Honda Monkey

There are a few distinct impressions that jump out from the Monkey’s design for the very first time you look at it. Firstly, with a length of 1712 mm, width of 754 mm, and a height of 1029 mm, this is indeed tiny. Its 12-inch wheels with chunky 120 section front and 130 section rear tires drive that impression even deeper. Then there is the fat seat, fuel tank, and high riding flat exhaust, that together make the bike look even more chunky. Secondly there are the three funky retro color schemes and logo. Each of the Banana Yellow, Pearl Glittering Blue or Pearly Nebula Red colors are very well complimented by the white on the tank and the chrome accent pieces like the high riding front fender and the retro exhaust shroud.

Special attention needs to be drawn to the logo with its funky font that looks like it comes straight out of the sixties. Together, these two aspects give it a charm that is hard to miss. The bright colors will attract stares and the funky styling will make people smile. It’s fun while also being undeniably cool. This is charming in a way that only Honda can manage. But there are is more to this design than just retro throwbacks. The instrument dial looks like those old style cylindrical meters but is an LCD screen with a fully digital display. The body piece adorned with the logo can be used to hold tools. All the lighting including the indicators uses LEDs. A thoroughly modern bike under that classic looking design then.

The Honda Monkey gets its front suspension and frame from the Grom. This means a upside down fork setup for the front and a preload adjustable dual shock setup for the rear. The suspension is soft and with the thick seat makes for a very comfortable ride. The short 1152 mm wheelbase, 25-degree caster angle, a low wet weight of 107 kg, and the fat tires give it the agility of a cat on the hunt. Small dimensions and a responsive engine equates to an unmatched ability to filter through traffic. The tires work well on loose surfaces, but this is not really meant for any kind of off-roading. The 775 mm seat height and high handlebars make for comfortable riding posture and riders will not have any problems with it even on long rides.

Powering the Honda Monkey is a 125 cc air cooled and fuel injected engine. It sends out a modest 9.3 hp at 7000 rpm and 11 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm through a 4-speed gearbox. This is the same output and indeed the same engine as the MSX125. While it may not seem like a lot, there is enough grunt to pull away from traffic at traffic stops. It will also eventually reach a top speed of 100 kmph. But doing so is not recommended because of the resulting vibrations. Where it does shine though is in the mileage department. The 5.6-litre fuel tank can last for literal weeks thanks to its high mileage of 67 kmpl.

The low weight and small dimensions raise some concerns. However, bikes like these have a high tendency to do unintentional stoppies. Honda has thankfully given the Monkey the same setup as the Grom here. This means it gets hydraulic disc brakes both front and rear. A common joke that owners of pocket and mini bikes will hear is that a thief might just pick up their prized possession and make a run for it. Thankfully Honda has provided the Monkey with an alarm and an answer back system built into the key.

If you were looking for a mini bike but were not impressed by the futuristic styling of the current crop, then the Honda Monkey is a godsend. However, the price you pay for that styling is not something that most people will be comfortable with. For the niche that is ready to pay the RM 14000 asking price, this review was never needed. And these riders will be smiling away under their helmets as they putter into the sunset.