The battle lines have been drawn between the Honda Grom and Kawasaki’s new Z125 PRO. The latest salvo has been fired by Honda with a restyle of the Grom for the 2017 model year. Here is Honda’s press release:
“We’re excited to refresh the Grom with an assertive new look for 2017,” said Lee Edmunds, Manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications at American Honda. “Since its 2014 introduction, this fun-loving motorcycle has been a big hit in a little package, singlehandedly establishing a thriving market for small-wheeled, small-displacement, big-personality road bikes that lend themselves to personalization. Now, the Grom’s styling is even more exciting without losing any of the original’s fun appeal.”
Grom
Part minibike, all motorcycle, the Grom has been a resounding success from the start, with a package that’s manageable yet comfortable for full-sized adults. Though its wheels are only 12 inches, the bike has full-size features like a sturdy steel frame, a 31mm inverted fork, mono-shock rear suspension, hydraulic disc brakes and a 125cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine. Now the Grom gets an edgier look, thanks to an integrated fuel tank and side panels, along with a modern, stacked LED headlight layout. Add a new flip-key, sportier handlebar, under-slung exhaust, upswept tail unit and a higher passenger seat, and you’ve got a Grom that’s as fun as ever but with a daring new look.
- Colors: Matte Gray Metallic, Pearl Red, Pearl White, Bright Yellow
- Price: $3,199
- Availability: August 2016
More info: Grom
See more of MD’s great photography:
I have a Kawasaki z 125 and it is great fun. I have other bikes but something like this has its place. In the right conditions it just puts a big smile on your face.
The thing with these bikes is you can’t really compare them to something bigger that you might get for similar money. It’s really like comparing apples to oranges.
I wouldn’t own a Grom as my only bike, but I’m happy to have one parked next to my FZ6. Heck, on most days I prefer to ride the Grom to work over my FZ6. If I’m just riding in traffic and not going on any roads with a speed limit over 55 mph there’s really no reason to have a bigger bike.
Go back and view the top image at the website’s home page, not here at this page. Scroll down the image only far enough to view above the bottom of the fuel tank.
For a tick over $3k you got a light yellow Ducati Supermotard w/Honda wing logo! (Well, minus some hp…)
There is an old saying; If I have to explain it, you wouldn’t understand.
As soon as I got my CB160, a 125 was too small. As soon as I got my 305 scrambler, a 160 was too small. As soon as I got my CB350, a 305 was too small, as soon as I got my CB450, a 350 was too small. I think you know where I am going wiith this lol. After 50 years and a steady progression upwards I can’t imagine going back to even a 650 at this point, much less back to a 125. They are cute though.
This is just the start, expect to see smaller, cheaper models being offered because that’s what the millenials will be able to afford. Once us baby boomers are gone, say goodbye to the majority of the middle class. I’m not trying to make a political point, it’s just a fact. We’ll see the same thing w/ cars, with smaller, cheaper models starting to rule the marketplace.
With that said, let the Grom vs Pro 125 war begin!!
This is a bike that you could strap onto the back of a touring bike. When you get to your destination you can unstrap it from the bigger bike and run to the market to get beer and chips. If you forget to strap it on when you leave, no problem…it’s only $3,000.
A weed whacker has 29cc’s and cost $69. This bike has 125cc’s. Add a seat, battery, and some wheels and suspension and add $3000.
How about a SSR/Monster/Speed Triple mix in the upcoming SSR SRT Razkull 125? I’m sure it will be far less than either the Honda or Kawasaki. http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/forms/SRT125.pdf
You can park it next to your Yugo.
Already e-mailed SSR about when it may be available. They said keep posted by Face Book.
The Grom and Z125 pro may be $3199 and $2999, but when asked at the local dealer. The out the door price
of the Z125 was $4440.
I would much rather wait and see if Yamaha brings the MT03 to the states.
I’m not into spending 4 grand on a toy to do stunts and race around a parking lot.
I ride a KSR 110. Super fun bike.
Grom 125 has more power and a clutch. Should be better. And the new styling looks great.
Someone at Honda really enjoyed the “Chappie” movie.
It’s odd how some people can love just one kind of narrowly defined motorcycle. I love the diversity and to some degree, every motorcycle ever built. There’s something for almost everyone.
Almost.
