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Even Honda have been taken aback by the success of the MSX125 since its launch in 2014 and now the firm is out to capitalise on its popularity by mixing the MSX\u2019s usability with the classic style of its legendary Z50 Monkey.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The recipe isn\u2019t a new one; put a scooter-derived engine in a scaled-down motorcycle. And it\u2019s hard to find a road test of the MSX125 that hasn\u2019t made reference to its great-grandfather, the Honda Z50 Monkey, which first popularised that idea back in the 1960s. While the Monkey is still in production, it hasn\u2019t been sold in Europe for years as it has little hope of meeting emissions regulations and is too small for real-world use.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now Honda looks set to mix the MSX\u2019s mechanical parts with the styling of the original Monkey, creating a modern take on the classic machine that will be legal to sell in emissions-restricted markets like Europe and America.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The above pictures come from Honda\u2019s own patents for the bike\u2019s styling, clearly showing the model\u2019s final appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n The frame and engine are from the MSX125, which also donates its wheels, brakes and front suspension. At the back there\u2019s a new single-seat subframe which also serves to create mounting points for the twin shocks that replace the MSX\u2019s monoshock design. Below them lies a tube-section swingarm, mimicking the original Monkey and replacing the box-section arm of the MSX125.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While these patents are the first clear hint at a production future for the machine, Honda has already dropped suggestions that it could make such a bike. A very similar-looking, MSX-based concept was shown in Bangkok earlier this year. It was largely ignored as there was no official Honda publicity surrounding it and the bike was seen as a creation of Honda\u2019s local Thai arm. Now it appears that the concept might have been previewing a production model because these patents have been filed by Honda\u2019s head office in Japan. The patents also feature subtle differences when compared to the concept, adding to the likelihood that they actually show a production machine.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nLarger than the original<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\t\t