56 motorcycles under my belt. Went from a Harley Road King to a customized 21 Honda Monkey. This as fun as I've ever had on a bike. Super all day comfort as well.
I just sold my 2011 Super Glide Custom and bought a CT125 Trail. The Harley was great to look at and miserable to ride. The Trail is new but fun so far. Totally different experience, for sure. I am trying to figure out routes around MA that avoid highways and will be fun rides.
@@H..M.. -- For the sake of dangling prepositions, " . . . and miserable to ride on." (Humor intended). For the sake of NO dangling prepositions, "The Harley has a great look." (No humor intended.)
I owned 37 motorcycles and had a shop built for them...I'm down to 10 now. I'm 67, not many more years left. Started riding in 1968. I have a Monkey Vtx 1300 Vfr1200 Cb1000r Nc700x Xr650l Cb1100 Crf250 Cbr500r Africa twin I have owned so many Hondas Loved them all.
I sold all my other bikes after I bought a Monkey. It is the most fun bike I've ever ridden. You want to go on a trip? Throw it in the back of the truck and roll out. I wasn't content with the top speed and that was easily fixed because the aftermarket is HUGE for those bikes. Arguably better than Harleys because I've owned quite a few.
Hey Chad, I moved down from big bikes to the Monkey in England. I have had a 10ft inflatable kayak on the back and have loaded up my accordion and taken it into the hills. I am absolutely loving it. Cheers Dean
If love to see an on/offroad comparison between the Monkey, Trail 125, and the ADV 150. THE 3 young guns of TFL could make a mini adventure series out of it. That would get some serious views for sure.
Bought my son a ruckus as a graduation present from high school. I have as much fun riding it as he does. Now I want a Trail Cub but nobody has one! Thanks Brandon for the supply chain crisis along with surcharges and markups!
Best part was dad … the look on his face … when’s the last time he got his hands on something that made him that happy? It’s all there, the child-like glee while doing something associated with something young people do, and just the freedom and empowerment that comes with riding a motorcycle… I hope he followed through with that or somebody got him one. I’ve seen the same thing happen with firing a gun for the first time and also being introduced to ultralight aircraft - 10 hours of lessons and boom… you’re a pilot. Anything like this is especially gratifying to see… Someone who has spent their whole life always putting themselves last and taking care of everybody else finally gets to have something fun that’s just for THEM… and it’s always about the look on their face that gets me … Priceless.
Of the 5... I'll pick the Grom 1st. With Fuel Injection, 5 speed, 1000's of aftermarket goodies from custom lights to big bore kits and full ferrings, versatility from trail to cafe racer! I'm 185# and 71yo, got my son's stock 2018 Grom up to 64mph!
We used to have a 2008 Honda CRF80F, and I really liked that bike. It was dependable, easy to ride, and comfortable. The power also felt great for a small little 4-stroke 80. I grew up on a trail 55 and a trail 90, so I think I would have to get the new trail 125.
I used to own a DAX 50 in 1970ies, even travelled through France with it . Now I got the Chinese remake SkyMax 125 and it is fun to use just like 40 yrs ago. The foldable handlebar allows me to keep in a little storage room in our house in Sardinia. My so is using it to go diving and fishing , me to go to beaches etc.
The issue is the Trail 125 is simply NOT AVAILABLE. I called 7 dealers in the dallas/ft worth area, three told me it was discontinued and the others said they can’t get any information from Honda on if/when they will be available again i.e. 2022. I would buy one today but you simply can’t get them….
Honda is the only manufacturer that puts fuel injection on its trail bikes, and they also use an aluminum perimeter frame. Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki all still use carburetors.
Just picked up a brand new 2021 Benelli TNT 135 last weekend and having a blast with it. I've wanted a Grom since it came out but it's not available in the country where I'm hanging out. Got it for the equivalent of USD $1491 and the reviews I've seen are positive regarding performance and reliability so we'll see how it holds up over time.
I got my stock 2020 Honda Grom to the low 60's under it's own power, and I hit a top speed of 70 mph while drafting behind a truck. Granted it was well into the red line by that point.
I own a 2022 model Monkey. I also have three bigger bikes. The Honda is really awesome: light, comfortable, funny, cheap, attractive... I normally do 60 km with one liter of gasoline (1/4 galloon). The bike is a quality product and it is very agile and nimble for urban use. Great purchase!
Excellent! Keep up the great work guys! Giggle factor is always the best thing about mini bikes (best way to get in touch with your inner child). Remind me next time and I will set you up on mastering wheelies! I picked up my 4th xr100 yesterday. Can’t wait to have you guys out during our off season of snow riding!
Currently trading in my 2015 FZ09 to go towards a 2023 TW200 when the dealership gets them. Small is fun, plus being in canada. A TW200 might be the only bike actually suited to go out and play on some of the warmer winter days. The thing will easily chug through light packed snow trails.
