Twelve-inch wheels and a 124cc engine aren’t considered exciting things in the world of motorcycles. Fortunately, nobody ever told Honda that. And so in 2013, it introduced the Grom. The 2025 Grom is not significantly different from that iconic first model and even less so from the third-generation Grom that replaces it. Actually, the 2025 Grom is identical to the previous model in terms of running equipment and only differs in tweaks certain body panel.
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Check out the story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/honda-grom-first-ride-review-and-race/
Subscribe to Cycle World Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/cycleworld?sub_confirmation=1
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CLI74xvMBFLDOC1tQaCOQ
Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/
Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hey everyone, welcome to the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park. Today
00:04we are here for the Barber Small Boar event hosted by Man in the Box. We are here with Honda and the
00:102025 Grom, a very lightly updated version of what is actually Honda's most successful street bike. Believe it or not,
00:18yes, they sell more Groms than any other street bike in their lineup. How cool is that? Now this bike for 2025, again
00:26it's very lightly updated. It's got an all-new look, new body panels and things like that, but the hardware underneath is all the same.
00:33It's what we've come to know from this Grom platform.
00:36So what we're going to do is we're going to throw our helmets on and go for a little bit of a ride, talk a
00:42little bit about the bike, about this experience, and what makes mini motos so much fun.
00:47If you are interested in mini motos at all, stick around because we're going to tell you what makes this such a blast.
00:53Let's do this.
00:55All right folks, here we are ready to go for a ride. 2025 Honda Grom, it's a little bit wet and rainy, but that ain't going to stop us from having a good time.
01:06Everyone else is still enjoying the mini motos and yeah, this is uh, it is what it is. We can uh, we can have a fun of that.
01:14We can have fun at any time on a Grom.
01:16So as I mentioned, not a lot to talk about in terms of, you know,
01:21technical updates, really actually nothing to talk about in terms of technical updates.
01:24This is the carryover engine and chassis, no new hardware for 2025.
01:32If you remember, the 2022 Honda Grom was updated.
01:37They got a five-speed transmission, so that's cool to have here.
01:40As you can see, I'm already in top gear.
01:43Uh, it gives this bike a little bit more flexibility, a little bit,
01:46feel a little bit better at top speed, uh, you know, higher pace, higher, higher speed roads.
01:54Other than that, this bike, the discussion points, all the talking points are about the
02:00new bodywork, the new body panels for 2025.
02:04It's interesting because at first, I'll admit I was a little frustrated to not see any technical
02:08updates for the new model year.
02:10We're out here to ride the bike.
02:11It's like, oh, it'd be nice to see, you know, maybe some upgrades somewhere,
02:15but Honda made some really good points.
02:16Uh, the, the big thing being that this bike, this bike is all about style.
02:20And I almost forgot that for a little bit.
02:21I forgot that this bike is just so much about the look and feel and just having fun.
02:26Right.
02:27And, and what Honda said, which I thought was very interesting was that what they want to do
02:32is, is give people options.
02:34So maybe if you didn't like the new look, there was a really bold new look for 2022.
02:40Maybe if you weren't a big fan of that, then, then you've got something like here,
02:43where it's a little bit different.
02:45Same thing.
02:46If you not a fan of this new look, you're like, well, Hey, I'll go back to what was the 2022
02:51to 2024 model and, uh, go that direction because yeah, the, the, all the body panels
02:57were quite a bit different.
02:59Again, you've got all these new shrouds here around the fuel tank.
03:03All the headlight shroud is different.
03:06I think the only thing on the list that didn't mention that it was different was like the,
03:11the tail section, I guess we'll call it.
03:14Basically just a little shroud over the taillight.
03:16So that is a very, uh, quick run through of, uh, of your updates for 2025.
03:24Um, I will say that in 2022 with the, with the new design that they had there,
03:30one of the big talking points was about easy customization.
03:33I think Honda really leaned into that for that model year and recognizing
03:39that that is such a big part of the Grom culture is, is being able to customize
03:46the bike and make it your own.
03:48And that's, I think that's why so many people gravitate towards these bikes.
03:52It's a, it's inexpensive.
03:54And then it's, it's also inexpensive to, to make it your own and, and build something
03:58that, that you like, right?
04:00Um, we are out here, out at small bore, uh, Barber small bore.
04:06And, uh, someone made a good point that there's almost zero stock motorcycles there.
04:12I mean, you've got everything from mild to wild.
04:15Um, maybe people have got just a shock or a couple of little small accessories on it,
04:22but almost zero bone stock motorcycles.
04:25And I think that says a lot about the scene and, and what these bikes are to people where
04:29it's, it's this kind of tool for expressing themselves outside of just being able to,
04:34uh, get out and ride with friends and, you know, have inexpensive transportation, things
04:38like that.
04:40Things that Honda is doing new for this year.
04:43They've got three collections, accessory collections is what they call them.
