Hi! I’ve had quite a few Monkeys, 7 so far I think (and many larger bikes, including a quite small Honda Dax, all he rest much bigger bikes). So I believe I can give you a short storyline for the Monkey (to the best of my abilities, and I’ll leave out a lot of info, since I can speak about the Monkey-history for hours!). It all started in 1961 when the original Z100 was produced in a very small series for the amusement park TamaTech i Japan. It basically used the engine from the 1959 Honda SuperCub, but in a very much smaller chassis. 1963 Honda came out with a commercial version of basically the same bike. Everything was of course changed (we’re talking about Honda!) but except for the (very ugly) petrol tank borrowed from a larger motorcycle, it still looked quite similar. Next version was the Z50m, which still was a suspension-less design, but with a very nice styling (the CZ100 was… well ugly!) with its red/white colour scheme and Scottish look-seat. Anyway, the next version was the Z50A that had 8” wheels (earlier Monkeys had fat tires on 5” rims) and also the new Z50A had front suspension. Versions vere K0, K1 and K2 some without light some with. It became very popular and… In 1972 Honda came out with suspension both front and rear for the Monkey. The name Z50A remained but with the name extension changed to K3. Basically the same model was introduces 1974 in Europe and elsewhere. The name outside the US was Z50j for most markets (some used Z50a, Sweden had bike sold as both Z50A and Z50j in 1976, without significant differences) and this round tank version (from 1972/1974) is today most often referred to as the Z50j1. In 1979 the version (like the one your sitting on in the video) with drop shaped tank was introduced outside the US. This new version is most often referred to as the j2. In the US it was over with Monkeys for grown ups, bikes that could be used on road. Since 1979 the Monkey for the US was the dirt bike Z50r. Made as a play-bike for children. Very low seat and no lights. Not really a Monkey. Anyway, the j2- version (Z50j2) was produced for many, many years and was finally followed by the 2009 last reincarnation Z50 that was only for the japanese market, it was called “limited edition” and was supposed to be produced only that year, but it was produced (in different versions every year, announced as “the last year”, almost every year) until 2018 (last model year was 2017). And that was basically the end of the TRUE Monkey-era. After that Honda of course made the “Monkey 125”, with became a great success, but it is a completely new and much, much larger motorcycle. It is weighing in at >100 kg! Also, It is not a Z-model, like all small 50cc-Monkeys, including the large tank Gorilla-version that was produced some years. I almost forgot the mention that one. 😊 There is so much more that could be told, but I believe that that’s the main line of the Monkey-story! Godday!
I should perhaps add the special moped-version that was made for the finnish market for many, many years. It was basically a Z50j2, but made specially for Finland. Most of them were in red and black over the years.
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I absolutely love seeing these mini bikes being brought back, I’m young and love the older bikes. Mean as
Thanks for watching we hope to see you in a bike if your own pretty soon 🤘🤘
Super cool, takes me back to the 80’s. So rad. No helmet and free. Fairly safe at low speed in your driveway. Love your work brother
Thanks Bro...you should come for a ride soon...
Hi!
I’ve had quite a few Monkeys, 7 so far I think (and many larger bikes, including a quite small Honda Dax, all he rest much bigger bikes). So I believe I can give you a short storyline for the Monkey (to the best of my abilities, and I’ll leave out a lot of info, since I can speak about the Monkey-history for hours!).
It all started in 1961 when the original Z100 was produced in a very small series for the amusement park TamaTech i Japan. It basically used the engine from the 1959 Honda SuperCub, but in a very much smaller chassis.
1963 Honda came out with a commercial version of basically the same bike. Everything was of course changed (we’re talking about Honda!) but except for the (very ugly) petrol tank borrowed from a larger motorcycle, it still looked quite similar.
Next version was the Z50m, which still was a suspension-less design, but with a very nice styling (the CZ100 was… well ugly!) with its red/white colour scheme and Scottish look-seat.
Anyway, the next version was the Z50A that had 8” wheels (earlier Monkeys had fat tires on 5” rims) and also the new Z50A had front suspension. Versions vere K0, K1 and K2 some without light some with. It became very popular and…
In 1972 Honda came out with suspension both front and rear for the Monkey. The name Z50A remained but with the name extension changed to K3. Basically the same model was introduces 1974 in Europe and elsewhere. The name outside the US was Z50j for most markets (some used Z50a, Sweden had bike sold as both Z50A and Z50j in 1976, without significant differences) and this round tank version (from 1972/1974) is today most often referred to as the Z50j1. In 1979 the version (like the one your sitting on in the video) with drop shaped tank was introduced outside the US. This new version is most often referred to as the j2.
In the US it was over with Monkeys for grown ups, bikes that could be used on road. Since 1979 the Monkey for the US was the dirt bike Z50r. Made as a play-bike for children. Very low seat and no lights. Not really a Monkey.
Anyway, the j2- version (Z50j2) was produced for many, many years and was finally followed by the 2009 last reincarnation Z50 that was only for the japanese market, it was called “limited edition” and was supposed to be produced only that year, but it was produced (in different versions every year, announced as “the last year”, almost every year) until 2018 (last model year was 2017).
And that was basically the end of the TRUE Monkey-era.
After that Honda of course made the “Monkey 125”, with became a great success, but it is a completely new and much, much larger motorcycle. It is weighing in at >100 kg! Also, It is not a Z-model, like all small 50cc-Monkeys, including the large tank Gorilla-version that was produced some years. I almost forgot the mention that one. 😊
There is so much more that could be told, but I believe that that’s the main line of the Monkey-story!
Godday!
I should perhaps add the special moped-version that was made for the finnish market for many, many years.
It was basically a Z50j2, but made specially for Finland. Most of them were in red and black over the years.