This one-wheel drive wonder is unusual for a company known for making 2WD motorcycles. This 1974 Rokon Trail 140, or RT-140, can be found here on Facebook Marketplace in Sheldon, Iowa, and the seller is asking $1,500. That’s nothing in Rokon dollars; this could be a great deal for anyone looking for a Rokon. Here is the original listing, and thanks to NW Iowa Kevin for the tip!
The seller has this bike listed as a Scout, but it’s a Rokon Trail 140, often referred to as an RT-140. The Scout was introduced in 1974 along with the Ranger and Pioneer, but they were 2WD models. The RT-140 was only made between 1970 and 1973, but the seller has it listed as a 1974. I’d love to see some numbers on this one to pin down the exact year.
Rokon’s history goes way back to 1958 with its famous 2×2 motorcycles, but the RT-140 was introduced in 1970 in response to an influx of trail bikes and mini bikes, such as the Tote-Gote and other rear-drive-only trail bikes. It was also the first Rokon to be available in a color other than yellow. I like the added expanded metal mesh surrounding the rear tire; it gives it a Tote-Gote look, and I’m sure it helps to keep sticks and other woodsy stuff out of the drive system.
There is no speedometer, but this one should have a top speed of 35 mph, give or take a mile or two. You mix the gas and oil with these bikes, the tried and true but ancient technology Chrysler Power Bee two-stroke engines don’t have an oil-injection system. Newer Rokon models had four-stroke engines, but I like the mosquito fogger effect on the two-strokes. We saw another rear-wheel drive RT-140 here on Barn Finds back in 2018. At 170 pounds, this RT-140 is about 10 pounds lighter than the 2WD Trail-Breaker models.
The 134-cc two-stroke Power Bee single-cylinder with 9 horsepower is pull-start only on these bikes. The Albion transmission with built-in kick starter wasn’t available on the RT-140. It has an automatic torque-converter transmission, a first for Rokon. Power is sent to the rear wheel only on this model. The seller says it hasn’t run since last fall, but it shouldn’t be hard to get it going. The headlight is just run off of a battery, as with my 1971 Trail-Breaker Mk III. It needs a new battery for that, by the way. Would any of you buy a rear-wheel drive Rokon, or would you have to have power to both wheels before you’d consider one?
Always with the cool and unusual stuff especially in the single track end of interesting machinery, Scotty.
Rear or AWD? One would believe that the same parameters are applied in the question with all things offroad-fuel usage vs need for more traction; payload and weight distribution; maintenance and ease of repair when it breaks.
Good (web) surf there NW Iowa Kevin!
In the Rokon world this is a bargain. I saw one of these for sale a few years back at Hershey and they wanted double the price of this one because but was “unique” – I had to chuckle! Still a nice find!