Honda Grom

Author
Discussion

Ho Lee Kau

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

131 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
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Anyone here had a ride on one? How is it?

I mean, it is like a pit bike but road legal.
I have never sat on one or ridden one, but I presume it must be quite fun to cut every corner knee down on one of these and falling from one is probably not as dangerous as falling from a bigger (2x heavier) bike.


mickymellon1

371 posts

171 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
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great bike - air cooled, easy maintenance, cheap, reliable and fun - I use mine to commute through London where my thou or 1301 would just frustrate or boil over - wouldnt want to do any great motorway or dlc on it though

BuzzBravado

2,945 posts

177 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
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Good fun in a novelty way although you notice the lack of power as the novelty wears off. They corrode easily at the slightest hint of salty roads, but that's normal for Honda these days.

BIRMA

3,845 posts

200 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
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They look fun for just local buzzing around, can you de-restrict them easily?

Krikkit

26,925 posts

187 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
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BIRMA said:
They look fun for just local buzzing around, can you de-restrict them easily?
They're not really "restricted" in the old school way, the engine is just designed from scratch to produce < 15hp

BuzzBravado

2,945 posts

177 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
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9hp to be precise but it uses it well.

BIRMA

3,845 posts

200 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
They're not really "restricted" in the old school way, the engine is just designed from scratch to produce < 15hp
Thanks, showing my age.

TheInternet

4,878 posts

169 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
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This graph does nothing much to dispel my impression that all 125s are as slow as each other:



0-60km/h:
1st place: CB125R [13ps] 5.349 seconds (108.40km/h)
2nd place: GROM (MXS 125) [9.8ps] 6.234 seconds (100.75km/h)
3rd place: MONKEY 125 [9.4ps] 6.515 seconds (100.82km/h)
4th place: PCX [12ps] 6.806 seconds (105.27km/h)
5th place: CROSS CUB 110 [8.0ps] 8.712 seconds (91.58km/h)

from: http://japan.webike.net/moto_news/article-3-honda-...

Ho Lee Kau

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

131 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
quotequote all
ash73 said:
Always thought this was fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SVKlG9Iiak

I ended up getting a Mutt 125 but the Grom probably rides a lot better.
I like these two guys. I've seen a lot of their videos, very good reviews.
That looks fun!
I think I will go look at these things. :-)

Krikkit

26,925 posts

187 months

Tuesday 7th May 2019
quotequote all
TheInternet said:
This graph does nothing much to dispel my impression that all 125s are as slow as each other:

https://young-machine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/...

0-60km/h:
1st place: CB125R [13ps] 5.349 seconds (108.40km/h)
2nd place: GROM (MXS 125) [9.8ps] 6.234 seconds (100.75km/h)
3rd place: MONKEY 125 [9.4ps] 6.515 seconds (100.82km/h)
4th place: PCX [12ps] 6.806 seconds (105.27km/h)
5th place: CROSS CUB 110 [8.0ps] 8.712 seconds (91.58km/h)

from: http://japan.webike.net/moto_news/article-3-honda-...
Be interesting to see them use a full-power bike (e.g. KTM Duke) a 0-80 and 0-100 time as well. But yes, they're very slow.

Benni

3,533 posts

217 months

Wednesday 8th May 2019
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Not enough power ?

Enter the wild and expensive world of japanese high end tuning parts :
https://japan.webike.net/HONDA/MSX125+GROM/SP+TAKE...
WSB standard for......WSB prices.

Or just shoehorn a 190cc ZongShen e-start engine with mount adapters and electric start in the chassis,
beef it up with a 4-valve Daytona head, add a stroker crank and big bore kit and hey presto,
enter the chinese dragon with 240cc and 30& hp.

UK based OO Racing would be my source on your island.

LuS1fer

41,557 posts

251 months

Wednesday 8th May 2019
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Had one for 3 years. Good fun but Thai built so no legendary Honda quality to see here. Sidestand switch failed in mine.
The main weakness is the knicker elastic drive chain which stretches and needs regular replacement but the parts are cheap enough.
I bought a much better Suzuki SV650S.

If Honda made a 200-250cc version with a decent chain and twin front discs, I'd look again. The monkey bike also looks good.

3DP

9,924 posts

240 months

Wednesday 8th May 2019
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https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Whole thread here above. I've evolved mine over a couple of years. Only real things that need sorting are an upgraded chain, or ideally a 428 chain and sprockets conversion, which bolts straight on and if you weigh over 50kg - too soft suspension. Fork preload mod with oil (£15) and rear shock (£100). Basically £200 and fully sorted.

I find mine a hoot, being a hooligan at virtually legal speeds. Pennies to run and keep.

