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.
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 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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 .
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..
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 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.
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😮😮😊
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 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
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
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.
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 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 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
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.
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.
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.
@@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 🇦🇺
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😮
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
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.
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 😝
@@ThrottleWorks I see that they have specific aero flex bars for different motorcycle manufactures. Which worked best for your Rokon application? Thanks in advance!
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.
