Honda Z series

The Honda Monkey is a small motorized two-wheeler from Honda and was manufactured from 1967. It is considered a fun bike for leisure, a vehicle for a person with a balloon-like 8-inch knobby tires.

There are motorcyclists who claim the name so can be derived from the sitting position, like sitting like the proverbial " monkey on the grindstone ". The original version of the Honda Monkey was, long before the scooters and scooter boom, one of the first shopping mopeds, the new additional bike racks of mobile homes was found on the time (end of 1970 ) to go to stay mobile without the having to move the camper.

Equipment

The drive took place over a horizontal single-cylinder four-stroke engine, which came to use in Honda in many smaller models ( SS50, Dax ) and a fußgeschaltetes three-speed gearbox, the clutch works by centrifugal force and without a separate manual operation. But there is also a 4 -speed transmission with manual clutch version.

To allow an easier transport, Monkey was assembled with a hinged arm. In order not to spill fuel, is located on the fuel cap a small lever with which you can close the tank vent. As an accessory there was also a transport set, consisting of three columns, which were bolted to one side of the Monkey and you could put the machine in the trunk.

Versions

The first '67 model was equipped with a rigid frame, small 5 -inch tires and handbrake levers, later, with the introduction of the rear swing arm and a foot pedal for the rear brake.

This was followed by a version with rigid frame and 8 -inch tires, which was sold in the U.S. under the name "Mini Trail " elsewhere under the name " Z 50 A". Distinctive identification was the white paint of the lower tank half. In the U.S., the model had a smaller front lamp without a speedometer and an angular, monochrome red rear light, while in the Z 50 A, a speedometer in the front lamp was installed. At the rear, the round black-orange light that was also found at 500 and 750 Hondas 1970s found. This series had a horn / rattle, but that was not particularly effective, given the 6-volt electrical system. From the Z 50 A, there was a fully chromed, Limited Edition of 50 pieces, which had been produced as exhibits for wholesalers.

Approximately 1973 ran out of the series and was replaced by the Model J 1, which possessed at the rear via a rocker with shock absorbers. The tank grew from about 3 to 4.5 liters, the handlebar mount has been changed, the horn / rattle was made ​​by Honda Germany against the legendary, in Germany " ladybug bell", a type of bicycle bell replaced. J 1 was somewhat larger and more stable than the A version in which it was occasionally, particularly at uprated specimens came to frame openings.

From 1978, followed by the J 2 (pictured above) a significantly revised version of the Monkey. She had a porter, a trapezoidal seat, a larger, bulbous tank, instrument panel, other handlebar mount and switching elements, turn signals in the plastic housing, plastic chain guard and plastic mudguards and even a battery that is at a Honda Monkey previously only in the 1969 U.S. model KO, the "Mini Trail " had given. From the J 2, there was a special model, the gorilla with an even bigger tank, which even gave the little machine roadworthy.

Originally there was only the variant with a displacement of 49 cc, which can be driven with insurance plate. Meanwhile, more and more drivers have their " monkey " approved as light motorcycle or motorbike. Dual exhaust, mono rear swing, disc brakes and engines up to 220 cc are today to the small vehicles no longer a rarity. For the former camping vehicles now A market has been established. The price of a good remodeling have long risen to many times the original price, also the originals rarely offered for.

Meanwhile supplied by several producers Monkey " replicas ", including by the Chinese company Sky Team (Jiangsu Sacin Motorcycle Co. ) and also Jincheng Motors in Nanjing. The Monkey will continue to Honda built in Japan, but no longer officially exported to Europe; you can buy these machines but as a parallel import some dealers in Germany continues.

Sports

Since 1974 there is a special sport with Monkeys, the Monkey Cross -road. The races are organized by the German Monkey Club (DMC) and the German Motorsport Association ( DMV), and are gaining popularity.

2010 6 classes were intended for the German Championship, which differ in the type, the engines built and age restrictions of the participants:

• Class 0 ( CRF50 )
• Class 1 ( CRF100 / Pitbike110 )
• Class 2 ( Pitbike125 )
• Class 3 ( Pitbike open)
• Class 4 ( XR200 et al )
• Cl. 5 ( teams )