Honda Monkey 125 I Top 5 Must-Have Mods! How Much Have I Spent?!

[@ericpro5968]

I had a CBR1000 then a T-MAX then a Piaggio MP3 500 but with age (69 years old) it became too heavy and dangerous for me, my heart and my fragile back... Not cool but that's life. I will continue as long as I can on 2 wheels. I sold my MP3 and bought the 2024 version of the Honda Monkey 125. Of course it changes!!! But honestly I don't regret it, I use it more often. The original exhaust is perfect, no need to change and waste money for nothing. You can improve but why do it? A Monkey is not made to go fast. I just bought a "warning" kit and a Motowolf MDL3505 universal extension crossbar to install a phone holder or a small bag and a mirror extension. A great mini bike, very comfortable and reliable. With motorcycle sensations (not like a scooter), 115 km/h max (100 on the flat) is not much but we can manage (5 hp missing for perfection). A little expensive (€4,300) in France but it makes me smile and it's really cool especially in town or on short trips!

[@Sn4zzyPineapple]

Great video as always mate. I recently found your channel and been enjoying the back catalogue Just got my first big bike, SV650X (after my learner 125) and you inspire me to go out in all weathers and rip around. Cheers for the good vibes!

[@SamVBikes]

Thank you mate! Nice choice! Safe riding pal 💪🏼

[@waynesmith537]

Great video Sam that’s a lot of mods you have done bike looks great I’ve done a few mods on mine termignoni decat exhaust same chain and sprockets as yours r&g tail tidy k&n air filter I haven’t noticed any pops and bangs yet I’ve left the suspension stock as not going off road and also the small chrome rear rack all the best mate.

[@SamVBikes]

Thank you bud! Love the look of the Termi! Ride safe and thanks for watching!

[@mad4bikes]

👍Looking forward to future mods

[@SamVBikes]

😘 Lots of them to come! 😏

[@JulianMarks-s7l]

Cracking video Sam lots of details will help a lot people. Keep them coming young man. 😊

[@SamVBikes]

Thank you mate! Yeah not for some people but I get a lot of questions about my mods so hopefully it will be useful for those!

[@EpicAdamMotovlogs]

My thought process has done a complete 360. It started as me getting a monkey, then moved to Interceptor 650, continental gt 650, Triumph bonneville, Triumph Thruxton and back to a Monkey.

[@SamVBikes]

Haha! I understand that! The others a definitely a more serious smaller capacity bike. The Monkey is just stupid which is what I love about it. Gets love everywhere you go, and just riding a tiny bike feels hilarious. Having said that, I wouldnt have it as my only bike

[@EpicAdamMotovlogs]

@SamVBikes I have a Himalayan as well. If I get the monkey, it will be my 2nd bike.

[@ozzyprogdomino8815]

My Monkey has a few mods. ASV shorty Leavers Yoshimura exhaust (bought a baffle so i don’t go deaf) Yoshimura frame plugs Lithium Battery Rear Rack Enduristan rally tail pack which sits on the rack Monkey brake reservoir cover Horn cover Custom stickers because it’s name is Clyde to fit on plastic covers

[@Jones-xx2gc]

The bash plate looks a good idea, and that exhaust looks ace. How about folding handlebars like the original. Would make it ideal for motorhome users.

[@SamVBikes]

Yeah would be very useful for throwing it in a van! Although not sure how strong they would be for jumping it 😂

[@Jones-xx2gc]

@@SamVBikes I wouldn't be going to that extreme.🤣

[@Bob-ts2tu]

you can tell you love this bike, nice to see you enjoying it

[@SamVBikes]

Fantastic little thing!

[@djbestyboyz2]

Thanks for the plug for the Tail Tidy and Shockguards

[@SamVBikes]

Are they yours? Love them!

[@SandStormPower]

I adjust my chain each 600, 750 miles. Once it reaches the maximum limit I shall replace the chain too. I hope the dealer can cover part of it, claiming warranty because it's unacceptable a chain stretching so much with so few miles

[@hijack4661]

Nice changes. You said it runs rich, but with the exhaust and air filter it has to run lean. To much air and not enough fuel. What am i missing? 4:20 ???

[@margaretmula1315]

Exactly my thought.

[@lightale1367]

Love the your monkey 🐒 bike....first thing i would mod.....the silver mud guards

[@garymasterson1174]

Bonkers. Love it

[@ExtraCheese666]

Been planning on buying a monkey for ab a year, finally getting one next month. First thing I’ll do is replace the gas tank cover and seat. Definitely need the Japanese exhaust.

[@SamVBikes]

Nice!! There's such a big modification scene for them which I was surprised by

[@ExtraCheese666]

@@SamVBikes ik an it seems like it’ll be a on going project😂 glad I found this channel I have a lot to learn this is my first bike.

