Short answer: this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review starts with the number that frames the whole decision β a new 2026 Honda Monkey ABS 125 costs $4,399 plus $300 destination, $4,699 before tax, for Honda’s retro miniMOTO street bike. This Honda Monkey ABS 125 review is clear about what the bike is and is not: not a Grom clone, not a scooter, and not an off-road toy β it is a 124cc air-cooled retro miniMOTO with a five-speed manual gearbox, a solo seat, chrome accents, and a round headlight, built to make short rides feel like an occasion. It is street legal everywhere in the United States, it sips fuel, and it turns heads everywhere it goes β and that is the whole point of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review.
One framing fact belongs at the top of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: there is no 2027 Monkey in the United States. Honda’s latest US model year is 2026, and any listing claiming a US 2027 Monkey is mislabelled or a non-US model. This Honda Monkey ABS 125 review also states plainly that Honda USA publishes no horsepower or torque figure for the Monkey, so every power number here carries its non-Honda source label or does not appear at all. The bike’s case is not speed β it is retro charm, a solo-seat riding position, and Honda reliability in a package small enough to park anywhere.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Overview and Model-Year Updates
The headline of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review is simple: Honda’s smallest retro bike has been doing the same job since 2019, and the fact that it has barely changed its formula is the recommendation, not a criticism.
Latest US Year Is 2026: No 2027 Monkey Exists
Latest US year is 2026: no 2027 Monkey exists β and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review states the heading verbatim while describing the situation accurately. Honda’s own 2026 pages list the Monkey in a single trim, and Honda’s 2026/2027 return announcement lists the 2026 Monkey at $4,399 with March availability. Honda’s 2026 Monkey page confirms the 2026 lineup, the 124cc air-cooled engine, and the transferable one-year warranty in one place. The “2027 Monkey” pages circulating online are an auto-generated database entry and non-US “expected” listings β neither is evidence of a US 2027 model. For the performance story behind the price, see our Honda Monkey ABS 125 performance guide.
Continuous Run 2019 to 2026 With No Skipped Years
Continuous run 2019 to 2026 with no skipped years is the year story this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review asks every used buyer to remember, because it is the opposite of the Grom’s gap-year history. The Monkey launched in the United States as an early-2019 model in October 2018, and every year since β 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 β exists as a US model. There is no missing year to explain away, and no “2021 Monkey” trap: a listing claiming a US model year outside 2019β2026 is mislabelled. The 2022 bike brought the second generation, and the 2025 bike brought a Euro 5+ retune only β the Monkey has never been redesigned in the United States.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Engine and Specifications
The engine is the heart of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: a tiny, air-cooled single shared with the Grom’s engine family, tuned for low-speed charm, with fuel injection, a five-speed gearbox, and a real clutch that teaches full-size riding skills on a miniature scale.
Gen 2: 124cc at 50.0 by 63.1mm and 10.0:1 From 2022
Gen 2: 124cc at 50.0 by 63.1mm and 10.0:1 from 2022 is the verified specification at the core of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: a 124cc air-cooled SOHC two-valve single-cylinder four-stroke, with a 50.0mm bore and 63.1mm stroke, running 10.0:1 compression, fed by PGM-FI fuel injection through a 24mm throttle body, with a five-speed manual gearbox. Honda USA publishes no horsepower or torque figure for this bike, and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review never quotes a press power figure as a Honda number. The press figures that do circulate β 9.3 hp at 6,750 rpm and 8.1 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm from TopSpeed’s Monkey buyer’s guide and CycleTrader’s 2026 first ride β are labelled as press claims every time they appear. Final drive is a #420 chain, 14T/37T, against the Grom’s 15T/38T β one of several numbers that must never be swapped between the two bikes.
Gen 1 Was 124.9cc at 9.3:1 With Four Speeds
Gen 1 was 124.9cc at 9.3:1 with four speeds is the gearbox truth this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review keeps straight, because it is the single biggest used-market fork. Every Monkey from 2019 through 2021 used a 124.9cc air-cooled single, 52.4 by 57.9mm, 9.3:1 compression, with a four-speed manual gearbox. The 2022 bike changed the engine and added a fifth gear, which drops revs at cruising speed and makes the bike calmer on back roads. The five-speed bike is also the one with standard ABS in the United States, while the first generation sold ABS as a $200 option on the red bike only. For the service reality behind these features, see our Honda Monkey ABS 125 reliability guide.
