Rokon versus Husqvarna automatic

[Michel Dufayard]

Unknown in France, Rokon produced automatic enduros in mid 70's in USA.
Do they have motor brake ?
Are parts hard to find ?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql0dsTb2Dgo

 

[dartyppyt]

I think they still make them.
My neighbor had one and he crashed in first turn that was a huge pile up.
Low and behold, that thing was laying off to side of pile up still running. He ran over and picked it up and was in first place.
We as kids got two of us to pull start it and rode it. Neighbors son layed it over and us two could not pick it back up. So we left it in weeds. Boy did his dad chew him out. They are tanks.

 

[Kartwheel68]

It has a constant velocity belt drive like modern scooters and ATVs, very different from a Husky Auto.

 

[stormer254]

I saw them at the ISDT in the Isle of Man, their cast wheels broke! I believe they are a bit on the heavy side, I have watched a few on Craigslist but always chickened out!

 

[Motosportz]

It has a constant velocity belt drive like modern scooters and ATVs, very different from a Husky Auto.

Correct, much like a snowmobile clutch.

 

[Kartwheel68]

The Sachs 340 engine in the Rokon was actually a snowmobile engine adapted for motorcycle use.

 

[justintendo]

the rokon you guys are talking about was a high performance endeavor that almost killed the company..the rokon that they made thousands of and still make today are a more utility slow work/trail machine. i had an old 71 scorpion stinger sled that ran the sachs 340 single..

 

[Kartwheel68]

Yes, the Trail Breaker is the bike they still sell, a two wheel drive thing you can barely call a motorcycle.

 

[Richard Colahan]

To give them credit...the Rokon 340 Enduros did very well in rough New England Enduros back in the 70's.
Riders like Jim Hollander and George Peck (and others...) won many enduros, and also the NETRA championship.
No question though, the bikes were always a bit on the weird side!

 

[justintendo]

youre weird when husky guys say your bikes weird! they do look like they would work well in certain conditions. i remember that sachs sled motor had an aluminum con rod

 

[troy deck]

word of advice do not straddle the front wheel too untwist the forks with it running it can get ugly fast iv seen it laughed my ass off

 

[Bigbill]

these were more for hunting and used like atv's. they had variable belt drive clutch like a snowmobile.

 

[dartyppyt]

Just saw thing on tv not long ago and looked liked guy was using one to build new off road trails.

 

[dartyppyt]

Pretty sure this was the one the neighbor had.

 

[WVdag]

I remember when I was running enduros in the mid 70's there were quite a few rokons entered. Very common sight. Also seem to remember that the belt drive system didn't do very well with sand and crud.

 

[ruwfo]

Yeap still made today, & not much different ( the Trail Breaker) & there suppose to even float

http://www.rokon.com/

I do remember them well in the 70's, heavy, slow, but could damn near climb stuff you couldn't walk up

I been talking to a guy from Texas the last 2 years @ Unadilla about his Rokon Mxer's &
he's bike were ultra trick , but after seeing all the attention He's Husky riding buddy
were getting he going Swedish I think LOL

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/vintage-dirt-bikes-a-look-at-rokon-automatics-53152.html

 

[Michel Dufayard]

I thought they could have some motor braking like my moped
with a variator when I cut the gas.
But Mike Murphy told me not.

 

[stormer254]

As they have disc front and back lack off engine braking should not be quite such an issue

 

[jimspac]

I met Jim Hollander about 20 years ago when he bought a pickup camper from me. He introduced himself and I said Jim Hollander of team Rokon? Pkleasure to meet you. He still had most of his Rokon including a 501 prototype. Awesome guy!

 

[suprize]

there is a gentleman here in victoria who has a rokon in VGC, occasionally brings it to the odd Vinduro. interesting bike.