A Beloved, Super-Affordable Honda Moto Finally Gets the Most Fitting Update Imaginable

With a history dating back more than six decades, this quirky yet iconic bike rocks a new treatment that is arguably long overdue.

Close-up of a motorcycle's rear section showing a black seat, chrome exhaust with heat shield, orange suspension springs, and rear tire.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published January 23, 2026

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Updated January 23, 2026

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Years ago, I was gravel biking in upstate New York when I came across a guy on a funky little motorcycle hitting the very same trails.

“What is that thing?” I asked.

White and orange Honda mini motorcycle with black seat and chunky tires on a white background. — The new Monkey is bigger than it once was, but still super approachable, especially with this on-point paint job.

“Honda Monkey,” he replied with a grin. “I love it. Crazy fun, easy to ride and I can take it just about anywhere.”

That brief description helps explain the endless charm of this unique small-displacement bike, which in 2026 gets three new paint schemes, including the all-too-appropriate … Banana Yellow.

Monkey shines

As offbeat as the Monkey may look at a glance, it’s hardly a novelty. Such a word can’t fairly be applied to a nameplate whose history dates all the way back to 1961.

That’s the year Honda introduced the prototype Z100, which started as a children’s ride at a Japanese amusement park before getting refined and mass-produced, reaching the European market in 1964.

Compact Honda motorcycle with red frame, silver fuel tank, black seat, and knobby tires on a white background. — The bike is nimble and rugged enough for spirited riding both on and off the beaten path.

Originally running on a 50cc engine with three or four speeds, the bike was hugely approachable thanks to a seat height of less than 22 inches.

Later designated Z50, the bike quickly picked up the Monkey moniker and proved so popular that Honda only announced it was discontinuing the Z50 series in 2017, due to Japanese emission-control regulations.

Close-up of a silver Honda motorcycle engine with black exhaust pipes and foot pedal. — Having more than doubled in size since the original incarnation, the engine packs a bantamweight’s plucky punch.

The very next year, a 124cc bike based on the adorable Grom but carrying Z-inspired styling and paint emerged.

The Honda Monkey 125 has been part of the family ever since.

Curb a-peel

The latest edition retains much of what makes its predecessors such a hit, with its allure only being boosted by the new paint schemes.

There’s something for everyone here, with Matte Gun Powder Metallic coming off surprisingly badass, Millennium Red looking super on-brand and Banana Yellow turning the chassis into a nanner-toned delight, just perfect considering the bike’s name.

All three new treatments are united by a plush, plaid-patterned seat just over 30 inches from the ground.

Honda

Beyond the colors, the Monkey still boasts an air-cooled 124cc engine making 9.25 horsepower at 6,750rpm and peak torque of 7.9 ft-lbs at 5,500 rpm, with a big boy five-speed clutch-activated gearbox dictating the action.

Seat height has climbed significantly since the days of yore, to 30.6 inches, but given its curb weight of 231 pounds and IMU-controlled ABS, the Monkey continues to be one of the most approachable manual transmission motos on the market.

Round digital motorcycle speedometer with chrome bezel and green indicator light. — The gauge has a retro shape but a digital display — and a speedo that “winks cheekily as the ignition is turned on.”

Even with its low price point, the bike still boasts full LED lighting and roughly four inches of front and rear suspension travel, which, together with beefy tires on 12-inch spoked wheels and seven inches of ground clearance, means you can really take it just about anywhere.

With the Monkey set to top 25,000 total sales since its 2018 return, maybe it’s finally time to jump in that barrel.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 Honda Monkey is available now in the UK for £4,199 (roughly $5,699 USD).

Based on how Honda’s motorcycle releases typically go, we should see US distribution later this year.

Considering the 2025 model costs $4,349, the starting price will likely sneak under $4,500.

White and orange Honda Monkey motorcycle with black seat and tires on a gray background.

2026 Honda Monkey

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About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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