The Monkey Africa is a precise reproduction! Now available as a kit part in the Reiwa era. [17th Monkey Meeting in Tama]

The Monkey BAJA was released based on the Monkey, and was modeled after the off-road model XLR250BAJA, with twin headlights and raised fenders. This was in 1991, 34 years ago. However, a large number of Monkey Bajas always gather at the “Monkey Meeting in Tama” held at Tokyo Summerland. Such is its popularity, Honda Access released a body kit for the Monkey Baja as an original accessory. This was named the Monkey Africa, and simply by putting on the exterior kit, you can easily transform your Monkey Baja. The style is essentially the same as the machine that competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally.

The Monkey Africa was sold as a body kit, and even at the time, its price exceeded 100,000 yen. As a result, there were not many of them in circulation, so it could be called a phantom body kit. Several of these rare Monkey Africas were on display at the 17th Monkey Meeting. There are surely many users who would like to own one after seeing them. However, if a used kit were to be put up for auction online, for example, the price would easily exceed the original retail price. So, some people think, “So why not just make it yourself?”

The Monkey Africa we are introducing today is just that. It was produced by a workshop called AGLLABO, which created a precise design by taking a mold from the original. The first one was made for the workshop, but a second one was made at the request of a friend, Shion Matsunaga. This is the machine that faithfully reproduces the original, even down to the coloring.

The body kit that was created is a one-piece design that simply fits over the Monkey Baja, just like the original. The tank, seat, side covers, etc. of the Monkey Baja can remain as they are. Once it’s on top, it’s easy to secure with metal fittings. That’s why the fuel tank that looks huge is a complete dummy, and the tank capacity remains the same as that of the Monkey Baja. It gives the impression of being able to take on great adventures, but appearances are the priority.

The body kits developed by AGLLABO are sold unpainted. They can be ordered through the official LINE or Yahoo! Auctions, and cost around 220,000 yen. Of course, the set includes fixing brackets, but the buyer must paint it themselves or request it separately from AGLLABO. It is possible to have a design that is exactly like the original, as in this machine, and of course, you can even have a one-of-a-kind color scheme.

It’s a very attractive body kit, and while it’s fine for those who already own a Monkey Baja, it may be a bit daunting for those who are just starting out and want to own one. After all, used Monkeys from the 50cc era are consistently priced high, with Bajas sometimes costing over 500,000 yen. Even if you want one, you might hesitate, and AGLLABO understands that. That’s why they’re developing a new kit based on the current Monkey 125, rather than the Monkey Baja. For further details, please contact us directly via our official LINE or Yahoo! Auctions.

If you’re a regular user of the Monkey Baja, you can even buy a body kit and enjoy it like a dress-up doll. This is good news for existing owners, as you can change it to Baja or Africa depending on your mood that day.

This machine and the workshop machine (photo below, left) use a recoil starter to start the engine. The engine is started by pulling the handle on the left side of the crankcase. This is a matter of personal preference, but in some ways it may be recommended as it prevents damage to the body kit when kick-starting. The parts used are genuine Honda, so you can be assured of their quality.

AGLLABO has released a variety of products in addition to the Monkey Africa. They are particularly particular about dual headlights, and have developed them for the Monkey 125, Dax 125, and even the CT125 Hunter Cub. All of these are current models, so there’s no need to go to the trouble of searching for a used one. It’s a very interesting workshop, and they also hold a moped meet-up for all genres at Akigase Park in Saitama Prefecture on the second Sunday of every month. This is a great chance to see the actual bikes, so be sure to check it out.