My last bike I had was a 1980 Goldwing 1100cc, sold it in 1990 and haven't had another bike since, until 2 months ago. Got me a lightly used 2019 Monkey. Just a joy to ride, and a pleasure to own, turns heads at every corner. Now the wife wants one!
I tried a Goldwing once, forgot which one it was. Loved it! A luxurious bike! But a little huge for me ☺. I just got asked today how it is to ride with it. I told them "It's like a little chair on wheels, but very comfortable" 😆
Ha ha that's a coincidence, my Goldwing was a 1976 model, I also found a used 2021 monkey. I was on the list for a ct 125, and when one came in at the Honda dealership I turned it down, I think the monkey is more suited for my needs.
@@donaldbrittsan984 Well, I am very happy with my little pal right now. I would be in trouble trying to handle the majestic Goldwing in heavy city traffic, but it sure is a nice bike.
I'm going for it this year, I'm gonna give up big bikes for foreseeable future and have a monkey bike as only motorbike, I think the lighter weight and more upright position than my zx9r will be a breath of fresh air, my bike seems like its getting heavier as I get older haha.. love the yellow monkeys the most, think this years red one is better than the yellow because of the seat but the yellow frame is lovely...
Yes, you are totally correct. The Honda Monkey is a comfortable, fun and easybike to ride on most roads and even some tracks. My blue Honda Monkey is my pride and joy!👍
I haven't tried Grom yet, but I'm hoping to! I just recently saw brand new Groms coming for sale here in Estonia. How would you describe your little Grom, like how is it? The Monkey is like a mini version of a cruising bike.
Thank you, I’ve just bought a Monkey and your review made me smile. Please make more reviews, you have a genuine and heartfelt approach that is so nice to find.
Wow, thank you! Which kind of reviews you'd like to see? How do you like your Monkey so far? Mine is stored away for the winter at the moment. Unfortunately, I don't have time to take it to snowrides at the moment, because of building my doubledecker into a house on wheels. It's a bit of a struggle, but fun, too. But, if March or April are generous enough here, then the Monkey is back on roads again. Can't wait!
Thanks! Haha, the day I was filming the video, was quite hot and there were flies everywhere. It was a farming area with fields and forests all around. 😄
I also have a Honda monkey and your review was one of the best I have ever seen,these are great little fun bikes that you can take anywhere and do anything with them even if its just riding them around for the shear fun of it,I like to go fishing in high mountain lakes and this is monkey of mine is my fishing buddy!
Nice video. Thank you. I’ve been riding for forty years and bought a new monkey this year. It’s the most fun I’ve had on two wheels for so many reasons. I’ve covered 3000 miles on it this summer and will never sell it. Regards warren 🇬🇧
Thanks! Great to hear you're loving your little bike! Many people say that since it's so light weight and easy to handle, it makes the bikeride a joyride instead of having to kind of manage the bike on the road. You can just go and not get tired :D
When I was younger, like everybody bigger and faster was everything. Then in 2008 I had a chance to go to the Philippines for 5 months and fly a run between Subic Bay, Philippines and Vietnam (I’m a pilot) I bought a new Suzuki 125 motorcycle. Same style as the Honda 125 Super Cub. I put 7000 miles on the bike touring the island of Luzon. That bike changed everything I ever thought about riding motorcycles. That bike was so much fun. When I got back to the US I bought a new 2007 Yamaha XT225 duel sport. I put 16,000 miles on that in 10 months with 3300 miles inside Mexico on a solo trip. At 36,000 miles I sold that bike. Small motorcycles are a TON of fun. Leave your ego at home, and have fun!
I’ve been riding for 50 years I own many bikes Triumph rocket 3 to my new Honda monkey I love them all But the monkey is just a joy to ride I feel like I’m 7 years old again I love my monkey and will never sell it Great video Thanks for sharing
Thank you for your kind words! That little bike is truly a joy! 50 years is a very long time and the rocket seems to be huge and scary, haha! I learnt to ride with 7 large bikes, but the Monkey is my very own first bike, and better of them all! I am still loving it!
Thanks! I suppose people are excited about this bike, because it is a fun and cool looking bike. But nothing's ever perfect. It's just made for certain kind of riding and has it's limits too.
Nice video! Very true about Monkey and informative. I have 2022 banana yellow Monkey. My previous bike was Harley XR1200 naked model. If I buy anything in future, I want to keep my Monkey. It’s so handy and cheap to run. Thanks for your video. I’m from Finland, living now in Australia.
Thanks! The XR1200 is a nice one! Good taste! I have a thing with those shaky engines though :D, I always feel that the bike is going to fall apart any moment now :D, but really it doesn't! It's great to have a larger and a smaller bike, just to experience the difference and enjoy riding with different machines. Whenever I hop on a larger bike I somehow start missing the small one after a while. Greetings to you to Australia! :D
Small 125's like this are such a joy to ride in the right place, specially if there are a few of you. Had an MSX125 for a few years, rode it every where but the seat was like a plank of wood. Folding bars would be great.
Loved your video with all the great information! Thank you. I think you convinced me to get one. I loved the part where you talked about having a quiet muffler to not scare the rabbits. HA HA. i totally agree. The loud ones are terrible in my city of Chicago. Wish I could ride with you in Estonia.
Thank you for the lovely comment! If people want to have their peace and quiet, so do the animals, right! When you think, you are a person who would enjoy peaceful rides and won't be bothered by not getting anywhere fast, then the Monkey could be a nice companion. Estonia is a small country, you could ride through it in a day, especially in the summer time with long daylight and warm weather. But we have beautiful tiny country roads that run by old and current farming areas, through forests. It's kind of a therapy to ride out there. And with this Monkey bike, you won't scare anyone either, but rather amaze, what even is this little thing you're sitting on!
