Planet Minis

HymieP · 01-20-2009, 04:12 PM

Debating on whether to buy a Honda Ape. This is an original import one owner that is really good condition. I would like to know from some who have owned them, what their experience has been. Fast, mantenance issues, upgrades/mods available. Thanks

Z · 01-20-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HymieP

Debating on whether to buy a Honda Ape. This is an original import one owner that is really good condition. I would like to know from some who have owned them, what their experience has been. Fast, mantenance issues, upgrades/mods available. Thanks

Dan Pierce and Brad Reynolds own these.

They come with drum brakes and upgrades are only limited by your imagination and pocketbook.

Front and rear disc brakes, numerous fork options, tons of engine options. Tons of dress-up options and are as comfortable as a CT70. Engines can be built up to 20 HP if you want to spend the cash.

Just make sure you get an Ape 100 and not the 50. The 50 is a dog and much more expensive to build up the engine since you'll want to swap in an XR100 engine in it's place.

That's my take.

Z · 01-20-2009, 04:38 PM

Here's some ideas for you.

Custom Honda Ape

This is one of my favorite apes that I've ever seen...

c_ape_40

reynolds_brad · 01-20-2009, 04:38 PM

I freaking love my APE. In all honesty if i had to sell off all but one bike they would all go but the APE. Its by far the most comfy to ride and with a proper rear shock and some rear sets its possible to rail on an APE. They are just a bit more roomy then a monkey or ZB.

True that a APE50 with a stock motor is frustrating and boring. A APE100 is a much better platform to start with. A APE with a 115 superhead is downright fast on a twisty canon rd.

APEs are just like any other mini though, they can bleed you dry. But hey its better then a drug habit.

gstegman · 01-20-2009, 04:55 PM

HymieP,
The Ape is killer! I get to ride with that bike and people really dig it. I can tell you they can fly in the right hands.

PS, Go Sooners! I used to live in Yukon.

dsrt4 · 01-20-2009, 07:14 PM

What frame is the Ape based off of?

Pierce · 01-20-2009, 07:25 PM

Yeah I have to say the same thing about the Ape. They are a blast. I am running the Ape50 motor with the Takegawa 80cc kit. Puts out pretty good power and will cruize at 60. At some point I will upgrade to one of the 124cc kits but until then it runs well. And yeah it will bleed you dry for sure. Also getting it titled if it isn't already is a pain in the ass.

s_10onbagz · 01-20-2009, 10:39 PM

it is more or less based off an xr100. it sure is a silly looking bike. I would put one third on my list of weird jap import bikes I wouldn't mind owning. number one is probably an XRM110 with a tjr 178cc. ahahah.

Z50R · 01-22-2009, 01:48 AM

here's mine. the most comfortable mini i've ridden

next to the gorilla

btw, ifyou guys know where i can get a stock seat, stock taillight, and a stock exhaust pipe for my ape let me know

thanks

my uncle's

s_10onbagz · 01-22-2009, 01:53 AM

what tires are those?

bwise · 01-22-2009, 08:20 AM

maxxis tortugas

cozi70 · 06-11-2009, 03:03 PM

Some lovely bikes on that link pal.I've almost finished puting a honda 125 engine into my 50cc ape rep.Used the honda engine,loom,control units and switch gear to try and stop any matching up issues.Bought it new and drove about 4 miles with the 50cc installed.I'm glad the the paper boy on his push bike wasn't about as it was painfully slow.I'll try and get some pictures up when i'm finished.

50-50 · 06-11-2009, 03:41 PM

How hard are these to find in the states? Can they be legally imported anymore?

cdoublejj · 06-11-2009, 04:02 PM

well i'd say pretty damn hard since your not gonna open up the local news paper one day and go "oh look a Honda for 100 bucks" j/k

seriously though tough cookies to get i'd assume and the epa hates honda minibikes thats why the 09's have been smugled in. how ever hard it is toget on thats not an 09 in i don't know?

big pete · 06-11-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 50-50

How hard are these to find in the states? Can they be legally imported anymore?

If you see one for sale, buy it or it'll be a couple years before you see another one for sale. There's only about a handful of these on this forum.

mikev · 06-11-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big pete

If you see one for sale, buy it or it'll be a couple years before you see another one for sale. There's only about a handful of these on this forum.

Yup. I hesitated when the last one came up for sale, and now it's Brad's.

I'm gonna retaliate by stealing all his ZB's bling ****

s_10onbagz · 06-11-2009, 07:38 PM

Screw the red tape and buy an xl75. I would love an ape or xr100 tard, but for the money I would do an xl75 or crf100 and make it exactly how you want it. My next build may be an xl75 with a crf150r motor, 150f front end, on 16" wheels.

mikev · 06-11-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_10onbagz

Screw the red tape and buy an xl75. I would love an ape or xr100 tard, but for the money I would do an xl75 or crf100 and make it exactly how you want it. My next build may be an xl75 with a crf150r motor, 150f front end, on 16" wheels.

Dunno what an XL 75 is, but a CRF100 is pretty impossible to make street legal in CA.

s_10onbagz · 06-11-2009, 10:34 PM

Xl75 is an old 70's bike. I know nothing about Cali law, but how would it be easier to register an ape which doesn't have a us street title or a proper 17 digit vin number, over a crf100 which has a correct vin number, and an offroad use title. In just about every other state you can register a crf100 for street use, most require a safety inspection.

mikev · 06-11-2009, 10:35 PM

California is the nazi state. It's pretty much impossible to register ANYTHING now that wasn't street legal when it was made.

