Turkish’s Honda Grom
Discussion
Thought I’d chuck up a thread about my latest purchase.
Sold my 5PW R1 to buy this… sounds like a bizaare choice I know but I absolutely do not regret it one bit!
A brand spankers 2023 Honda MSX125 Grom, first new vehicle I’ve ever had! I’d been wanting one for years but always put it off due to also having a 1979 Honda Dax, feeling that I’d end up with two very similar bikes. I’d just come back from the IOM TT on the R1 and I reckon there was probably over 1000 Groms on the island they were just absolutely everywhere. So I decided I had to have one!
Five weeks into ownership and 120 or so miles later I’m absolutely loving it! The beauty of this over the Dax is that I‘ll only really use that when it’s a perfect day weather wise, whereas the Grom can go out when it’s cloudy/chance of rain etc plus I don’t worry about it when parking up (the Dax is really sentimental). I can also take the mrs out to the pub, there’s not really enough room on the Dax plus it has no pillion pegs. It will still hold an indicated 60 on the flat twos up, which I’m quite impressed with!
17 miles on the clock and it looked like this…
Leo Vince pipe (it is a bit too loud if I’m being honest), tail tidy and mirrors removed. Then added my private plate on a smaller 7x5 one.
Initial thoughts on it? Handling is absolutely sublime to a point - probably the easiest bike to ride with bicycle-esque steering lock… Manoeuvrability is just a joke it’s so nice. However when you are going hell for leather down a bumpy, twisty B road the back end seems to bounce around a bit like it’s lacking in damping. But then again what do you expect from a cheap, entry level 125 with best part of 16 stone wrestling it about
Brakes are great, engine pulls well and the standard of finish on it is really good - way better than the two earlier models I had looked at in dealers in years gone by when I came so close to getting one. The headlight on it is also superb, but then again I’m used to 15/20 or so year old bikes with candles for bulbs. The other suprising factor is how everyone seems to love it! Young and old I’ve had so many comments, people seem to go crazy for it.
Really chuffed with it so far and for anyone thinking of getting one, I’d fully recommend one. Will keep this updated with pics and what not as I’ve got a few other little mods planned and I also hope to use it quite a bit, including for the TT next year with the mrs in tow as well
Sold my 5PW R1 to buy this… sounds like a bizaare choice I know but I absolutely do not regret it one bit!
A brand spankers 2023 Honda MSX125 Grom, first new vehicle I’ve ever had! I’d been wanting one for years but always put it off due to also having a 1979 Honda Dax, feeling that I’d end up with two very similar bikes. I’d just come back from the IOM TT on the R1 and I reckon there was probably over 1000 Groms on the island they were just absolutely everywhere. So I decided I had to have one!
Five weeks into ownership and 120 or so miles later I’m absolutely loving it! The beauty of this over the Dax is that I‘ll only really use that when it’s a perfect day weather wise, whereas the Grom can go out when it’s cloudy/chance of rain etc plus I don’t worry about it when parking up (the Dax is really sentimental). I can also take the mrs out to the pub, there’s not really enough room on the Dax plus it has no pillion pegs. It will still hold an indicated 60 on the flat twos up, which I’m quite impressed with!
17 miles on the clock and it looked like this…
Leo Vince pipe (it is a bit too loud if I’m being honest), tail tidy and mirrors removed. Then added my private plate on a smaller 7x5 one.
Initial thoughts on it? Handling is absolutely sublime to a point - probably the easiest bike to ride with bicycle-esque steering lock… Manoeuvrability is just a joke it’s so nice. However when you are going hell for leather down a bumpy, twisty B road the back end seems to bounce around a bit like it’s lacking in damping. But then again what do you expect from a cheap, entry level 125 with best part of 16 stone wrestling it about
Brakes are great, engine pulls well and the standard of finish on it is really good - way better than the two earlier models I had looked at in dealers in years gone by when I came so close to getting one. The headlight on it is also superb, but then again I’m used to 15/20 or so year old bikes with candles for bulbs. The other suprising factor is how everyone seems to love it! Young and old I’ve had so many comments, people seem to go crazy for it. Really chuffed with it so far and for anyone thinking of getting one, I’d fully recommend one. Will keep this updated with pics and what not as I’ve got a few other little mods planned and I also hope to use it quite a bit, including for the TT next year with the mrs in tow as well
I had one of the first in 2013.
Decent enough 125 but the original lights had the power of a blown-out candle (eBay cycle LED lights solved this) and the chain just stretched like knicker elastic, necessitating new adjusters and chain at 4000 miles. The exhaust started to rust quite quickly too - Thai quality for you.