Nice video. I’m 65 years old and always rode bikes in the 1 litre region, even took the to the track. I bought a Monkey because it’s easier to take in and out of storage. I love that little Monkey, the engine purring like a kitten. It is so quick to handle! Standard tires are quite sticky and you can lean it over till the pegs scrape if you keep the throttle wide open. Great little fun bike! Mine is yellow too!😉👍
Oh, I have hesitated to lean it that much to scrape the pegs :D. I start feeling sorry for the bike before I even get there. But I love it, when we go ride some "off road" with friends and they all have regular bikes. The Monkey is so light and easily goes much faster compared to the other bikes that tend to struggle or the bike owners that struggle on their bikes. Estonians mostly like the 1 litre bikes here, tiny bikes are a new thing. The Yellow color was the first thing that caught my eye. I think I wouldn't have bought this tiny bike if the yellow wasn't available. Enjoy your ride! :D
@@monkeybusiness8837 yup, I was like that! Riding heavy sports bikes. Once you’ve done some track time, you realise you can only use 20% of the bikes potential on public roads and even then people think you’re a maniac. I doubled the speed limit on a regular basis, so probably best to switch to something smaller before I loose my license. But it’s fun! Different kind of fun, still fun. I love the quick handling of the Monkey. It flicks from one side to another just like that and has a very direct feel.
@@skydive1424 We just recently had a conversation in one of our local bikers group in Facebook over Yamaha R6 and R1. A person wanted to buy the R1, had tested both of the bikes and was on the opinion of the R6 being too slow to ride in the city. The powerful bike gives a great riding experience for sure, especially when you can just leave all other vehicles far behind and enjoy the ride. May be it has a psychological effect too - the feeling of owning a super fast bike, better than the rest, but with great power comes great responsibility. Got to keep everybody else safe too.
@@monkeybusiness8837 that’s funny; an R6 too slow for the city.... maybe he is confused in driving at low rpm. These things are sluggish below say 5000 rpm but above 6 they are catapults and pretty sharp. If you want low down torque, a Harley is the best or some other big displacement twins. A Triumph Rocket is a good one for that as well. For low speed, low rpm driving, torque is the most important parameter for acceleration. Power is only relevant for top speed.
@@skydive1424 You might be right! Those that have been complaining about the bike being slow, would want it to speed off right from the start. I learned with a bike hat was modified for wheelies. I was taught to be really really gentle when starting to ride so that I wouldn't flip it. I started loving it, because starting the bike and going uphill became much easier. When riding around I didn't feel any difference compared to other regular bikes I rode with. But once it got 7000-8000 rpms, it became again much more lively, felt like a rocket!
A smart woman. When I lived in Europe, many women were wise like this woman and very humble human beings. She is right about almost everything that she says. She is an elegant and smart woman.
Thank you very much for the kind words. Europe still holds on to its national traditions and family role models. It could be one of the reasons why the ladies in smaller European countries are still valued by the west. Though, if you came and walk on the streets in Tallinn and checked the night life, you'd see different kind of ladies.
Hi - it's Big Rodders in Ireland. I have done 10,000km on my 2020 yellow Monkey Bike. To improve the mirrors all you have to do is fit mirror extenders, which transforms your rear view vision.
I should do this then. There was another gentleman mentioning about the mirror extenders earlier and I told him that perhaps I need to try it out, because when wearing extra layers of warm clothes, they'll get puffy and I can't see anything from those mirrors any more. Feels like a truck. I almost got 16 000 km on my bike, but now it's getting too snowy and icy. I might need to give my little pal some rest.
@@monkeybusiness8837 - Big Rodders again. I change the oil every 1600kms (1000 miles) and swap over the chain, which I then clean and boil in grease so it's ready for the next time.
@@rodneysweetnam8653 You've taken really good care of your little pal! I've tried to change oil every after 3000 km (about 1865 miles) and have sometimes noticed that I could even do it earlier. In the manual it says the oil should be changed after 6000 km (about 3728 miles) but by that time it's like water. I don't get it why do they advise it there like this.
Im 6’4”/205 and i gave the monkey a try yesterday at a honda dealership. Even though i looked ridiculous on it it was a ton of fun and i even thought about buying it one day :) if i was 10 cm shorter i would have bought it on the spot
Hi! Great to hear that you loved the bike! It might be a little difficult for taller and heavier guys to ride this tiny fellow. Many have said that there is not enough leg space for them. But some do have bought the bike regardless their size. I have seen some comments about it the Facebook Monkey groups. They've also said that the bike is a little slow for them and soft. Honda could come out with the Gorilla version- a bit taller, longer and more powerful brother of the Monkey. I bet it would be a hit, too. I'd love to try it out if it should ever happen! 😀
Hi, I just picked up my Happy Monkey Bike the day before yesterday having ordered it over 5 moths ago. It is a 2023 with Pearl Nebula red with the Tartan seat. I have only been riding yesterday though I can say of all the motorcycles I have owned, Big Honda's, Harleys, Triump, Buell and even my current BMW R1250GSA, this Monkey is the most fun.
Congratulations! Enjoy your new stylish pal! The Monkey is not popular in Estonia yet and I keep getting these questions from people like how does this tiny thing even ride. But as soon as they try it, they get converted. The Monkey has its charm! 😀
After Years of big bikes, I bought a 2019 Monkey. I have had more fun on this little beauty in the last 3 Years than on ANY other bike….You can do soooo much on them…Cheers Dean
Lovely to hear that! I sometimes have hopped off from a big bike onto my little Monkey. At first it's like, oooh what is this little thing! But then its so relaxing, haha. Enjoy your Monkey!😀
Can't have one thing for everything, I suppose. Yeah, the Monkey is expensive, but almost all the parts are of metal, so it feels and looks like a mini version of a cruiser. By the way, some people have changed the engine for a more powerful one and have done some other upgrades. Here, a dude put 300 cc engine onto Monkey: th-cam.com/video/me0hszGoxvI/w-d-xo.html.
I’ve wanted to get one here in Oregon but no luck for over a year. If a dealer gets one in it’s gone immediately. I saw one that was 500 miles away and almost decided to take my Goldwing and trailer to pick it up but it sold before I made up my mind 😢 Loved your video with great info of your experience so far with it, love that little monkey!
Sad to hear that you didn't get one yet. Do you have an option to have yourself added to the waiting list of a Honda dealer, so that when the bike is available you'll be contacted. In Estonia it means a % of a purchase fee, but it's worth it when you have decided to get the bike anyway. I recently had my yellow one serviced and noticed a blue Monkey at the dealers. In Estonia there probably are only a little over 20 Monkies riding around.