I started out riding a military Harley on my dad's farm at around 10 years old. I got a Gemini 50 with 3 gears and owned a lot of bikes since. Harley,suzuki,kawasaki.yamaha,Gemini they were all a load of fun and lasted a long time.
The Trail 125 is the Willys Jeep of motorcycles... I had one on order for 10 months and finally got it 3 months ago. These things will go ANYWHERE! What a blast! You guys are right. You'll never stop without someone,,, male and female wanting to talk to you about it! Thanks for your videos Rev. Guy
I got rid of all my other bikes after buying a used MSX in SE Asia for $750USD with 1,350 Kilometers on it. I moded it to 160cc now. It's a lightweight and nimble little rocket now.
Sold my 2017 KTM 690 Enduro and bought the 2021 Monkey.. best choice I've ever made, I've had all the bike brands and Honda has always been my favorite, thing is so comfortable all day, I just wish it had more power but that's not the point of this bike it's all about the ride. It's a true riders bike.
I plan on buying my first bike and I’m going with the Honda Navi when it comes out in February and I’m excited. I thought about the Grom but the Navi is nearly half the cost and almost goes just as fast for someone like me who is only 160lbs. Curious to get your thoughts when it’s out!
I was considering the Navi, but it has a small fuel tank and gets less mpg. I estimate needing to top off the tank every 50 miles, whereas the Monkey would be every 150 miles to top it off before hitting the reserve tank.
I know the super cub is a scooter, but i highly recommend. Wish it came with a rack like the trail. I got the 2019 and i get compliments and big smiles from everyone. You see the 'tough guy' facade fade away and the kid inside them comes out.
That 125 trail looks like what we call a posti bike in Australia. Australia post delivers the mail on them. There is a local group of business men in northern NSW called the Pelicans on Posti’s that do charity rides usually 5000km + at the time through the outback. Stopping at every pub on the way
Thanks for the revue , my 1st bike in 1987 was a factory works 1984 YZ 250 Yamaha , it all most killed me , way to fast for a beginner , I want the 2022 125 DAX , more my speed now that I am 60 years young !!!
You guys should review the new Honda NAVI (new in the US anyway) which is a 55 mph+ minimoto for $1,800 msrp! $1800 for a brand new Honda is unreal. I love the Trail and the monkey but I could buy more than 2 NAVIs for that amount of money. Maybe you have already reviewed it after this video was made, I will check. Nice to see reviews on the smaller stuff out there. EDIT: Never mind. I see you have 2 videos on the NAVI and I will check them out. Thanks.
Just got a Grasshopper Green Navi yesterday. $2882 OTD. Kind of a Honda mini-moto fan after watching my buddy get deep into collecting the older stuff. Have the first year Monkey ABS, Super Cub, and Trail 125 to go along with a 2022 Ruckus and a 2017 Metropolitan. Want that Pearl White Grom next. Really liking the Navi so far. Just twist and go. Scooter ease with (almost) the same HP the 125's have.
A.B.A.T.E. of Indiana owns a 400 acre off road park (Lawrence County Recreational Park). Great place for a Mini Bike rally. Lots of great Rural Southern Indiana roads to ride plus 400 acres of off road fun. A.B.A.T.E. has a big Bike Rally every third weekend in July. That is the only event scheduled so I think it would be a good place for us On and Off road Mini Bikers to take over!
I road and raced motorcycles for 45 + years and my neighbor bought his kid a kx 80 manual. 2 stroke and within 5 min' s I looped it in 5th gear and felt it for a month
Dec 1973! BEST XMASS EVER! Trail 70 blue. I WAS HOOKED For Life! The Obsession Began! Im 64 & im GONNA GET me One for my 65th Birthday come March! Stays in ur blood 4 life these things! God Bless..
The trout decal reminds me of Carbondale. The STP reminds me of Boulder in the 70s. You can tell I’ve lived there. I rode my BMW R1100 GS all over the Rockies.
I got the yammaha 110TRE for my son a while back and I ride it over my Honda 125 all day… Learning how to wheelie on it too since I’m new to riding… I love both but again being a new rider and no indication light for my 125 which has a clutch and is 1 down 3 up I ride the semi automatic 110 literally every day…
I used to ride big motorcycles on the street..started out with a Honda Twinstar 200 cc street bike years ago then went through a progression of bigger displacement bikes ended up with a Yamaha GS1100 when I quit riding street bikes. Sure it was fun and I miss it at times but I decided to park the street bike and now I just have a Coleman BT200X minibike to putt around my property. Loads of fun I didn't feel like spending $3000.00 plus for a minibike and didn't want to be tempted to ride a bike on public roads again so I don't need a 'street legal capable minibike'. Did look at the Honda Monkey and Trail 125 they are cool little bikes but a cheaper minibike serves my purposes fine as for me it is for 'off road only'.
