Rokon's Trail-Breakers can give ATVs a run for their money

In the early ‘60s, a New Hampshire-based motorcycle manufacturer named Rokon began building and marketing the Trail-Breaker, a bike that was initially designed by Charlie Fehn in 1958. The company later made a name for itself by constructing unusual motorcycles with off-roading capabilities. The Trail-Breaker, with its 2-wheel drive feature, has a look that appears ready to take on all types of terrain which it does with ease.

Rokon Trail-Breaker

Robert Galbraith, a resident of Rochester in Minnesota, purchased a Rokon Trail-Breaker several years ago from a man willing to sell his machine. It was a 1972 model and needed quite a bit of work to restore. Galbraith set about putting in a lot of elbow grease and sandblasted and powder-coated the frame to a vibrant yellow shade. Next, he restored the chrome and recovered the seat. The result is a Trail-Breaker that looks brand new and could give the factory production stiff competition.

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Rokon Trail-Breaker

restored old Rokon

Galbraith says that though Trail-Breakers deliver just 8 hp, the extremely low gearing enables them to have unstoppable power.

Rokon’s awesome machines may not look the best with their squat, fat appearance but they’re solidly built and very easy to ride. Akin to an ATV owing to its stability and 2-wheel drive, Trail-Breakers are surprisingly silent and don’t emit too much smoke. The wide, low tires hardly leave a trace on the ground, making them perfect for park rangers and forest personnel who are hesitant to leave behind evidence of their patrols on the environment.

It’s said that Trail-Breakers are so true to their name that they can easily climb over logs and rocks that ATVs would have difficulty with. Fans of the machine have even said that the bike floats so if you ever need to cross a stream, just lay your Trail-Breaker on its side and float it across.

Via: Bikeexif