@@monkeybusiness8837 It is sad the supply can’t meet the demand in my area. I’ve been told by 2 Honda dealers that they just aren’t getting many shipped to them. They also said the waiting lists are so large that it might take a few years so they’ve stopped taking new requests. Honda just can’t make enough evidently. I want to get the newer 2022 model with an extra gear in Yellow. Maybe things will change in time and I’ll get a 2024 model, 😆 Thanks for your reply ❤️
@@ssng1 Ooh! Then it's a bit troublesome indeed. Perhaps you can check from other states nearby? Would it be too expensive? You can also check "Honda Monkey 125 Owners Group in Facebook (14k members) and other Monkey groups. They sometimes sell bikes too.
@@ssng1 The Estonians and Finns are neighbours but no a one country. Estonians always consider Finland as their big brother. Our language is very similar sometimes and often hilariously different. 😆 "Siunama" means to curse/ say bad things in Estonian, but in Finnish it's to bless. Many of us go to work in Finland to get better salaries. Finns on the other hand come here to have cheap medical care, beauty services, food, vacation etc and cheap Fin made alcohol like Lapin Kulta. After the pandemic however the prices have gone up here and now some of us go to grocery shopping to Finland. It's a love-hate relationship between us. But we do adore their Joulupukki in Lapland. It's every kid's dream to go to the Christmas Village.
just a bit small on the wheels and wheel base side for me. I like a longer wheelbase so it’s more stable, something around 55 inches, and I like bigger wheels, because they don’t go as deep into potholes, and they are more stable than smaller wheels, because we are Gyroscopes. They make the bike more stable the bigger they are.. I went from decades of riding big standards and big sport bikes. I fell in love with my Kawasaki Z 400, a standard motorcycle, not a sport bike. I bought it for short runs, I have big touring bike for those long long rides, but I find that my Z 400 can actually do those long long rides with a few additions like tank bag/trunk/Corbin seat/taller windshield.. I have a few videos on TH-cam with my Z 400 22 additions. It will do 70 miles an hour on the interstate all day. Some highways prohibit anything below 250 cc. That’s why I went just slightly larger with a 400 for the same price.. Insurance is $75 a year for liability coverage up to $500,000, with trip disruption and roadside assistance included. I get near 70 miles per gallon. It can handle rider and passenger.. I tried the monkey and the groam, would be fine for around a small town, but I need to be able to carry things like rain suit, tire repair kit, electric tire pump, water, gloves, shoes for walking around when I get to a destination taking my boots off, a trunk for putting my jacket and helmet in so I can walk around when I go somewhere without carrying my jacket and helmet, a place to carry a jacket liner for when it gets cold, cold weather gloves, a place to put my cell phone/wallet/a place to carry baby wipes/toilet paper. A place to put my sunglasses, place to carry a towel and swim trunks, maps, spray for cleaning bugs off my face shield in windshield and fork tubes. Place to carry a small can of chain lube and a slightly better than stock tool kit.. A place to carry my lunch, place to carry groceries when I run to the store. Place to carry eyedrops, Chapstick, that sun is rough on your eyes and lips.. A place to carry sunscreen, a Leatherman multitool, zip ties, 10 feet of mechanics wire, spare fuses, A lighter, the place to carry all these things have to be waterproof for when you get caught in the rain. A place to carry a flashlight, a sun hat to shield you from the sun when you get to your destination.. I needed to be able to have a machine that I could carry things to get double the use out of my machine.. I needed the machine to be able to utilize limited access high speed highways and be able to keep up with traffic without ringing its neck.. this Honda is cute, but it was just a little bit too small. Someone just starting out may feel a lot more comfortable and less intimidated by the monkey or a small machine like this, but after a week, they are looking for something more practical..
I hear you! No point to hit the highway with this little one. It feels like sitting on a comfortable, but slightly moving chair 😄. It's even a bit dangerous like this. Some have added a side cart for their Monkey. I can't get it here in Estonia, but otherwise I'd like to try how it is to ride like this and have all my staff in there. I've taken all extra layers, tools and food with in my back pack and I just look like a bear with it. The bag is a little too big for me and makes me look funny 😆.
You are quite right Kellu ! There are some small American women out there on TH-cam who constantly try to prove that they can handle a big bike ! Good for them. But "weight always matters" for sure. I am 67 and have been riding for 50 years, Today, I have a Yamaha FZ25 250cc. the weight is OK for me, but I wish it was 2 inches shorter. Try rectangular mirrors instead of round ones. Enjoy your bike. May you keep on riding ! Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.
Oh wow! I thought that I'd just make a video about my experience with this little bike, and see where it reached 😀! Greetings from the other side of the world! I've sometimes seen those ladies with the big bikes. Most of them end up selling the bikes later and some even quit riding, because they feel owerwhelmed. On good roads with not too much traffic, the big bike is fun, but otherwise it means trouble. How would yoy describe your riding experience with your current Yamaha? Besides the seat height, is it good ond comfortable? 50 years of riding is quite some time and a lot of experience! 👍💪😀
@@monkeybusiness8837 It is an Indian-made 250, made for the Indian-market. Single cylinder, fuel-injected. Very good suspension. Stable on the highway (100kms speed limit) The handle-bar was too forward, and I added a pair of risers. Front & rear disc-brakes are not sufficient. After a couple hours, seat becomes uncomfortable. No inhibiter switch on sidestand. LCD dash is useless to me unless I wear glasses. My bad. One pilot light serving both indicators. Poor in sunlight. Had to add a piezo buzzer to each side to warn me if indicators are on. No storage space, even for your insurance certificate. No tools (i suppose that is standard now) I hate LED headlights. This one is no exception. Engine is pretty noisy. Gearbox is clunky, and too much gear-lever movement. I was always a Yamaha person, but I am not impressed with this bike. I had a Honda CB250 Nighthawk for many years. Aside from the poor drum-brakes on the Honda, the riding experience was far better than this 2021 FZ250 ! Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.
Estonia is quite lovely. I really like the Honda monkey, and I agree completely with your opinion about the quiet exhaust being great to engage with nature. Happy trails from Irvine California. If you have the opportunity to ride a Honda Rebel 300 I think you will really enjoy it also. It is not as light or nimble as the Monkey.
