2019 Honda Monkey Test Ride Review [Scooter or Motorcycle?!]

[@DukeOfDC]

The Monkey is truly BANANAS... yeah... I've got Dad jokes for days. Hit the SUBSCRIBE button if you're riding this season!

[@fritzkuhne2055]

love that thing!

[@bluestreak61490]

How much do you weigh? (trying to determine if the Monkey will haul me around at 190 lbs.!)

[@eadvs2]

Em-may-us. Not ee-muss.

[@DukeOfDC]

@@eadvs2 Really.... lolol some people, am I right XD

[@Sig721Tau]

@@DukeOfDC Isn't this the bike that Harry and Lloyd rode two up to Colorado? Ya know, to chase a woman named Mary Samsonite. 😀😁🤣😂

[@neilgutteridge6405]

I own a Hayabusa so why do i feel i need one of these bikes............it just pulls at your heart strings.

[@1jasonover]

it's amazing how companies come up with things we feel we must have. Bigger bigger bigger, then smaller smaller smaller. But of all the mini bikes, this one seems best

[@chucklesw73]

I live about 10 minutes from Blackman's and was definitely not expecting to see my local roads when I clicked on this video. That was a nice surprise. That Monkey looks like a blast.

[@DukeOfDC]

Happy to have cruised on your local roads man! Safe riding out there!

[@gsabella4]

I want one, i have no idea how and when I'd use it, but i want one.

[@DukeOfDC]

Basically how I felt the whole time haha

[@sleepindragon179]

Thats the trouble right there. They look great but they can't do anything well apart from going in the trunk of your car. Look the part but are shit at everything.

[@outbackeddie]

I have the same problem.

[@alasdairmackintosh]

They are insanely cheap on gas. Like $10 a month CAD where I live

[@lancairw867]

Yea same here. Maybe fun neighborhood riding and a 3 mile trip to Walgreens 😆👍🏼

[@Grey_Beard72]

I'd be very safe. Other than a highway, 35 and under is 99% of my town.

[@Shouri_1022]

Only way for a Grom/Monkey to get a speeding ticket is if we blow through a school zone. 😂

[@joshowens2219]

Downhill with a tail wind.

[@forrysc]

With just a few mods, the monkey , like the grom, is good on two lane highways. Mine carries my 250lbs down the road at 55-60 gps speed. I added an exhaust, a cam, a fuel controller, and a mnnthbx mtake. Yes, it’s more expensive than a lot of larger bikes. Especially after those additions to an already expensive 125cc. It’s a blast to ride though. At least to me it is.

[@DukeOfDC]

Wow, that’s epic. Thanks for sharing. I’m sure this information will help buyers to be

[@robe8306]

How can I get your cam and fuel controller. I've already added the Man in the box intake and the full Yoshi exhaust

[@xaviermccloud4586]

Well yea it is more expensive then a lot of larger bikes BUT I like to point out scenes like the Honda (car) or toyota scene or any type of "weaker" vehicle people hook up. I like seeing weaker things be pushed to their limits.

[@paulgomez3815]

Not to mention it's just a cute, but badass looking bike. Definitely a wow factor.

[@brianhoward9217]

Great to see someone having pure honest fun in a bike review. Here in Australia these wonderful little Monkeys are AUD$5K+ so I'm waiting for demand and price to decrease. I'd love to know if they're releasing one with a bigger motor - 250 is a nice number . . . :-)) Thanks for the great and fun review. Cheers!

[@monkeydixadventures]

Still loving my 2019 Yellow Honda Monkey. They are sooo usable. Ive had a 10ft Kayak and an accordion on the back of mine. Cheers Dean Monkey Dix Adventures

[@dens6068]

2 guys road these from Ensenada Mx to Lapaz Mx made it all the way 1 flat tire but they made it.

[@Agwings1960]

The Honda Monkey bike definitely pulls on the ole nostalgia heart strings, but in all honestly they could've at least put a 175cc size engine in it, without even changing the physical size or appearance, but making it more practical on the street.

[@ratscoot]

You have aftermarket cylinder kits up to 188cc but that would make the bike even more expensive because you also need a large injector, stronger clutch, oil cooler etc.

