1978 Honda Monkey & Honda Monkey | 50cc Fun Unique Leisure Motorbikes
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| Photo of 1978 Honda Gorilla「ゴリラ」. 50cc Unique Collectible Mini Motorccle with Sportbike Style. |
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. released a unique style 50cc mini motorcycle Honda Gorilla suitable for a wide range of applications such as leisure and short-distance riding from August 3rd 1978.
In addition, The Honda Monkey also was released on the same day with some improvements such as seats.
These leisure bikes were developed by Honda as a new field for two-wheeled vehicles. In particular, the Honda Monkey is a bike that pioneered it, and has been well received for its unique style and ease of use.
With the release of Honda Gorilla this time, Honda’s leisure bike series has become 5 models and 9 types, and it has become even more fulfilling.
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| 1978 Honda Monkey picture 「モンキー」. Cute & Unique Classic 50cc Motorbike. |
1978 Honda Gorilla Main Features
- Equipped with a highly reliable 4-cycle OHC engine. Manual He is equipped with a large-capacity 9L fuel tank that can be used for clutches, 4-speed transmissions, and paintings of your choice, and is designed for short-distance riding.
- Equipped with a carrier that can load luggage and play equipment in front of and behind the car body, it has an element that allows you to enjoy the second purpose at your destination, expanding the range of leisure.
- Bright and large headlights, large turn signal lamps with excellent visibility, easy-to-operate switches at hand, comfortable seats, etc. are adopted.
Main Features of Honda Monkey 1978
- A newly designed body design has been adopted while maintaining the uniqueness of the past. It is a compact and lightweight design that can be carried to the destination by a small passenger car or the like by folding the steering wheel.
Price List of Honda Gorilla & Monkey
Production volume : Two types are planned to produce 7,500 units per month (including 5,000 units in Japan).
- 1978 Honda Gorilla price : 108,000 yen
- 1978 Honda Monkey price: 100,000 yen.
1978 Honda Monkey v.s Honda Gorilla Main Specifications
| Honda Monkey Specs | Honda Gorilla Specs | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length (m) | 1.340 | 1.365 | |
| Overall width (m) | 0.600 | 0.625 | |
| Overall height (m) | 0.845 | 0.875 | |
| Wheelbase (m) | 0.895 | ||
| Minimum ground clearance (m) | 0.150 | ||
| Vehicle weight (kg) | 63 (equipment) 58 (dry) | 67 (equipment) 59 (dry) | |
| Fuel tank capacity (L) | 5.0 | 9.0 | |
| Fuel consumption rate (km/L) (30km/h constant-land driving test value) |
65 | 70 | |
| Climbing ability (tan θ) | 0.32 | ||
| Minimum turning radius (m) | 1.4 | ||
| Engine type | Air-cooled 4-cycle C/H/C single cylinder | ||
| Total displacement (cm3) | 49 | ||
| Inner diameter x stroke (mm) | 39.0 x 41.4 | ||
| compression ratio | 8.8 | ||
| Maximum output (PS/rpm) | 2.6/7,000 | ||
| Maximum torque (kg-m/rpm) | 0.3/5,000 | ||
| Starting method | Kick | Kick | |
| Clutch type | Wet multi-plate automatic centrifugal type | Wet single plate coil spring | |
| Transmission type | Always meshing | ||
| Gear ratio | 1st speed | 3.181 | 2.692 |
| 2nd speed | 1.823 | ||
| 3rd speed | 1.190 | 1.300 | |
| 4th speed | ― | 0.958 | |
| Primary reduction ratio | 3.722 | 4.312 | |
| Final reduction ratio | 3.083 | 2.583 | |
| frame format | backbone expression | ||
| Tire size (both front and back) | 3.50-8-2PR | ||
| Brake type | (front) | Wire-type reading trailing | |
| (after) | Rod leading trailing | ||