It's good to be able to compare the old with the new. Thanks for the review of 50 years of evolution. At least the early years.

Thanks for the video just found on those bikes buried under some brush in the back yard didn’t know anything about looking forward to see if it still runs

Thanks for putting this on youtube. I've wanted one of these for years.

Nice video!!! Your Rokon is in great shape. People often ask me where they can find one used... The answer is that not many people want to get rid of them! Considering a Rokon will easily last 40 years it's not surprising... Enjoy!

@garctown Thanks! They are pretty cool, and Rokon did make it, they're still in business today! The bikes have changed a bit, most of them use 4-stroke Honda engines now, and there are a few other changes, but the basic idea of a 2wd Motorcycle designed to go anywhere and do anything a 4-wheeler can do (and more!) is still there! The biggest problem with a new Rokon is that they're EXPENSIVE! A new one runs about 5k, + the old ones hold their value. One like mine will cost between 1 and 3k!

sweet video, didn't know these existed until i saw an ad in a field and stream magazine at school... pretty neat concept!

excellent job :D I've always wondered about these strange bikes, thanks!

This is very cool! Thanks for the video.

Haha thanks man! I haven't replaced my belt yet, even though I made this video a while back and had a new belt, I still haven't gotten around to replacing it. It doesn't exactly look like a 2 minute job, so I've kinda been putting it off! lol! :P But when I do replace it, I'll be sure and make a video and upload it for ya!

Good video. I was wondering how power got up to the front chain and you showed it perfectly. Pawn Stars was also where I first saw the Rokon. I bet they are loving all that free publicity.

Very informative, thank-you.

Howdy, the front wheel does not disengage when you go around a corner: however, if the front wheel is moving faster than the driveshaft is driving it (like for instance going around a corner), then the front wheel CAN move faster because the driving mechanism is a one way spring clutch. It does not technically disengage: it slips.. i don't think there is a kick starter for any of the Rokon models. (Might be wrong..)

Very informative. I have a 1968, unrestored. Last year made in Vermont.

My neighbor was a trailbreaker dealer when I was growing up, and I believe that model sold for around $600 NEW.

These bikes are simply complicated while being complicatingly simple

@bastarddoggy Thanks, appreciate the comment! :) Everyone keeps mentioning how they saw one on Pawn Stars, and I had never seen the program, so I just looked the episode up on KZfaq! You'd have to be crazy to pay 5g's for that Rokon! It was waayyy over restored! You can buy a brand new one with a Honda engine, that goes 2x as fast as these original ones, for 5g's lol! But glad the program got people looking at these cool/funky machines! :)

this thing is so ridiculously simple and crazy desing that it actually works. imagine the person who first came up with this idea :D i need one. I'll trade my house and wife for it? you can get my second dog also. thanks for the video! now i have to comb the internet if they ever were imported to finland and also i have to find one :)

@rokondealer Thanks! That was the video I was thinking of, the one of the Rokon beside a boat! But I also told "enfielddiesel" about your videos as well so he can check em out!

@TheMrRockola No problem, thanks for the comment!

Very nice! Tks

Uh , in the neighboring comment I WAS WRONG the earlier "Albion" transmissions DID have an optional kick starter. Should be able to fit many MC kick starter levers.. (Picture at Rokon World.) (Yours appears to be a "MK 3 Late Frame" ) thanx

@rickbell7 I never did, because even though the belt is loose, it doesn't slip too badly. It doesn't work quite like a snowmobile transmission, its just a fixed drive belt... I believe what you're referring to is a CVT transmission. This just has a drive belt, and a transmission with 3 different fixed gear ratios. Slow, slower, and slowest! :P

@dwarfinger Yea, I know for sure they had kickstarters, and I'm sure you're right about it being the same as the one on quite a few other bikes... I just haven't figured out what that particular bike is yet! I've got a bunch of other bikes at home. It looks like one off of one of my 450 Hondas might fit... I haven't tried swapping one on it yet. The shaft diameter looks about right, but the spline count may be wrong. Its also likely that a kickstarter from another american bike will fit.

@mrpersonccc Thanks man, appreciate it! Its nothing special, it wasn't exactly scripted or planned very well, but it got the point across OK, and there's nothing else like it on KZfaq, so I guess at least it gives people a good idea of how it all works!

I was wondering how that front wheel worked on turns.

Next time start it up and take it for a test drive to cap the video off. That is if it was running when you made this video:P

@enfielddiesel Read RokonDealers comment... He's the one that posted the video of the Rokon floating alongside the boat, and he has another one on his channel of a Rokon being floated across a river in a military video! Its worth checking out if you wanted to see it!

where can you get a charging and lighting system for a Rokon?

