My Honda Grom
As my last three tales have shown, I slowly drifted away from a little sports car towards increasingly larger sedans. Market prices have been high as of late (2024) for sporty cars, so I’ve decided to move towards something different. I had never owned a motorcycle nor ridden one, but I thought as things increase in price they look better with each passing day. Lower upfront costs, taxes, gas, and tires with a basic set of motoring principles. I set out to complete some motorcycle classes to get a license and start my journey towards purchasing my first bike.
Never having ridden a motorized bike (not even the electric ones people wiz around on these days) I thought it best to do proper lessons. This was the typical multi-day course that features both a classroom and parking lot portion. The classroom was all easy enough and I had convinced my dad to come along with me so it made the days less of a drag. I was looking forward to the fun part when we got seat time on the little loaner bikes. I ended up on a low-slung Kawasaki Eliminator with the baby 125cc engine. It provided an easy learning platform that almost anyone could flatfoot. I had a chance to ride the Suzuki DR200S my dad was on, but I wanted the smallest thing possible.
While the dual sports seemed to cause trouble for those on them in the small obstacle courses, I was having a blast with the little Kawasaki. Something low gives the confidence to really angle the bike. It only confirmed that I wanted something small and maneuverable to get around town. I got my bearings set on two wheels, completed the course, and had a motorcycle license within the next week. Now was time to find the perfect little bike to practice on and call my own.
Aftermarket oil cooler and air filter visible behind the forks
Through friends who ride and online forums there seems to be a consensus that you need something that you can grow into. A bike that has an engine that is capable of some speed with a displacement between 400-500cc. I understand the idea is to grow into a faster bike, but I wasn’t looking for a commuter. I wanted something infinitely maneuverable and in the search for a small bike I came across two contenders, the Kawasaki Z125 PRO and the Honda Grom.
Both bikes fill the class of mini moto without falling into the moped category. They both have manual transmissions (4-speeds) and 125cc of displacement. Both are priced around $3000 and can be readily found on both the new and used market. Further research showed me just how strong the Honda Grom community is though. I would relate it to the Mazda Miata cult from the owners, forums, and aftermarket part availability. Locked and loaded with this information, I went on a search to buy one.
Searching didn’t take long either as several were in my area in that price range. A few messages were sent out through Craigslist, Motorcycle Trader, and Facebook Marketplace. The immediate result was a seller with two a couple towns over from me. I grabbed my brother and headed over to take a look at it.
My understanding of the backstory is that the owner had his and her bikes. They rarely rode and eventually gave up on the dream. Both had modifications with one being lower mileage, cleaner, faster, and more operable (easier to find neutral and the tachometer worked). This was obviously the one to go for, so after a short ride around the block and inspection of the bike I took it. A purchase price several hundred below my $3000 budget left me happy. I’ve made some minor modifications to clean it up including new mirrors, grips, and tires. That’s all it needed to be a fun little around town blast.
Fender delete leaves this with a sportier tail than a stock one
With what’s likely a single digit horsepower number it isn’t going to break any speed records, but with the modifications it can hit nearly 70mph on flat tarmac. This is while achieving an average fuel economy of 94.3mpg. I’m not sure which of the achievements I can contribute to the base platform and which belong to the modifications but it’s a good package. I’m aware of the oil cooler, aftermarket air intake, exhaust, chain, sprockets, and tune. They’ve been stable, so I see no reason to alter them.
As always, some carbon fiber is needed
While other websites may provide a deeper dive into what the Grom is, here is a quick rundown. The first generation Honda Grom came out in 2014 as the first usable minibike to hit the US market in years. It slotted at the bottom of their motorcycle lineup until its sibling, the Honda Monkey 125 (based on the Grom) arrived for the 2019 model year. In 2022, Honda revealed the Navi, an even smaller bike slotting below both of them [Monkey and Grom] and above Ruckus featuring a 109cc engine backed by a CVT transmission. In 2017 the second generation was introduced featuring a revised look as shown on mine. This includes dual LED headlights, revised handlebars, exhaust, and seat. The third and current generation (as of this writing) came out in 2022 with a look that mimics the 2014. It has new features such as a revised engine, new oil filter, five speed transmission, and seat.