NITO

1,134 posts

212 months

Wednesday 8th May 2019
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TheInternet said:
This graph does nothing much to dispel my impression that all 125s are as slow as each other:



0-60km/h:

Sub Zero: Aprilia RS125 Extrema 1993 (33bhp) 4 seconds (200km/h) smile
1st place: CB125R [13ps] 5.349 seconds (108.40km/h)
2nd place: GROM (MXS 125) [9.8ps] 6.234 seconds (100.75km/h)
3rd place: MONKEY 125 [9.4ps] 6.515 seconds (100.82km/h)
4th place: PCX [12ps] 6.806 seconds (105.27km/h)
5th place: CROSS CUB 110 [8.0ps] 8.712 seconds (91.58km/h)
Poor kids of today, it's so pathetic. My old Aprilia AF1 50cc was faster than all of today's 125's!

125's should be the new 50's, as in let 16 year old's on these and 300cc the new 125's. 4 strokes are twice as slow as an equivalent two stroke, after killing off the 2T, learner bikes have gone horribly backwards. It's not the most enticing entry into the world of biking and its unnecessary and dangerous to restrict 16 year old kids to 28mph imho.


LuS1fer

41,557 posts

251 months

Wednesday 8th May 2019
quotequote all
NITO said:
Poor kids of today, it's so pathetic. My old Aprilia AF1 50cc was faster than all of today's 125's!

125's should be the new 50's, as in let 16 year old's on these and 300cc the new 125's. 4 strokes are twice as slow as an equivalent two stroke, after killing off the 2T, learner bikes have gone horribly backwards. It's not the most enticing entry into the world of biking and its unnecessary and dangerous to restrict 16 year old kids to 28mph imho.
I agree. They are way too slow.
In the 70s, my "crap" SS50 would do 40-45 with a wind behind it and the later SS%0 would hit 50. An FS1/E would hit 60.
In the 80s, I could have immense fun on a two-stroke 125 that would easily hit 80mph but they did pollute like buggery and modern bikes have lean fuel injection to battle it and do seem to be heavy compared to the bacofoil bikes we had back then.

WaspsNest

136 posts

196 months

Thursday 9th May 2019
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Hey man, I have one.

Not played on bikes since my early teens, and was an avid mountain biker up until Feb when something happened my knee which has made cycling difficult and painful.

Decided I needed a new hobby, so I thought I’d do my CBT and eventually my big bike test to keep the brain busy over the summer.

Anyway, done the CBT a number of weeks ago and I bought a Grom to chug around on for the summer; I had the old full power two strokes when they were learner legal, in comparison the grom is slow, but great fun.

It feels very well built and i’m 6’2 and have no trouble being comfortable, it’s ample quick enough up to 50-55 but you really rely on momentum after that, but it is very nimble and actually feels like a big MTB with an engine.

I went all out and put a Yoshimura titanium system on mine and it’s a comical thing to ride, generates lots of positive conversation and smiles most of the time. The only thing about it is that due to its size, and me of course having ‘L’ plates, a lot of drivers try to bully you around on the road, or at least that’s what it feels like to me, aside from that though, all good.

So, yes, buy one - the aftermarket parts available are great, and make them like a big Lego model to own. £4.60 fills it and that will get you around 120 miles of city riding.

Great wee things. Love mine to bits.


Krikkit

26,925 posts

187 months

Thursday 9th May 2019
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LuS1fer said:
I agree. They are way too slow.
In the 70s, my "crap" SS50 would do 40-45 with a wind behind it and the later SS%0 would hit 50. An FS1/E would hit 60.
In the 80s, I could have immense fun on a two-stroke 125 that would easily hit 80mph but they did pollute like buggery and modern bikes have lean fuel injection to battle it and do seem to be heavy compared to the bacofoil bikes we had back then.
Sounds like the current crop of full power 125s will pretty much match your old 2T 125 for pace.

pozi

1,723 posts

193 months

Thursday 9th May 2019
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
LuS1fer said:
I agree. They are way too slow.
In the 70s, my "crap" SS50 would do 40-45 with a wind behind it and the later SS%0 would hit 50. An FS1/E would hit 60.
In the 80s, I could have immense fun on a two-stroke 125 that would easily hit 80mph but they did pollute like buggery and modern bikes have lean fuel injection to battle it and do seem to be heavy compared to the bacofoil bikes we had back then.
Sounds like the current crop of full power 125s will pretty much match your old 2T 125 for pace.
Yes a restricted 2-stroke 125 would be no better than a modern 4 stroke, but de-restricted they were good for 25-30bhp and go onto 100mph, something the the modern 15bhp 125 riders can only dream of.

Tlandcruiser

2,809 posts

204 months

Friday 5th June 2020
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I wish I never discovered the grom, now I want one. It seems pretty fun for driving around town and commuting to the station for me! I’m tempted to take a look! How’s everyone finding their groms? Do they not find them to underpowered for driving around urban environments?

stu67

836 posts

194 months

Friday 5th June 2020
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I've got the Honda Monkey, I've also got a Moto Guzzi V7 (coffee shop cruiser) and a Speed Triple in the garage. I find I use the Monkey the most to be honest, followed by the Guzzi. There is something very intoxicating about riding a bike at 10/10'ths rather than potting around using 20% of the power of the Triumph. I use it a lot to commute into London as it is really excellent in the urban environment.