[@weezem]

I've never heard one person who owned a monkey or grom say they wish it had a bigger motor. They knew what they were buying when they bought it.

[@BraapEffex]

Reminds me so much my 1973 Honda CT70, miss that bike. 👍

[@rebellucy5610]

2020 Honda is dropping the yellow color and adding a gorgeous blue.

[@rebellucy5610]

The blue is going to be gorgeous

[@keystonedaytrip238]

Rebel Lucy The blue IS gorgeous ! I just got mine 👍🏼

[@markart157]

I like the red

[@RandysVoice]

Great review! Nice and organic. Keep it up! My 'big boy' bike is a Triumph Trophy SE but for around my river community of 17,000 with twisty roads I WANT A MONKEY!

[@outbackeddie]

I'm watching Monkey videos while being locked down for the Corona virus. It doesn't get much better than this.

[@gardini100]

it eats miles even if it slow , on the right roads it is fantastic ,,did 250 km in one ride , and it was like nothing i was ready for more

[@UncleFjester]

Apes, intake and exhaust is all I'd do to this

[@johnseabrook5649]

I weigh 190 pound, my monkey does 65mph, hasn’t broken in yet.Its great fun to ride and cheap to run

[@moto_tech_braap_itout9852]

Doubt 65 maybe 55 60 tops

[@johnseabrook5649]

When in doubt Braap I can tell you, it does 65mph, I’ve done it

[@moto_tech_braap_itout9852]

@@johnseabrook5649 speedo's on small bikes and scooters, etc are usually off by 5-10 mph's ...

[@androidstationboomazoid5056]

When in doubt Braap_it out to be honest I believe the 60+ but only Into the mid 60’s

[@fg2dj]

When in doubt Braap_it out not off by that much. It prob really goes 60-62

[@jackwhite8157]

Had one new than got the mini trail 70. That bike did the Baja 1000. Loads of aftermarket parts for that for performance off road. With knobby tires and a different exhaust that would be the funniest trail bike you could buy.

[@floki.g]

Fan from iceland. Been watching you for over 2 years now. Keep up the good work

[@DukeOfDC]

Thank you so much!

[@sleepindragon179]

Good to see u back Duke. Been followin you for a couple of years and I noticed a drop off of videos for about 6mths earlier this year. Good to see you posting again. I always enjoy and appreciate your work. I thought you had become MIA!

[@DukeOfDC]

Thank you! Love the support and I can promise that this summer I will be posting more content on all walks of powersport life! Stay tuned for a true adventure

[@sleepindragon179]

@@DukeOfDC Sounds good I will look forward to it. Best wishes from Liverpool UK.

[@kalebbarant1990]

Step one: buy Monkey Step two: powder coat chrome and trim brass Step three: buy handlebar mounted speakers Step four: get phone mount Step five: blare Beastie Boys- Brass monkey on loop

[@wctyre49]

Tip for you,if the redlite has a sensor on it , flash your high beams a couple of times and it will let the signal know your there and ttrip the lite into changing.

[@wascalywabbit]

Ok... 2yrs old.. here is the light trick.. when you see the sensor cable whichever side has the main line ... Sit on the line... There's also a magnet you can get to make your vehicle seem bigger

[@alasdairmackintosh]

Well because in some countries if something goes a certain speed it fits a certain category. In Canada a scooter with no license requirement can't go faster than 30km an hour, so this thing is a motorcycle.

[@Sig721Tau]

1962 Honda Cub: over 100 million units sold. 2019 Honda Super Cub: not there yet. Source: Jay Leno's Garage

[@KipBurbank1]

Okie Rider dealers are killing the potential of the new super cub with MSRP mark up. They will kill it

[@Sig721Tau]

@@KipBurbank1 Yep. Kinda like how Dealerships are killing potential huge sales on the Ford Raptor with an insane MSRP tag.

[@robertyoung8289]

You just cost me a lot of money! Such a good review going to pick one up now! No really.

[@DukeOfDC]

Enjoy it my friend!

[@grouchydude3448]

I don’t ride , but I want to learn just to ride this bike.

[@jeffreyelliott622]

That's me i'm in the over the hill crisis at 59 and way past the mid-life crisis and wanna learn on this motor bike for the first time !!!

