So, I’ve been riding my Honda Monkey for a good while now, and you know how it is, folks always ask the same thing: “Just how fast does that little thing go?” I’ve seen numbers thrown around online, some sounding a bit optimistic if you ask me. I’m the kind of guy who needs to find things out for himself, so I decided, right, let’s actually see what this Monkey can do when you really push it.
Setting Up for the Speed Run
First things first, I wasn’t about to do this on some busy highway. Safety is always my top priority. I waited for a quiet Sunday morning, found a nice, long, flat stretch of road I know well, where I wouldn’t be bothering anyone or putting myself in a silly spot. Checked the tire pressures, made sure the chain was lubed – you know, the usual pre-ride checks. Even though it’s a Monkey, I still wore all my gear. No cutting corners on safety, ever.
I didn’t do any fancy mods for this, mind you. This is my stock Monkey, just like it came from the dealer. I wanted to see what a regular one, ridden by a regular guy (that’s me!), could achieve. I mentally prepared myself for the fact that it’s a 125cc engine; we’re not aiming for land speed records here.
Giving It a Go
Alright, so I got to my spot. Took a few deep breaths. Then, I started my runs. I tried to tuck in as much as humanly possible, which on a Monkey feels a bit like a bear riding a tricycle, but hey, every little bit of aerodynamics counts, right? I rolled onto the throttle smoothly, working through the gears, trying to hit that sweet spot for shifting each time. The little engine just sings its heart out when you’re asking for everything it’s got! It’s quite a determined little motor.
I did a few passes, back and forth, to account for any slight inclines or wind that I might not have noticed. You really feel the wind on a small bike like this; even a slight breeze can make a difference.
So, What Was the Number?
After several attempts, getting a feel for what the bike was happy to give, I was consistently seeing a top figure on the speedometer. On a flat, with no significant wind, I was hitting around 55 miles per hour. Maybe, just maybe, with a slight downhill and a friendly tailwind, I could coax it to touch 57 or 58 mph, but that was really pushing it to its absolute limit. The engine was definitely letting me know it was giving its all.
- Getting to 50 mph happens reasonably quick.
- Those last few mph, from 50 to 55, take a bit more patience and road.
- Any sort of headwind, and you’ll struggle to maintain even 50 mph at full throttle.
Honestly, that’s pretty much what I expected. It’s not a speed demon. But here’s the thing I really took away from it: the Monkey isn’t about top speed. It was a fun experiment, and now I know. But the joy of this bike isn’t wringing its neck on a straight road. It’s about the smiles per gallon, the nimbleness in town, and how easy it is to just hop on and have a good time. That 55 mph is perfectly adequate for cruising around on back roads, nipping through city traffic, and generally enjoying the ride.
So, there you have it. My own, real-world test. No fancy equipment, just me, my Monkey, and an open road. It’s plenty fast enough for what it’s designed for, and a whole heap of fun in the process. That’s my take on it, anyway!