2019 Honda Monkey Build: TB Parts Cam Overview and Install

[@landonfolken03]

One of the best tutorial videos I've seen. Clear and concise and even went back to explain some of the "tricks" you used etc. Well done!

[@John5XR]

Thanks for this awesome feedback, I appreciate that!

[@CANE1202]

Perfect tutorial. Only problem is that every time I see one of your videos, I end up ordering the parts. Lol. Keep em coming bud!!!!

[@John5XR]

Thanks! That is a problem for me too, as the more popular these get the more I feel pressured to mod the bike to make more! 😂🤦🏼‍♂️

[@CANE1202]

Just finished my install of the TB Parts cam. Thanks for the video, it made it all so much easier. Now to go out and ride this thing!!!!

[@John5XR]

Enjoy! I love the bike with the cam, it really pulls all the mods together perfectly

[@MrDazza64]

Super job John5. Next week I’m flying out to Thailand for a two week motorcycle tour... vacation as you guys over the pond say. We fly into Bangkok and have a couple of days R&R to get over the jet lag before setting out on the bikes. Our hotel is only 30 minutes or so away from the Zeed Custom Monkey Shop and I’m sure going to pickup some parts for my 2019 Monkey whilst there! So far I’ve only done a few cosmetic jobs, plus exhaust, 14 tooth front sprocket and the direct gear shift mod. Regards, Dazza. 🇬🇧

[@John5XR]

Thanks Dazza! Wow, I’m super jealous of that trip! I’ve seen the dual-sport tours in Vietnam and through the Himalayas and always thought that’d be an amazing experience. Bucket list thing for me for sure!

[@ratscoot]

The Takegawa N20 cam has provision to accept the decompression parts from the stock cam. The N15cam is the same grind but without the decompression provision. You need a heavy duty starter and battery with the N15 cam and a BBK.

[@John5XR]

Interesting. Yeah, I’ll be adding a bigger starter soon enough, it definitely grabs on startup after adding the TB cam

[@robertyoung8289]

Another enjoyable informative video. Thank you!

[@adambaker1740]

Another great vid John, awesome production too! Thanks for your time & efforts mate 🙂

[@John5XR]

Thanks Adam! This was my biggest and most in-depth production yet. I really appreciate you noticing that as it was a TON of editing! I think it came out well though and am happy with it👌

[@re20bt]

I was exactly the same... “I like it stock!” ... now I’m $2k+ in mods and considering a cam next😂

[@UnknownOverLand]

Great job on the install, this is definitely on my short list of projects for the Monkey. While I have the bazzaz currently on the bike, I may go ahead and do a full ECU flash (but maybe still let the bazzaz help after).

[@John5XR]

Thanks! I’m gonna try an ecu reflash and see how it works. It’s too easy to not want to have, as well as the Bazzaz works

[@user-ms3bd6mg8z]

Very thorough, thank you

[@OwenAHall]

John... as always great video... question: what purpose does the small bolt adjacent to the cam chain tensioner do? Why would you have to re-supply the tiny bit of oil prior to putting it back in... my assumption is to just lubricant the spring... I just do not understand why remove it in the first place since you did not remove the spring and plastic-tipped metal plunger that touches the cam tension rocker-arm... thanks

[@John5XR]

Ya know I'm not entirely sure what it does, but I'd assume it holds the cam chain tensioner in place, like a locking bolt. The oil is usually to ensure less friction on surfaces

[@jddaox]

Great tutorial. I am excited to make this mod. Let me know what your new top speed it.

[@John5XR]

Thanks! Gotta get that app you told me about to get an accurate speed and I’ll gonna make a ride/review video

[@berndbecker8155]

Tolles Video, perfect tutorial.

[@Miwiz1]

good info, fam. Ill be doing this to my grom soon. thank you very mucho 🍺

[@John5XR]

Thanks! Glad it helped out. I’ll be swapping the DCR Pro 1 cam to the TB that’s in my Grom as well. I was impressed by it in the Monkey so am switching to it on the Grom too

[@Miwiz1]

John5XR do you have a stock engine on it? Or big bore? I have the stock engine and i just wanna install the camshaft, but im a little scared that i might blow the engine up. What do you think?

[@John5XR]

Totally stock engine. Just an exhaust and intake for power adders. This setup is very safe so long as you control the fuel (give it more)

[@Miwiz1]

John5XR ok... i was looking at that specific brand you are talking about. Looks like they recommend some little springs that i have no idea where they go. I was looking at the Koso 240. Some other KZbinr says it’s pretty good and he recommended me to get that one. What do you think? Im trying to get as much info as possible to make a better decision. Thanks man.

[@ValorGee]

Awesome video!

[@kylemahle5885]

Love the videos keep em coming, with the 14/36t sprockets, intake, cam, exhaust and ecu tune what are you seeing fo top speed on the bike?

[@tcbmoto]

Hello Jhon. I'm from Portugal. I would like to ask your opinion. I have a Honda Monkey 125, year 2022. My engine is original. I installed a complete Yoshimura Race RS-3 exhaust. The engine cuts out the rotation very early. I don't want to change the piston to a larger one, I want to leave the original one. I just want to apply the air filter and the cam, and know if it is possible to reprogram the original ECU for the climate in which I ride the bike. Can you tell me which is the best air filter and cam for me to buy? Thank you.

[@hooniganhondaboy8091]

My grom has brocks exhaust, chimera intake and a pcv with a tune for those on it. Can I just put the cam in and be good as it is since it’s already been tuned for the exhaust and intake???

