2018–2021 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Pure Joy, Minimal Effort
Honda shrunk a real motorcycle here instead of building a toy. The Monkey 125 runs an air-cooled 125 cc single making 9 hp and 8 lb-ft, drives through a four-speed box and a chain, and rolls on an upside-down fork with fat 12-inch rubber at both ends. ABS is standard, the headlight is LED, and the whole thing comes in at 236 lb wet. In a class stuffed with plastic commuters, this one was drawn as a piece of design first and transport second, and Honda didn't thin out the hardware to get there.
It rides the way it looks. The seat sits at 30.6 in, the bars are wide, and 236 lb means you place the bike wherever you want without thinking about it. Nothing here feels fragile: the engine is understressed, servicing is simple, and 98 mpg keeps the running costs somewhere near invisible. This is for the rider who wants a second bike for errands, short hops, and slow back roads, or a first bike that never bites. The caveat is plain. Top speed is 65 mph, so freeways are off the table and long distance belongs to another machine.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 9 hp (7 kW) @ 7,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 8 lb-ft (11 Nm) @ 5,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 125 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 4-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 120/80-12 |
| Rear tire | 130/80-12 |
| Seat height | 30.6 in (776 mm) |
| Wet weight | 236 lb (107 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 1.5 gal (5.5 L) |
| Top speed | 65 mph (105 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 98 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Lighting
Safety
This comes from years of listening: talk in the paddock, owner chats on club nights, and the messages riders send me directly. On the Monkey 125 the chatter splits cleanly. Owners agree on how much fun it is around town, and they're just as consistent about where the hardware and the price fall short.
Riders keep calling it almost bicycle-like at walking pace, a bike they thread through tight spaces without a second thought. The phrase that comes up again and again is riding a slow bike fast. Owners say every trip turns into a small event, often with strangers stopping to compliment the bike. New riders point to the light clutch and forgiving power as what built their confidence.
The same owners are blunt about the limits. Steep hills and faster roads are where it runs out of breath. A recurring complaint is a harsh ride from the fork and rear shocks on rough surfaces, and a front brake that lacks initial bite, though the ABS gets credit as a safety net. The round LCD dash takes criticism for having no gear indicator or clock and for being hard to read in direct sun. Many also say it costs a lot to buy and more than expected to insure, especially for new riders.
Tire noncompliance recall
Certain 2019-2021 Monkey models were fitted with Vee Rubber tires that did not meet federal safety standards, leading to a recall for replacement.
Chrome finish corrosion
Some owners report that the chrome plating on the fenders, headlight ring, or exhaust can start to corrode prematurely, especially when ridden in wet/salty conditions.
Where this Honda Monkey 125 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Monkey 125 is actually built for.
For city miles, coffee stops, and the slow social part of the ride, this thing is a magnet and it costs nothing to run. The freeway leg out to the ridge roads is beyond it, so keep it as bike number two.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
Straight answer: this is not your canyon bike. It has neither the speed nor the reach for an Angeles Crest weekend. Buy it as a fun second machine for the neighborhood and keep the real one for Sunday.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Honda Monkey 125. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2022–2026
Pure City Fun, Tiny Footprint
Competitor · 2019–2026
Kawasaki's Smallest City Knife
Roughly $800 cheaper used than this bike at 5 yr
Competitor · 2016–2019
Balloon Tires, Confident City Soul
Roughly $1,000 pricier used than this bike at 7 yr
Same Platform · 2020
Big Fun In Miniature Form
Roughly $600 cheaper used than this bike at 5 yr
Similar Character · 2003–2019
The Grinning Beach Crawler