I've been suggested the Rebel actually. I checked with the local dealer that they have 500cc and 1100cc available. These are a bit heavy. But a 300cc could be an option. Here one can mostly import it or see if someone sells their own. Greetings to you and all the other Californian bikers out there! Estonia is a lovely place indeed, lots of nice small roads to cruise on.🥰
the problem why you dont see much in those Mirrors is because they are set/mounted wrong.... when you look from above the need to make a straight line, right now the are mounted in an angle like the grips are and thats not correct.... give it a try, look from above an mount them so they make a straight line from left to right and you will se alot more ;) i have myself many bikes like the new monkey old monkey and old dax and a few more.... the monkey is a super nice comfy fun bike
If you can find mirrors on a shorter stem, try mounting them on the bottom of the handlebar. With the correct setup, this type of mounting can provide superior rear view to the rider.
Thanks for the advice. Have you personally tried to such a setup on some other bikes? I've mostly seen cafe racers with mirrors like these. Some say, it looks cool, but the view hasn't improved for them. The other problem is, that they break the mirrors when they drop the bike.
Truthfully I think scooters are far more practical - yet I also bought the same yellow monkey. Unlike any other bike I've owned this one gets way more comments. People like it.
Here in Estonia, where I live, we don't have scooters that would go over 50 km/h (limited by law), so it would take lots of time to get anywhere, unless one only wants to ride around somewhere near home. My Monkey has been all over Estonia together with big bikes.
@@monkeybusiness8837 Ah. We are legally limited to 125cc bikes for learners however some 125cc scooters are quicker than the monkey. I've a full licence but ride on tiny single track roads so the monkey is fast enough for my needs. Thanks.
@@TobermoryCat Wow! In Estonia, there are no limits to what you can use for learning. You could pick the fastest bike you can get and as long as you denmonstrate you can control it, it's fine by law. I personally think that 200-300 cc is more than enough for learners for the first few years at least.
Aitäh! Lisaksin juurde, et väiksemat kasvu inimesestele, eriti naistele, kes suuri rattaid algul pelgavad, sobib see ka esimeseks rattaks, harjutamiseks näiteks enne rattalubade tegemist, kui on kodus või sõprade hulgas häid õpetajaid.
According to my neighbour any bike under 1000cc is a moped and under 2000cc is a scooter. She rides the Triumph thingy with 2300cc. All jokes aside, i do love my GL1800, i think it is the best motorised two wheeler on earth. But (yep, there is always a but) I find myself smiling more on my daughters 50cc chinese made moped or my wifes 650cc VulcanS. In a perfect world i have a garage with at least five different type and weight bikes. Greeting from Türi valla Kärevere.
Yeah! I just had a chat today with a person who has a couple of fancy and powerful bikes. He said he loves them all, but the Monkey bike would be the one he can imagine riding for the rest of his life 😀. I still think the light weight and the comfort of this little one are huge advantages compared to the larger bikes.
~ In any case, in France the big motorcycles are no longer justified. Hyper-saturated motorways and expressways, speed limit of 30 km/h in the wide perimeter of large cities, speed bumps (speed bumps) everywhere, when it is not traffic in the opposite direction authorized for bicycles. The Monkey is right on target with this inventory and with the reversal of the situation it implied. (En tout cas, en France les grosses motos ne se justifient plus. Autoroutes et voies rapides hyper saturées, vitesse limitée à 30 km/h dans le large périmètre des grosses agglomérations, dos d’âne (ralentisseurs) partout, quand ce n’est pas la circulation à contre-sens autorisée pour les bicyclettes. La Monkey tombe pile-poil avec cet état des lieux et avec le renversement de situation qu’il impliquait.)
Hi! Your comment is an interesting insight on how the situation is in your country, France. Thank you! In Estonia, it's a bit better, but since big motorcycles in general make too much loud noise and tend to speed for showing off, then it is believed that we'll get more restrictions too in the cities. Mostly we have 50 km/h speed limits in city areas and 30 km/h in the city center, 90-110 km/h outside. Motorcycles usually go way faster.
Hahahaha she started it and the engine was going up and down, ECU problem.. there goes 200.00, these are a known problem also the clutch is junk. Honda scam.. why at 5:54 was it revving so bad?
Almost😀, this little beast could use a little bit more powerful engine, for the bike to run better on the roads outside the city. ( I mean, the smaller engine, the more it has to work and the larger engine, the better life it has.)
My last bike I had was a 1980 Goldwing 1100cc, sold it in 1990 and haven't had another bike since, until 2 months ago. Got me a lightly used 2019 Monkey. Just a joy to ride, and a pleasure to own, turns heads at every corner. Now the wife wants one!
I tried a Goldwing once, forgot which one it was. Loved it! A luxurious bike! But a little huge for me ☺. I just got asked today how it is to ride with it. I told them "It's like a little chair on wheels, but very comfortable" 😆
Ha ha that's a coincidence, my Goldwing was a 1976 model, I also found a used 2021 monkey. I was on the list for a ct 125, and when one came in at the Honda dealership I turned it down, I think the monkey is more suited for my needs.
@@donaldbrittsan984 Well, I am very happy with my little pal right now. I would be in trouble trying to handle the majestic Goldwing in heavy city traffic, but it sure is a nice bike.
I'm going for it this year, I'm gonna give up big bikes for foreseeable future and have a monkey bike as only motorbike, I think the lighter weight and more upright position than my zx9r will be a breath of fresh air, my bike seems like its getting heavier as I get older haha.. love the yellow monkeys the most, think this years red one is better than the yellow because of the seat but the yellow frame is lovely...
Yes, you are totally correct. The Honda Monkey is a comfortable, fun and easybike to ride on most roads and even some tracks. My blue Honda Monkey is my pride and joy!👍
Thanks! The Monkey makes the heads turn and grin, doesn't it?! It's especially cool in the traffic jams, you can always get through everywhere 😀
Grew up surrounded by Harley. Never rode or owned anything but Harley. At age 53 I bought a Grom.
Damn I love that little bike!!
I haven't tried Grom yet, but I'm hoping to! I just recently saw brand new Groms coming for sale here in Estonia. How would you describe your little Grom, like how is it? The Monkey is like a mini version of a cruising bike.
Thank you, I’ve just bought a Monkey and your review made me smile. Please make more reviews, you have a genuine and heartfelt approach that is so nice to find.
