Trakrok all-terrain vehicle

The idea swapping out wheels for caterpillar tracks is not new. Snow mobiles use them and the $4000 Shredder device does a pretty good job of it too.

But what about something takes the snow mobile idea and uses a pair of wheels in lieu of skis, so that it can be used on dirt trails and in the bush?

Meet the Trakrok, a concept design by a bloke call Alexei Mikhailov that will probably never be built, but certainly stokes the imagination.

The body of the Trakrok has an ATV-inspired design, though the futuristic front wheels are not suspended in a traditional fashion, instead jutting forward on compact swingarms.

Speaking of which, the double sided rear swingarm that joins the caterpillar track to the frame is appropriately reinforced with a robust triangular design, one that looks as though it would take quite a pounding before giving up the ghost.

The Trakrok features LED headlights and it appears as though the front forks can slide fore and aft, though whether this is a result of the front wheels' articulation or simply an adjustability mechanism to suit different sized riders is not clear.

Power comes from an electric motor driven by a hydrogen fuel cell, but we don't see why a two-stroke 800cc snow mobile engine couldn't be shoe-horned in there for a more spirited experience.

Whatever the case, the Trakrok is an intriguing design and though it would be prohibitively expensive, particularly considering hydrogen fuel cells cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, we've seen some fairly 'out-there' designs in the past.

Will we see a brand new powersports niche forming from the Trakrok concept design in the future? Could Honda, Suzuki or BRP build a vehicle such as this? Only time will tell...

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