Short answer: this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide says buy the stock, unmodified bike with a clean VIN — and check two specific recalls before money changes hands. A used Monkey is one of the best-value retro motorcycles in America: street-legal, Honda-supported, scarce, and cheap to run. But the used market also holds non-ABS Gen 1 bikes misdescribed as ABS models, bikes fitted with a recalled accessory carrier, and asking prices above guide values. This Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide works through price, insurance, inspection, model years, and rivals in that order.
One framing fact belongs at the top of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide: the Monkey is a real road motorcycle, not an off-road toy and not a scooter. It needs a motorcycle endorsement, carries standard motorcycle insurance, and is street-legal everywhere in the US — but it is a city, town, and back-road bike, not a freeway bike. The newest bike is the 2026 model at $4,399 plus $300 destination, and there is no US 2027 Monkey as of November 2026 — any “2027 Monkey” listing is mislabelled or non-US. For the full model story behind this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide, see our Honda Monkey ABS 125 review.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Price and Market Availability
New prices anchor every used negotiation in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide. The 2026 Monkey ABS costs $4,399 plus $300 — $4,699 before tax and fees — in Matte Black Metallic, the only 2026 US color. The 2025 bike was $4,349 plus $300 ($4,649), confirmed on November 2026 dealer sheets, and the 2024 bike was $4,299 plus $300. Honda’s own Monkey page confirms the current lineup, the 124cc air-cooled engine, and the one-year transferable limited warranty; never let a listing call this bike liquid-cooled.
| Model year / trim | MSRP + destination | Total before tax and fees |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Monkey ABS (Matte Black Metallic only) | $4,399 + $300 | $4,699 |
| 2025 Monkey ABS | $4,349 + $300 | $4,649 |
| 2024 Monkey ABS | $4,299 + $300 | $4,599 |
| 2022 Monkey ABS (5-speed, ABS standard) | $4,199 + $300 | $4,499 |
| 2019–2021 Monkey / Monkey ABS | $3,999 / $4,199 | ABS was a $200 option, red only |
| Summary | Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide: new prices climbed $50 a year from 2024 | A used bike must sit well below $4,699 |
What Does a Used Honda Monkey ABS 125 Cost in the USA?
A used Monkey costs whatever its condition, generation, and VIN status justify — the most important sentence in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide. The used price is driven less by mileage than by four things: 4-speed or 5-speed, ABS or non-ABS on a Gen 1 bike, stock or modified, and clean recall paperwork. A clean, stock, 5-speed bike with papers commands the top of the range; a modified bike, a non-ABS Gen 1 bike priced as an ABS bike, or one with an open recall should not. This Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide treats every used figure as listing evidence, never as a book value.
Both Generations Cluster Around $2,900 to $4,000 Asking
Both generations cluster around $2,900 to $4,000 asking, and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide labels that band honestly: it is doc-sourced listing evidence, not a verified price guide. A November 4, 2026 dealer sheet shows a used 2021 Monkey with just 91 miles at $3,999 in Freeport, Illinois. A used 2026 Monkey ABS appears at $4,288 and a used 2025 at $4,495 — both recent bikes asking above the doc band, because clean recent Monkeys are scarce. Guide figures point the same way: clean 2020–2023 examples are put at $3,500 to $4,200, with rough or high-mileage units under $3,000. The honest reading: the doc band fits older stock bikes, clean recent bikes trade higher, and neither band is a price guide.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Insurance and Ownership Costs
Insurance for a Monkey is simpler than for a big motorcycle, but this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide treats it as real motorcycle insurance. Because the Monkey is a road bike, standard motorcycle insurance applies: liability is the legal question, and comprehensive and collision cover theft and damage on a small, easily carried bike. This Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide invents no premium figure — premiums vary by state, age, record, and garaging, so get quotes on the actual VIN before purchase.