[@theadhdviking8218]

i just wish they put like the grom engine in the monkey i love the look of the monkey more but that extra 10 mph could make the monkey an actual commuter for me

[@ripmax333]

Do you realize that the grom, monkey, and honda cub share the same engine?

[@mebeasensei]

You can easily mod the monkey to double the HP

[@1ceCold037]

How much do you weigh? I used to go over 60mph on my 2015 Grom all the time. Is the gearing and engine exactly the same as the Grom?

[@timschutte6924]

I love these things. I grew up in the 70s riding mini bikes. But these are street legal. I never really got messed with by the cops back then. But now a days you better have a tag for sure.

[@jalex19100]

Love that you list your gear in the description!

[@raymondchan9802]

What an awesome little bike...lovely video. Now you have made me wanna buy one of these monkeys!

[@gardini100]

i would take it out on the highway after a few small mods , and lay in the backdraft of some trailer trucks like we did back in the days :)

[@fredricknilsson7]

Seems like an ok bike when going to visits friends at close distance like 5-10 km away on low speed roads. Doing like 50-75km/h should not be an issue?

[@harlanpepper]

I regularly do ~35-40km round trips with it, so 5-10km is no issue at all. Super comfortable seat, I could probably do 200km if I had to. Speed-wise, it's good up to 45 mph/72 kph, beyond which you'll need some run-up room, or have to slow down and upshift to climb hills. I've had my stock 2023 Monkey up to 55 mph/88 kph and it had a bit more in it, but the little bike starts to feel scary at highway speeds!

[@Spazza42]

As someone who commutes daily only five miles to work and back this is an epic way to commute as cheap as possible. I just feel I’d want more than 125cc. What an awesome bike though.

[@DukeOfDC]

It would be a very fun bike if my commute was short and in a city or rather a place with low speed limits

[@Spazza42]

DukeOfDC I live on the Isle of Man, so yes and no. No real speed limit on that mountain.

[@PASTELXENON]

Hey man I love the video, so I have a couple of questions though. So is it legally a moped? And do you need to get a title/register it? Also how good would it be for a first bike? Thanks in advance

[@DukeOfDC]

It is registered as a motorcycle, and does require a title and registration. This would be a very fun first bike!

[@PASTELXENON]

@@DukeOfDC alright thanks, so I guess I need the endorsement then lol

[@PASTELXENON]

In some states you don't need a motorcycle endorsement for mopes

[@tylerbray8233]

50cc is usually the cut-off. Anything above 50cc in most states requires endorsements

[@armadilllo]

How come every other review I see they're doing 65-70 indicated and that one barely breaks 50?

[@xavier9183]

Weight? Lol

[@armadilllo]

@@jamesb.armstrong5433 I finally got one, I love it but yeah, some people are fulla sh*t. I weigh 180 and it's brand new so I haven't wrung it out yet, it goes okay but I've only had it to 50 and it seems there isn't much past that. It is way better than trying to go 35 on my ruckus which is all I really wanted to do, at least I'm not confined to residential streets now. When I want to go fast I'll get on my other bikes, this thing is fun though, just jump on and go instead of wrestling a big bike out of the garage.

[@carrierobinson9442]

I'm a very petite woman. I'm talking 5'0 in and have always been intrested in riding. Would this be a good bike for me to start with?

[@DukeOfDC]

Yeah actually this would be a pretty decent bike for someone on the smaller side wanting to learn to ride. Something like a Honda Rebel 300 would as well and I believe has an even lower seat height.

[@ryoon816]

You’ll need to stick a neodymium magnet on the bottom of your frame to help trip the lights.

[@DukeOfDC]

Not all hero's wear capes... you are a legend - thanks for the tip

[@ryoon816]

DukeOfDC there may be issues with the strength of magnet and direction of the magnetic fields that help tigger the light, it might be worth looking it up to see how. I’ve only seen videos talking about it.

[@GamerNxUSN]

Would this be a good first motorcycle? I'm about to hit midlife and need a crisis.

[@keystonedaytrip238]

this would be a great first bike 👍🏽

[@tomrizzo1554]

Don't forget back in the day that was the most popular trail bike ever made the 70 and the Honda mini-trail 50 . Obviously you can't take a demo through the woods but it would go anywhere you took it

[@dumbcat]

a piece of anti glare film over the instrument cluster might fix the glare issue

[@colinclement2752]

Holy Shit I don't know why but I REALLY want a Monkey!!!

