Retro // Manual // 2024 // CBT Legal
Honda
Monkey 125
Tiny. Iconic. Endlessly photographable.
Power
9.3 bhp
Weight
104kg
Top Speed
56 mph
From New
£4,299
Profile silhouette
12" spoked · seat 776 mm
Colour palette
- Pearl Nebula Red
- Pearl Shining Yellow
- Pearl Glittering Blue
Range & economy
Honda revived the original 1960s Monkey for the modern era with chunky 12-inch tyres, a five-speed gearbox, and chrome detailing that puts it in design museums as often as showrooms.
Who it's for
Style-led riders, collectors, and anyone who wants their bike to make people smile.
Pros
- Genuinely iconic design
- Excellent residual value
- Wide tyres feel planted
- ABS as standard
Cons
- Cramped for tall riders
- Short range from tiny tank
- Premium price for a 125
Suitability
commuter
7/10
sport
4/10
comfort
6/10
value
5/10
style
9/10
Full Specifications
- Engine
- Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve, air-cooled
- Displacement
- 124cc
- Power
- 9.3 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
- Torque
- 8.1 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm
- Top speed
- 56 mph
- Fuel economy
- 157 mpg
- Fuel capacity
- 5.6 litres
- Weight
- 104 kg (wet)
- Seat height
- 776 mm
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- ABS
- Front-only ABS
- Brakes
- Front: 220mm disc. Rear: 190mm disc.
- Suspension
- Front: USD forks. Rear: twin shocks.
- Wheels & tyres
- 12" spoked
- Service interval
- 8,000 miles / 12 months
- Warranty
- 2 years unlimited mileage
- Insurance group
- Group 9
- Available colours
- Pearl Nebula Red, Pearl Shining Yellow, Pearl Glittering Blue
- Price new
- £4,299
- Price used
- £3,200 – £3,900
- CBT legal?
- Yes
- Keepable post-licence?
- No — learners only
True cost of owning a Monkey 125
Estimates for a 25-year-old with one year of CBT licence holding, riding 4,000 miles a year in Zone 2 London. Adjust for your own circumstances.
insurance
£465 / year (third-party fire & theft, 25 yr old, London)
tax
£25 / year (motorcycles ≤150cc)
mot
£29.65 / year (compulsory from year 3)
fuel
~£168 / year at 4,000 mi (£1.45/L)
service
~£165 / minor service
Day-one essentials
ECE 22.06 full-face helmet
£120 – £400
CE Level 2 armoured jacket
£150 – £350
Disc lock + reminder cable
£35 – £75
Sold Secure Gold chain + ground anchor
£90 – £180
Tail-pack 25L
£75 – £160
All-weather cover + bike socks
£30 – £80
Best for
- Style-led commuters
- Collectors
- Social-media riders
Insider trivia
- — The original Monkey debuted in 1961.
- — Production moved from Japan to Thailand in 2018.
- — Featured in the permanent collection of the V&A Museum.
Owner FAQs
- Can I ride the Monkey 125 on a CBT?
- Yes — the Honda Monkey 125 is fully CBT-legal in the UK. With L-plates and a valid DL196 you can ride it for two years before progressing to A1, A2, or full A.
- What licence do I need to take L-plates off the Monkey 125?
- You need an A1 (17+), A2 (19+) or full A (24+) licence and Module 1 / 2 pass — this 125 itself is restricted to learners.
- Is the Monkey 125 reliable?
- Honda has a 2 years unlimited mileage warranty on the Monkey 125. The original Monkey debuted in 1961.
- What is the real-world range?
- Claimed economy is 157 mpg and the tank is 5.6 litres, giving a theoretical range of 193 miles. Real-world budget around 80% of that.
- What insurance group is the Monkey 125?
- Group 9. As a rough guide, a 25-year-old in zone 2 London with no claims pays around £465 per year third-party fire & theft.
- Is the Monkey 125 good for delivery / courier work?
- It's possible, but a scooter like the PCX 125 or SH125i is the standard courier choice. Manual gearboxes slow down stop-start delivery work.
Browse all CBT-legal 125s
Don't have your CBT yet?
You need a valid DL196 certificate before you can legally ride the Monkey 125 on UK roads.
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