Still nothing for Mick, though… 😫
NCR has the right idea. I’d buy one. But I’m more of a dirt biker really. I don’t value them their worth. A little over twenty years ago, when I bought what is looking to be my last new off the rack street bike, I might have bit.
Now if I buy a street bike. I’ll buy it to source the engine. Most likely a used bike. And they don’t count.
I am not a happy camper.
Punch this thing up to 175cc and it would be in my garage. I have to travel about 10 miles of rural highway and at least 5 miles of freeway on my way to work. I’ve ridden the Grom, super fun, but I wouldn’t do that commute on it.
Add a supercharger and it’ll be fine.
There are several aftermarket top ends for the Grom. For example, Yuminashi’s MSX/Grom 164cc Ultimate kit even retains the stock cylinder head (but with new cam, valves). Even includes a new injector and ECU! You could wheelie all 5 freeway miles!
The popularity in these gives me hope. The industry, and in large part its customers, have grown too comfortable in the bigger, better, more paradigm. How light, for instance, a given bike is no longer seems to have any meaning. Why would anyone want a smaller number of anything? You pay more for bigger numbers and that’s what you get.
We live in a time when one does not have to be a very old man to remember when a motorcycle engine of a given size made half as much power as a high performance model does today. But the venue is fixed. It has not changed at all in all this time. I don’t feel that there has been significant progress in the fit for street bikes in a street venue.
Finally the customers are making a clear statement that light, fun, less is good. I am a little set in my ways to go ripping around on a 125. though Kawasaki has already created a bike in the class called a Pro. I eagerly await the future products of a more surgical arms war in the little ripper class.
To all of those who have created this market surge. You have my heart felt thanks.
Cheers.
Major Fun Factor. Way to go Honda and Kawi.
In case you missed the Grom’s cameo in this clip, here’s the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C79n1nkA8To
Perfect pit bike and all day wheelie machine!
That thing is for motorcycle schools. Isn’t it?
I’m planning to visit one of them after refurebeshing flat.
$3200 will buy you a really nice , clean DRZ400S
What if you don’t want a DRZ400S?
who wouldn’t want a DRZ?.. that would be weird
Are you that guy from Jalopnik?
I still don’t get these bikes. Seems like a complete waste of 3200 bucks.
Most fun I’ve had on 2 wheels in a long time. You get to rip around at WOT everywhere you go. I have a hard time leaving the Grom in the garage and taking out my CB1100 or R120GS.
There you go. Small bikes are fun because you get to ride them close to the limit. wringing the neck of a 125 is a lot more fun than barely cracking the throttle on a 200hp bike.
I feel similar:
Boring.
125cc, air-cooled, 2-valve, single-cylinder, 4-stroke street bike out on the open road, open the throttle, and…
Yaaaaaaawwwnn.
It would make sense in town where speeds are lower, in an empty parking lot dicing with friends, or if I were 16 and just got my learner’s permit.
Dig.
I really like the new style of the bike! It’s almost as if they are trying to put the aftermarket bodywork guys out of business! As a former Grom owner, I do think it was a mistake not trying to eek out an extra pony or two. Breaking that mythological 60mph barrier on a flat road would have been enough for me to trade in my 2014 for a new one.
These type of bikes are a lot of fun! Owning one completely changed my perspective on what is needed to have fun on a motorcycle.
Glad to see Kawasaki has jumped in too!
+1. Going to a 175 would have been good. I love the Grom the few times I’ve ridden a friend’s, but they’re pretty much only good for the city or tight back roads due to speed limitations, the freeway would be crazy unless it’s rush hour.
As others have mentioned, there’s a bunch of kits out there ranging from pistons to full big-bore/head conversions. I have a friend who did a mild one on his plus a +2T front sprocket. Now the thing cruises @65mph with some extra left over. Not sure what it’s done to his mileage. He even complained that the tank was small before the mods.
Note to Yamaha: If you insist on styling like this, this is the correct way to do it.
WAY better than the FZ series… and less parts means lower cost… What WAS Yamaha thinking?
Come on, now. You blast the FZ10 because of all the plastic, but this thing looks great to you?
Is it any wonder the manufacturers can’t figure out what the hell people want?
I agree.
This new Grom has a serious case of RFH:
Robot Face Headlight.
