2021 Honda Monkey Review – Cycle News

Jesse Ziegler | September 19, 2020

2021 Honda Monkey Overview

When little equals huge enjoyable.

On the Honda Powersports web site pages devoted to the Honda Monkey mannequin lineup, there’s a “options” part. It has Monkey-specific headlines like, Efficiency, Know-how and Dealing with. It actually misses the mark.

Nowhere on the web page are what can be probably the most correct Honda Monkey attribute headlines like, Smiling, Laughing, Temper Elevation, LOL’ing, Thumbs Ups From Strangers, and so on. These are the options of the Honda Monkey which might be actual life. These are the issues that matter. And they’re all extraordinarily highly effective inside this little bike.

The Honda robots that constructed the web site did drop two good ones, although: Sturdiness and Fashion. Though, I’d put Fashion on the highest of the web page.

2021 Honda Monkey Overview | In all probability The Coolest

The Honda Monkey might be the best mini moto in the marketplace at present. Honda Groms and their numerous copycats are practically equivalent in dimensions throughout the board, however a mini race bike? Why? Mini is enjoyable, and Groms appear somewhat too severe/macho (in a leather-tights-and-knee-pucks form of method) after seeing and/or using a Monkey for 30 seconds. That is what 12-inch-wheel bikes ought to appear like and really feel like.

The Honda Monkey is made to look cool. And it’s made completely to take action. Are you able to discover a higher try at retro model on a contemporary platform anyplace in motorcycling? I haven’t, but.

The main points are good. And despite the fact that you possibly can inform it’s sitting on a Grom body and the EFI/airbox/exhaust system has all of the emission bits, all of it works magically collectively.

The plain model wins are the steel, chrome and stitching specifics that take a sharper-edged mini sportbike and switch it right into a savory traditional. The flat-seat motorbike business precursor to plastic-faired rockets of questionable aesthetics is alive and nicely, right here. It is a throwback to the good-old-days of motorcycling the place model was completely king.

I really like each a part of the Monkey-ness of this bike. Chrome fenders—love. Spherical instrument gauge that blinks monkey eyes at you once you begin it—love. Retro Honda wing brand on the gasoline tank—love. Seat upholstery—love. Solid wheels—love. Twin shocks—love. Headlight—love. It doesn’t cease.

2021 Honda Monkey Overview | Functionality

Efficiency is a horrible headline for the Honda Monkey. First, it’s not vital. Second, no one cares.

Functionality is far more correct. And the Honda Monkey has simply sufficient momentum inside it to make you are feeling cool and be succesful for city assault. It’s not quick. It’s fairly sluggish, really. However it might transfer away from stoplights fast sufficient to be carpool aggressive as much as about 40 mph. It’s higher on 25-35 mph streets and Dairy Queen parking heaps—cruising like a cool bike ought to and blowing folks’s minds with coolness.

For the previous few months I’ve used it to commute throughout city, swinging from stoplight to stoplight and reducing by buying middle parking heaps. I’ve additionally taken it on a pair insanely enjoyable day journeys to the coast (about an hour drive in a automotive) and thru the hills separating Orange County and the Temecula Valley in California. I’ve examined loads of bikes on these roads, exploring the smallest and twistiest routes. And I had much more enjoyable on the Honda Monkey than most. From 65-mph roads to fifteen mph, this Monkey can do all of it. However it’s happiest within the 45 and beneath vary.

Its 125cc four-stroke engine is EFI-programmed lean as may be. One, that is very good for assembly emission necessities. Two, this enables the monkey to clock 100-plus mpg constantly. It has a 1.5-gallon tank so you are able to do the mathematics fairly shortly to calculate how a lot cash it prices you to experience for 100 miles. And, should you’re commuting or cruising on this factor through city streets, 100 miles will final a very long time.

The brakes are advantageous. If you happen to’re actually frightened about stopping a motorcycle with management from 40 mph or in search of wet-climate confidence, ABS is an possibility, however it can price you an additional $200. The Monkey will go sooner than 40 mph, like 65 mph should you attempt actually exhausting, however why? The suspension can also be advantageous. There’s little to complain about its functionality. We are able to solely lengthy for a bit extra energy from the inventory clutch pack as we’ve been hogging on it fairly exhausting. It’s exhibiting some weak spot however nonetheless hanging in there.

2021 Honda Monkey Overview | Worth

Worth is off the charts with the Honda Monkey. It retails for $4000 and can price you nearly nothing to personal for years. It’s about the identical worth as a low-end electrical mountain bike that doesn’t look practically pretty much as good and received’t final practically as lengthy. Additionally, you’ll by no means look as cool (or cool in any respect) on an electrical mountain bike. It’s not attainable.

Lastly, that is an incredible household motorbike. It’s a motorcycle that you may carry residence and your partner will steal, mine did! It’s a motorcycle your youngsters can be taught to experience on and take to the DMV to get their motorbike driver’s license. Your mother and father and grandparents will experience it round your block and bear in mind what it was like once they felt cool using bikes. Your folks and their buddies will experience it. Everybody will wish to experience it. And everybody that does ought to critically take into account shopping for one. CN

2021 Honda Monkey Specs

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