[@ControlRider]

I just got one yesterday bro

[@MK-sk2mi]

Hows it so far around town?

[@klutsebright9512]

I wish am like you o also get

[@MrMcbear]

Motorcycles in general don't trip lights. Gotta get with your local dot to adjust the sensors.

[@rogercrier]

The Honda Cub is the most selling vehicle, out doing everything else!

[@Sig721Tau]

Yes, the original 50cc version did sell over a 100 million units. But not the new one, a 125cc. Its too soon to tell if it will be a hit with bikers.

[@MrChanw11]

it does trip lights lmao. You have to align yourself with the sensor lines in the street.

[@Blake240p]

I think it'd be cool with 40hp

[@Gerryinthewoods]

Excellent review. Thanks Duke.

[@DukeOfDC]

You're welcome! Hoping I didn't release the video too late last night haha

[@Gerryinthewoods]

@@DukeOfDC Never too late. I just enjoy your perspectives. Especially on bikes like the Monkey which I have read and see in many trade pubs but there's nothing better than a video review by The Duke. My main man for motorcycles.

[@alainberthaux2140]

thank you for the super vidéo , the monkey is formidable , Alain Pyrénées France

[@ze_o_zen]

I have the 50cc mini edition. Is just amazing riding, such a comfortable sit. Thats a good one, but I prefer mine ahah Abraço de Portugal! :)

[@1jasonover]

all these model names are getting ridiculous, like FZMT-07. I would never remember a name like that. But Monkey, now that is a catchy name.

[@1mchartmann]

What is it with Americans and needing more power. When I rode a Honda 50cc Dax it was enough power to get around. You make do with what you have and be happy. This bike is larger in size than the late 60s Monkey. 125cc is a pretty large engine.

[@bullfrogjay4383]

Would this work for a 250 lb adult ? Or should I look for something bigger ?

[@TheGeil8500]

For $500 more or less if on sale a person could get a Yamaha TW 200 . Bigger, Better and with the big fat tires you can go both off road and on road a lot more comfortable riding.

[@TimeTraveler66]

How much do you weigh? How tall are you?

[@DukeOfDC]

Damn, I mean you could buy me a drink first haha

[@wctyre49]

No doubt the 125 needs to be punched out to 175 , it would be so much better for the torque and keep it from being wide open all the time , saving even more fuel.and increasing the fun level.

[@jw4111]

Great review!

[@garygrinkevich6971]

Honda has a gold mine here if they brought out more colors and dropped that price to $1500 cash/street these bikes would be fucking everywhere, though they are beautiful minibikes, for the 3k i can't treat it like toy jumping curbs and riding through the parks.

[@DukeOfDC]

It's $4k + after tags, tax, title, etc... It does seem like a lot, but I think the heritage will push the sales of these up. Apparently they sell like hot cakes

[@garygrinkevich6971]

@@DukeOfDC no doubt they are stunning I wish these were a litlle closer to the chinese scooter price tag these would problably become a road nuisance at that price they'd be so popular.

[@GJS-live]

I think you are right. Make them cheaper with lots of aftermarket options, customizations. Saturate the market - style and accessibility, an iPhone on wheels.

[@jeffreyelliott622]

@@DukeOfDC Is the msrp price tag negotiable at the dealer like regular cars and trucks are ?

[@kuladeeluxe]

Most sold vehicle of all time

[@jaykay643]

...not something you want to take off road?? I was thinking trail riding like we used to with SL70's

[@taylorconnolly7706]

What size fuel bottle could you store under the seat?

[@mattp9029]

I'll wait for the Hunter Cub

[@reno145]

It would be great to throw one of these in the back of the truck.

[@elimaki4833]

What do you buy a grom or a monkey?

[@DukeOfDC]

Neither. I would save my money and buy an R3

[@bluevalkyrie2517]

11:20 That's it I'm sold!

[@jonathan461965]

Man, I wish the roads in the UK were as good as yours!!

[@mikeskidmore6754]

They say go one tooth smaller on the front sprocket and it will go faster..