[@SamVBikes]

@ExtraCheese666 haha surprising amount of money to spend on such a small bike 😂

[@ExtraCheese666]

@@SamVBikes I’m so excited🤮

[@skoorbyalc]

Mr. Vincent, I really appreciate your video. I just lucked into a great deal on a Banana Yellow 2019 Monkey. I have a question about the most important mod you mentioned. Where did you get that converse boot? Please advise a.s.a.p., because my Monkey doesn't want to be seen in public insufficiently attired.

[@endurevisuals]

Great Video, Reference the hand guards and mirrors, did you need any extra bits or just two items showed on Amazon???

[@SamVBikes]

Thank you! Just those two parts. They come with everything you need besides tools.

[@endurevisuals]

@@SamVBikes Thanks Mate 👍

[@andrewagathangelou3505]

Awsome mate! I got a 2023 monkey I want to upgrade chain and sprockets. Can you please help me with sprockets as I don't know what to order and where from i.e sizes and brands!? There's all different sizes and I'm confused. Thanks 👍🏻

[@SamVBikes]

Congrats! I went for the D.I.D chain and sprockets set which was relatively decent price wise. I think it comes with JT sprockets. Worth just sticking to stock sizing on the sprockets in my opinion. I ran a smaller front for a while but it barely made a difference

[@MaxMax-mh6po]

Cracking video, I’ve got a 2023 Monkey. When you fitted the Takegawa rack did you remove the inside washer on the top shock mount? Seen some people don’t not sure which way to go

[@SamVBikes]

Thank you! Nope, I've left it in place. There seemed enough thread to warrant leaving it on!

[@estufados]

Nice video. Did the kitaco skid plate fit well with the scorpion exhaust?

[@SamVBikes]

It needed some persuading with a hammer... The header gets in the way so you have to straighten out one section of the skid plate

[@michaelmclarney1994]

Nice round up of mods Sam, it's amazing how much you can spend on these things and what you can save buying non top branded stuff and the quality of a lot of stuff is okay, if you shop carefully!

[@SamVBikes]

Thank you pal! Yes it's very quick to spend money on these. It doesn't help that everything seems cheap compared to the Super Adv so you just buy more 😂

[@michaelmclarney1994]

@@SamVBikes I know what you mean, I need to keep staying away from my phone and desktop after a couple of beers and a whiskey! I have been looking at soft luggage for the adv bike but I haven't even decided on one yet, let alone buy one! 😂😂

[@SamVBikes]

Hahaha! Well that exact thing has lead to what I have sat in a box in my living room for the Monkey 😂😂 Ahh nice you thinking throwover bags or roll bags?

[@michaelmclarney1994]

@@SamVBikes I have a Kriega 30L roll bag so thinking throw over panniers and rack, if I go with the latest contender xt700, with a rack to protect the high level exhaust too. There are very reasonably priced roll top set ups for a fraction of the brilliant Kriega stuff. Your test a few weeks ago got me checking them out and they look worth a go, given the savings to be had.

[@SamVBikes]

You know what... since I did that video I've seen a LOAD of reviews on the Rhinowalk stuff. Every single person loves it! Well well worth it. Plus even cheaper if you get it through mad4bikes with the discount haha. Throwover definitely seems to be the way forward for a lot of people!

[@dessutton8896]

Hi great video . Do you mind if I ask where do you getvyour accessories from please. As I've looked on Google and most of my findings are either in Thailand or China?? Regards Des

[@EZMOTOModificationaccessories]

We sell headlight covers for this model in many styles and colors. I think you will like them!

[@JayyBird93]

Have you had the issue with the headlight popping out? Seems to be more prevalent with off roading.

[@SamVBikes]

I did once when I was blasting around the ABR Festival but since I put it back it, it's never happened. I have upgraded the front Suspension though so it doesn't bottom out anymore

[@ipdjbt]

I'm trying my hardest not to buy one of these for my 4 mile commute to work. And your vids are not helping, lol.

[@SamVBikes]

Haha! It's almost perfect for that. If you don't have to go on a fast road like a motorway, I'd definitely do it haha

[@ipdjbt]

I'm picking up my brand new Monkey Saturday, thanks to you, lol. Its even the same colors as yours, not that I had much choice since these things sell from dealer lots so quickly. @@SamVBikes

[@KM-ee2fo]

Get one! It is sooooo much fun!!

[@BKWalrus]

Try less.

[@alexzingo6952]

Monkey uses 2L fuel on 100kms. You save that if you walk instead. Driving Monkey makes you smile. People respect more serious people. Driving and founding parking spots is easy, but makes car drivers jealous. You don’t like jealous people around you? I hope this helps you resist for buying Monkey. And I don’t sell my monkey for you, you have to buy your own, but be quick, they sell fast.

[@markdrummond7]

Doesn't a free flowing air filter cause lean running rather than rich?

[@lethalmizzle]

That’s what I was thinking. And running lean is not good.