Wow, thank you! Which kind of reviews you'd like to see? How do you like your Monkey so far? Mine is stored away for the winter at the moment. Unfortunately, I don't have time to take it to snowrides at the moment, because of building my doubledecker into a house on wheels. It's a bit of a struggle, but fun, too. But, if March or April are generous enough here, then the Monkey is back on roads again. Can't wait!
Damn flies! Cant stop shaking my head or swinging my hands on them.
Great video, nice work with the details.
Thanks! Haha, the day I was filming the video, was quite hot and there were flies everywhere. It was a farming area with fields and forests all around. 😄
Glad to help! Good luck on your future travels!
Thanks, luck is always a great thing to have!
I also have a Honda monkey and your review was one of the best I have ever seen,these are great little fun bikes that you can take anywhere and do anything with them even if its just riding them around for the shear fun of it,I like to go fishing in high mountain lakes and this is monkey of mine is my fishing buddy!
Nice video. Thank you.
I’ve been riding for forty years and bought a new monkey this year. It’s the most fun I’ve had on two wheels for so many reasons. I’ve covered 3000 miles on it this summer and will never sell it.
Regards warren 🇬🇧
Thanks! Great to hear you're loving your little bike! Many people say that since it's so light weight and easy to handle, it makes the bikeride a joyride instead of having to kind of manage the bike on the road. You can just go and not get tired :D
When I was younger, like everybody bigger and faster was everything. Then in 2008 I had a chance to go to the Philippines for 5 months and fly a run between Subic Bay, Philippines and Vietnam (I’m a pilot) I bought a new Suzuki 125 motorcycle. Same style as the Honda 125 Super Cub. I put 7000 miles on the bike touring the island of Luzon. That bike changed everything I ever thought about riding motorcycles. That bike was so much fun. When I got back to the US I bought a new 2007 Yamaha XT225 duel sport. I put 16,000 miles on that in 10 months with 3300 miles inside Mexico on a solo trip. At 36,000 miles I sold that bike. Small motorcycles are a TON of fun. Leave your ego at home, and have fun!
I agree. Just curious, were you flying 🇺🇸 military or Air America?
I’ve been riding for 50 years
I own many bikes
Triumph rocket 3 to my new Honda monkey
I love them all
But the monkey is just a joy to ride
I feel like I’m 7 years old again
I love my monkey and will never sell it
Great video
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for your kind words! That little bike is truly a joy! 50 years is a very long time and the rocket seems to be huge and scary, haha! I learnt to ride with 7 large bikes, but the Monkey is my very own first bike, and better of them all! I am still loving it!
Just did the first oil change on my '22 Monkey. Smile miles all the way!
I just did my 3rd and will have to change the chain quite soon 😁.
Love My 2022 Banana Yellow Monkey 🐒 🙈 🙊 💛 😁👍
@williamheinsinger7390 We have best color but I got you to beat with the seat!
I like how your talked about the monkey’s weaknesses. Most channels only talk about how great it is
Thanks! I suppose people are excited about this bike, because it is a fun and cool looking bike. But nothing's ever perfect. It's just made for certain kind of riding and has it's limits too.
Thanks for the review and feedback. Greetings from Poland :)
You're Welcome! 🙃
Nice video! Very true about Monkey and informative. I have 2022 banana yellow Monkey. My previous bike was Harley XR1200 naked model. If I buy anything in future, I want to keep my Monkey. It’s so handy and cheap to run.
Thanks for your video. I’m from Finland, living now in Australia.
Thanks! The XR1200 is a nice one! Good taste! I have a thing with those shaky engines though :D, I always feel that the bike is going to fall apart any moment now :D, but really it doesn't! It's great to have a larger and a smaller bike, just to experience the difference and enjoy riding with different machines. Whenever I hop on a larger bike I somehow start missing the small one after a while. Greetings to you to Australia! :D
Thank you, I’ve just bought a Monkey and your review made me sm
Small 125's like this are such a joy to ride in the right place, specially if there are a few of you. Had an MSX125 for a few years, rode it every where but the seat was like a plank of wood. Folding bars would be great.
Loved your video with all the great information! Thank you. I think you convinced me to get one. I loved the part where you talked about having a quiet muffler to not scare the rabbits. HA HA. i totally agree. The loud ones are terrible in my city of Chicago. Wish I could ride with you in Estonia.
Thank you for the lovely comment! If people want to have their peace and quiet, so do the animals, right! When you think, you are a person who would enjoy peaceful rides and won't be bothered by not getting anywhere fast, then the Monkey could be a nice companion. Estonia is a small country, you could ride through it in a day, especially in the summer time with long daylight and warm weather. But we have beautiful tiny country roads that run by old and current farming areas, through forests. It's kind of a therapy to ride out there. And with this Monkey bike, you won't scare anyone either, but rather amaze, what even is this little thing you're sitting on!
Nice video. I’m 65 years old and always rode bikes in the 1 litre region, even took the to the track. I bought a Monkey because it’s easier to take in and out of storage. I love that little Monkey, the engine purring like a kitten. It is so quick to handle! Standard tires are quite sticky and you can lean it over till the pegs scrape if you keep the throttle wide open. Great little fun bike! Mine is yellow too!😉👍
Oh, I have hesitated to lean it that much to scrape the pegs :D. I start feeling sorry for the bike before I even get there. But I love it, when we go ride some "off road" with friends and they all have regular bikes. The Monkey is so light and easily goes much faster compared to the other bikes that tend to struggle or the bike owners that struggle on their bikes. Estonians mostly like the 1 litre bikes here, tiny bikes are a new thing. The Yellow color was the first thing that caught my eye. I think I wouldn't have bought this tiny bike if the yellow wasn't available. Enjoy your ride! :D
@@monkeybusiness8837 yup, I was like that! Riding heavy sports bikes. Once you’ve done some track time, you realise you can only use 20% of the bikes potential on public roads and even then people think you’re a maniac. I doubled the speed limit on a regular basis, so probably best to switch to something smaller before I loose my license. But it’s fun! Different kind of fun, still fun. I love the quick handling of the Monkey. It flicks from one side to another just like that and has a very direct feel.
