The concept of a two-wheel-drive motorcycle (think about it) may seem as pointless as a fish riding a bicycle, but for about the last 45 years, such a creature has been manufactured by Rokon International, who are based in New Hampshire and sell their products in Canada and around the world. There are dealerships in B.C., Alberta, and New Brunswick. For serious bushwhackers and anti-social types who like to really get lost in the wilderness, the Rokon is the only game in town.
For one thing, it can go where four-wheeled ATVs and regular one-wheel-drive bikes can’t. Because of its narrow profile and comparatively wide footprint, the Rokon can squeeze through the most inhospitable terrain and clamber over rocky defiles that would stop just about anything else in its tracks. Conventional motorcycles lack the extra pulling power of the front wheel and can break down when things really get wild and woolly. At least according to Tom Felcan, who has the Rokon distributorship for western Canada.
“We recently went up to the top of a mountain and over a glacier in the Rockies,” he explains, “and a couple of expensive off-road motorcycles came with us. They got stuck time and again and we just ploughed through everything.”
Part of the Rokon’s secret lies in its simplicity. It has fewer moving parts than anything comparable and a drivetrain that is remarkable in its simplicity. Basically, a small but durable engine powers an automatic torque converter, which in turn moves a three-speed transmission that’s located under the bike’s seat. This gearbox also acts as a transfer case and is connected to a chain for the rear wheel, and a driveshaft that goes to another transfer case above the front wheel. The driveshaft is located in the bike’s backbone, and is connected via a couple of U-joints. Both transfer cases have outboard disc brakes. Suspension is nonexistent, and the huge balloon tires carry about two psi of air each. According to Felcan, the Rokon is maintenance-free, requiring nothing but fuel and oil. Depending upon the model, it can also go without oil.
There are all kinds of interesting touches built into the Rokon. For one thing, the solid aluminum disc wheels (optional) are hollow and will carry fuel, giving the bike a 1000-kilometre range. For another, you can float the bike on its side across a river or stream, and as long as you don’t get any water in the carb, it’ll keep running while you do it. And finally, because it only weighs about 200 pounds, it can be manhandled around anything it can’t climb over. No wonder it’s used by various military forces around the world.
Three models are offered: Trail-Breaker, Ranger, and Scout, and there are two different engines available. An air-cooled Honda four-stroke and a Koehler four-stroke. Both are one-lungers and develop from four to six hp. Rokon used to utilize a Chrysler SuperBee two-stroke engine, which had nothing to do with NASCAR-inspired performance coupes, but stopped a couple of years ago, because “a two-stroke engine is just too messy,” according to Rokon president Tom Blais. A few other specs: ground clearance is 15 inches, seat height is 30 inches, length is 77 inches, fuel tank capacity is about 2 ½ gallons, and it can ford water up to two feet deep while upright. Prices start at $4775 (US), going up to $5175, with all the bells and whistles, before options.
The Rokon isn’t built for speed. With a tailwind, it’ll top out at around 70 km/h, and you’d better be holding on tight at that velocity. It has three speeds, which you set before you start off. Bull low is for serious off-roading, and second and third are for trails and backroads. To start the bike, you pull the starter cord….like a lawnmower, but an electric starter is available as well. During a brief test ride, I found it to be extremely anticlimactic……..it simply rolls over everything, with no drama or fuss. There aren’t any gears to shift and no clutch to worry about. Steep hills are child’s play, deep grass, soft sand, and rutted backwoods a mere bagatelle. Because of the huge tires, the bike is actually quite comfortable and you can also order a spring-mounted seat if you need the extra cushion. Rokon also offer a wide assortment of accessories, including a side car, rifle scabbard, windshield, trailer, and handlebar shields. Interestingly, the sidecar attaches with just one bolt and weighs a mere 31 kilograms.
The Rokon is obviously not for everyone. You can’t use it to hare around motocross tracks or pop wheelies for kilometres at a time. It’s essentially a two-wheeled tractor, built for work and the long haul.
Not to mention getting away from it all.
|
