The Rokon Trail-Breaker
Reprinted from September 2002 On Target Magazine
In the interest of journalistic integrity, we must admit to a certain bias in favor of this product. In what may be the longest field test in history, we've been using Trail-Breakers to access the best hunting and fishing in the Great North Woods for more than 30 years now.
Best described as a two-wheeled ATV with full-time, two-wheel drive, the Trail-Breaker is powered by a 6.6 HP., 4-stroke Kohler engine. This "go anywhere" machine is designed to be as eco-friendly as a mountain goat; It's 4-stroke engine is extremely quiet and clean running, with no 2-cycle smoke cloud following you around; the wide (8-inch), low pressure (3.5 P.S.I.) tires leave no evidence of your passage; and the U.S. Forest Service approved spark arrestor muffler keeps Smokey smiling.
At first glance the Trail-Breaker may look like a fat, squat dirt bike, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Built on a MIG welded steel frame, and weighing in at a svelte 208 pounds, the Trail-Breaker is amazingly easy to ride. The wide, low-pressure tires provide rock-solid stability, even when churning through deep mud. Front and rear disc brakes-mounted above wheel level to keep them out of the muck-are operated by handlebar-mounted brake levers. The Trail-Breaker's clutchless automatic torque converter eliminates shifting and offers three speed ranges. Low range, for climbing over obstructions, is literally a crawl; mid range is perfect for trail riding; and the top speed in high range is about 30 M.P.H.
With it's 15-inch ground clearance, the Trail-Breaker climbs over logs and rocks that stop four-wheeled ATVs dead in their tracks. In fact, we routinely drive our Trail-Breakers over logs quite a bit higher than 15 inches. The technique is simple, as you can see from the photo series above. (The top of that log in the photos is nearly 30 inches above ground level). The Trail-Breaker plows through choking mud and water up to 24 inches deep, and if you need to cross deeper water just lay it on its side and wade it across. That's right, it floats! And the hollow aluminum wheels are specifically designed as spare tanks for carrying extra fuel or water (4.5 gallons per wheel). Perhaps the best feature for high-country hunting is that the Trail-Breaker can climb 60%+ grades fully loaded and be ridden across the face of steep slopes with impunity-the kind of slopes that cause 4-wheelers to roll over, and over...
Our first Trail-Breaker was a 1968 model, admittedly somewhat primitive compared to the current product. Thirty years ago we would have given almost anything for the new adjustable shock-suspension seat which, combined with the cushioning effect of the current low pressure tires, create a ride that's easy on 50-something-year-old backs. And Rokon now offers dozens of accessories to outfit your Trail-Breaker for almost any activity.
Hunting goodies include a standard tow bar for dragging deer (or bear, or moose) out of the woods, an optional Realtree Hardwoods camo color scheme, and other cool stuff like custom mounting brackets for Kolpin Gun Boots, a game carrier that replaces the rear seat, leather saddle bags, and handle bar mounted holders for hand-held GPS units and cell phones.
Transporting a Trail-Breaker is a piece of cake. It literally can be driven into the bed of a pickup truck without the use of a ramp (with the trail gate down, and the rider dismounted standing to the side, of course). Other transport options include small, flat-bed utility trailers or snowmobile trailers. And if you drive an SUV equipped with a 2-inch receiver hitch, you'll want to have a look at the optional drive-on, receiver-mount carrier. That's what we've been using lately, and it's absolutely bullet proof!
The armed forces of a number of countries, as well as the U.S. Special Operations Command, are all Rokon customers, so it's a good bet that Trail-Breakers are being used right now in the mountains of Afghanistan to chase down the enemies of freedom.
For a reprint of this article, please email info@rokon.com
