33The Monkey’s seat sits high
enough for grown-ups to ride
without scrunching their legs.30.6 in.
POPSCI.COM•SPRING 2019older kids, grown-up hooligans loved them,
even after production ended in 1970. Now
there’s a new Monkey in town. It measures
just 47 inches from front to back and sports
’60s-style steel bodywork, but it’s a mod-
ern, street- legal machine. The 125cc engine is
more than twice the size of the original, so a
not-too-heavy rider can push the 234-pound
terror north of 60 miles per hour. The
upgraded Monkey even boasts anti- lock
brakes, but the system affects only the
front wheel. That way, the rear tire can slide
around on a dirt road, which is way more fun
than any theme-park ride.