[@wobs5]

You are not my wife's favourite person😊. She caught me looking at a video of yours and decided that you are where all these expensive ideas are coming from. In your defence I already had a Motech Micro on my GS so just bought the ring for the monkey. Sounds a bit weird that🤔. Put a Hepco plate on top of my Monkey heavy rack (came from OZ!) which is brilliant as I can stick all sorts of bags on it. Put the same YSS shocks as you soon after buying the bike as kept bottoming the stock ones. Gotta sort the forks out now and adding in the heavier clutch springs this weekend although I'm gonna put just 3 of the +60% ones on first so it'll effectively be +30% and see what that's like. Gear shift lever and DID chain coming soon to better handle the sharper bite of the clutch. Spent far too much money on colour matched Pyramid air box covers (but they do look great IMO) so no intake mods but will stick a Takegawa filter in. Oh, the little black Dart screen looks great on these. And she thought my days of spending money on bikes would stop when I got the Monkey😁😁.

[@SamVBikes]

😂😂😂 tell her it adds value to your bike if you do it correctly and this moron on KZbin has bought all the parts to test which is best.. and when she doesn't believe that, just pretend you're researching for a mate

[@wobs5]

@@SamVBikes 🤣🤣🤣. I'll try it.

[@himatrix]

This bike is rated for 105 kg max. I only had issues with front shocks, so updated only front springs, which was really a messy and hard task to do.

[@simonj5004]

Cool you fit the mods yourself.if you had to pay someone you could probably add well over another £1k .🤟

[@SamVBikes]

Thanks mate! Yeah definitely saves a lot of money! This bike is a great one to learn to work on. Super easy, and quite difficult to mess things up!

[@simonj5004]

@@SamVBikes sure is and alot more rewarding doing work yourself.such great little bikes.😎

[@CrustyBiker]

Did your D.I.D go straight onto stock cogs, coz isn't the stock chain a 400 and the upgrade 420 width!?

[@SamVBikes]

Stock rear cog and I dropped a tooth at the front with a kitaco sprocket

[@himatrix]

420 is stock.

[@Gadgza]

What was the name of that chain?

[@SamVBikes]

It's a D.I.D heavy duty one!

[@joewildwest2241]

what’s a quid

[@SamVBikes]

GBP, Pound, Quid, £

[@MOTO_LEW]

Wow so early just in time for my bath 😂

[@SamVBikes]

You're not the first person to tell me you're watching my content in the bath... not sure if I should be worried if that becomes too regular 😂😂

[@MOTO_LEW]

@@SamVBikes Could be worse could be in the shower 😂but my legs still to bad for that and I don’t want to slip and brake it again 🥹😂

[@SamVBikes]

😂😂 broke your leg again because you knew it would make me feel uncomfortable haha

[@MOTO_LEW]

@@SamVBikes 😂

[@andrewharrop7932]

Quality 😂🏍👍

[@SamVBikes]

😂🫶🏼

[@ohwell2790]

All that money and you did not get the most important thing for a Monkey. A CENTER STAND. All that doesn't do much . Mine shifts just fine stock, exhaust only makes it loud and makes less power than stock. What, still stock intake the biggest power upgrade is a cold air intake. Yes, after market rear shocks are a must but prefer the Man in the Box set for 119 USD. Front forks are just fine too. Nice tires for the dirt roads.

[@SamVBikes]

I take this off-road a lot so a centre stand reduces ground clearance, plus adds quite a lot of weight. I have a paddock stand to lift the rear when cleaning. The exhaust I have has been dyno tested to increase power too. Some of the more open ones I can understand losing power as there is no back pressure. Upgraded air filter instead of the upgraded intake was for the same reason as I ride the bike year round, in all weathers and take it off-road. Those cold air intakes cannot get wet which means I can't use the bike for off road or in any rain which we get a lot of here!

[@Silence-and-Violence]

All exhast lose power or just the one he's running?

[@himatrix]

119 usd for a cai? :D 😮 I made one myself with a silicon hose, a metal pipe between hose and and the filter, a foam cone filter + some clamps. Air temp sensor can be attached with zip ties to stock filter bolt holes so it sticks just behind the air filter. Pcv hose can be used with a catch can etc.

[@thomasklegstad8538]

The whole "louder exhuast to be heard for safety" thing is such a load of crap lol. Just admit you want attention.

[@SamVBikes]

When youre just riding along the road, yeah i agree. It's not when there's a noticeable difference in cars seeing you whilst filtering through traffic in a city, pedestrians hearing you over the sound of their doom scrolling and music before they step out into traffic without looking etc. That shows a vast difference between having a sewing machine exhaust and something that makes your presence known

[@thomasklegstad8538]

@@SamVBikes yet somehow bicycles and ebikes are just fine without 100 decibel horns. It's a "Look at me" thing and you know it.

[@SamVBikes]

They normally have dedicated cycle lanes in London.. but you see pedestrians get hit by cyclists constantly. Outside of the city, there's normally a queue of cars behind them so quite obvious. The loud exhausts, that are excessive, sure are a 'look at me' thing, but I'm all for having some noise. Also the exact reason electric cars now legally have to produce a noise