Check Out Our Bikes What are you looking for? ROKON IN THE NEWS FOR QUESTIONS & ORDERS Rokon is a Rochester, New Hampshire-based motorcycle manufacturer that builds two-wheel-drive off-road motorcycles which are marketed either under the company's name, or as the "Trail Breaker". Rokon was founded in Vermont by Orla Larsen in 1963 to sell the Nethercutt Trail-Breaker, a two-wheel-drive motorcycle invented around 1958 by Charlie Fehn and built in Sylmar, California. In 1964 Rokon Inc. bought the manufacturing rights to the Trail-Breaker and marketed the bikes from their Vermont office before moving the business to New Hampshire, where they continue in business today. 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 two-stroke engine (134cc), while newer machines have either a Honda or Kohler engine of about 6hp.

Each hollow wheel is able to hold 2.5 gallons of gasoline or water for long distance trips. 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. When ascending very steep hills speed may be 0.5 mph. In 1974, Rokon produced the RT340 TCR Automatic, using a snowmobile-type Salsbury CVT, rear wheel drive only, and dual disc brakes. Another unusual feature was a pull cord to start the engine. The transmission freewheels with the engine at idle; starts to engage about 2800 RPM; and is tuned so the engine always runs near peak power, at 6,000 to 6,700 RPM. The lowest gear ratio is 3.76:1 and highest 0.87:1. Using a CVT allows a use of a 2-stroke cycle motor with higher power but narrow power band. The engine sound is unusual as the engine stays at a nearly fixed speed and the transmission ratio changes according to speed.

The transmission freewheels when not driving forward, so there is no engine braking. The transmission is vented to the outside for cooling, and so is contaminated by stream crossings and other environmental exposure. Water causes slipping but quickly goes away; however grit can cause transmission sticking. Riding on loose surfaces is sometimes complicated, as rear wheel breakaway does not cause telltale changes in the engine sound. However, most other riding is intuitive and sometimes much more convenient as the automatic avoids engine stalls and other problems with gear selection. Operation is loud (90.3 dB(A)) as the engine is always running fast except at idle. Despite low front wheel weight, about 43%, it had trouble pulling wheelies, a problem for Enduro riding. Prototypes were raced by factory riders from 1971 to 1973 under Tom Clark; "TCR" stands for "Tom Clark Replica". In the 48th annual six-days trial, all four riders earned bronze medals for finishing. "Cycle Guide" test riders reported it superior for hill climbing and fast on hard surfaces, but poor on loose surfaces and descending hills.

1958 Inventor Charles Fehn designs and produces the first all wheel drive motorcycle, dubbed Trailmaker with his patented power transfer... Inventor Charles Fehn designs and produces the first all wheel drive motorcycle, dubbed Trailmaker with his patented power transfer system and hollow drum wheels still used in Rokons today. A photograph taken by Eleanor Fehn shows her husband riding the first complete prototype Trailmaker through the sand dunes of San Bernardino County in California.bmw airhead motorcycles for sale 1960 Nethercutt Industries purchases Charles Fehn's designs and rebrands it Trail-Breaker. motorcycle clothing stores swindonProduction begins in Sylmar, California.motorcycle repair in rockford il

Nethercutt Industries purchases Charles Fehn's designs and rebrands it Trail-Breaker. 1963 The most successful dealer of Nethercutt's Trail-Breaker, Orla Larsen, takes control and moves production to Wilmington, Vermont,... The most successful dealer of Nethercutt's Trail-Breaker, Orla Larsen, takes control and moves production to Wilmington, Vermont, rebranding the line of off-road motorcycles ROKON. The photo shows Orla and his family testing the Trail-Breaker's ability to float in their swimming pool.states with universal motorcycle helmet laws 1966 Rokon is sold and moves to Keene, New Hampshire where production is expanded.schott motorcycle jacket sizing Rokon is sold and moves to Keene, New Hampshire where production is expanded.motorcycle tyre importers in india

1969 The classic Trail-Breaker design is produced in Keene, New Hampshire during the late 1960's and early 1970's. The most common classic... The classic Trail-Breaker design is produced in Keene, New Hampshire during the late 1960's and early 1970's. The most common classic models are 1969-1970. 1971 Rokon debuts the RT 140 with rear-wheel drive only. Rokon debuts the RT 140 with rear-wheel drive only. 1973 In the mid-1970s, Rokon experiments  with enduro racing and motocrossers, including the first fully automatic transmission. In the mid-1970s, Rokon experiments  with enduro racing and motocrossers, including the first fully automatic transmission. The advancements by Rokon led them to win an award for techincal achievement in the U.S. Event of the 1973 International Six Days Enduro. 1974 Rokon debuts the Mark IV Trail-Breaker, the first Rokon with a 3-speed plunger transmission that is still used on today's production... Rokon debuts the Mark IV Trail-Breaker, the first Rokon with a 3-speed plunger transmission that is still used on today's production models.

1981 Rokon relocates to Jaffrey, New Hampshire and refocuses on its core all wheel drive models, producing the Mark V and Mark VI during the 1980s. Rokon relocates to Jaffrey, New Hampshire and refocuses on its core all wheel drive models, producing the Mark V and Mark VI during the 1980s. 1992 Rokon moves operations to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Rokon moves operations to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 1994 The Ranger becomes the first ROKON model to feature a 4-stroke engine; a Honda GX160 with 5.5 HP. Cycle World dubbed it, "the... The Ranger becomes the first ROKON model to feature a 4-stroke engine; a Honda GX160 with 5.5 HP. Cycle World dubbed it, "the bike they couldn't kill." 1999 The Trail-Breaker is redesigned to also feature a four stroke engine from Kohler. The Trail-Breaker is redesigned to also feature a four stroke engine from Kohler. 2002 Rokon moves operations to Rochester, New Hampshire where it is still located today.