Well, in my case, I’m not a huge fan of this trend in styling in general, but since it seems to be a Thing now, the execution here is an order of magnitude better than the FZ10 – it’s far cleaner. The FZ10 is a busy mess where it seems the styling dept was given the direction “remember the B-King? Well like that but you know, fix it up some” along with a pile of powerful hallucinogens
I don’t think it looks “great”, but this robot face is easier to take in because it isn’t surrounded by dozens of tiny pieces of fairing that must have broken apart on the prototype, and they just figured they would screw all the little pieces back on, instead of make a new panel.
Like Tim said… It just looks cleaner, and less busy.
I’m lookin at these two bikes and never owned a little one like these. Hey, anybody notice that the Kawasaki Z125 has got an oil line up to the head and the Grom doesn’t have this?? I would imagine that this would make the Kaw a better choice for racing and for wheelie wing nuts like me. True?? Anyone know if the Grom has had any head issues with not having any direct oil feed up there? This and I’ve seen there’s some oil screen thingy-ma-jimbob on the Grom and the Kaw has an actual filter…kinda like a filter myself. I’m kinda leaning Kaw from the looks of these things. I know Honda make a tough line of bikes but the oil stuff is buggin me man. Anyone else??
Honda have run the oil filter screen without an oil filter in their small capacity air cooled bikes like the Z50 for over thirty years and those bikes are bullet proof. Its a mass produced Honda so i doubt it will have any major issues. The big advantage of the Grom over the Kawie is there is every conceivable hot up part available for the Grom including 180cc big bore kits while there is next to nothing available for the Kawie.
Well over 40 to 50 years actually.
Many small Hondas actually have a centrifugal oil filter, which is a very effective method of filtration. They’re not intended to be serviced at regular oil change intervals.
Very interesting – Thanks!
Come on now. The Kaw is new, and the Grom has 3 years behind it. I have a friend that races in the “GROM class”. Now it should morf into a Kawi vs Honda series.
Many small Hondas actually have a centrifugal oil filter, which is a very effective method of filtration. They’re not intended to be serviced at regular oil change intervals.
Something close to 90 million units since 1958 with the oil screen thingy!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Super_Cub
Plus I will trust a small engine Honda over a Kawasaki for any kinda riding any day. I have three small Hondas that have been wheelie, raced, and beat. And they all run great with no problems.
As mentioned, Honda has a very long, enviable record building engines like you mentioned. Until Kawasaki tells us why the oil line is there it’s only a guess. It could be that during final testing it was decided that oiling was “iffy” to the top end and the line was added? Could be that if the Kaw produces a bit more top end that oil temperatures are such that Kawasaki decided the head needed a better source for oiling?
But comparing engines from two different manufacturers is just that, they’re two different engines. One thing though, frequent oil changes will certainly benefit any engine.
Kawasaki engine has higher compression and shorter stroke. That might make it run a little hotter.
These bikes deliver big on the fun for the buck scale. They are zippy, manoeuvrable, and actually sound good, too. Don’t underestimate them.
Are they ever going to make an off road version? The Grom is perfect for empty lots and rural acreage and for those too young for a license. Bring back the old auto clutch from the 60s era Honda’s for the beginning rider.
They are perfect for city riding, you don’t need to be confined to an empty lot. Forget the auto-clutch, these are easy to shift and difficult to stall. Beginners might as well learn the proper way.
I met a guy with one of these that he did some off road upgrades to (tires, low profile signals, paint, etc.). It was really pretty cool. He had a case on the back that could carry a gun, fishing and camping gear but he mostly used it for property management and servicing his river fishing clients.
Honda has created two beautiful concept models: http://uncrate.com/stuff/honda-grom-scramblers/
If they would produce either one of those, I suspect they’d sell ALOT of them. That silver one looks incredible.
Indeed!
We just need Yamaha and Suzuki to jump into this segment now.
I hear tell that Suzuki is going to give us some version of the Vanvan.
If a Hipster rode a Grom, would this make him a “Gromster”?
Hipsters don’t ride Groms. They ride Puchs and Sachseseses.
Tom R said Gromster. I’ve seen a few vids on U tube on the Grom and I have two questions.
Firstly, is the Grom a repackaged Honda Monkey Bike? That was imported into Australia only a few years back (not many admittedly). Like a ST1300 morphing into a CTX1300.
Secondly, I wonder why none one has considered the name GROM itself. Surely it comes from the Surfing name Grommet, meaning a pre teenage surfer. Other than that any other suggestions to the name?