[@aucompaugh]

For crying out loud,...i was showing my wife a video to convince her how great these are and you kept giving disparaging remarks...crap now i have an uphill battle to get her to agree to it

[@DukeOfDC]

I’m sorry! Not my intention, just my personal opinion. Don’t get me wrong though, I truly enjoyed the ride

[@MrChris-bx7ss]

Get a Kymco Spade.

[@shizzle1903]

Ammo Man Are those good reliable bikes?

[@mrbubetube]

do you wear white, pink, or black panties? what brand of sugar-free gluten-free fluoride-free jasmine scented mineral water do you drink?

[@DeontrayMartin-bi5wy]

Is It 4 Speed Semi Automatic

[@alfonsovazquez5511]

looks so fun i want to ride it

[@СерверМустафаев-д2г]

very nice bike!

[@pennsyltuckyden9823]

I thought they were closer to 5k?

[@creepyclosetfromthecrypt]

7:55 “Dankey Little Mofos.”

[@mikemiller2094]

It would be nice for a Honda monkey 250cc

[@sashaa2400]

Oohh, I want thats one. Amazıng!

[@bareknucklesmick9761]

You'll get way better performance by changing out the front sprocket,

[@artmchugh5644]

JESUS !!!!! Ask someone how to pronounce EMMAUS !!!!!😄😄😄😄😄😄😎😎😎😎🍺🍺🍺

[@johnfiglear9777]

Yeah, it’s E-May-Us. Have some respect!

[@alienzgamer384]

Is this illegal to ride on the street or not?

[@DukeOfDC]

Of course! It’s plated and everything

[@Doogerauoy]

THE ALIENZ GAMER I wouldn’t take it on the highway though without some modifications.

[@jamesmenard5450]

Legal, not on freeway in California.

[@Blueecobeast]

I enjoy this video 👍🐒

[@jw4111]

Does instrument panel have gear indicator?

[@harlanpepper]

No, wish it did.

[@schrauberermel1758]

Honda monkey ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

[@eelisaittamaki4107]

”This is the retro grom” so he havent heard bout the real 1970-1980 honda monkeys

[@DukeOfDC]

No I certainly have, but the grom is like the new age Monkey and vise versa

[@David-cm4ok]

How come you get only 51, 52 mph? Most other riders on yt seem to get 60 plus. Are you heavy?

[@BrushlessNitroSlayer]

I hate to say it but I am in the market for a new bike budget is low these are in my price range but I think they are priced like shit for what they are. Same with scooters priced like crap because usually for $1000 more you can get a Ninja 400 brand new and actually travel at safe rd speeds.

[@roketman555]

how much do you weigh ?

[@thomasalderson368]

monkey vs. honda rebel 300?

[@claudtalkz2194]

really depends what you're using it for, right? one is a minimoto, one is full-size-ish. more top end on rebel 300, more juice relatively speaking. one will get stolen when you blink, one won't.

[@brianmccann666]

Price of the Honda Monkey ??

[@Max-dd6ep]

$3,999

[@zackhewitt1147]

"not gonna compare it to something bigger"... Compares it to next bigger class that has over 2x displacement lol

[@DukeOfDC]

Couldn’t help myself haha

[@michaelbainhauer5068]

EEEEMayUS is how locals pronounce that town!

[@jesusshuttleworth8523]

These do 160 miles per gallon

[@azmendozafamily]

No dank nooner?

[@dylan.r622]

I went to the dealer and bought some weed. THEN i went to the honda dealer and i sat on the monkey and it felt like a couch. Like If a buy a monkey i will just use it as a chair to do the home work

[@jorgeal2218]

"If I get a speeding ticket on this.." lol

[@schrauberermel1758]

Honda ist das beste 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍

[@Praster89]

You know there’s a 5th gear right?

[@JesseeS1990]

Negative, there is not

[@jeffreyelliott622]

There will be a 5 speed tranny on the 2022 model Chimpanzee (Monkey) that is and I'm gonna put dough down on one for my 1st motor bike !!!!

[@pagas5002]

i greece there is so meny of the old ones

[@Bert439]

2t would have me salivating

[@DukeOfDC]

2t??

[@drigby18]

DukeOfDC 2 stroke in German is 2t