Howdy, the front wheel does not disengage when you go around a corner: however, if the front wheel is moving faster than the driveshaft is driving it (like for instance going around a corner), then the front wheel CAN move faster because the driving mechanism is a one way spring clutch. It does not technically disengage: it slips..The brake will work for both wheels, straight ahead or not (same issue) i don't think there is a kick starter for any of the Rokon models. (Might be wrong..)

@Boyhowdy2112 Haha yea, I'm sure it was significantly less than they sell for now! These things in decent running shape go for about 2k!

@Mtrhd0024 Yes, the CVT. I thought it looked like some variation of that idea. And hey, as long as it gets you where you need...err, want...to go, that's what's important. LOL @ Slow, slower and slowest. Not a fast machine, but looks like it's built like a tank. I bet it's a blast to get out and ride it. Have fun and ride safe. Rick

@rokondealer Thanks! Yea, its in pretty nice shape, especially considering its age! I wouldn't call it perfect, just "gently used." Its that perfect balance of nice enough to enjoy, but not so nice that you don't want to ride it! At some point though, i would like to repaint the frame and exhaust, as well as get the seat stitched back up! Any idea where I can get a kickstarter for it? I've been scouring eBay, but thus far, no luck!

Actually.

@enfielddiesel lol, I know for sure there's a youtube video of one floating alongside a boat... You can't ride the bike while its floating, but you can lay it down on its side and float it across a river! But next time I get the chance, I'll try and make a video for ya!

@Kawasakiforlife7 They don't, there's just a centrifugal clutch! The thing you might be confusing as a second clutch (the thing that the belt runs too) is a little alternator which charges the battery so that you can run lights!

@joeldude76 Dont know if you figured out the answer to your question, but they're slow... 20-25mph tops... Its not something you'd want to go particularly fast on anyway! lol! They handle kinda weird because of the 2wd system.

i had one !

@Mtrhd0024 Did you try the factory? There are many parts still available and also some replacements and conversions. You can also try the Rokon World website. As a last resort you can always do an engine conversion. I've read about and seen some on the net but never did one myself. Good luck and keep on Rokonin... hehehe...

Is it really supposed to be as loose as it is in the video? I'm pretty sure its slipping when its running. And I'm not putting on a smaller belt, just a new one from Rokon. Its the same size, I was just hoping it wouldn't slip as much. And how does it tighten? You could be right, I just haven't really seen how that would work since there's no tensioner or anything.

i never knew it ran a sintrifical and secondary clutch on these

whats the top speed?

I didn't know the older Rokons didn't have rear breaks. At 25 MPH how log does it take to stop?

float the bike??? could you do a video on that?

EU PRECISO DE UMA DESSAS!!!! : )

Hazard a guess but it looks to be a Albion three speed gearbox, I hear you can get them with reverse also (tee-hee).

@Mtrhd0024 Did you ever get around to replacing that drive belt? To me, it looks similar to a snowmobile type clutch/transmission. If so, then the clutch sheaves actually move together as the RPM's increase, That puts tension on the belt as it engages. The higher the RPM, the higher the belt rides in the sheaves. Strange that the alternator is on the secondary drive though. Usually you'd find a charging coil in the magneto under the flywheel. Cool bike and great video! Cheers!

@garctown me too hahhahaa thats funny

@Mtrhd0024 On my channel you can see me floating my Rokon beside the boat while moose hunting. You can also see one of the military videos where they float it across a river. I also have a Rokon photogallery on Flickr check it out.

@gehennamaggot666 haha yep! Its in what I'd call nice "used" condition! The engine on this thing is not working all that hard, its not like a modern 2-stroke that you rev to the moon all day long. I don't have a tach on it, so I'm just guessing, but I don't think this thing rev's to more than 6 or 8k RPM. So no, you really shouldn't have to rebuild them very often!

cool machine. just saw one on "pawn stars" had to look it up on youtube. such an awesome idea...why didnt it make it???

probably has to do with the speed of the bike

you interested in selling this?

wow nvm lol

All his videos he says "um" almost 100 times.

ill give 5,000 for it

@dylansg400 You don't seem to quite get it... You don't buy a rokon to go anywhere fast... If you bought it looking for a thrill then you must've been very misinformed. You buy a Rokon cuz they're 2wd, they float, they go anywhere, you can tow stuff with them, and nobody else in your neighborhood has one... Thats like buying a John Deer tractor and saying you're disappointed cuz it didnt handle as well as your Ferrari. I have MANY other bikes to ride when I feel like riding fast.