For those of you looking to get into something different than automotive motoring, I would recommend trying a small motorcycle. They have a low barrier to entry and provide more than sufficient thrills. I plan to look into another as a hobby project to fix. It gets harder every day to find something with a carburetor or minimal emissions equipment.
I like this little bike. It looks a lot like my Peugeot Pm 01, the same engine too.
They are motorcycles that consume little and are very reliable for everyday use.
I am looking for a Grom myself. I had the spiritual grandfather to this bike, a 1988 ZB50. I bored and stroked it to 108cc, and with all the performance mods it to could hit about 70mph with stock gearing. I love Honda mini’s! I regret selling it to this day.
I have a Grom that I bought as a pit bike to get around the race track paddock and while it does that well, it is also surprisingly versatile and useful for everything from running up to the grocery to rectify last minute oversights, to exploring that sketchy industrial area or lonely gravel road and even trying out the local MX park – it is simply FUN.
Also, it is a fuel injected 4-stroke, which eliminates about 90% of the fiddling that previous generations of small dirt bikes inevitably required, making it a reliable appliance in addition. I call that a huge win!
Bravo Allan! There’s nothing like feel of freedom and sense joy when riding. You’ve done everything right with formal lessons, a comfortable bike and I’m sure proper riding gear. I to learned to ride on small unit, a 75 Honda CB125S more than 40 years ago. Owned, loved it for more than 10 years and wish I never sold it. Your Grom is so cool looking and great all around bike. Only go bigger if you do a lot of highway riding but even that’s subjective. The buddy who purchased my CB enjoyed it more than his Sportster for long runs.
Last thing -remember you are invisible to 4 wheel vehicles…oh, and pick up a copy of “The Perfect Vehicle ” by Melissa Holbrook Pierson.
Ride Safe
I thought the Grom had a bigger engine than 125cc but I suppose it makes sense especially in markets with tiered licensing since 125cc is often the first tier. My wife’s first bike after a similar class was a Honda CM250C that has a little more power but no particular style, although it does have a stepped seat and buckhorn bars that got a Harley rider to wave at me once. I have occasionally pottered around on it and it turns on a dime, although the drum brakes are a bit weak and I’m rather cramped. On the plus side it cost me all of $400 in 1991 so it owes me nothing
Interesting. I embarked on the same journey last year with a different Honda
Mini Moto. I would like more speed than the trail 125 has. But it gets better mileage.
Once I got in the habit of commuting and running errands by motorbike I found it convenient.
Good luck with it
Very nice. I do like the idea of those mini bikes as a city run about. They look like a lovely way to get around for errands, etc.
Unfortunately, there is a bit of theft problem here. Apparently people come up with a pick up, load them in and drive away. 🙁
These bikes have an amazing cult following, with a huge aftermarket of parts for style and performance. My understanding is that at least here in California, they’re hard to find, new or used. A friend has one, and I should probably find a chance to ride it before he decides to sell it, though so far he likes it and uses it as regular urban transportation.
WELCOME TO THE ASYLUM =8-) .
The Grom is indeed a cult bike but as very good one .
In 2015 I’d see packs of young ‘uns 35 or so bikes rolling along, each one farkled differently .
Being a Honda you can be assured of long life but be aware : regular HOT oil & filter changes are the key .
Remember : you’re invisible to most other motorists and the rest are in fact out to GET YOU .
-Nate
It’s a small world as I also had a ZB50 and never thought I would ever see another one in my lifetime. With so few sold in the US they are extremely rare. They are engineered and built well but very heavy for such a small bike. From what I have read the Honda 50cc OHC engine is indestructible but only made 4-5 HP stock. I would have loved to keep it but I only ever felt safe riding on residential roads with 25 mph limits. All of your modifications really woke that engine up to be able to hit 70 mph with stock gearing. Cool that you even have a mini race bike stand for it.
Thanks for sharing your sweet ZB!