2025 Honda Dax vs. Monkey Comparison: 125 Urban MiniMotos

When it comes to making motorcycling inviting to new riders, it’s difficult to find a more accommodating lineup than the Honda MiniMotos. With the exception of the outlying Navi, the MiniMotos are powered by a fuel-injected 124cc single and cost between $3599 and $4349. The Grom, Dax, and Monkey are small-wheel bikes, while the Super Cup C125 and Trail125 use full-size wheels. All five of the 125-class MiniMotos are aimed at new urban riders, with all but the Grom recalling Hondas from the 1960s.

We grabbed the two most expensive MiniMotos—the $4199 Dax and $4349 Monkey—and headed to downtown Los Angeles for some monkey business and to find out if every dog has his day.

The 2025 Honda Dax and Monkey are based on motorcycles designed for kids, but could conceivably work for an adult. The Dax—short for dachshund, due to its shape—is a modern-day Trail 70, which was sold in the United States from 1969 to 1982, and revived from 1991 to 1994. The Monkey recalls the iconic Mini Trail 50, which lasted from 1968 to 1978, and lives on in another form as the CRF50F trail bike.

In the translation to the modern MiniMotos, the positioning of the two bikes has changed a bit. Instead of a displacement differential, both are now 125s. The Mini Trail 50 had a three-speed transmission with an automatic clutch, while the Monkey is a fully manual five-speed. The Trail 70 had three- and four-speed transmissions that used an auto clutch, along with a fully manual four-speed. The Dax gets an automatic four-speed transmission. Visually, the Dax retains its unique pressed-steel frame that inspires its name and carries the fuel, while the Monkey has a traditional frame and fuel tank.

The short version is that the Dax has an auto-clutch four-speed to appeal to rank beginners, while the Monkey’s fully manual five-speed requires a more experienced hand—the left one, to be specific.

Riding around downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding neighborhoods gives the Dax and Monkey a good workout. In addition to dodging aggressive automobiles and dazed pedestrians in the city’s core, nearby Echo Park offers the challenges of steep hills and spooked drivers. Elysian Park gave us an opportunity for some dirt routes, which speaks to the history of the two MiniMotos. With Kelly weighing in at 115 pounds and Don carrying 170 pounds, the Dax and Monkey had to adapt to a 55-pound weight swing.

Ergonomically, they are close, though not identical. You can squeeze the tank on the Monkey—the Dax has no dedicated fuel tank. The Monkey has a cushy solo seat, while the Dax has a longer seat with firmer foam and footpegs for a passenger. On all-day rides, both bikes are completely comfortable.

We started in Elysian Park, which surrounds Dodger Stadium, just northeast of downtown Los Angeles. We unloaded the bikes from the Average White Ultimate Motorcycling Truck and cruised through the park to start. When we were met with a dead-end parking lot, we simply rode across the grass, much to the delight of the locals picnicking and enjoying impromptu soccer matches. The friendly, quiet, and diminutive MiniMotos inspire smiles and waves, rather than scowls and recriminations. “It’s not a big motorcycle, just a groovy little motorbike,” The Beach Boys assured everyone in 1964.

Riding around downtown Los Angeles on the Honda Dax and Monkey MiniMotos is amazingly fun, pure and simple. You can go wherever you want without undo concern. If we wanted to ride up on the sidewalk for a photo or two, we didn’t worry about it. There isn’t much police presence, and when you do see them, they don’t seem to care about what you’re doing. You can ride by a police cruiser on an unlicensed minibike with a lawnmower engine—the descendent of the Taco minis of the 1960s—and the police don’t blink an eye. That provides lots of freedom on the Dax and Monkey, and we took advantage of it.

When we came upon the instantly iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, we wanted a photo of the spectacular building designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. So, we rode up the curb and onto the plaza. A few photos were shot, without any feathers being ruffled. The small stature of the bikes makes them seem fun to passersby, rather than imitating, as full-size motorcycles can be. We zipped up and down Broadway, lining up the Dax and Monkey on the sidewalk in front of the historic Los Angeles and Orpheum Theaters. Did anyone care? Of course not! “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” still sticks, over 60 years after the Super Cub ad campaign.

After taking in the industrial districts and various murals, the striking new Sixth Street Viaduct was a natural destination. A recent replacement for the viaduct built in 1932, the new version was nicknamed the Ribbon of Light. It had color-changing LED lighting installed on its ten arches, making it a tourist attraction, as well as a functioning bridge. As you would expect in Los Angeles, 38,000 feet of copper wire delivering power to the lighting was pilfered on short notice and never repaired. In the meantime, it’s a magnet for drifting enthusiasts. So, we didn’t worry too much when we parked illegally to shoot a few photos.

Heading east off the Sixth Street Viaduct put us in more familiar territory—Boyle Heights. Known 100 years ago as the Ellis Island of the West Coast due to its ethic and cultural diversity, Boyle Heights is now 94 percent Latino. Reflecting that, it’s home to two of our favorite places to eat—Lupita’s Restaurante, with its multiple generations of ladies in the kitchen, and Un Solo Sol, a modern vegan restaurant that manages to appeal to our carnivorous selves—both on 1st Street. Over on Soto Street, there is one of the last remaining examples of the once-thriving Pioneer Chicken chain and the long-running Sam’s Tacos, which is conveniently open 24/7. It’s also a fun place to ride the Dax and the Monkey.