I didn't buy another for those reasons and because the performance was a tad weak and the braking in the wet could be dodgy plus I didn't like the new Lego styling. I do like the colour of yours, however.
I would have been inclined to buy another if they had offered a 200 or 250cc version or similar sort of thing.
Ultimately, they were selling off brand new Suzuki SV650S' for £4600 which wasn't much more than a new MSX and the quality was a lot better so I bought I e of those instead.
Decent enough 125 but the original lights had the power of a blown-out candle (eBay cycle LED lights solved this) and the chain just stretched like knicker elastic, necessitating new adjusters and chain at 4000 miles. The exhaust started to rust quite quickly too - Thai quality for you.
I didn't buy another for those reasons and because the performance was a tad weak and the braking in the wet could be dodgy plus I didn't like the new Lego styling. I do like the colour of yours, however.
I would have been inclined to buy another if they had offered a 200 or 250cc version or similar sort of thing.
Ultimately, they were selling off brand new Suzuki SV650S' for £4600 which wasn't much more than a new MSX and the quality was a lot better so I bought I e of those instead.
Fun for a bit but soon gets boring riding around so slowly and IMO dangerous on busy A roads. Good for local trips.
Rattle themselves to bits, keep an eye out for bolts coming loose.
Handy to chuck in the back of the van.
There are no aftermarket exhausts available that arnt way too loud. Ride better with the standard can.
Ben's bikes racing is the go to shop in the UK for bits
Uprated rear shocks available for very little.
I'd have another if Iived somewhere hot to nip to the beach or what not. Found it tiresome commuting on it.
Don't let the salt get to it unless you want to watch it dissolve
Rear chain adjusters are awful.
Rattle themselves to bits, keep an eye out for bolts coming loose.
Handy to chuck in the back of the van.
There are no aftermarket exhausts available that arnt way too loud. Ride better with the standard can.
Ben's bikes racing is the go to shop in the UK for bits
Uprated rear shocks available for very little.
I'd have another if Iived somewhere hot to nip to the beach or what not. Found it tiresome commuting on it.
Don't let the salt get to it unless you want to watch it dissolve
Rear chain adjusters are awful.
I bought this one for the Mrs to ride and as something that fits in the back of a motorhome. It's brilliant and I use it all the time for short journeys of 10 or so miles. I don't care where I park it, it's currently doing about 178mpg and takes up hardly any space in the garage. Dare I say, it gets used more than the MT10! That said, I'm not sure I could have it as my only bike! The Yam is still used for the longer journeys (furthest I've been on the Grom is about 50 miles each way and that is about the limit of it tbh)
Congrats, most fun bike I've ridden so far.
Here is a useful video demonstrating how to ride a Grom:
https://youtu.be/6SVKlG9Iiak
Mods!
The protaper bars are a really good upgrade to improve handling feel.
Suspension is pretty crap but there are replacements - never upgraded mine as it would've cost what I paid for the bike.
Loud exhaust to add a few extra horses (lol)?? - aftermarket eBay one that came on mine rusted off eventually, it was nice going back to the peaceful stock one again!
Stock tyres used to be terrible hard plastic and lethal in the wet - not sure if Honda updated these but Michilin citigrips were an improvement and lasted forever.
Also I fitted a did gold chain to mine as the stock one needed adjusting every week - probably lost a bit of power but it didn't need adjusting again so was a good trade off.
Here is a useful video demonstrating how to ride a Grom:
https://youtu.be/6SVKlG9Iiak
Mods!
The protaper bars are a really good upgrade to improve handling feel.
Suspension is pretty crap but there are replacements - never upgraded mine as it would've cost what I paid for the bike.
Loud exhaust to add a few extra horses (lol)?? - aftermarket eBay one that came on mine rusted off eventually, it was nice going back to the peaceful stock one again!
Stock tyres used to be terrible hard plastic and lethal in the wet - not sure if Honda updated these but Michilin citigrips were an improvement and lasted forever.
Also I fitted a did gold chain to mine as the stock one needed adjusting every week - probably lost a bit of power but it didn't need adjusting again so was a good trade off.
Edited by Bryanwww on Friday 28th July 16:03
Luke. said:
Love these. Been hankering after one for a while. Is there much difference in the way these ride compared to the Monkey?
Monkey has better damping (different suspension design on rear) and a big squishy seat. The chrome plastic bits look a bit cheap IRL IMO.
Grom should be a bit cheaper and I think has more mods available, could make it look pretty different if you wanted.
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