Owner-Survey Figures Around $120 to $200 a Year: Labelled
Owner-survey figures around $120 to $200 a year are labelled exactly that way in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide — owner-survey figures, never quotes, never a rate a buyer can expect. The doc heading says “Labelled” for a reason: the figures come from owner surveys, not from an insurer’s rate card. Theft cover deserves equal weight: a small, desirable retro bike is a theft target, so comprehensive cover, a disc lock, and secure garaging matter. For the performance reality behind the insurance question, see our Honda Monkey ABS 125 performance guide.
How to Estimate Fuel, Maintenance, Parts and Other Ownership Expenses
Fuel is the smallest line in any Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide budget: the tank holds just 1.5 gallons, not the Grom’s 1.6. Honda’s EPA-procedure estimate on the 2026 spec page is 162.6 MPG, with Honda’s comparison-purposes disclaimer, while dealer feeds show 169 MPG and Cycle World’s figure was an estimate, not a measurement. This Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide never averages those figures: roughly 244 miles per tank at the EPA estimate, roughly 254 miles on the dealer-feed figure — budget on the lower number. Maintenance follows Honda’s road-bike schedule: an initial service at 600 miles, then 4,000-mile oil intervals, with chain care every 300 miles; pre-2022 bikes use a strainer and spinner, and the 2022-on filter setup must be confirmed from the year manual. For the service reality behind these numbers, see our Honda Monkey ABS 125 reliability guide.
How to Inspect a Used Honda Monkey ABS 125
Inspection is where a Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide earns its keep: this bike is a small machine with a long paperwork tail and a chrome finish that shows every mistake. Work through the checks in this order, in daylight, with the bike cold — and do not let a clean-looking bike skip the first two steps.
Check for the Accessory Carrier and Reflector Recalls
Check for the accessory carrier and reflector recalls first, because these are the only two recalls that name the Monkey, kept separate in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide. First, the accessory carrier: genuine Honda rear carrier part 08L70-K0F-A00, fitted to 2019–2020 Monkeys, was recalled under 19E-071 (Honda KK5, October 2019) because it can break and fall off while riding. The remedy is a dealer uninstall plus replacement mounting hardware, free — and there is NO replacement carrier: a refund of $204.00 is issued instead. This is an accessory recall, not a bike defect: a Monkey without the genuine carrier is unaffected, so check for the carrier itself, not just the VIN. Second, the reflector: 21V-382 (Honda KM3, May 2021) covers a dim rear reflector lens on 2020–2021 Monkeys — 1,134 units for 2020 and 3,666 for 2021 — with a free reflector replacement; VIN-check every 2020–2021 bike. Never transfer the Grom’s fuel-pump recalls, the Grom’s stop-sale, the handlebar-clamp recall, a drive-gear defect, or the grip recall to the Monkey — none names this bike.
Chrome and Retro Parts: Corrosion and Crash Checks
Chrome and retro parts need their own pass in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide, because the Monkey’s charm is also its weakness. Check chrome accents for corrosion and pitting, especially outdoors; check the teardrop tank for dents and mismatched paint, and the high exhaust and headlight rim for crash damage. Mismatched panels and aftermarket parts tell a story; nearly all used Monkeys are standard, so a modified one is the exception and must be judged as a build. Then the usual wear pass: chain and sprockets (#420, 14T/37T), 12-inch tires, fork seals, brake pads on the 220mm front and 190mm rear discs, the LCD dash, and the front ABS sensor.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Model Years and Features to Compare
Model-year shopping in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide is simple: the bike changes slowly, and the differences that matter are gearbox, ABS status, and paperwork. Fit comes first: the 30.5-inch seat and 12-inch wheels suit nearly any adult rider, but a tall rider should sit on one before buying, and the solo seat means no passenger, ever.