@@skydive1424 We just recently had a conversation in one of our local bikers group in Facebook over Yamaha R6 and R1. A person wanted to buy the R1, had tested both of the bikes and was on the opinion of the R6 being too slow to ride in the city. The powerful bike gives a great riding experience for sure, especially when you can just leave all other vehicles far behind and enjoy the ride. May be it has a psychological effect too - the feeling of owning a super fast bike, better than the rest, but with great power comes great responsibility. Got to keep everybody else safe too.
@@monkeybusiness8837 that’s funny; an R6 too slow for the city.... maybe he is confused in driving at low rpm. These things are sluggish below say 5000 rpm but above 6 they are catapults and pretty sharp. If you want low down torque, a Harley is the best or some other big displacement twins. A Triumph Rocket is a good one for that as well. For low speed, low rpm driving, torque is the most important parameter for acceleration. Power is only relevant for top speed.
@@skydive1424 You might be right! Those that have been complaining about the bike being slow, would want it to speed off right from the start. I learned with a bike hat was modified for wheelies. I was taught to be really really gentle when starting to ride so that I wouldn't flip it. I started loving it, because starting the bike and going uphill became much easier. When riding around I didn't feel any difference compared to other regular bikes I rode with. But once it got 7000-8000 rpms, it became again much more lively, felt like a rocket!
A smart woman. When I lived in Europe, many women were wise like this woman and very humble human beings. She is right about almost everything that she says. She is an elegant and smart woman.
Thank you very much for the kind words. Europe still holds on to its national traditions and family role models. It could be one of the reasons why the ladies in smaller European countries are still valued by the west. Though, if you came and walk on the streets in Tallinn and checked the night life, you'd see different kind of ladies.
I like your video and your bike, I am 6'2'' and 200 lbs, with some tasteful upgrades I ride on the freeway 70+miles per hour on my 2022 Honda Monkey 🐒
Hi! That's great! What upgrades did you do? Many taller guys say that they simply don't have enough space for the feet. How do you manage?
@@monkeybusiness8837 tires, fairing, flash, intake, exhaust, cam... seems comfortable enough? best mc seat ever??
Hi - it's Big Rodders in Ireland. I have done 10,000km on my 2020 yellow Monkey Bike. To improve the mirrors all you have to do is fit mirror extenders, which transforms your rear view vision.
I should do this then. There was another gentleman mentioning about the mirror extenders earlier and I told him that perhaps I need to try it out, because when wearing extra layers of warm clothes, they'll get puffy and I can't see anything from those mirrors any more. Feels like a truck. I almost got 16 000 km on my bike, but now it's getting too snowy and icy. I might need to give my little pal some rest.
@@monkeybusiness8837 - Big Rodders again. I change the oil every 1600kms (1000 miles) and swap over the chain, which I then clean and boil in grease so it's ready for the next time.
@@rodneysweetnam8653 You've taken really good care of your little pal! I've tried to change oil every after 3000 km (about 1865 miles) and have sometimes noticed that I could even do it earlier. In the manual it says the oil should be changed after 6000 km (about 3728 miles) but by that time it's like water. I don't get it why do they advise it there like this.
Im 6’4”/205 and i gave the monkey a try yesterday at a honda dealership. Even though i looked ridiculous on it it was a ton of fun and i even thought about buying it one day :) if i was 10 cm shorter i would have bought it on the spot
Hi! Great to hear that you loved the bike! It might be a little difficult for taller and heavier guys to ride this tiny fellow. Many have said that there is not enough leg space for them. But some do have bought the bike regardless their size. I have seen some comments about it the Facebook Monkey groups. They've also said that the bike is a little slow for them and soft. Honda could come out with the Gorilla version- a bit taller, longer and more powerful brother of the Monkey. I bet it would be a hit, too. I'd love to try it out if it should ever happen! 😀
Guess what, I randomly found a 6'2 280 guy talking about his Monkey experince, have a look: th-cam.com/video/6KD2xM8Dlm4/w-d-xo.html
Hi, I just picked up my Happy Monkey Bike the day before yesterday having ordered it over 5 moths ago. It is a 2023 with Pearl Nebula red with the Tartan seat. I have only been riding yesterday though I can say of all the motorcycles I have owned, Big Honda's, Harleys, Triump, Buell and even my current BMW R1250GSA, this Monkey is the most fun.
Congratulations! Enjoy your new stylish pal! The Monkey is not popular in Estonia yet and I keep getting these questions from people like how does this tiny thing even ride. But as soon as they try it, they get converted. The Monkey has its charm! 😀
After Years of big bikes, I bought a 2019 Monkey. I have had more fun on this little beauty in the last 3 Years than on ANY other bike….You can do soooo much on them…Cheers Dean
Lovely to hear that! I sometimes have hopped off from a big bike onto my little Monkey. At first it's like, oooh what is this little thing! But then its so relaxing, haha. Enjoy your Monkey!😀
Best honda monkey review!
Thought also of getting one for light offroad and commuting, but they're still expensive and ... slow, especially when the countryside has hills.
Can't have one thing for everything, I suppose. Yeah, the Monkey is expensive, but almost all the parts are of metal, so it feels and looks like a mini version of a cruiser. By the way, some people have changed the engine for a more powerful one and have done some other upgrades. Here, a dude put 300 cc engine onto Monkey: th-cam.com/video/me0hszGoxvI/w-d-xo.html.
Very nice . Thank you for the excellent video and information. "You meet the nicest people on a Honda Monkey mini moto".
I’ve wanted to get one here in Oregon but no luck for over a year. If a dealer gets one in it’s gone immediately. I saw one that was 500 miles away and almost decided to take my Goldwing and trailer to pick it up but it sold before I made up my mind 😢
Loved your video with great info of your experience so far with it, love that little monkey!
Sad to hear that you didn't get one yet. Do you have an option to have yourself added to the waiting list of a Honda dealer, so that when the bike is available you'll be contacted. In Estonia it means a % of a purchase fee, but it's worth it when you have decided to get the bike anyway. I recently had my yellow one serviced and noticed a blue Monkey at the dealers. In Estonia there probably are only a little over 20 Monkies riding around.
