My Way and the Highway
Motorcycling in Canada can feel like supercar ownership at times. Unless you’re on a track or dedicated course of sorts, pushing a motorcycle to its limits on Canada’s public roads remains an unsafe, illegal, irresponsible and almost impossible prospect. But like the kei cars of Japan, there exists a small, nimble, usable two-wheeler that retains the necessary aspects of a daily rider with the playful toy-like quality of a pocket bike.
Great engines crawl across the asphalt, and in the midst was a diminutive lamb, great as a sapling. Long has it been forged in the smithies of Thailand. Grom, they call it. A mighty 9.7 horsepower single-cylinder 125cc fuel injected engine, driven by a great chain and quintuple gears. Hopefully at least one nerd understood that.
Standing at just over a metre high, with a seat height of 76.2 cm, its basically an Africa Twin. If Africa Twins were for people my height. Nearly any fully grown adult, and probably quite a few still-growing 16-year-olds should have no issue sitting comfortably on a Grom with both feet planted on the floor. However, its smaller size also meant my usual choice of motorcycling boots were too bulky to comfortably shift gears, forcing a switch to smaller boots. Keeping with that theme, I also found its mirrors to be far too small to provide a usable rear view.
Once you find fitting footwear and the rest of your gear, the Grom will sputter to life with no need of a warmup. While far from an exotic exhaust note, it’s hardly a lawnmower either. The Grom is quiet, non-intrusive, and because of its size, nearly impossible to be mad at. Your neighbours will remain sound asleep and no ruckus will ensue during early morning rides. Small size also means light weight. Coming in at 227 lb (231 for ABS-equipped models), the way the Grom handles is limited only by your willingness as a rider, and the laws of physics. It is supremely easy to weave around tight city streets or lane split (if legal in your jurisdiction) on this mini marvel. But that small size also means you’ll really feel the road’s surface, or lack of it.
Smaller two-wheel crafts are fantastic for city life. But even city folk like to get out of town sometimes. So how does it do when the beans are provided? Such is the Grom’s size that its top speed is a variable. It’ll depend on your own physical characteristics. At my stature, I was able to push the Grom past its advertised top speed of 93 km/h – with a personal best of 114. I suspect the addition of a windshield and a more tucked ride position could eek out a few more notches on the digital speedo. And perhaps, once your warranty has expired, a freer flowing exhaust system could further improve that. The Grom proves ‘size doesn’t matter’ bears a degree of truth.
It's got handling, and it has just enough power. But the Grom also has sensibility. With a fuel economy rating of 1.41 L/100km, the Grom also remains economically viable in the midst of any fuel crisis. It cost me just under $9 to fill its tank. Honda’s fuel gauge presents as a series of 6 decreasing notches on the left side of the digital cluster. As legendary as that fuel economy rating is, you may find yourself ~behind the tire track of a large automobile~ at the gas station increasingly frequently – as its tiny tank holds 5.5 litres of fuel.
But barring those faults as small as the bike itself, the Grom is some of the most fun you can straddle between your legs. There’s a toy-like innocence to it, like a child dressing up as their parent, excitedly pretending to be ready to take on the working world, without any of the soul-crushing realizations of adulthood. Its spritely, nimble, and a joy to ride at low or high speeds. Honda even made its body panels easily removable for a truly naked, or customizable visual experience. What it lacks in size and power, it more than makes up for with utter charm and delight. It brings back the same exhilaration I felt when I rode a motorcycle for the first time.
Starting at $3,949, the Grom doesn’t have too much competition in its segment. Kawasaki offers a similarly statured mini-bike starting at $3,799, but its seating position is more akin to a sport bike than the neutral position offered on the Grom, and you only get a 4-speed gearbox. If you get what you pay for, we think an extra gear is well worth the $150.
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