Rokon motorcycle

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Rokon is a New Hampshire, USA based motorcycle manufacturer who builds unusual 2-wheel-drive off-road motorcycles which are sometimes referred to as a Moto-tractor.

[edit] Company Beginnings

Rokon was founded in Vermont by Orla Larsen in 1963 to sell the Nethercutt Trail-Breaker, a 2-wheel-drive motorcycle invented c.1958 by Charlie Fehn and built in Sylmar, California. In 1964 Rokon 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.

[edit] Design

These motorcycles us a combination of belt, chain, and shaft drives coupled to gear boxes to drive both the front and rear wheel. Older machines were powered by a West Bend (US Motor/Chrysler Marine) 820 2-stroke engine, 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 by Bob Gallagher of the web site Rokon World.

These are a slow-speed (35 mph maximum) off-road motorcycle designed for use in the most rugged terrain. Current models are the Trail-Breaker, Ranger and Scout.

Older motorcycles that have used a driven front wheel are Germany's 1921 - 1925 Megola and the 1938 prototype Killinger and Freund Motorcycle.