4-Speed Gen 1 Against the 5-Speed Gen 2 From 2022
4-speed Gen 1 against the 5-speed Gen 2 from 2022 is the used-market fork of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide — where the money sits. Gen 1 (2019–2021) launched with a 124.9cc engine (52.4 by 57.9mm, 9.3:1), a 4-speed gearbox, and ABS as a $200 option on the red bike only — so a non-ABS Gen 1 is common and must never be misdescribed as an ABS bike. Gen 2 (2022 onward) is the one to pay for: a 124cc engine (50.0 by 63.1mm, 10.0:1), a 5-speed gearbox, Euro 5 compliance (Euro 5+ from 2025), and ABS standard, sold as Monkey ABS only. The run is continuous from 2019 to 2026, with no Grom-style gap years, so a “2021 Monkey” is a real US bike. Five-speed bikes command the premium and are scarce used — decide the gearbox question before the price question. Honda USA publishes no horsepower or torque figure for the Monkey, so this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide never prints one as a Honda figure; press figures of around 9.3 hp carry a non-Honda label, and the doc’s Gen 1 dyno figure of 7.94 hp could not be verified to any source and is not asserted here. The video below in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide is Moto Journo Kris’s 2022 Monkey update — honestly labelled as a review of the current-generation bike, not a used-buying inspection.
Asking Sits Above JD Power Guides: Collector Premium
Asking sits above JD Power guides because of a collector premium, and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide explains it. Clean stock Monkeys are scarce, they hold value unusually well — often selling used for close to original MSRP — and the retro styling gives the bike a collector audience. That is why a used 2025 Monkey can ask $4,495 and a used 2026 can ask $4,288 while guide values sit lower: the market pays for originality. TopSpeed’s Monkey buyer’s guide confirms the current bike’s positioning — one US model for 2026, Matte Black Metallic, $4,399, front-wheel ABS standard — and Webbikeworld’s 2022 Monkey coverage confirms the Gen 2 change that drives the premium. The premium belongs to stock bikes: a modified Monkey loses the collector buyer and must be priced as a build.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 vs Honda Grom 125: Which One to Buy in the USA
Rival shopping in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide has to be fair: the Grom is the Monkey’s direct rival — same engine family, same miniMOTO idea, different character — naked and practical against retro and collectible.
| 2026 comparison | Honda Monkey ABS 125 | Honda Grom 125 |
|---|---|---|
| Base price + destination | $4,399 + $300 = $4,699 | $3,599–$3,799 + $300 |
| Engine / gearbox | 124cc air-cooled single, 5-speed | 124cc air-cooled single, 5-speed |
| Seat / wheelbase / tank | 30.5 in / 45.0 in / 1.5 gal, solo seat | 30 in / 47.2 in / 1.6 gal, two-up seat |
| Final gearing | #420, 14T/37T | #420, 15T/38T |
| Summary | Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide verdict: Monkey wins on retro and collector appeal; Grom wins on value and practicality | |
Monkey at $4,399 Against Grom Trims From $3,599
Monkey at $4,399 against Grom trims from $3,599 is the $800 question at the heart of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide. The Monkey answers with retro styling, chrome, a teardrop tank, and collector demand; the Grom answers with $800 less, a two-up seat, a longer wheelbase, and a bigger tank. MCN’s Monkey review confirms the Monkey’s side — owners rate the 2022-on bike 4.7 out of 5 for reliability across six published owner reviews — and Ultimate Motorcycling’s 2022 Monkey review confirms the Gen 2 bike’s road manners, including the five-speed gearbox. For the Grom’s own story, see our Honda Grom 125 buying guide. Buy the Monkey for charm and resale; buy the Grom for value.
When a Trail 125 or Dax 125 at $4,199 Fits Better
When a Trail 125 or Dax 125 at $4,199 fits better is a use question, and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide answers it from inside Honda’s own lineup — both cost $4,199 in 2026 but are different machines, so do not confuse them. The Trail 125 fits when utility and light off-road matter: step-through frame, racks, and a 31.5-inch seat. The Dax 125 fits when step-through style and 4-speed automatic-clutch ease matter. For the Trail’s own story, see our Honda Trail 125 buying guide, and for the Dax’s, see our Honda Dax 125 buying guide. Neither replaces the Monkey’s retro charm; both replace its clutch.
Is Buying a Used Honda Monkey ABS 125 Worth It?