@@monkeybusiness8837 It is sad the supply can’t meet the demand in my area. I’ve been told by 2 Honda dealers that they just aren’t getting many shipped to them. They also said the waiting lists are so large that it might take a few years so they’ve stopped taking new requests. Honda just can’t make enough evidently. I want to get the newer 2022 model with an extra gear in Yellow. Maybe things will change in time and I’ll get a 2024 model, 😆 Thanks for your reply ❤️
@@monkeybusiness8837 I just realized you are in Estonia and am curious if that is part of Finland? I’m Finnish but born in the US.
@@ssng1 Ooh! Then it's a bit troublesome indeed. Perhaps you can check from other states nearby? Would it be too expensive? You can also check "Honda Monkey 125 Owners Group in Facebook (14k members) and other Monkey groups. They sometimes sell bikes too.
@@ssng1 The Estonians and Finns are neighbours but no a one country. Estonians always consider Finland as their big brother. Our language is very similar sometimes and often hilariously different. 😆 "Siunama" means to curse/ say bad things in Estonian, but in Finnish it's to bless. Many of us go to work in Finland to get better salaries. Finns on the other hand come here to have cheap medical care, beauty services, food, vacation etc and cheap Fin made alcohol like Lapin Kulta. After the pandemic however the prices have gone up here and now some of us go to grocery shopping to Finland. It's a love-hate relationship between us. But we do adore their Joulupukki in Lapland. It's every kid's dream to go to the Christmas Village.
just a bit small on the wheels and wheel base side for me. I like a longer wheelbase so it’s more stable, something around 55 inches, and I like bigger wheels, because they don’t go as deep into potholes, and they are more stable than smaller wheels, because we are Gyroscopes. They make the bike more stable the bigger they are.. I went from decades of riding big standards and big sport bikes. I fell in love with my Kawasaki Z 400, a standard motorcycle, not a sport bike. I bought it for short runs, I have big touring bike for those long long rides, but I find that my Z 400 can actually do those long long rides with a few additions like tank bag/trunk/Corbin seat/taller windshield.. I have a few videos on TH-cam with my Z 400 22 additions. It will do 70 miles an hour on the interstate all day. Some highways prohibit anything below 250 cc. That’s why I went just slightly larger with a 400 for the same price.. Insurance is $75 a year for liability coverage up to $500,000, with trip disruption and roadside assistance included. I get near 70 miles per gallon. It can handle rider and passenger..
I tried the monkey and the groam, would be fine for around a small town, but I need to be able to carry things like rain suit, tire repair kit, electric tire pump, water, gloves, shoes for walking around when I get to a destination taking my boots off, a trunk for putting my jacket and helmet in so I can walk around when I go somewhere without carrying my jacket and helmet, a place to carry a jacket liner for when it gets cold, cold weather gloves, a place to put my cell phone/wallet/a place to carry baby wipes/toilet paper. A place to put my sunglasses, place to carry a towel and swim trunks, maps, spray for cleaning bugs off my face shield in windshield and fork tubes. Place to carry a small can of chain lube and a slightly better than stock tool kit.. A place to carry my lunch, place to carry groceries when I run to the store. Place to carry eyedrops, Chapstick, that sun is rough on your eyes and lips.. A place to carry sunscreen, a Leatherman multitool, zip ties, 10 feet of mechanics wire, spare fuses, A lighter, the place to carry all these things have to be waterproof for when you get caught in the rain. A place to carry a flashlight, a sun hat to shield you from the sun when you get to your destination..
I needed to be able to have a machine that I could carry things to get double the use out of my machine.. I needed the machine to be able to utilize limited access high speed highways and be able to keep up with traffic without ringing its neck..
this Honda is cute, but it was just a little bit too small. Someone just starting out may feel a lot more comfortable and less intimidated by the monkey or a small machine like this, but after a week, they are looking for something more practical..
I hear you! No point to hit the highway with this little one. It feels like sitting on a comfortable, but slightly moving chair 😄. It's even a bit dangerous like this.
Some have added a side cart for their Monkey. I can't get it here in Estonia, but otherwise I'd like to try how it is to ride like this and have all my staff in there.
I've taken all extra layers, tools and food with in my back pack and I just look like a bear with it. The bag is a little too big for me and makes me look funny 😆.
You are quite right Kellu !
There are some small American women out there on TH-cam who constantly try to prove that they can handle a big bike ! Good for them.
But "weight always matters" for sure.
I am 67 and have been riding for 50 years, Today, I have a Yamaha FZ25 250cc. the weight is OK for me, but I wish it was 2 inches shorter.
Try rectangular mirrors instead of round ones.
Enjoy your bike.
May you keep on riding !
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
Oh wow! I thought that I'd just make a video about my experience with this little bike, and see where it reached 😀! Greetings from the other side of the world!
I've sometimes seen those ladies with the big bikes. Most of them end up selling the bikes later and some even quit riding, because they feel owerwhelmed. On good roads with not too much traffic, the big bike is fun, but otherwise it means trouble.
How would yoy describe your riding experience with your current Yamaha? Besides the seat height, is it good ond comfortable?
50 years of riding is quite some time and a lot of experience! 👍💪😀
@@monkeybusiness8837 It is an Indian-made 250, made for the Indian-market. Single cylinder, fuel-injected.
Very good suspension.
Stable on the highway (100kms speed limit)
The handle-bar was too forward, and I added a pair of risers.
Front & rear disc-brakes are not sufficient.
After a couple hours, seat becomes uncomfortable.
No inhibiter switch on sidestand.
LCD dash is useless to me unless I wear glasses. My bad.
One pilot light serving both indicators. Poor in sunlight. Had to add a piezo buzzer to each side to warn me if indicators are on.
No storage space, even for your insurance certificate.
No tools (i suppose that is standard now)
I hate LED headlights. This one is no exception.
Engine is pretty noisy.
Gearbox is clunky, and too much gear-lever movement.
I was always a Yamaha person, but I am not impressed with this bike. I had a Honda CB250 Nighthawk for many years. Aside from the poor drum-brakes on the Honda, the riding experience was far better than this 2021 FZ250 !
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
Estonia is quite lovely. I really like the Honda monkey, and I agree completely with your opinion about the quiet exhaust being great to engage with nature. Happy trails from Irvine California. If you have the opportunity to ride a Honda Rebel 300 I think you will really enjoy it also. It is not as light or nimble as the Monkey.
