One bike sticks out like a sore thumb this week; a uncommon Honda Monkey Gold Version, at present on the market by means of Iconic Bike Auctions. It’s within the firm of three café racers—a Yamaha XS650, a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, and a Honda CB550.
On the market: 1984 Honda Monkey Gold Version Honda’s fashionable traditional mini-bikes are having fun with their second within the solar proper now. However whereas there’s one thing interesting a couple of teeny tiny Honda with classic model and fashionable reliability, there’s one thing much more interesting a couple of uncommon traditional.
You’re a uncommon 1984 Honda Monkey Gold Version. It’s as cute as a button, and it’s at present on the market over at Iconic Bike Auctions.
When you grew up within the USA, you most likely know the Honda Monkey by its US-specific monikers; the Honda Mini Path or the Honda Z50. No matter you name it, the Monkey is the quintessential mini-bike, sporting a tiny engine, a squat construct, a chunky seat, and mini ape bars. And for those who’ve been fortunate sufficient to journey one, you’ll perceive how a lot enjoyable a 49 cc four-stroke with a four-speed transmission could be.
However there’s additionally a superb backstory to the Monkey’s growth, that we admittedly didn’t find out about till now. In keeping with Iconic, “[The Monkey] began life in 1961 as a journey on the Tama Tech amusement park, a former enterprise owned by a Honda subsidiary that was all about selling the ‘joys of driving’.”
“The title got here from the truth that riders appeared like monkeys on the diminutive machines, however the bikes proved so widespread that Honda created a manufacturing model in 1964.”
This specific Monkey is considered one of 5,000 ‘Gold Version’ fashions that had been launched in Japan. As implied by the title, the bikes had been lathered in gold chrome paint, making them one way or the other gaudy and extra cute on the identical time.
Exhibiting 3,348 km [2,080 miles] on the clock, it’s been given an intensive once-over by the Iconic group. Are you as tempted as we’re?
Yamaha XS650 by Ailing-Fated Kustoms The Yamaha XS650’s parallel-twin engine is well one of many Japanese marque’s most iconic powerplants—which might be why we by no means tire of seeing it custom-made. This Yamaha XS650 café racer comes from Ailing-Fated Kustoms in Calgary, Canada, and it’s a complete peach.
The 1983-model XS650 was custom-made for a buyer from Saskatchewan. The temporary known as for a café racer, however the group couldn’t resist mixing a bit of 80s Grand Prix model into the bike. And we’re glad they did.
The Yamaha now wears a repurposed Suzuki gas tank, adopted by a hand-shaped seat cowl. IFK modified the subframe to swimsuit the brand new seat’s proportions, then rewired the bike and ditched the airbox to empty the house beneath it. Look carefully, and also you’ll spot a hidden rear fender that retains a lot out of the pod filters.
The engine was rebuilt and repainted and now exhales by way of an beautiful twin exhaust system that snakes its method by means of the bike, exiting alongside the tail.
A bubble-shaped fairing provides a contact of classic race bike class to the construct. A classically styled taillight does responsibility on the reverse finish of the bike, neatly embedded into the again of the rear cowl.
Different modifications embody clip-on bars, fitted with bar-end mirrors and switch alerts, and spoked wheels with sawtooth tires. But it surely’s the black and gold livery that will get our nostalgic blood pumping. Executed by Kevin Cuffley, it units the XS650 off completely. [Source]
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 by Zain J. Design The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 (often known as the INT650 within the USA) has confirmed its potential for personalisation time and time once more. The platform is simple to journey, simple to fiddle with, and boasts a remarkably stunning engine for a contemporary manufacturing unit bike.
This Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, constructed by Zain J. Design in Dubai, is a restrained and tasteful instance of the bike’s potential. There’s nothing excessive right here—only a host of neat particulars, loosely impressed by the well-known Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft.
The massive hit right here is the considered use of inexperienced paint and brown leather-based trim. The seat and grips are apparent particulars, nevertheless it’s the tidy gas tank belt that basically units issues off. After which there are the refined champagne gold finishes that adorn the engine.
Zain J. Design trimmed the cockpit down by relocating the dials to the left aspect of the bike (which is arguably much less problem than wiring in aftermarket clocks). Clip-ons with bar-end mirrors guarantee a glossy profile, whereas Firestone tires and exhaust wrap add classic British café racer model—whether or not you want them or not. [Source]
Honda CB550 by Luis Baez We’ve seen our justifiable share of Honda CB550 customs, however they seldom prioritize performance on the degree that Luis Baez’s CB does. The person is a mechanical engineer by commerce—and it reveals.
Luis’ Honda CB550 makes use of as many unique Honda and new-old-stock components as it might probably get away with, giving it a vibe that doesn’t stray removed from Honda’s playbook. However the subdued aesthetic belies the bike’s spectacular spec.
For starters, Luis handled the engine and transmission to a complete rebuild, full with new pistons, rings, bearings, and gaskets. The cam chain and drive chain are new, and the pinnacle was rebuilt to accommodate upgraded valves. The CB runs with pod filters and a four-into-one Delkevic exhaust; Luis fettled the carbs to compensate.
A Honda CBR600RR front-end provides the bike a dealing with enhance, matched to a Cognito Moto hub. The bike rolls on 19F/18R rims, laced with stainless-steel spokes and shod with Shinko rubber. Contemporary piggyback shocks prop up the rear.
Up prime, Luis minimize and shut the subframe and strengthened it, then topped it off with a Tuffside seat. The taillight housing is a {custom} 3D-printed half, manufactured from a carbon-filled nylon materials. Luis additionally modified a Honda CB750 gas tank to take a seat low on the 550’s body.
The bike’s reworked electronics are all tucked away in a custom-made tray underneath the seat, together with a light-weight Shorai battery. Different {custom} touches embody the entrance fender and rear-set foot controls. The cockpit is a mashup of assorted Honda bits; CBR clip-ons, OEM CB550 switches, and a CB200 tachometer in a 3D-printed housing that additionally holds the ignition. A traditional pink livery takes the construct over the end line, together with a full complement of stainless and plated fasteners. [More]