01-20-2009, 04:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
HymieP 2nd Gear Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 298	Honda APE Debating on whether to buy a Honda Ape. This is an original import one owner that is really good condition. I would like to know from some who have owned them, what their experience has been. Fast, mantenance issues, upgrades/mods available. Thanks

01-20-2009, 04:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Z 5th Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: KANSAS Posts: 8,538	Re: Honda APE Here's some ideas for you. Custom Honda Ape This is one of my favorite apes that I've ever seen... c_ape_40

01-20-2009, 04:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
reynolds_brad Advertiser Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,719	Re: Honda APE I freaking love my APE. In all honesty if i had to sell off all but one bike they would all go but the APE. Its by far the most comfy to ride and with a proper rear shock and some rear sets its possible to rail on an APE. They are just a bit more roomy then a monkey or ZB. True that a APE50 with a stock motor is frustrating and boring. A APE100 is a much better platform to start with. A APE with a 115 superhead is downright fast on a twisty canon rd. APEs are just like any other mini though, they can bleed you dry. But hey its better then a drug habit. __________________ pecore nere ufficiose Motoshop Z - Honda50.com Last edited by reynolds_brad; 01-20-2009 at 04:41 PM.

01-20-2009, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
gstegman "The Steg" Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Castro Valley, CA Posts: 983	Re: Honda APE HymieP, The Ape is killer! I get to ride with that bike and people really dig it. I can tell you they can fly in the right hands. PS, Go Sooners! I used to live in Yukon.

01-20-2009, 07:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
dsrt4 1st Gear Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 181 My Mood:	Re: Honda APE What frame is the Ape based off of?

01-20-2009, 07:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pierce 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Evanston Il Posts: 728 My Mood:	Re: Honda APE Yeah I have to say the same thing about the Ape. They are a blast. I am running the Ape50 motor with the Takegawa 80cc kit. Puts out pretty good power and will cruize at 60. At some point I will upgrade to one of the 124cc kits but until then it runs well. And yeah it will bleed you dry for sure. Also getting it titled if it isn't already is a pain in the ass. Attached Thumbnails

01-20-2009, 10:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
s_10onbagz 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Connecticut. Posts: 1,550	Re: Honda APE it is more or less based off an xr100. it sure is a silly looking bike. I would put one third on my list of weird jap import bikes I wouldn't mind owning. number one is probably an XRM110 with a tjr 178cc. ahahah.

01-22-2009, 01:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
Z50R PM Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Philippines Posts: 89 My Mood:	Re: Honda APE here's mine. the most comfortable mini i've ridden next to the gorilla btw, ifyou guys know where i can get a stock seat, stock taillight, and a stock exhaust pipe for my ape let me know thanks my uncle's Last edited by Z50R; 01-22-2009 at 01:50 AM. Reason: added comments

01-22-2009, 01:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
s_10onbagz 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Connecticut. Posts: 1,550	Re: Honda APE what tires are those?

01-22-2009, 08:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
bwise 1st Gear Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Atlantic Beach, FL Posts: 141	Re: Honda APE maxxis tortugas

06-11-2009, 03:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
cozi70 PM Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern ireland Posts: 11	Re: Honda APE Some lovely bikes on that link pal.I've almost finished puting a honda 125 engine into my 50cc ape rep.Used the honda engine,loom,control units and switch gear to try and stop any matching up issues.Bought it new and drove about 4 miles with the 50cc installed.I'm glad the the paper boy on his push bike wasn't about as it was painfully slow.I'll try and get some pictures up when i'm finished.

06-11-2009, 03:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
50-50 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PA Posts: 1,844 My Mood:	Re: Honda APE How hard are these to find in the states? Can they be legally imported anymore?

06-11-2009, 04:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
cdoublejj 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: St.Joe MO Posts: 1,367 My Mood:	Re: Honda APE well i'd say pretty damn hard since your not gonna open up the local news paper one day and go "oh look a Honda for 100 bucks" j/k seriously though tough cookies to get i'd assume and the epa hates honda minibikes thats why the 09's have been smugled in. how ever hard it is toget on thats not an 09 in i don't know?

06-11-2009, 07:38 PM	#17 (permalink)
s_10onbagz 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Connecticut. Posts: 1,550	Re: Honda APE Screw the red tape and buy an xl75. I would love an ape or xr100 tard, but for the money I would do an xl75 or crf100 and make it exactly how you want it. My next build may be an xl75 with a crf150r motor, 150f front end, on 16" wheels.

06-11-2009, 10:34 PM	#19 (permalink)
s_10onbagz 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Connecticut. Posts: 1,550	Re: Honda APE Xl75 is an old 70's bike. I know nothing about Cali law, but how would it be easier to register an ape which doesn't have a us street title or a proper 17 digit vin number, over a crf100 which has a correct vin number, and an offroad use title. In just about every other state you can register a crf100 for street use, most require a safety inspection.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

06-11-2009, 10:35 PM	#20 (permalink)
mikev 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Livermore, CA Posts: 614	Re: Honda APE California is the nazi state. It's pretty much impossible to register ANYTHING now that wasn't street legal when it was made.