Monkey R: A Genuine 4-stroke Mini Bike for the Modern Rider

The Monkey R is a motorcycle that could be considered a racer-based model equipped with a four-stroke engine, born from the motorcycle boom of the 1980s.

The Monkey is synonymous with leisure bikes, with the first model appearing in 1967, and the 125cc model is currently on sale.

Gorilla is the most famous of the Monkey variants, with a large 9-liter tank and a larger seat.

The GAG ​​is a 3/4 racer replica made by Suzuki, the same company that produced the RGγ and GSX-R. It was equipped with a 4-stroke air-cooled engine.

Yamaha's YSR came in two models, 50cc and 80cc, and was equipped with an air-cooled two-stroke engine and 12-inch wheels.

Honda's NSR50/80 was the most powerful model, with 12-inch wheels and a water-cooled two-stroke engine.

As each company began to produce these 3/4-size racer replicas, mini bike racing became more popular, and this became the breeding ground for riders who would actually compete in the World GP. The Monkey R was also used as the base, but the NSR, with its more powerful two-stroke engine, was more popular. As a result, the Monkey R was short-lived, but its value was later recognized and it is now a premium model.

The low-slung design of the Monkey R still looks sporty and well-balanced even today.

The red painted swallow-type handlebars create a racing position with the rider leaning forward quite a bit.

The indicators are housed within a simple single-lens meter, with the key cylinder located to the right.

The racer-style fuel tank has a capacity of 7L and is neatly cut along the lines of the frame.

The seat has a racy design with a raised rear end, creating a sharp design around the rear.

The silencer with a chrome-plated cover has an upright design and is positioned along the seat.

It has a basic single round headlight, but it has a racy look with a hollowed-out headlight stay.

The taillights are designed to look like they are embedded in the seat. The rear fender with a large "R" also has a nice atmosphere.

The engine is a 4-stroke air-cooled SOHC 2-valve 49cc engine based on the Cub series with 12V CDI. The Monkey of the same period was equipped with a 3.1PS engine, but the Monkey R's engine, equipped with special valves, camshafts, carburetors and exhaust system, was 4.5PS. The transmission is the same 4-speed as the Monkey, but it has a special setting, with a gear ratio of 1st gear 3.272/2nd gear 1.937/3rd gear 1.350/4th gear 1.090 compared to the Monkey's 1st gear 2.692/2nd gear 1.823/3rd gear 1.300/4th gear 0.958. The Monkey was remodeled to a 12V CDI specification in 1992, and the gear ratios up to 3rd gear were also changed to the same setting as the Monkey R at that time.

The engine is tuned to produce 4.5 PS, which is high power among Cub-series 50cc engines.

It features a camshaft with bearings and a special port shape, and is battery-less with racing in mind.

The engine is actually not based on the Monkey, but on the Super Cub, which had a 12V electrical system and CDI.

One of the features of the Monkey R is its essentially battery-less electrical system. I say "essentially" because it is equipped with a 2V card battery solely for the purpose of turning on the neutral lamp and other lights when the key is turned on. This is an area where you can sense the spirit of Honda's engineers at the time, who aimed for a no-compromise build for a car bearing the "R" name.

The frame is made of steel, but is a highly rigid twin-tube type. The NSR50/80 also use an advanced version of this frame.

The wheel diameter is 10 inches compared to the Monkey's 8 inches, and it is tubeless, and the rear brakes are drum type but the front is a disc brake. Other features include an aluminum step area and an inner type rear fender, giving it plenty of appeal as a sports motorcycle.

The 30mm diameter front forks, 10-inch wheels, and disc brakes give it a luxurious front end for a 50cc motorcycle.

The rear suspension combines a steel square swingarm with a monoshock. The rear brake is a drum type.

In 1988, the Monkey RT, based on the Monkey R and equipped with up-handles, up-fenders, and on-off tires, was added to the lineup. The Monkey RT was a touring-oriented model with a comfortable riding position and a rear carrier. However, production of both of these models ended by 1990, and both were short-lived models. However, Honda's racing spirit is embodied in the construction of each part of the Monkey R, which goes beyond the realm of a minibike.

The Monkey R's sporty design has a certain futuristic feel to it, and if it were to be released in this day and age as a 125cc model, it might actually be a hit.

The Monkey RT, which comes equipped with up-handlebars, is a leisure motorcycle based on the Monkey R.