AZ Jim Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Not big on two wheels in the desert. When I first got into prospecting back in 2008 I pulled out of the big city with a brand new KLR 650 (400 lb Kawasaki enduro motorcycle) on a front bumper hitch on my F150 while I hauled my 17' Nomad trailer out back. Nowhere in the instructions with any of this did it mention the motorcycle being up front would interfere with the cooling airflow. Well the Baker Grade from San Bernadino to Vegas claimed another victim. What I found was that two wheels are bad in the desert especially when loaded. I almost immediately traded the KLR for a real nice Honda Rancher 400 Never regretted it. But if two wheels intrigue you Yamaha makes what some call a Ranch Bike a TW200 that might do ok in the desert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Hound Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 4 hours ago, vanursepaul said: Hmmmmm? those things weigh 200 kg!!! Yeah you should harden the f... up mate!!!! ? Oh may aswel use a 4x4 quad, didn't realize they were that heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanursepaul Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 15 minutes ago, Gold Hound said: Oh may aswel use a 4x4 quad, didn't realize they were that heavy. May not be quite that heavy...? www.rokon.com/bikes/rokon-hunters 98.8 kgs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egixe4 Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 On 5/2/2020 at 8:30 PM, Gold Hound said: Hi Condor What a bugger stacking the bike, I know what that feels like... The one I remember most is when a stick flicked up off the front wheel and stabbed into my shin bone about 2in, it was a timber called cooktown iron wood which is one of our hardest timbers and is also toxic. Had to brace my leg and use both arms to pull it out of my shin, then it bled really slowly dark nearly black blood for 3 weeks... ouch. I've never seen a Rocon they look awesome! What do they sell for over there? We don't get them here. What a weapon it would be in our country! One for sale at the moment in Victoria for 8.5k https://www.bikesales.com.au/bikes/rokon/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivers rat Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 1 hour ago, egixe4 said: One for sale at the moment in Victoria for 8.5k https://www.bikesales.com.au/bikes/rokon/ Go for it no excuses!!!!????? RR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 18 hours ago, AZ Jim said: Not big on two wheels in the desert. When I first got into prospecting back in 2008 I pulled out of the big city with a brand new KLR 650 (400 lb Kawasaki enduro motorcycle) on a front bumper hitch on my F150 while I hauled my 17' Nomad trailer out back. Nowhere in the instructions with any of this did it mention the motorcycle being up front would interfere with the cooling airflow. Well the Baker Grade from San Bernadino to Vegas claimed another victim. What I found was that two wheels are bad in the desert especially when loaded. I almost immediately traded the KLR for a real nice Honda Rancher 400 Never regretted it. But if two wheels intrigue you Yamaha makes what some call a Ranch Bike a TW200 that might do ok in the desert. I would use 4 wheels in open terrain. Rokon excels in two other terrains. First, dense forest or large rock terrain where trails narrow to the point where a 4 wheeler cannot pass. Second, goat trails in steep mountainous terrain, where a 4 wheeler will simply roll over sideways. Where the 4 wheelers stop, the Rokon keeps going. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egixe4 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 11 hours ago, Rivers rat said: Go for it no excuses!!!!????? RR I have an excuse, It's the 8.5k ? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Hound Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 14 hours ago, Rivers rat said: Go for it no excuses!!!!????? RR About a month ago I purchased a Polaris 570 sportsman 4x4 and I've stripped off all the plastics and I'm turning it into a serious long range camping rig. Also that one is way too old especially for the money they are chasing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Hound Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 16 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said: I would use 4 wheels in open terrain. Rokon excels in two other terrains. First, dense forest or large rock terrain where trails narrow to the point where a 4 wheeler cannot pass. Second, goat trails in steep mountainous terrain, where a 4 wheeler will simply roll over sideways. Where the 4 wheelers stop, the Rokon keeps going. Are you still selling them Steve? Because if you are its working on me ? I've just added one to my near future toys list. Thanks for the info on them. I will get Paul to find me a nice late model second hand one he can then disassemble and clean it and Chuck it in his suitcase when he comes over... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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