[@John5XR]

Honestly I’m not entirely sure, but I’m thinking yes. At the very least, you might not be tuned for making the most power, but as long as the spark plug electrode isn’t chalky white, you should be ok

[@nickgralenski]

Where did you get the install guide with all the torque specs?

[@bobyolstunts2725]

Hope this helps me with the ticking on my z125. Checked my valves after half a year of owner ship.and they were way too tight. Opened em up a bit but still a ticking sound in the top end..

[@John5XR]

I think you’ll always have a bit of ticking, I’d recommend a .003 gap on both intake and exhaust with the TB cam

[@janjoppe1]

Hi John, got a short question, when I install the TBcam and Bazzaz, do I also need a bigger injector? Or is that overkill? Already have got the Akrapovic exhaust and the MNNTHBX intake installed.

[@John5XR]

Nope! The stock injector should be fine for that setup. I am running the stock injector and am still using the tune that came with my Bazzaz from MNNTHBX and the bike rips!! Stay tuned for an upcoming video where I try out a reflashed custom tune ecu, which is another option if you don’t wanna go the “tune yourself” route

[@RiggerbeeOffRoad]

Where did you get the instructional document that you are following in this video?

[@John5XR]

You can order the manual direct through a dealer, or on the web by visiting Honda’s website. It’s like $30 plus shipping

[@morrismanski]

Does the cam still have to be placed in a certain position? In connection with the rocker arms?

[@John5XR]

Yes. The groove on the cam along with the cam chain wheel will indicate where top dead center is.

[@jordanritchie6789]

Hi just wondering anyone reading this..... I have a rattle in my yx140 after a valve adjust ... I open it up and the camshaft and bearing have play the chain/sprocket touched the head casing scratching it up wondering if the cam bearing well whole camshaft is supposed to have play if not .... will a new bearing cam shaft work it's like the bearing is semi pressed with play cheers

[@bonaguilopez5904]

Hi John. Is that the same to honda rs125fi. I want to upgrade. Is that comtible tb part cam. Plag & play?

[@John5XR]

Hi Bonagui, I'm not sure what the Honda RS125fi is, does it have the same engine as the Grom/Monkey?

[@bonaguilopez5904]

@@John5XR yes John, the engine was almost the same. I just wanna know. Is that stock bore no valve pocket?

[@John5XR]

Yes it’s stock bore

[@godzillasuzuki2374]

Nice tutorial

[@John5XR]

Thanks!

[@lanceshaver6588]

John, in the video you set the valves at .004 and .007 but in the comments below you say .003 for both, can you explain the difference?

[@John5XR]

.007 and .004 are the OEM settings, but the tighter tolerance is better for the higher lift cam

[@8300rpmallday]

So when you valve lash did you keep both the exhaust and the intake at tdc?

[@brandonhinkley1106]

Des this cause noticeable wear in things like valves, piston etc over time from increased compression?

[@John5XR]

A cam wouldn’t increase compression, just change the length and height in how the valves are opening. That in turn changes the airflow characteristics of the engine and adds power in different places across the RPM range. I can’t see it changing much in the wear of the piston rings, but any mod away from the stock config towards performance should be considered to add wear and tear. Just how much, that I don’t know yet! What I do know, is that I paid less than $100 for a new OEM piston, rings, and entire cylinder for my Grom when I removed my big bore kit, so even if it wears faster, it’s not a huge deal to replace if you’re willing

[@jakubmihal3722]

Please where to find that monkey workshop manual in pdf ?

[@John5XR]

Not sure on pdf. Having it in book form is totally worth the $35 or so in my opinion

[@jakubmihal3722]

@@John5XR Yeah for sure its worth it, i mean for trips its better to have it in phone than carry a book :)

[@John5XR]

True! I haven’t seen it online, but you might check the Honda Monkey 125 Facebook group. I think I saw it being talked about on there once

[@timschutte6924]

Very good job but I don't think I will be doing that any time soon. Nope. Not me. My luck would be to implode the valves and through the cylinder wall.

[@reidspeed77]

🗿👍I used that hex head trick for the timing case ,

[@wayneryan1440]

Hi John, Does your engine light still come with the 14 T sprocket change?

[@John5XR]

No, I think I was having an issue with my ecu actually. The 14T is more than likely going to disable the abs though

[@ontheway4034]

Where is the ride review after the cam install? I don't see it in your video history.

[@John5XR]

Not sure, it was a while ago and a lot of videos ago at this point!

[@ontheway4034]

Well, do you like the cam? Would you suggest it? I have a Monkey ABS. So far all I’ve done is a Yoshimura slip on exhaust. Considering the cam, air intake and ECU upgrade. I’d like a little more top end. Almost all of my riding is on road.

[@John5XR]

Yes I do like the cam, but I feel it’s important to change the gearing to accommodate the dip in low end power it will cause, but if all you ride is street, and intake/pipe/reflash combo would be a nice setup

[@zachsiebers5742]

Did you have part of your shocks powder coated to match the wheels?

[@John5XR]

No, but good eye! Those are TB Parts shocks I am testing. They’re pretty sexy for the price 👌

[@Memito-]

I can't find the video to follow up with the after drive... link?

[@John5XR]

Ya know I’m not sure I ever did a follow up! I’m planning on making a “all the mods so far” video to provide my thoughts on them

[@Memito-]

@@John5XR I see, Loved your video sir! I think a 9 year old could install a cam following your instructions🤠 Super easy step by step!

[@John5XR]

That’s awesome! I love hearing that!

[@Agwings1960]

Im starting to see why these little Honda engines are so good, they use lots of ball bearings inside the engine.

[@wheelercarmichael1654]

Good video didn’t get to finish because the amount of adds. 👎🏽