The 125cc Honda Grom commuter that has wowed the Yanks, may soon be coming to Australia.
The small and fun commuter has been a surprisingly popular bike in America, even winning Motorcycle USA magazine’s prestigious bike of the year award.
The judges said: “Sometimes simple is better. But how can a bike that tops out at just over 60mph and makes less than 10 horsepower rank as MotoUSA’s bike of the year? Two reasons: it’s fun, and anyone with the coordination to pedal a pushbike can probably ride it.”
The Honda Grom was introduced in 2013, but has still not made it to Australia despite Honda MPE here evaluating it since new. Honda MPE marketing manager Glyn Griffiths believes it would sell in Australia and has been trying to get it here.
There certainly is some enthusiasm for the bike here with an Australian Facebook page devoted to the quirky commuter bike.
The radical-looking commuter looks like a monkey bike on steroids and is reminiscent of Honda’s popular CT and ST mini-bikes from the ‘60s to ‘80s.
In the US, it sells for just $2999.
The stumpy Honda Grom features a low 754mm seat, a super-light 102kg low centre of gravity, 124.9cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine, fat 12-inch tyres, disc brakes, four-speed transmission, halogen headlight and LED tail light.
Despite being a compact bike, it has rider ergonomics to suit most adult sizes and with its low weight, is easy to throw around.
Even though it only has a 3.8-litre fuel tank, Honda claims range is 160km, making it one frugal little commuter.
With the Learner-Approved Motorcycles Scheme (LAMS) market growing in leaps and bounds in Australia, it would be a great addition to the Honda line-up.
Honda MSX 125 Grom
Price: About $3000- Engine: 124.9cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
- Compression: 9.3:1
- Transmission: 4-speed, chain drive
- Suspension: 31mm inverted fork, 9.9cm travel; single shock with steel box-section swingarm, 10.4cm travel
- Brake: 220mm disc with hydraulic dual-piston caliper (front); 190mm disc with hydraulic single piston caliper (rear)
- Tyre: 120/70-12; 130/70-12
- Rake: 25°
- Trail: 81mm
- Wheelbase: 1198mm
- Seat: 754mm
- Fuel: 3.8 litres
- Wet weight: 102kg