The Honda Grom MSX 125 first entered the motorcycle world back in 2014 and since then it has taken the market by storm! I see them everywhere! I see them on the streets zipping around town, at motorcross races in the pits, motorcycle schools, you name it! These bikes are so much fun, due to their size, beginner friendly power and sleek design.
The Honda Grom may only be packing a 125cc motor but it has more than enough to pin a big smile on your face. With the wheel base only being 47.2″, this bike can turn on a dime. The small design gives the rider a feeling of control like no other.
Beginner Friendly Motorcycle
The Grom is used in many motorcycle schools today because of these features. New riders do not feel as threatened when they swing a leg over the Grom. It has a cuteness factor that does not feel intimidating. The seat height is only 29.7″ (750mm) which is shorter than the average sport bike by a few inches. This allows most riders to comfortably touch their feet to the ground on both sides of the motorcycle. With the weight only being about 230lb (104.3kg) this makes the bike easy to balance and a new rider less likely to drop the motorcycle.
Does The Honda Grom Have Power?
The power is not going to come on all at once like a sport bike if given a bit of whiskey throttle. This allows for an inexperienced rider that might not have much clutch and throttle control to take off with ease. Honda says that the Grom has 9.7 hp (horsepower) or 7.2kW @ 7,000 RPM and tops out at about 56 MPH.
Do Experienced Riders Have Fun on a Honda Grom?
Don’t get me wrong, the bike is great for beginners but an experienced rider will enjoy this bike just as much. Everyone is eager to hop on one of these things if the opportunity arises. The control and ability to toss it around makes it a heck of an experience.
The bike has enough power to use the clutch for wheelies. Actually many riders buy this bike to master wheelies and stoppies. Due to the low speed you will develop a lot more control over the rear brake and throttle for wheelies.
The low speed and light weight of the bike also helps if you have a wreck while practicing these “stunts”. Not only for your own safety but there is usually minimal damage done to the bike if you tip it over or have a small loop out. This eases the pain of costly repairs and allows you to push yourself with confidence. If any of you have ever wrecked a full-sized bike you know what im talking about!
Hydraulic Disc Brakes (ABS Option)
The Grom has a 190mm rear disc brake and a 220mm front disc brake. If you like to do stoppies, the Honda Grom is a great place to master your control or learn the techniques as a beginner. The light weight again plays a big role in this, as well as that 220mm front disc brake! The hydraulic disc brake on the front of this thing are almost as big as the rim. They do offer ABS brakes on the new 2020 model for a couple hundred more bucks. If you are a goon like me and want to do stoppies, the ABS option might not be the best choice. If you value life a little more and want to be able to stop faster and safer then the ABS package would be ideal.
Lets also note that you can only purchase the ABS option on the Cherry Red Grom and none of the other color options. The other color options for the non-ABS Grom are; Incredible Green, Halloween Orange and Blue Raspberry.
Disclaimer:
I’m not saying for everyone to buy a Grom and start pulling wheelies down the streets and stoppies up to the red lights. If you decide to practice these “stunts” you should do it on private land or in a big empty parking lot. Have fun and enjoy the challenge of contesting gravity with the Grom but do so with some smarts. Oh yeah… Wear a helmet and obey traffic laws 😉
How Do I Get More Power Out of My Honda Grom?
YES, you can get more power out of the MSX125, all you have to do is purchase a BBK (Big Bore Kit). This kit will put the Grom up from 125cc to 186cc by replacing the top end with a 64mm Cylinder and Piston. These kits usually come with everything you need to do the conversion and they even throw in an oil cooling radiator. They have them for sale here on Amazon.
There are other things you can do to buff up the performance of your Grom. One of the most common upgrades besides the BBK is to add an aftermarket exhaust. Yoshimura makes the best aftermarket full exhaust system and will give you a performance boost. You can also buy a Power Commander V to manage the fuel control in each individual cylinder. They are plug n play so they are a very easy install.
Does the Honda Grom Get Good MPG?
Better than Harry and Lloyds 70MPG Moped
The gas tank is only 1.45 gal with 0.38 being reserve (5.48L). Good thing this hog gets an incredible 134MPG!!! The bike only has a top speed of 56MPH (90KPH) so this bike is not advised to take on the freeway but is the perfect bike for cruising around town and saving gas money! Just remember if you do any of the mods mentioned above that you will lose a little MPG. Just not enough to stop me from adding the extra sauce to the motor!
Is the Honda Grom a Good Motorcycle for Women?
YES, the Honda Grom is one of the best street bikes available for women. I personally wouldn’t recommend a different bike before it. As mentioned before, the handling, seat height, low power and weight make it perfect for women. Whether the woman is an experienced rider or a newbie this bike just fits the body of the average female much more than most street bikes.
2020 Honda Grom Specs
LED Headlight
Yes, the Honda Grom has a very nice LED headlight. The headlight looks very stylish when looking at the bike straight on. The LED gives the rider amazing vision at night compared to a traditional headlight bulb. This is obviously a huge plus for the safety of riding this bike at night.
Fuel-Injected Engine
That’s right folks, this little motor has been groomed with the technology brush. Honda has some of the most reliable engines in the game and continue to strive for greatness. They went all out and added fuel injection into the Grom’s 125cc motor. No worrying about a carburetor and changing the jetting based on where you live (different elevations). This is also a great feature due to carburetors being sensitive and prone to clogging. Carbureted bikes that sit with gas in the carburetor for an extended period of time (through the winter months) are likely to have a blockage of some sort when you go to start it next spring. Just less to deal with when it comes to winterizing (check out my winterization article) and maintenance your motorcycle. Fuel-injection is usually more consistent with how it mixes the air to fuel ratio.
Honda Grom Features Overview
- 125cc Fuel-Injected Motor – One of the most reliable engines out there.
- LED Headlights – Looks aggressive and super stylish as well as providing superior illumination.
- LED Taillight – The taillight is small but very powerful, The LED lights are bright and make it very visible when you are braking.
- Fuel Efficiency – The Grom has a 1.45 gallon tank and 134mpg.
- Body Style – Very stylish and sporty bodywork makes this bike a head turner.
- Inverted Forks – Provides a top of the front suspension so you can feel the road like a sport bike with great control.
- Single Shock Rear Suspension – The Grom has a single hydraulic rear shock that gives an impressively smooth ride.
- Low Seat Height – Sitting at just 30 inches the Grom is easy for most riders to flat foot both feet.
- Digital Multi-Function Instruments – The speedometer, odometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, clock, low/high beam and A&B trip meter are all digitally displayed.
- 2 Person Seat – The Grom might not be the most ideal bike to ride 2 up on but it has the capability.
- Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) – ABS brakes option is a plus for safety in emergency situations where you need to lock them up.
- 12 inch Wheels – Honda made some very sturdy 12″ cast wheels for the Grom that fits wide tires for that sport bike feel.
- Modifications – There are many mods on the market for this bike, the BBK, Exhaust, Suspension, Valve kits and much more.
- Cost – Cheap for a street bike especially brand new off the floor at $3,399 for the non-ABS package.
Hi there,
As a 50 year old lady with sons that love to ride anything with a motor this sounds perfect for me. It would allow me to tag along on occasion. 😉
I will have to go try one out!