Yes, with this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide’s conditions: the bike is stock and unmodified, the VIN is clear of the reflector recall on a 2020–2021 bike and the carrier question is settled, and the price reflects condition and generation rather than the story told. Meet those conditions and a used Monkey is one of the best-value purchases in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide — cheap to run, with resale that holds.
Benefits and Risks: Stock Bikes Hold Value Best
Benefits and risks, stated with equal weight, close the argument of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide. Benefits: stock bikes hold value best — resale, reliability, parts, dealer network, and collector demand all favor the original bike. Risks: the two recalls to check; chrome corrosion on neglected bikes; premium pricing that leaves little room for a bad buy; theft exposure; and freeway limits — the Monkey is street-legal everywhere but freeway-shy, with a top speed around 60 mph in favorable conditions per tester accounts. The verdict of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide is simple: buy the newest stock 5-speed bike the budget allows, with papers, and walk away from anything with an open recall or a modified story.
Super Cub C125 Is Discontinued: Not a Current Alternative
Super Cub C125 is discontinued and is not a current alternative, and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide states it plainly because shoppers often confuse the Cub with the Monkey’s retro brief. The 2024 C125 ABS, at $3,899 plus $300, was the final US model year, confirmed by American Honda. Separately, and never to be confused with a Monkey issue, 2019–2024 C125s carry their own October 31, 2025 fuel-permeation stop-sale — a Super Cub matter, not a Monkey matter, and this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide never transfers it. The last word of this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide: stock, papered, VIN-checked.
Honda Monkey ABS 125 Buying Guide FAQs
Direct answers to the questions buyers ask most in this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide.
How much does a used Honda Monkey ABS 125 cost?
Doc-sourced listings put both generations around $2,900 to $4,000 asking, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide, while guide figures put clean 2020–2023 examples at $3,500 to $4,200 — price the actual bike on condition and paperwork.
What is the newest Honda Monkey ABS 125?
The 2026 model at $4,399 plus $300, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide, in Matte Black Metallic only — no US 2027 Monkey as of November 2026.
Does the Monkey have ABS on every year?
No, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide. ABS was a $200 option on red Gen 1 bikes only (2019–2021); it is standard on every Gen 2 bike from 2022.
What recalls affect the Monkey?
Two, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide: 21V-382, the dim rear reflector on 2020–2021 bikes with a free replacement, and 19E-071, the genuine accessory rear carrier on 2019–2020 bikes, settled by a free uninstall plus a $204 refund — no replacement carrier exists.
Should I buy a 4-speed or 5-speed Monkey?
The 5-speed, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide. The 2022-on gearbox, Euro 5 engine, and standard ABS command the premium.
Is there a 2027 Monkey?
No US model, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide: the run is continuous from 2019 to 2026 with no skipped years.
How much horsepower does the Monkey make?
Honda USA publishes no figure, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide. Press figures of around 9.3 hp are non-Honda labels; the doc’s Gen 1 dyno figure of 7.94 hp is unverified and not asserted here.
What MPG does the Monkey get?
No single figure, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide: Honda’s EPA-procedure estimate is 162.6 MPG, dealer feeds show 169 MPG, and Cycle World’s figure was an estimate, not a measurement — never averaged, never the Grom’s 160.5.
Is the Monkey good for beginners?
Yes, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide, with the freeway caveat: a 30.5-inch seat, light weight, and forgiving power make it a genuine first road bike for city riding.
Is the Monkey street legal?
Yes, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide: a full-class road motorcycle, street-legal everywhere in the US with a motorcycle endorsement, with a solo seat only.
Should I buy a Monkey or a Grom?
Buy the Monkey for retro charm and collector appeal, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide; buy the Grom for $800 less, a two-up seat, and more practicality.
Is the Super Cub C125 a current alternative?
No, says this Honda Monkey ABS 125 buying guide: the 2024 model was the final US year, and its October 2025 stop-sale is a Super Cub issue.
