1561 mots | Temps de lecture : 7 minute(s)
The Honda Monkey (Z50): The Iconic Little Bike with a Big Heart
Summary
- A motorcycle born in an amusement park
- Why is it called "Monkey"?
- The CZ100, the first Monkey sold to the public
- The Z50 and the myth of the folding motorcycle
- An icon beloved by collectors
- The renaissance: the Monkey 125 (2018)
- Summary table
- FAQ
A motorcycle born in an amusement park
Some motorcycles are born on racetracks, others in the workshops of speed-obsessed engineers. The Honda Monkey, however, was born in an amusement park. In October 1961, Honda opened two mechanical leisure parks in Japan, Tama Tech (near Tokyo) and Ikoma Tech (Nara Prefecture), where families could learn to drive and enjoy motorized attractions. To entertain visitors, Honda installed a funny miniature bike with a red frame and light-colored tank: the Z100, a 1961 prototype originally designed as a simple attraction.
The little machine was a hit. Visitors flocked to try it out, and Honda quickly realized it had much more than a ride: a marketable product. This logic of a manufacturer transforming a whimsical idea into an industrial success is found throughout the Honda house, from the CB750 Four that invented the superbike to the Gold Wing, queen of touring bikes. The Monkey, however, took the opposite path of large displacement bikes: that of the small, simple, fun, and endearing motorcycle.
Why is it called "Monkey"?
The nickname is not a marketing ploy: it comes from the sight offered by the first riders. With its tiny wheels, low seat, and toy-like size, the Z100 gave the impression that the adult perched on it, knees raised and back bent, resembled a monkey perched on its perch. The anecdote says that an observer compared these bent-over riders to "circus monkeys"; the nickname "Monkey" stuck and became the official name of the model.
This minuscule size is precisely the motorcycle's identity. Where most two-wheelers try to impress, the Monkey embraces a playful and good-natured side. It belongs to that small family of vehicles that democratized mobility with a smile rather than with performance, much like the Vespa put the world on two wheels. To understand where this spirit comes from, a detour through the origin and evolution of the motorcycle sheds light on the post-war context.
The CZ100, the first Monkey sold to the public
Seduced by the enthusiasm, Honda decided to take the Monkey out of the parks to sell it. This was the CZ100, introduced in late 1963 and produced from 1964 to 1966: the brand's first mass-market mini-motorcycle, road-legal and intended for the European and Asian markets (it was not officially sold in the United States). Underneath, it already had a 49 cm³ air-cooled four-stroke engine, mounted on tiny 5-inch wheels.
The CZ100 remains rare: only about 2,500 units left the factory during its short career. Then, in 1967, came the model that would truly launch the legend in the Japanese market: the Z50M, the first "real" road-legal Monkey in Japan, whose ingenuity lay in a brilliant detail.
🏍️ Want to keep this friendly face within reach? Find faithful replicas in our Miniature Motorcycles section.
The Monkey is a toy-sized motorcycle, adored by collectors: a miniature naturally extends this emotional and decorative attachment.
The Z50 and the myth of the folding motorcycle
The stroke of genius of the 1967 Z50M was its foldable handlebars. In a few gestures, the small motorcycle folded up and became compact enough to fit in the trunk of a car. The concept was clear: you put the Monkey in the trunk, go away for the weekend or to the beach, and unfold your mini-motorcycle upon arrival for a ride. The Monkey became a leisure accessory as much as a vehicle, a vacation companion you could take anywhere.
Mechanically, the recipe remained deliberately simple and robust: a 49 cm³ 4-stroke engine developing around 4.5 hp, small wheels (5 inches originally, then 8 inches on subsequent versions), and a raised seat and handlebars so an adult could ride it despite its size. Nothing sporty, but reliability and ease of handling that made it a motorcycle everyone could tame. It's not the ideal motorcycle for starting out on a motorcycle on an open road today, but its accessible DNA has influenced generations of riders.
An icon beloved by collectors
Over the decades, the Monkey has been released in a multitude of versions (Z50A, Z50J, limited chrome series, or "Gorilla" tank), all recognizable by their round and cheerful silhouette. What was once just a park attraction has become a cult object, sought after by collectors worldwide. Old models, with the rare CZ100 at the forefront, are now traded at prices that would make any engineer from 1961 smile.
Why such a high value? Because the Monkey ticks all the boxes of an icon: a flavorful history, a timeless design, simple mechanics to restore, and enormous likeability. In its own way, it belongs to the same cultural pantheon as the iconic motorcycles of cinema and pop culture: a machine that is loved as much for what it represents as for how it rides.
🛠️ To extend the passion at home, check out our selection of motorcycle-themed decorations.
The renaissance: the Monkey 125 (2018)
After more than half a century of career, the production of the 50 cm³ Monkey ceased in Japan in August 2017, with a "50th Anniversary" series, caught up by anti-pollution standards too severe for very small engines. But Honda did not let its mascot die. In 2018 (model year 2019), the brand unveiled the Monkey 125, a modern reinterpretation that faithfully reproduces the original's retro style.
Under the vintage body, the mechanics are very much of its time: a 124.9 cm³ 4-stroke single-cylinder with air cooling and injection, developing around 9.2 hp at 7,000 rpm for 11 Nm of torque. The Monkey 125 shares its technical base with the Honda Grom (MSX125), an equally playful cousin. Initially equipped with a 4-speed gearbox, it switched to a 5-speed gearbox and adopted an engine compliant with Euro 5 standards from the 2022 model year. The legend of the amusement park still rides on, and its big heart beats stronger than ever.
Summary table
| Model | Period | Engine | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z100 (prototype) | 1961 | ~49 cm³ 4-stroke | Tama Tech park attraction, origin of the name "Monkey" |
| CZ100 | 1964-1966 | 49 cm³ 4-stroke, 5" wheels | 1st Monkey sold to the public (~2,500 units), Europe/Asia |
| Z50M | 1967 | 49 cm³, ~4.5 hp | Foldable handlebars, fits in a car trunk |
| Z50 (A/J series…) | 1968-2017 | 49 cm³, small wheels | Collector's icon; production ended August 2017 |
| Monkey 125 | Since 2018 | 124.9 cm³, ~9.2 hp | Modern revival, Grom base, 5-speed gearbox (Euro 5) |
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Honda Monkey called that?
Because its tiny wheels and small size made the adult perched on it, with a bent back and raised knees, look like a monkey. The nickname "Monkey" stuck and became the official name of the model.
Where was the Honda Monkey born?
In an amusement park. The Z100 prototype was designed in 1961 as an attraction for Honda's Tama Tech mechanical amusement park in Japan, before being marketed to the general public.
What was the displacement of the original Monkey?
A very small 49 cm³ 4-stroke single-cylinder engine, developing about 4.5 hp, mounted on tiny 5-inch and then 8-inch wheels.
Is it true that the Monkey folded to fit in a trunk?
Yes. The 1967 Z50M had foldable handlebars that made the motorcycle compact enough to fit in a car trunk and take it away for the weekend.
Does the Honda Monkey still exist today?
The 50 cm³ version ceased production in August 2017 due to emissions regulations. Honda launched a modern successor, the Monkey 125, in 2018, with a 124.9 cm³ engine shared with the Grom.