| Specification (2026, Honda pages) | Monkey ABS 125 | Honda Monkey ABS 125 review note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 124cc air-cooled SOHC two-valve single | Air-cooled always, never liquid-cooled |
| Bore and stroke / compression | 50.0 x 63.1 mm / 10.0:1 | Gen 1 was 124.9cc, 52.4 x 57.9 mm, 9.3:1 |
| Fuel system / gearbox | PGM-FI, 24mm throttle body / 5-speed manual | 4-speed before 2022, 5-speed from 2022 |
| Final drive / tank | #420 chain, 14T/37T / 1.5 gallons | Grom figures (15T/38T, 1.6 gal) do not apply |
| Summary | Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: small engine, retro charm | Honda USA publishes no hp or torque |
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Price and Market Availability
Price comes early in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review because the value question is the whole debate: the Monkey costs $800 more than the Grom base, and the buyer has to decide whether retro charm is worth it.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Price in the USA: $4,399 Plus $300
Honda Monkey ABS 125 price in the USA is $4,399 plus $300 β $4,699 before tax and fees, verified on Honda’s own 2026 pages and in November 2026 dealer listings. That figure is the anchor of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: a new retro miniMOTO street bike, fuel-injected, with a five-speed gearbox, front-wheel ABS, and a one-year transferable warranty, for under $4,700 before tax. The bike is sold in Matte Black Metallic only for 2026 in the United States, so there is no color decision to make β and any listing claiming a US 2026 Monkey in another color is describing a non-US bike or a repaint. The 2024 bike was $4,299 plus $300, and the 2019 launch bike was $3,999 β a slow, honest climb over seven years. For the buying decision behind the price, see our Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide.
2019 to 2021 Had Two Trims: $3,999 and $4,199 ABS
2019 to 2021 had two trims: $3,999 and $4,199 ABS β and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review is blunt about what that means for used buyers. The first generation sold two versions: the base Monkey at $3,999 and the Monkey ABS at $4,199, a $200 option available on the Pearl Nebula Red bike only, while Banana Yellow was non-ABS only. A used 2019β2021 Monkey without ABS is therefore common and correctly described β it must never be misdescribed as an ABS bike. From 2022 onward, ABS is standard in the United States and the bike is sold as the Monkey ABS only. The base bike at $3,999 was the value pick of its day; the ABS bike at $4,199 is the pick for a rider who wants the extra front-brake safety net in wet city traffic.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Design, Features and Technology
Design and technology in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review means honest retro equipment: a steel backbone frame, an inverted fork, twin rear shocks, a round headlight, chrome accents, and a teardrop tank β with modern fuel injection and ABS underneath the nostalgia.
Single-Channel Front ABS That Is IMU-Based
Single-channel front ABS that is IMU-based is the braking fact this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review rates highest, because it is verified and it matters daily. Honda’s system is a single-channel, IMU-based front-wheel ABS with rear-lift mitigation: the front wheel gets anti-lock protection, while the rear wheel is free to lock and slide. One nuance belongs here: CycleTrader’s 2026 first ride calls IMU-controlled front-only ABS the most significant addition for 2026, but Rider already described the Monkey’s ABS as one-channel IMU-based in 2019 β so IMU ABS did not debut in 2026, and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review never claims it did. The rear brake has no ABS on any Monkey, a point the verdict section returns to.
31mm Inverted Fork and Twin Rear Shocks Verified
31mm inverted fork and twin rear shocks verified are the two chassis facts this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review rates highest, because both are verified and both define the ride. Honda’s 2026 spec pages confirm the 31mm inverted fork up front, paired with dual rear shocks, a 220mm front disc with ABS, and a 190mm rear disc without it. One conflict must stay visible: Honda’s spec page says 4.3 inches of front fork travel, while CycleTrader’s 2026 first ride says 3.9 inches up front β rear travel is 4.0 inches in both. This Honda Monkey ABS 125 review prints both figures with their sources and uses Honda’s 4.3-inch figure as the spec-page figure, never presenting one travel figure as settled. The LCD dash, round LED headlight, and high swept exhaust complete a design that is unmistakably a Monkey and nothing else.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Riding Experience and Comfort
Riding experience is where this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review turns from paperwork to pavement: a tiny, light, forgiving bike that makes a 30 mph city street feel like a parade β for riders who fit its short cockpit.
Riding Position, Handling and Low-Speed Maneuverability
Riding position, handling, and low-speed maneuverability are the Monkey’s quiet strengths, and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review rates them as the bike’s real product. CycleTrader’s 2026 first ride confirms the broader ownership picture: the rider sits above the bike rather than in it, with a low 30.5-inch seat, wide high-rise handlebars, and an upright position that makes the bike approachable regardless of inseam, while the plush solo seat stays comfortable on short journeys. The clutch, brake lever, and gear selector are light and effective, though CycleTrader notes they lack weight and precision, and finding neutral can occasionally be a chore. RevZilla’s 2019 Monkey first ride reaches the same verdict from the other end: this is a bike that flatters a new rider and still entertains an experienced one, even while being undersprung for larger adults.
Street Legal and Freeway-Shy: a City and Camp Bike
Street legal and freeway-shy: a city and camp bike is the honest verdict this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review gives on road use, because both halves are true. The Monkey is a full-class motorcycle, not a scooter and not an off-road bike: it needs a motorcycle endorsement, it carries a plate, and it is legal on public roads everywhere in the United States. But sustained freeway running is at the bike’s limit. Honda’s European claim is 91 km/h (56.5 mph) for the Gen 2 bike, and CycleTrader’s 2026 ride reached 60 mph only in certain conditions with the throttle pinned. The Monkey’s home is the city, the town, the back road, and the campsite β and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review says so plainly rather than pretending otherwise.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Review: Pros, Cons and Verdict
The verdict of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: Honda’s smallest retro bike is exactly what it claims to be β the easiest, most charming way onto two wheels with a real gearbox, at a price that undercuts every full-size rival, with the warranty and dealer network to back it. The caveats are about speed and space, not quality: it is too slow for most freeways, and its cockpit is short.
