side and gave it some throttle once it took off I jumped on and away i went. Four trips later to the skid trail .We put the side car on loaded the meat and 3 friends on the bike and road two mile out the trail and strait onto the trailer. I still have the bike and it still runs great. It brings a smile to my face just thinking of all the adventures I have taken with my Trail breaker. Happy trails and remember you can kill yourself at one mile an hour !!!! Ridge Runner
@terryhayward8024 Love it dude haha 🤘
Hilarious to see the monthly shave growing out in real time also wild to see your viewer ship groing
Oh yeah! Gotta keep it fresh 🤘 lol and we're definitely making progress 👍 thanks to folks like you! 😁
I agree with the comments that the bike is expensive. I’ve had mine for about 10 years now and it was pricey back then. I don’t regret it though. It is the most low stress way to ride single track there is. If you are not comfortable on a big bike or you don’t want to have to use speed to get over obstacles, this thing is the ticket. It also carries weight very well. If you’re just going out for a ride in the woods, a lot of bikes will get the job done but if you’re trying to transport weight or gear or supplies, this is just flat out easier. One thing I wish the company would do, though is to put out a detailed series of RUclips videos that cover all of the maintenance that you might encounter with the bike. Over the 10 years I’ve had it I have figured out a lot of the nuances, but it certainly would’ve been helpful to just call up the video on RUclips.
Great review! And well done on your videos. Like you, we run our Rokons hard here in Montana. Always in the back country exploring and prospecting.
Thank you! These are great machines for backcountry explanations! And tough as nails! 🤘
I completely agree with everything you said, I'm planning on some go faster parts for the Kohler but it does OK considering its limitations.
2016 Scout with Autograb upgrade.
Had one for years and loved it. In rough country, however, you are working also. You don't get to relax like on a quad, but then you can often leave the quads behind.
Thank you. I'm going to get one before next fall. They look like a awesome bike 🚲.
I always wanted one for getting to some of the more remote areas where I have cut timber. Those long long packs in would wear me out and take a lot of cutting time out of the day. Not enough career left in my life to buy one now though. Thanks for a "real" review.
I don’t know what brought me here but I want to thank you 🙏 for this and I will help my family and those I can to prepare 🙏❤️🌎
Assuming the stock engine still has its governor, most any higher HP engine with their governor intact will give you more power/torque but should not increase your top speed. I.e., more pulling power, better climbing, etc..
Great non sugar coated review. The existing Kohler has 7hp at about 3600-4000rpm. What hp and rpm are you shooting for? I am also thinking that some higher rpm parts (5000-6000rpm?) would enlarge the mph ranges of 1st and 2nd gear, perhaps increasing the utility some in those gears. What do you think?
I haven't come up with a set hp I'm shooting for, mostly just trying to help it get out of its own way lol I have started looking into a billet flywheel and a cam upgrade at the moment but still waiting on the funds lol
It’s a great little bike, but you’re 100% right about the minor improvements they need to make.
I may just need to see more of your videos, but I am curious how tough the every day maintenance is on one of those. Is it hard to keep the chains and sprockets in line?
Definitely check out some more videos, this thing has been put to the test over and over (with minimal maintenance) but it's all vert straight forward and easy to tension and align the chain. I think I mention it in one of the videos but I can't remember for sure lol
Need to investigate the different types of Locktite products available to put on bolts and nuts to help prevent them from vibrating loose. You might be able to take your Rokon to a good welding and fabrication shop and show them some concerns and ideas about what might make it better. You might even be able to find or fabricate a trailer to pull behind it that is a fold out camper with space to put extra stuff in like camping gear or whatever else you may want to do with it. Just a few ideas that may make it better.
Bought a new one in 1995 with the Honda gx 160 engine , fantastic machine,will never part with it,not many here in oz mine is a ranger,and I have never found a hill I couldn't climb😮😮😊
Absolutely fantastic all-terrain vehicle, only a couple of minor setbacks.
Shock absorption, no, not very much.
Horsepower, barely above zero, but on the positive side almost no fuel consumption.
Anything that sticks out of the vehicle bends easily.
Quite difficult to handle but has 2 wheel drive with almost zero horsepower per wheel!
