Monkey BAJA (49cc)Owner: Mame
This issue introduces one MY BIKE posted on Webike Community every week.
The model introduced this time is "Monkey BAJA" and the owner is "Mame".
Everyone loves the mini motorcycle, Monkey. The Monkey, a 50cc leisure motorcycle that debuted in 1967, was developed by Honda as playground equipment for amusement parks, and its very unique design and presence have made it very popular. The current model, the Monkey 125, retains the same silhouette and has improved performance, making it a popular choice for everything from touring to shopping, customization to racing, and everything in between. Cute!
Honda, however, forced Monkey to venture further. This monkey BAJA (BAJA, not BAJAJ), introduced in 1991, is somehow an off-road version of the cute monkey with rugged rally customization. As the bike was named after the BAJA1000, a sprint race held in the desert across the California Peninsula, it featured an up handlebar with handlebar braces, knuckle guards, inverted fork shocks with fork guards, and dual headlights (15w x 2) that were very noticeable! I understand the concept of playful off-road equipment (from Honda news release), but to go this far!
The design is based on the XLR BAJA, a 250cc off-road model.
Mr. "Mame" has been restoring and customizing such a Monkey BAJA. He bought it new when it first came out and has been in love with its cool style for almost 30 years now! Normally, one would be concerned about parts and wear and tear, but he took advantage of the abundance of parts available for the Monkey series to customize key parts. The exhaust system is made by SP Takekawa, the clutch is a Kitako disc drive unit, the suspension is a SHIFT UP, and the engine parts are from a Cub 90. The headlight is still an OEM!
Of course, since it is based on a monkey, it has a small tank and no-load capacity. If you try to treat it as a normal motorcycle, you will have some trouble. However, a bike with such a strong impact as this radio-controlled buggy is unique and one-of-a-kind.
Production ended in 1993, and they're getting rarer!
The world of monkeys is so deep that some people tend to concentrate only on customization rather than driving, just like a bonsai tree. However, " Mr. Mame" is out touring on his Monkey BAJA. The headlight is so big that it looks like an Andon (Japanese lantern)!
Here is Mr. fiat500l's Monkey BAJA and behind him is a DioXR BAJA. I really don't know why, but this is the model that Honda let Dio venture into in 1994. With 6.8 PS two-stroke, it is more powerful than the Monkey, yet there are very few of them in existence!
From MY BIKE Comments
Motive for purchase
- Fell in love with the motorcycle at first sight when it was launched and bought it new.
Advantages
- The style of the product is very cool and cute.
- It is small but satisfies the desire for ownership.
- The information provided by our predecessors has allowed us to use OEM
- Easy to customize.
Disadvantages
- Too small for my body (need to lose weight)
- Battery-less place.
- I can't go with the flow of the motorcycle when the engine is normal.
- Seats that hurt my butt after about 30 minutes of riding.
- The tank is small and the cruising range is short.
- No load-carrying capacity.
Addressing prospective buyers
- The vehicle is almost 30 years old by now.
- Check the frame and the inside of the tank for rust.
- The frame area, especially around the rear end of the engine, is difficult to see because the engine is in the way, even when rusted.