Great review guys !!! I am so torn between a Monkey and CT125 , then with the release of the 2022 Monkey is very apparent why so many Monkeys ( 19-21 ) are popping up for sale as I can only guess those owners want the new upgraded 22 . I myself would get a 22 if the pricing on the used previous Monkey are to close to a new 22 . However , it is also apparent that Honda is catering to Europe with the CT125 vs. the US , why advertise ( tease us ) about having one if you can't even make them available ???
I have TWO American Lifan STREET LEGAL KP 150 Mini-Cycles (150cc with a TWO year warranty). I put knobby OFF ROAD tires on them for going off road - as well as a little street riding. They are TOP TIER Chinese motorcycles (TWO year warranty) with the distributor in California and dealers/service around the USA. BTW, I got the TWO Lifans for LESS than ONE Grom and they are nicked named the "GROM KILLER". You need to check them out and you will be SURPRISED with the QUALITY of them 😉👍
My first was a Vitacci Rocket (automatic Grom clone), I bought it used and rode it with no license til it got jacked from my parking lot. Last year I bought a 750w Juiced Scorpion ebike. Mini motor are badass. Still have no license and want the new Honda Navi.
You missed a bunch like the C F Moto Papio, the Kymco Pro 150, the RPS Condor 150. The Papio is a 6 speed w/126 cc. All better Chinese Grom clones. I have a Versys X300 ADV, but I'm thinking about the Kymco because riding a slow bike fast is more fun than riding a fast bike slow. I've been riding since 1970.
I got a monkey I bought it a year ago it's got the 186 cylinder and exhaust and intakes and so on and I love it but I'm kind of fat and I look kind of big on it if I weighed 40 lb less. 🤪.. no question around town it's great you can ride full blast constantly which is a lot more fun than riding slow on a fast bike. Don't hesitate to get one you'll have fun guaranteed.
I'm 280, 5' 7" that monkey looks dope, but you mentioned 200 pounds is about its limit. Is the 5 speed with the newer drive train any help or is that still not enough size? I think what I want is something in that size range, low to the ground but able to handle the weight and doesn't require i get into a ninja position, thoughts?
The bike that is missing is the first bike I ever rode way back in 1969. Back then it was the CT 70 Trail. In the rest of the world Honda has brought it back as the DAX125. It uses the same 125 as all the others but with a unique frame design. Since Honda hasn’t made up their mind there is an alternative. The 4 speed semi automatic 125 Chinese clone known as the Ice Bear Champion. I ordered one yesterday. They are 49 state legal, sorry California. Less than half the price of the Honda 125 as well.
I called several Honda dealerships near me and even some out on the west coast. None of them had Honda Trail 125s. They all had waiting lists for the new bikes. That tells you something about the bike.
I got lucky and got one. It's my favorite bike ever. I use it for commuting and small trips in the mountains. It's worth the wait. According to the forums and facebook groups, west coast adds a grand to the cost. Anecdotally, the midwest and desert west tends to have more ones not spoken for. I'm thinking of selling a few older toys and buying a Monkey too
#4 is actually suppose to be the SURRON stock it goes 45 mph 50-60mi range has a mid engine (better than hub motor) much better suspension and retailng for 4100$ and definantly faster🤷♂️
Tw fun i had older one back in the day i just wish it would get fuel injection then i would buy one again.. Just dont want to deal with carbs ever again!
Sadly, even with my pharmacy technician job, these bikes are beyond my budget. I am considering putting back my tax return this year towards the Honda Navi. It's still beyond my budget but if I stretch it for a year or two I might be able to squeeze it into my budget.
I have a green 1975 and red 1978 honda z50 with 125cc engines. And a yellow 1976 with a 70cc engine. I toy around the neighbor hood with all 3. And a 1981 honda CBX. I think tje honda 110 would be a nice addition to my stable. I Also own a 2006 vrod and a 2013 Zl1 with a stage 3 cam set up by J& S Performance. I do like my toys! Never to old to have FUN! ✌
Lifan KP mini 150cc is a good one and it's only 2100 delivered to your door. All these Japanese bikes are nice but add 1 to 2k to the MSRP for the otd price and you'll quickly switch to a good chinese brand that is in stock.
I am really wanting to buy a Kawasaki W175. Unfortunately, they're not available in the USA. They seem like a perfect mid-sized motorcycle for Asia (and seem to be sold in about half the Southeast Asia countries). I really want to tour around on one.
I thought about all these bikes and decided on an electric Enduro Kollter Banshee. Faster than a Grom and super simple. Cost a bit more than a Grom but no gas, oil, etc. Why no one bothers to review them.....