Honda Monkey restoration
Restoring classic Honda Monkeys, small Hondas and their engines to their former glory is what Two Wheel Restorations is all about – bikes and engines, whatever the condition.
What would you like restored?
Classic Honda Monkeys, small Hondas and their engines, whatever the condition. Pick one to see how Cliff can help.
The whole bikeComplete restoration, sympathetic restoration, or just getting it running.See the options ↓
Just the engineFull strip-down and rebuild, bench tested with a video sent to you.See engine restoration ↓
We also buy, sell and customise classic Monkeys. Models covered · The workshop · Customers & their bikes
Complete restore, sympathetic restore, or just get it running?
Every bike is different, and so is every owner. Before any spanners come out, Cliff will talk you through what you want from the bike. Most projects fall into one of three approaches:
Complete restoration
A full, nut-and-bolt rebuild. The bike is stripped to the bare frame and every part is rebuilt, refinished or replaced, so it looks as it did when it left the factory, or better.
- Frame and panels stripped and repainted in Honda-correct colours
- Engine fully rebuilt, cases bead blasted
- Chrome re-plated or replaced, new rubbers, cables and fixings
- Wheels, hubs and running gear rebuilt
Suits: tired or incomplete bikes, show bikes, investment bikes, or anyone who wants it as new.
Sympathetic restoration
Keep as much of the original bike as possible and fix what needs fixing. Original paint, patina and period parts are kept wherever they can be, and the mechanics are made safe, reliable and good to ride.
- Original paint and finishes cleaned, preserved and touched in
- Engine and running gear serviced or rebuilt as needed
- Worn or unsafe parts replaced, period-correct where possible
- History, character and originality kept intact
Suits: original, unrestored or family bikes, bikes with history, and riders who want to use and enjoy them.
Just get it running
No cosmetic makeover, just a bike that starts, runs, stops and rides reliably. Cliff focuses on the mechanics and leaves the paint and finishes as they are.
- Recommissioning after the bike has been standing
- Fuel system and carburettor cleaned and set up
- Ignition, electrics and starting sorted
- Brakes, tyres, chain and cables checked and made safe
Suits: barn finds, bikes that have been laid up for years, runabouts, or anyone who just wants to ride without the cost of a restoration.
Not sure which? Answer three quick questions
1. How original is the bike now?
2. How do you want it to look?
3. What will it mostly do?
Not every bike fits neatly into one box. Plenty of projects are somewhere in between, for example a sympathetic bike with a fully rebuilt engine, or a running-order job that later grows into a restoration. Cliff will help you find the right balance for your bike and your budget.
What to expect from a restoration
Restorations aren't linear. However carefully a bike is looked over beforehand, unknowns always turn up once the work starts: a seized bolt, a hidden crack in a case, worn parts deep inside the engine, or a previous repair that needs putting right. Because of this, an exact quotation up front simply isn't possible. Cliff will give you an honest estimate, keep you updated as the bike is stripped, and talk anything unexpected through with you before going ahead.
It's a labour of love. A full restoration takes time, patience and investment, and it is at its most rewarding when the owner shares that passion: someone who loves the bike and wants to see it brought back properly, however long that takes.
Is it the right fit for you? If the plan is to restore a bike to sell on for a profit, or you're only casually interested in the bike, a full restoration may not be the best route. The costs of doing the job properly rarely make financial sense on paper. In those cases, getting it running and mechanically sound, a sympathetic restoration or an engine rebuild may suit you better, and Cliff is always happy to talk through the options.
Engine restoration
A full strip-down and rebuild service where every part of your vintage Monkey Bike engine is examined, checked and repairs advised if need be. It doesn't matter what condition the engine is in.
- Cases stripped and bead blasted, looking as they did when they rolled out of the factory.
- Barrel cleaned and painted to your liking.
- Cylinder head stripped, examined, bead blasted and polished.
- Side cases stripped, painted and polished.
- Re-assembled with all new nuts, screws, washers and gaskets.
- Repairs to cracked and/or broken engines and side cases.
- Every restored engine bench tested, with a video sent to you before it goes back in the frame or is sent back to you.
Alongside restoration
Tuning
Sensible, reliable performance upgrades for classic Monkeys and small Hondas – engine, carburation, exhausts, gearing and handling.
Tuning →Paint service
Tanks, frames, mudguards, wheels and panels professionally painted to a concours-level finish in Honda-correct colours.
Paint service →Monkey 125 JB02 kit fitting
Fitting of big-bore power kits such as the Kitaco 181cc Power Pack Light for the 2018–2020 Monkey 125.
Kit fitting →Do you have a bike or engine that needs restoring?
For a bespoke quote, call Cliff on 07903 939229 or send an email.