Heading toward Echo Park, we were able to get in some acceleration and top speed tests. The Monkey has the acceleration edge, thanks to the five-speed gearbox and the manual clutch. Top speed on both bikes is about 60 mph, if conditions are just right. Count on 55 as a reliable top speed on flat ground, so stay off the freeways.

Of course, if you’re a beginner, you’ll be on the Dax and attempt to master the clunky automatic clutch. The centrifugal clutch can be smooth if you match the revs just right, though that’s a skill that comes with time. Don’s experience at ATV Action came in handy, as he has quite a bit of time with centrifugal clutches. Kelly has limited familiarity with the device, and she struggled to shift smoothly. If you’re going to get better as a rider, you will be better served learning to work the manual clutch than timing auto-clutch shifts. Regardless, the Dax makes it possible for people who otherwise would not be able to ride to get going on two wheels with less experience.

Working our way northwest to Echo Park, it was time to test the mettle of the 124cc SOHC air-cooled motors on its famed hills. Along the way, we spent some time in the dirt on a forgotten stretch of Landa Street in Elysian Heights, checking out an overlooked masterpiece of folk-art architecture by City of Los Angeles civil engineer Robert A. Johnson. Rough roads in the hills reminded us that you get budget, non-adjustable suspension on both bikes. The Dax and Monkey have an inverted fork with 4.3 inches of travel. The Dax has 4.7 inches of rear wheel travel—0.4 inches more than the Monkey, though both have twin shocks. We’re guessing that the Dax’s two-inch longer wheelbase is responsible. In use, we didn’t notice much difference in the action. Being lighter, Kelly was better suited to the suspension settings.

In Echo Park, we challenged Baxter and Eldred Streets. Their 32 percent grades are among the steepest in the United States, and gave the Honda MiniMotos a workout. As you’d imagine, they had an easier time with Kelly aboard than they did with Don, though the Dax and Monkey were able to make the climbs. Don had to wring out bikes in 1st gear, while Kelly could use 2nd gear on the Monkey thanks to the extra cog and manual clutch. The experiences are quite different, as stopping on the Dax puts you in neutral, so you’d better be on the brakes. The Monkey can be stalled on the steep climb, though we’re both too experienced to let that happen. If you park the Monkey in gear, it won’t roll down the hill—a distinct advantage over the Dax.

We swung through Chinatown to enjoy the unique architecture, friendly people, and delightful smells. We were able to ride into Chinatown Central Plaza for a few photos—don’t try that on a regular motorcycle. After a couple of highly illegal U-turns, we stopped on Broadway in front of the KimThai Oriental Gift Shop to get a photo of Kelly riding by. The locals were excited by the two MiniMotos and asked lots of questions: “How big is the engine?” “What does it cost?”

Returning to Elysian Park, we took on twisties that crisscross near the top of the hilly grounds. Grandview Drive and Angels Point Road are satisfying on the Dax and Monkey, as you can wring them out without hitting speeds that will get you in too much trouble. Downshifts into corners are much smoother on the manual-clutch Monkey. Cornering clearance is more than adequate on both bikes, and the two flavors of Vee Rubber tires they use never complain or cause consternation—they just grip. The disc brakes do a good job of slowing the bikes down, with ABS kicking in fairly early when using the 190mm rear disc hard. The Monkey is shorter, so it has an edge in agility, though some riders will prefer the relative stability of the Dax—these are short bikes with small wheels, after all.

A side issue that didn’t bother us, but we found interesting, is the difference in fuel capacity and fuel consumption on the two Honda MiniMotos. The Dax has a one-gallon fuel tank and is estimated to get a miserly 107 mpg. That’s certainly adequate for urban riders. Really, if you run out of gas, just push the bike to a gas station. However, the Monkey has a 1.5-gallon tank and has an estimated fuel consumption rate of an incredible 163 mpg. That gives the Monkey the theoretical range of an adventure bike—almost 245 miles! We didn’t check for mpg, as we were never worried about running out of gas on any of our rides on either bike.

When it comes to exploring the urban wilds of Los Angeles, the Honda Dax and Monkey are tough to beat. They are fun, inoffensive, inexpensive, and incredibly practical. You have the freedom to take them places you might not be welcome on a traditional motorcycle—even the larger MiniMoto models. Whether you are experienced and want to be a Monkey’s uncle or are a novice who lets the dog out, these are two motorcycles that will put a smile on your face.

Photography by Kelly Callan and Don Williams

DON’S RIDING STYLE

• Helmet: Ruroc EOX
• Communications: Shockwave Mesh powered by Cardo
• Hoodie: Roadskin Easyrider II
• Gloves: Alpinestars Halo
• Trousers: Roadskin Cargo
• Boots: Alpinestars RT-8

KELLY’S RIDING STYLE

• Helmet: Arai Signet-X
• Communications: Cardo Packtalk Edge
• Hoodie: Alpinestars Stella Sektor v2 Tech
• Gloves: Alpinestars Chrome
• Jeans: Alpinestars Daisy v2
• Shoes: Alpinestars J-6

2025 Honda Dax vs. Monkey Comparison: 125 Urban MiniMoto Photo Gallery