Should I have this as a Christmas wish?
No, life is short and kidneys are essential.
I want to see it pull some loads!
Definitely stay tuned, I've got some major plans 🤘
Great videos. I have a 2018 mototractor that i love. I have put it through it’s paces multiple times. I have found the one thing that will stop it in its tracks. East Texas red clay. After stopping and removing the clay many times, it finally got caked up enough to make the chain pop off. I have had an issue with the carburetor, but other than that, it’s been a beast. Fyi you can find many parts on line way cheaper than from Rokon themselves. Keep up the good work.
I have yet to come across clay! We don't have much being way up in north Idaho lol and Thanks for watching and your feedback!
Tall Johnson grass will also stop just about any bike . It's easy to plow through it but it will wrap around the sprocket and form a rope like wheel jamming clog . A small patch is no problem but a long stretch of it is . The only way to remove it is pull on it and turn the wheel backwards . Not easy .
Did you know that they have one around 35 hp 2 stroke for rokon ? I believe they were manufactured back early 1970’s Kaplan Cycles has one for sale in mint condition too :)
THANK you for posting this essentially informative post! 👍🏻
I think I'm going to add a second a wheel and add track
i remember the always thinking the rokon was underpowered which it is, but at the same time to use a engine that is very torque-y and tough fits it since the bike as well isn't about speed but being tough and able to go anywhere. that all said as a guy whos built small engines a 224cc that has 14.5:1 compression would be an absolute unit to power that thing as it just makes tons of torque and would give it a top speed of around 55 with the gearing being the limit. drawback being it would need to run e85 which then goes back to the main purpose of the thing being able to run on about anything so you wouldn't be stranded
I would love to repower it some that's got a few more buff horses in the future and I like the 224cc idea. But no matter how hard I push it the thing keeps going lol I have a new video coming out soon where I took it on its hardest adventure yet so keep an eye out for it lol 🤘
@@ThrottleWorks well if you need incentive to repower it, the 224 on my go kart puts out around 22hp and around 18 foot pounds which doesn't sound crazy but the thing spins the tractor tires loose on my 250 pound kart and will get it up to 40 in about 4 to 5 seconds which is especially impressive with the fact that the thing was geared for 50 before slapping on tires that are double the size. the 224 even manages this with a charging flywheel which while the charging system only puts out around 120 watts its still definitely nice for LEDs or to charge a phone. its main downside is it can only run race gas or e85 which is fine as Colorado has the stuff everywhere and it'll still get me around 50-60 mpg
Dang, that's super impressive! If this Kohler 7hp ever quits on me I will defiantly look into the 224!! I've been hunting for a decent engine to put into other projects I have lol
@@ThrottleWorks if you've got the money there's also the 263cc which can make 30+ hp however you would not have a charging system and they're not known for torque either cause of the fat cams. but if money is an issue then the 224 is a steal as i built it for around 450 bucks total including the engine
Thanks for the work!
I thought about those but I’m Alaska I just don’t think it will cut it.
Swamp. Heavy brush.
Where do I put my moose? :)
I bet the machine would make it through the brush however you may not be on it when it does haha I'm going to a "No BS towing" video soon so maybe you just drag the moose 💪
I remember my brother looping a Rokon out. He was heavy with hunting camp, wall tent, and wood stove on bike, and frame pack on rider. Here in Idaho any bike would eventually come in handy for packing meat. Seen elk packed on all kinds. I pack on foot to the nearest open trail or road, then with a yz250.
In Alaska, I suppose aircraft, or boat would be king. But I can verify that a Rokon will climb anything, leaving you behind, or underneath!
Thank you for this video, I'd love to see a log skidder being used.
Will do! I have lots of logs to move around 🤘 and thanks for watching!
I’ve always wanted one of these bikes. Have you ever floated it across a stream or small river? How many miles can you ride it on a tank of gas? Great video. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I have planned to do a floating video but I might have waited too long(it's cold now) but I can typically get 150 - 200 miles on a tank depending on how it's ridden haha And thanks for watching, I appreciate it !
Hmmm... I really want to see a Rokon crawling through snow. I appreciate the discussion but it doesn't mean anything if I don't have a good idea of how well it works. I want to use it to set fatbike trails in the winter.
