HONDA The Power of Dreams

Since 1978, the Monkey’s styling had remained basically the same, although minor refinements were applied over the years.

The Monkey, a Japan-exclusive 50 cc model, was limited in sales volume as it targeted a highly specific hobbyist market. This was one of the reasons for caution in revamping the Monkey, as it would lead to a higher production cost.

As the 21st Century arrived, however, the entire industry including Honda strengthened measures to control emissions. In fact, emission regulations that came into effect in 2006 set a much higher standard than the prior regulations of the 1990s. In order for the Monkey to remain in the market under these conditions, it needed to be revamped to comply with the new emission regulations in Japan.

The development team was organized at this time of regulatory turmoil with the goal not only to comply with stricter emission regulations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to create a new Monkey full of appeal that would attract new customers while continuing the Monkey tradition.

Although the Monkey had been a highly popular collector’s item for 40 years, the development team strived to keep costs down to a minimum level, to make the Monkey affordable for a wider customer base.

Developed to be “MY BEST SMALL,” the Monkey’s styling that matched modern sensibilities had taken shape while maintaining the compact, simple chassis and adorable design that make it a Monkey.

The new Monkey’s engine was the air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder 50cc OHC engine from the Super Cub 50 released in September 2007. This engine featured an offset cylinder and roller rocker arms to reduce friction.

The mounting of this new engine required precision down to the millimeter, as the body is very small, and the mounting position could affect handling stability.

In addition to a new electronically-controlled fuel injection system (PGM-FI), a catalyzer was placed in the exhaust pipe to further enhance environmental performance.

As the Monkey’s chassis was very compact compared to the Super Cub, there were many technical challenges to overcome, such as mounting the engine and other components as well as placement of the exhaust pipe with a built-in catalyzer.

Despite these challenges, the development team set high standards for the new Monkey with a wheelbase of 895 mm and a seat height of 660 mm, the same as the outgoing model, in order to preserve the Monkey’s compact and cute appearance.

The new Monkey was successfully completed, featuring many innovations.

The folding handlebars featured in the catalog are a unique feature of the Monkey, inherited from the first-generation Monkey Z50M launched in 1967.

In conjunction with its launch in February 2009, a special pre-order model, the Monkey Limited, was released for a limited time. The Monkey Limited featured a bright red and silver fuel tank, stylish checkered seat upholstery, chrome-plated front and rear fenders, an exhaust pipe cover, and other exclusive equipment.

The new Monkey was a hit with many motorcycle fans, with its cute, traditional styling and powerful, environmentally friendly engine. It was small in size, but it made a big statement.