I've been suggested the Rebel actually. I checked with the local dealer that they have 500cc and 1100cc available. These are a bit heavy. But a 300cc could be an option. Here one can mostly import it or see if someone sells their own. Greetings to you and all the other Californian bikers out there! Estonia is a lovely place indeed, lots of nice small roads to cruise on.🥰
the problem why you dont see much in those Mirrors is because they are set/mounted wrong.... when you look from above the need to make a straight line, right now the are mounted in an angle like the grips are and thats not correct.... give it a try, look from above an mount them so they make a straight line from left to right and you will se alot more ;) i have myself many bikes like the new monkey old monkey and old dax and a few more.... the monkey is a super nice comfy fun bike
Lovely video. Here in the UK I only ride small bikes around country lanes. My Monkey 125 is the best bike ever 😃
Do you have a bigger bike too or just this little one?
@@monkeybusiness8837 yes have MT09. Rarely use it..
If you can find mirrors on a shorter stem, try mounting them on the bottom of the handlebar. With the correct setup, this type of mounting can provide superior rear view to the rider.
Thanks for the advice. Have you personally tried to such a setup on some other bikes? I've mostly seen cafe racers with mirrors like these. Some say, it looks cool, but the view hasn't improved for them. The other problem is, that they break the mirrors when they drop the bike.
@@monkeybusiness8837 Yep. I have my mirrors underneath on my Harley Heritage with the stock handlebar.
@@positivelynegative9149 The Harley's seating position seems to support such a solution, since the seat is lower.
I have an Australian sportsbike brand sourced from China. It runs like a dream.
Do you mean that yow distribute it or you just have a Chinese bike?
@@monkeybusiness8837 I just have.😁
You absolutely right 😊
Riding Joy, that is a perfect term.
Thanks! A riding joy is what it is 😄
Truthfully I think scooters are far more practical - yet I also bought the same yellow monkey. Unlike any other bike I've owned this one gets way more comments. People like it.
Here in Estonia, where I live, we don't have scooters that would go over 50 km/h (limited by law), so it would take lots of time to get anywhere, unless one only wants to ride around somewhere near home. My Monkey has been all over Estonia together with big bikes.
@@monkeybusiness8837 Ah. We are legally limited to 125cc bikes for learners however some 125cc scooters are quicker than the monkey. I've a full licence but ride on tiny single track roads so the monkey is fast enough for my needs. Thanks.
@@TobermoryCat Wow! In Estonia, there are no limits to what you can use for learning. You could pick the fastest bike you can get and as long as you denmonstrate you can control it, it's fine by law. I personally think that 200-300 cc is more than enough for learners for the first few years at least.
äge ülevaade!
teiseks / kolmandaks rattaks oleks väga vahva pill väiksemaid kruusateid ja natuke offroadi sõita.
Aitäh! Lisaksin juurde, et väiksemat kasvu inimesestele, eriti naistele, kes suuri rattaid algul pelgavad, sobib see ka esimeseks rattaks, harjutamiseks näiteks enne rattalubade tegemist, kui on kodus või sõprade hulgas häid õpetajaid.
My wife loves riding my trail 125, maybe I'll buy a Monkey for myself =). Keep it between the ditches!
When you get a Monkey, you'll probably need to compete with your wife in who gets to ride it today 😆! Unless you don't let her to sit on it!
According to my neighbour any bike under 1000cc is a moped and under 2000cc is a scooter. She rides the Triumph thingy with 2300cc. All jokes aside, i do love my GL1800, i think it is the best motorised two wheeler on earth. But (yep, there is always a but) I find myself smiling more on my daughters 50cc chinese made moped or my wifes 650cc VulcanS. In a perfect world i have a garage with at least five different type and weight bikes. Greeting from Türi valla Kärevere.
Yeah! I just had a chat today with a person who has a couple of fancy and powerful bikes. He said he loves them all, but the Monkey bike would be the one he can imagine riding for the rest of his life 😀. I still think the light weight and the comfort of this little one are huge advantages compared to the larger bikes.
Looks like a lot of fun.
It is a lot of fun! Unbelievably fun! I think everyone (every bike owner) should have at least one small bike in their lifetime 😄
I am going to Estonia!!!
You are very welcome! Our roads are quite Monkey friendly (not the larger ones of course, but all the less busy ones) 😀
😎🇸🇯 2022 monkey owner 👍👍👍
How's your 22 doing? Enjoying too much 😄?
@@monkeybusiness8837 It brings a smile to my face! 😄💯💯
@@bjrn5492 Someone recently yelled to me from the other side of a parking lot: "Such a cool bike!" Made me grin 😁😆
~ In any case, in France the big motorcycles are no longer justified. Hyper-saturated motorways and expressways, speed limit of 30 km/h in the wide perimeter of large cities, speed bumps (speed bumps) everywhere, when it is not traffic in the opposite direction authorized for bicycles. The Monkey is right on target with this inventory and with the reversal of the situation it implied. (En tout cas, en France les grosses motos ne se justifient plus. Autoroutes et voies rapides hyper saturées, vitesse limitée à 30 km/h dans le large périmètre des grosses agglomérations, dos d’âne (ralentisseurs) partout, quand ce n’est pas la circulation à contre-sens autorisée pour les bicyclettes. La Monkey tombe pile-poil avec cet état des lieux et avec le renversement de situation qu’il impliquait.)
Hi! Your comment is an interesting insight on how the situation is in your country, France. Thank you!
In Estonia, it's a bit better, but since big motorcycles in general make too much loud noise and tend to speed for showing off, then it is believed that we'll get more restrictions too in the cities. Mostly we have 50 km/h speed limits in city areas and 30 km/h in the city center, 90-110 km/h outside. Motorcycles usually go way faster.
Hahahaha she started it and the engine was going up and down, ECU problem.. there goes 200.00, these are a known problem also the clutch is junk. Honda scam.. why at 5:54 was it revving so bad?
Nice lady, nice video, nice motorcycle.
Igualita a la mía
Honda but the best ones are made in Japan unless you live under the rock
No ragerts!
Almost😀, this little beast could use a little bit more powerful engine, for the bike to run better on the roads outside the city. ( I mean, the smaller engine, the more it has to work and the larger engine, the better life it has.)
Девушка🔥
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™ 👁🗨