Honda Grom Review (2013)
What Is It?
The Honda Grom is a mini naked bike which has a massive following and great potential for customisation. It's powered by an air-cooled 124.9 cc two valve single cylinder engine, producing 9.7 bhp at 7,000 rpm and maximum torque at 5,500 rpm.
Specs
- Seat Height: Low (765 mm / 30.1 inches)
- Weight: Light (102 kg / 225 lbs)
- Economy: Very good (110 mpg / 2.6 l/100km / 38.9 km/l)
- Range: Average (130 miles / 209 km)
- Power to Weight: Low (0.098 bhp/kg / 0.073 kW/kg)
- Top Speed: Average (65 mph / 105 km/h)
Pros
- Easy to customise
- Learner friendly
- Super compact
- Economical
Cons
- Not hugely pillion friendly
- Best avoid A roads
- Not that fast
- Tyres
What Is It Like?
Grom No. 1
Right where do I start. I’ve owned the bike for 4 years now, after all previous bikes I’ve owned had just been money pits. The Grom has by far been the best bike I've ever owned and I’m glad I made that choice back when I got it!
It's great on fuel and the long distance I've covered in one day is 167 miles to empty. They are a really nimble bike if the traffic is busy and they make filtering look really easy.
The speed side of things. It’s not fastest bike to say the least but it’s not all about the speed, it’s about the smiles per mile.
I’ve had many smiles and I’ve done many miles. 24,000 miles to be precise, so that’s worked out to 6,000 per year all year round and in all weathers.
Tyres
The stock tyres on the bike are aren't great and I changed them after the first hundred miles to Michelin City Grips. They are absolutely great tyres and I’d recommend them to anyone that’s wanting a great set.
A year later and I needed a new tyre on the rear so I upgraded to Anlas Wintergrip 2's front and rear because it’s best to keep the same tread pattern. Also a great tyre choice.
Yes they are Winter tyres but I’ve used mine all year round in all weathers for the past 3 years and they’ve never let me down! Awesome grip and again I’d recommend them to anyone wanting new tyres for the Grom.
The Crash
I’m very lucky to still have my Grom if I’m honest.. last year I had an accident on mine on the way to my induction meeting for my new bike! A white van slammed on the brakes after pulling out of a junction, then straight into reverse without checking the mirrors and ran straight over the top of my bike!
Luckily it wasn’t written off and I wasn’t hurt too much. The bike suffered £1,200 pounds worth of damage, the insurance paid out and I eventually got the bike back after about 4 months.
Grom No. 2
Earlier this year I decided I wanted to go for a whole new look, something different so that’s what I did and I’m more than happy with my result.
Mods
- Pro taper xr50 handle bars
- Snap back anodised black and red leavers
- Tudor special fog lights
- Kitaco gear shifter (tons better than stock, straight to the shaft no silly linkage)
- Oil temperature and volt meter gauge
- Takegawa pod performance filter
- Polished velocity stack
- Kitaco stiffer clutch springs (60%)
- Billet Aluminium clutch plate
- Dark knight stree (LoK) axle sliders
- Tyga under body performance exhaust (full system
- Kepspeed unbraced swing arm
- Cobra braided brake lines front and rear (carbon) affect
- Tyga carbon headlight surround
- Tyga carbon mini fly screen
- Tyga carbon air vents
- Tyga carbon lower fairing shroud
- Tyga carbon tank cover
- CBR600 flush mount front indicators
- After market carbon fibre tail tidy
- Anlas winter grips 2 tyres
- Single port USB charger
- Lithium light weigh battery
- Tudor special fork mod kit: stiffens the forks up and give less travel on the folks less chance of to bottom them out
- 428 chain and sprockets conversion!
- Takegawa seat cover
To Sum Up
I’ve spent a pretty penny over the 4 years of ownership and as I said above it’s all worth it! It’s all about the smiles per mile.
Thanks for reading, ride safe and if you don’t have a Grom yet then you best get out and buy one.
- Rob C, 2018
Price Guide
Related Bikes
Honda Grom (2016 On) - New version with LED headlight and under slung exhaust.
Add Your Review
Do you own this bike? We would love to hear anything good, bad, unexpected or that you have changed plus anything that a prospective new owner might find interesting or useful.