Main Advantages and Limitations of the Honda Monkey ABS 125
Main advantages and limitations, stated with equal weight, close the argument of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review. Advantages: a forgiving five-speed manual gearbox with a light clutch that teaches real riding skills; a low 30.5-inch seat and 231-pound weight that build confidence; retro styling with chrome, a round headlight, and a teardrop tank that no rival copies; a fuel-injected engine that sips fuel, with Honda’s EPA-procedure estimate of 162.6 MPG; and a transferable one-year warranty. Limitations: freeway speed is marginal at best; the 1.5-gallon tank ends long days early even at that economy; the solo seat carries one rider only; and the bike’s cult popularity makes it a theft target, so a good lock is part of the purchase. The video below in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review is HondaPro Kevin’s 2022 Monkey review β honestly labelled as a review of the five-speed Gen 2 bike, not a long-term test, and the clearest walk-through of what this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review covers, including the five-speed gearbox that matters most.
One-Year Transferable Unlimited-Mileage Warranty
One-year transferable unlimited-mileage warranty is the doc heading, kept verbatim β and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review labels it honestly underneath it. Honda’s 2026 spec page wording is “transferable, one year included, limited warranty,” plus an optional HondaCare Protection Plan β and the “unlimited-mileage” element of the heading could not be confirmed in Honda’s published spec-page wording during this research, so buyers should confirm the mileage term in the full warranty text rather than taking the heading as Honda’s wording. What is certain is the transfer: a Monkey still inside its year carries its warranty to the next owner, and the term is one year, never the six-month term on Honda’s off-road bikes. And the final word of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review is simple: if you need a first street bike, a city commuter, or a second bike purely for fun β a real gearbox, a key you turn, a price just under $4,700, and a bike that holds its value β the Monkey is the charming, honest buy, with the Grom waiting when value and two-up practicality matter more. For its own story, see our Honda Grom 125 review for the value alternative in detail.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Review FAQs
Direct answers to the Honda Monkey ABS 125 review questions buyers ask most, with every price and spec labelled by source and year.
How much does a Honda Monkey ABS 125 cost?
$4,399 for the 2026 bike plus $300 destination, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review β $4,699 before tax, in Matte Black Metallic only.
Is there a 2027 Honda Monkey ABS 125?
No, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: the latest US model year is 2026, and “2027 Monkey” pages are database entries or non-US listings, not a US bike.
What engine does the Monkey ABS 125 have?
A 124cc air-cooled SOHC two-valve single, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review β 50.0 by 63.1mm, 10.0:1 compression, PGM-FI fuel injection, and a five-speed manual gearbox from 2022.
How much horsepower does the Monkey ABS 125 make?
Honda USA publishes no figure, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review. Press claims of around 9.3 hp are non-Honda figures, and no verified US magazine dyno figure is printed here.
Is the Monkey ABS 125 fuel-injected?
Yes, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review. The Monkey has used PGM-FI fuel injection since its 2019 US launch, unlike Honda’s carbureted trail bikes.
Does the Monkey ABS 125 have a clutch lever?
Yes, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review β a five-speed manual gearbox with a real clutch lever, which is the whole point for riders learning full-size skills.
Is the Monkey ABS 125 liquid-cooled?
No, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review. The Monkey is air-cooled in every year; it has cooling fins, no radiator, and no coolant to change.
How fast does the Monkey ABS 125 go?
About 56.5 mph by Honda’s European claim and 60 mph with the throttle pinned in certain conditions per CycleTrader, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review β tested figures with sources, not a Honda US claim, and too slow for comfortable freeway use.
What MPG does the Monkey ABS 125 get?
Honda’s EPA-procedure estimate is 162.6 MPG, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review, while dealer feeds show 169 MPG β two different figures that must never be averaged into one.
Is the Monkey ABS 125 street legal?
Yes, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: a full-class motorcycle, street legal everywhere in the United States with a motorcycle endorsement, but too slow for most freeways.
Does the Monkey ABS 125 have ABS?
Yes, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review β single-channel, IMU-based, front-wheel ABS only, standard from 2022; the 2019β2021 ABS was a $200 option on the red bike only.
Does the Monkey ABS 125 have a warranty?
Yes, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: a transferable, one-year included, limited warranty per Honda’s spec pages, with HondaCare optional. Never confuse it with the six-month term on Honda’s off-road bikes.
Is the Monkey ABS 125 good for beginners?
Yes, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review: a light clutch, a low seat, gentle power, and a five-speed gearbox make it a genuine first street bike β for city, town, and back-road riding, with freeway use off the table.
What colors does the Monkey ABS 125 come in?
Matte Black Metallic only for 2026, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 review; the 2024 bike came in Pearl Nebula Red and Pearl Black, and the 2019 bike in Pearl Nebula Red and Banana Yellow.
