About the Honda Gorilla Spring Collection

In 1967, Honda pioneered the field of "leisure motorcycles" with
the release of the Monkey. That charming machine was equipped
with tiny five-inch tires, a rigid suspension, and unique folding
handlebars, which enabled its loading into a passenger car. The
uniqueness of the Monkey made it an instant hit among the young
and young at heart. Over the years, the little Monkey continued
to mature, undergoing several modifications including the
incorporation of eight inch tires and an improved suspension
system. In August 1978, Honda released the big brother of the
Monkey, and appropriately named it "Gorilla".
Save the gas tank and seat, the Gorilla adopted fundamentally the
same parts as the Monkey. The most defining aspect of the
Gorilla is its swelled chest, an oversized gas tank, which boasts
a capacity of 9 liters. And while the Monkey was equipped with
folding handlebars, the Gorilla got fixed ones. The main reason
was that while the Monkey was designed to be loaded into a car
and transported to the riding area, the Gorilla was made to get
there on its own power. And as the Monkey was to be loaded, the
Gorilla was designed to load, equipped with two large baggage
carriers, one on the front and one on the rear. The 9 liter gas
tank and superb 70km per liter mileage provided a maximum
continuous running distance of 630km, on par with most passenger
cars of the same era. Its powerplant was the same as the monkey,
a 49cc aircooled single cylinder SOHC engine, which was also used
on Honda's best selling Super Cub. The Gorilla was also equipped
with a manuel 4-speed transmission, opposed to the automatic
3-speed system of the Monkey.

Like its little brother, the Gorilla underwent various
improvements until 1992, when production was ceased. The
popularity of the machine, however, did not dwindle, with the few
remaining used Gorillas fetching premium prices. It was February
1998 when Honda resumed production, this time bringing out a new
Gorilla equipped with the Monkey's large headlamp and using
chrome parts on the headlamp casing, fender, and other places.
Although the front carrier was removed, the huge gas tank was
left untouched, and the seats were redesigned with riding comfort
in mind. January 1999 saw the production of 3500 "Honda Gorilla
Spring Collection" machines. This version was meant to shine, and
features chrome parts on virtually every visible part of the
bike. The gas tank, the side-cover, the front forks, the chain
case, the wheels, the exhaust pipe cover, even the frame and
swing arm glisten with gorgeous chrome. This undeniably
attractive exterior, combined with Honda's reliable mechanics
underneath, promise a bright and shiny future for the Monkey's
big brother.

Suggested Paint Colors

TS-14 - Black
TS-17 - Aluminum Silver
X-1 - Black
X-10 - Gun Metal
X-11 - Chrome Silver
X-18 - Semi Gloss Black
X-2 - White
X-24 - Clear Yellow
X-5 - Green
XF-1 - Flat Black
XF-16 - Flat Aluminum