@@DavidHaile_profile ruclips.net/user/shortsGCRt8AF5IlY?si=DxfsxJdbA18MU8Gc
ruclips.net/user/shortsu8JN41gGriE?si=8c4jD9X1TjxczTnf
Souped up minibike last atv died in the 80s which was the atc 3 wheeler own one and you will never get stuck I own one
I plan on building my own
I asked Dave Canterbury if he still has his and if he still uses it. He said he still has it, but rarely uses it because he can do so much more with his ATV.
Great review.
JT
An excellent honest review. Thank you for it.
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!
Red beards garage has a Rokon with a hopped up 223cc small engine. Top speed in hi-range is 50 mph!
You must run low low low (5 psi ) tire pressure on rokons and learn to shift you weight from back tire to front tire to make tires bite as needed. Then you will never say it is under powered.you must learn how to ride rokon!! it is not the the same a motorcycle!! Have rode dirt bikes for 55 years and a rokon fore 30 years. Rokon will go places where you can not use speed . You can stop in the middle of hill climb and start from a stop, crawl over large logs and rocks with a rokon. I am 6'4" tall and weight 310 pounds. I can climp hills so steep that i must put my feet on the back pegs. Put my chest and head forward over the handle bars to keep front end down and hooked into the dirt moving forward in the right gear. And do not forget to put a few drops of oil on the over ride spring on the drive under the seat/tank area .when i first got a rokon i thought it was a p.o.s. had 35 psi in tire ,would not climb any thing. went riding with other rokons they tought me the rokon tricks.You should be dumping you rokon several time a day very slow speed , or your not in rokon country if you can go fast ride a dirt bike.and yes been looking for years for vids of what a rokon will do with a good in tough conditions. There are none!!!
I want one (maybe).... I have yet to actually ride one, and I'm 6' 3"
Hey there! Love the video. I'm definitely looking to meet some new rokon friends. I am in western wa. 2017 preppers edition.
@t-bone8404 yeah man! I'm always ready to ride with fellow rokons! Hit me up if your ever in North Idaho 🤘
Hello, Rokon is cool. Rokon say's you can add fuel storage by filling your tires with fuel ? have you done this and what kind of pumping system is it.
@billjames3148 What they mean is the rims are hollow to allow you to fill them with fuel or water. Each wheel is capable of holding about 2.5 gallons. And it's not directly tied to the fuel system, you would have to carry a pump to transfer the fuel from the wheel into the fuel tank.
Thanks for review! I enjoy mine from 2007. In my channel I explain how to improve front chain husher.
Hi great video are these made in NH? What does this particular model go for and does Rokon offer financing like buy a regular motorcycle?
That's right all built here in the USA 🤘 also yes they can do financing through a rokon dealer. I bought this bike for about 9k, litte steep but I truly believe it's worth it for what I use it for.
The Rokon platform would make a GREAT 2WD e-bike.......
I used to have an old ranger with 15 inch aluminum drum wheels . With 2 stroke . It was more like a 2 wheel tractor . Really.
I get major rokon vibes from my 5 inch tire middrive fatbike . Electric fatbike is far superior in terms of speed .
Rokon needs major revisions or it will continue to be a hunting tractor
You probably won't get the modifications so you should sell it and buy what's on the market but it won't be able to do what the rokon can
Put a 2 stroke on it like it Yamaha 10 horse with comet cluch
Put a cam in it, over sized piston, im sure there's options! And you gotta be able to gear it differently id think most motorcycles you can! These are definitely neat but not 10,000$ neat!
Thanks for the insight
No rear suspension, my back hurts only thinking about it and iam not even that old xD
Love the video series on the bike !
Cheers
You don't need rear suspension when you've got nice squishy spinal discs haha
Great Review , you captured alot of my comments about the bike.
Swapped the Kohler on my 2011 with a Honda ( slightly modified)
Went with a shorter and softer front shock on the front end which really helped the handling., especially on hills.
Would also suggest scrapping the poor quality seat that squishes flat with a Harley Sportster and bike shock.
last but not least - there's a front chain tensioner called a Roll o ring ( or something) ...my chain started cutting into the front fork, keep your eye on that ....
That's great advice! I've been looking into different shocks and seat options so that works out perfectly 👌 how "slightly" is your Honda engine modified? Pushing out more ponies perhaps?
@@ThrottleWorks just the venturi on the Honda carb with a snorkel , K&N Filter, 22 lb valve springs, originally a shaved head at 50 thou but it developed some issues ( basic NR racing upgrade) 8 degree timing key. It had a "claimed" HP of 10+ but reverting back to the stock head its probably back down to 7-8 ( guessing...)
Can you answer me this? I am considering buying one but I've never seen anyone answer my question, when you change gears, do you have to stop fully to switch gears or can you change gears on the fly?
@stevo5521 They say "you MUST be stopped to shift" and "It's not recommended to shift while moving" but i can say from experience, you are able to slow roll and shift but not at speed. The shift nob physically won't let you until you slow down.
Bought one 20 years ago for deer hunting, NO PARKING BRAKE made it difficult to manage when stopped on a hillside! Does yours have one?
No it doesn't, If I have to park on a hill I'll square it up to the hill and lean it on the kick stand facing up the hill.
Bark Busters hand guards are the best.. Not sure of you could adapt them from some popular motorcycle Model .. Made in Australia .
love the review, //ty
I’ve been intrigued by the Rokon for years.
I might have to look around for a dealer here in Texas.
Can you make it street legal?
You definitely can! You can swap out the offroad tires with a street setup, slap on a mirror and you are good to go! 🤘
took me 3 seconds to realize you're a DTC 'Fire Hose' pants guy! #Subscribed
Heck yeah! They are the best pants for absolutely everything!
can you do a comparison between the Rokon vs Baltmotors Bulldog.
I would love to if I could get or or knew someone that had one! Lol
I've got a Ranger. They are go anywhere...slow. Fun although.
Nice review
The Russians got a really good two-wheeler you ought to take a look at
Sublime! Enjoy.✝️
Lightweight flywheel, a cam swap & rejet maybe. Nothing radical, was actually thinking for more torque, towing, hills ect.
I've been toying with that same idea
@@ThrottleWorks maybe look for the parts at Go Power Sports. Small engine performance parts if you havent heard them
I want one just don’t have the $$
I'd like to see an EV version of a Rokon 🇦🇺
I got some plans to address that this summer 🤘 so stay tuned 😎
@@ThrottleWorks ah, are you thinking of an EV conversion? I've messaged Rokon about the possibility and got no reply. I've also nagged Volcon about making a Grunt that is 2WD 🇦🇺
@Chris yeah I have a buddy that did am EV swap on his and we plan to do a side by side comparison later this summer 🤘
1 psi? Damn you could air those up with just your lungs.
Just about! Lol it's actually pretty crazy how much traction 1psi brings!
I would get one if it were under 3K new.
You are the type of guy who lives on a beer budget but has champagne taste go out in the world and make something of yourself so you can walk in one say and pay cash for a rokon and be proud of one's self
It looks like a gx200 clone engine can easily make it faster, or get a diesel engine on it would be awesome
They come out with an urban model I think it’s the Ranger
I would like to see the running lights break/turn signals rubber mounted so when you get ready to take it in the field you can take the lights out and if you tip over being that it’s rubber you won’t hurt nothing
The foot pegs need to be spring loaded so you can put them up and out-of-the-way
One of the other things I’d like to see since they made in urban model “Ranger”
There should be a lockout-like the old 4-W D 🛻s
It could be incorporated right in the miter box the slip clutch does a wonderful job I would love to see them do that
For what it is made for do you think it is geared low enough?
I think so, when you are in 1st gear it has a ton of torque for climbing and pulling but it's still long enough to be able to cruise down the trails with out have to walk the bike
Are the foot peg spring loaded-so you can put them up & out of the way
They are not spring-loaded but they are hinged to swing up level with the frame for the "belly rubbing" obstacles
I understand the foot pegs fold-up under the belly It works great-when you’re going forward but if you flop over on the side (in Rough Terrain)
I think they can be redesigned so when you’re in a tight place U can shift-em to an upwards position -where they somehow lock in place Chances of damage is close to Neil unless you drive over the Grand Canyon 😝
Bro. I bought a colman btx200. It was 600 bucks. I've never had an issue. I drove it all around the mountains in alberta. I can't justify 13k canadian.
@@bartonb8982 let's do a side by side comparison video 🤘
@@ThrottleWorks lets compare bank accounts before and after 😆
@bartonb8982 haha you win! 🤣 but I am genuinely interested to see a side by side comparison the btx200 and tw200 lol
@ThrottleWorks I would be, too. I was surprised with the btx200. I took it to this place called Brule in Alberta, Canada. Really tough, constant changing terrain and sand dunes. It did its job.
@bartonb8982 sounds great! Haha I'm in north idaho and need to find some more challenging trails
I kinda like this guy. And that's rare for me! Best buds, bud?? 😆 for real tho, we'd prob get along. You're direct like me and idk.
@austintorvund1 let's hang out and ride then haha 🤘
If youre ever in Minnesota bud@@ThrottleWorks
I haven't watched enough to figure out where your riding
Had one in the late 70s go anywhere
Rock On!
🤘
If your ever in Minnesota bud.
@@austintorvund1 Absolutely 🤘🤘
I wonder how this would compare to the tw200
ruclips.net/video/IozuYIJF_LA/видео.htmlsi=qzn6IZwGLDRo2OMA
Check out this video, I go into it a but towards the end
Get real bro A rokon can do anything a tw200 can but a tw200 can't do as much as a rokon like towing game meat out and many other things
imagine what a great bike it could be IF IT WAS MADE IN J A P A N
It's long proven to be a great bike and is better for been made in the good ole u s of a you are an unpatriotic American for supporting overseas made bikes shame on you😮
10k for a 7hp bike. Tough sale. Looked at these years ago… i remember why i passes now.
Which Fly handlebar did you get?
It's the "aero flex" bar
@@ThrottleWorks I see that they have specific aero flex bars for different motorcycle manufactures. Which worked best for your Rokon application? Thanks in advance!
@Tom Halverson I bought mine from a yamaha dealer so maybe that helps you? 🤷♀️
I want to see it drive in reverse
Lol just a tad tricky
Why wouldn't something like that have at least fifteen hp? There isn't a riding lawn mower with less power than that.
🍻
What is the price tag on that bike?
It's steep, for this 2021 trailbreaker I paid 9k
They shoulda stuck with the 15 inch wheels…
I seems like with how fast it goes and it looks tuff on the body to operate your better off just walking or hiking
You sound like a couch potatoes any effort to have fun is too much for u
Figure out how to build and mount tracks on it .
Definitely will! I already have a bunch of tracks 🤘
No suspension, just like a Harley 😢😂😅😮😊
TEST the amphibious aspects, ive seen perhaps 1 video on youtube that floats a rokon across a river, noone ever does
To be Brutally Honest, in the 70's, I ran motocross. Dumped a bike one time and brake handle broke. My fault and yours breaking is your fault. Not manufacturer. Foot pegs bend. Your fault for bottoming out. Not manufacturer. Under power. It is designed to get you from point A to point B. It does exactly what it was designed to do. Get an off road bike if not enough power. Tow bar bent because YOU didn't secure the bike. Not manufacturer problem. Seems 96% of the problem you have are YOUR fault. Not the manufacturer. In a nutshell, you seem to abuse the bike more than the average person.
You sound very mad and judgmental when he’s just talking to the camera god take your lithium
@StephenCuneoPhotography I feel like he has a point. I think you are making it personal.
👍
10k for a mini bike is ridiculous
But they’ll last forever with minimal care and are easy to work on. This is why I want one. Folks don’t want this for motocross, it’s for folks that want a mini tractor for places and that can’t go and they imagine most folks who also want this for riding are what refer to as “putters” just putting along. They’ll go in places other bikes or four wheelers and bikes can’t with minimal terrain damage. Places like to steep, muddy or trees are to tight or stealth. Parts are easy and lots of upgrades available. Nothing else has that kinda possibilities.
convince the last 10 seconds of the video
5 HP maybe?
7hp factory
Towing and plowing
I want to see it jump a ramp into a helicopter
Shorter video? Talks to much….get to the point