04:48So there's a hyper adventure and a scat, uh, collection, which is basically just, uh, a
04:55handful of accessories that are, are packaged as a kit that are supposed to be available
05:01through dealers that give the Grom a little bit of a unique look.
05:06I'm not going to try to remember what's in each of those kits.
05:10Obviously the adventure, let's give you an example.
05:13Uh, the adventure has like hand guards, uh, carrier racks, I believe things like that,
05:21that again, just, uh, kind of shape the look and feel of the motorcycle.
05:26So that's, uh, that's something new for this year.
05:28It's kind of interesting because Honda, Honda has never really leaned into the accessory
05:35side on their end.
05:37They've always kind of, um, let the, let the aftermarket companies kind of take the, take
05:42the reins there.
05:43You've got companies like the, the company that's, that's hosting Barber small board,
05:47which is the event that we're at again, uh, man in the box, you know, companies like that
05:51companies like steady garage and the countless other companies that make, make parts and
05:57accessories, uh, anything from carbon fiber wheels, uh, all the, uh, suspension companies
06:03that are making shocks and forks and, and things like that.
06:07And, uh, they've, they've kind of let that grow and, uh, and, uh, never really had an
06:12expansive accessories options.
06:14Uh, never had expansive accessory options through Honda.
06:18If I didn't mention it yet, which I don't think I have, uh, the Grom, the 2025 is available
06:23in three flavors.
06:25You've got the standard Grom, you've got a Grom SP, and you've got the Grom ABS.
06:31The SP is, uh, the one thing that I've already seen some people comment on that they are
06:36absolutely loving as it's got a little belly pan.
06:39And, uh, so that comes stock on the SP model.
06:42Uh, it will also be available as an accessory, which you can purchase, uh, and, and mount
06:47up to a standard, uh, Grom or the ABS model.
06:50Now pricing, uh, the standard model is going to start at $3,600.
06:56The SP is going to go for $3,700 and the ABS is $3,800.
07:03So that is pricing.
07:04Uh, and availability is basically now.
07:06That was, uh, June.
07:08June is when they're supposed to hit dealers.
07:10I think one of the things that allows, affords Honda to sell so many of these things, so
07:14many of their mini models is that they're super flexible.
07:16I mean, there's so many things to so many different people.
07:19Um, maybe for some people, it's something that they put on the back of their RV and
07:23they go, uh, use it as a little campground jumper, right.
07:28And just cruise around the campground or run over to the store.
07:31Uh, when they need something for, uh, for other people, it's, uh, they go mini moto
07:36racing, right?
07:37So they go, they go road racing, which, uh, we actually did get to do.
07:41Uh, maybe we'll get to drop a clip in here.
07:42We actually got to Honda race prepped some of these 2025 Groms, and we actually got to
07:48ride them on the little car track at Barber Motorsports Park.
07:51Um, and that was a lot of fun.
07:53Actually, I gotta, let me talk more about that because it was super unique.
07:56Actually, it was a three hour endurance race that we got to do.
08:00Um, the bikes had basically clip on handlebars.
08:03They had cartridge kits in the front fork.
08:06They had adjustable only in shock out back.
08:09Uh, it had some kind of grippier Kenda tires on it.
08:13And, uh, yeah, it was just, oh, and, and rear sets actually.
08:16So, uh, yeah, that was, that was really cool.
08:19It was a way for Honda to kind of show one of the ways that, that people are using, using
08:24Groms.
08:25And, um, I don't know, maybe that's not for you, but I will say that, uh, everyone that
08:32participated in that was just laughing and having an absolute blast the entire time.
08:37And that was, that was really cool to see.
08:39To help understand if you haven't got to experience Grom before or mini moto as a whole,
08:45um, is, is, is what it's about is just smiles and fun.
08:51And yeah, there's, there's other things.
08:53It's, it's great transportation and we can make arguments for that.
08:56It's affordable transportation, but it's, it's really just about the look and the feel
09:01and the enjoyment of it.
09:03And I think it's best enjoyed with friends.
09:05Uh, now getting back to the motorcycle itself, this, this Grom here, a couple of things again,
09:10it's, it's the same, uh, riding position and ergonomics and all that.
09:15That essentially has been the case since about 2017.
09:19Now in 20, uh, well, no, I'm sorry.
09:23Uh, since 2022, I believe, uh, at one point and the reason I'm confused, I guess, in the
09:28years they did an update in 2017, one of the updates that they did, they went to like a
09:32stepped seat.
09:34So it was a little bit higher in the back.
09:35They said something like it was going to help passengers, uh, be, uh, up above, sit up above
09:40the rider.
09:41Um, I think they quickly realized that you don't get too many passengers on Groms and,
09:46uh, it kind of locked you in place.
09:48They went back to a flat seat and that, that is stuck.
09:52Um, I'm six foot three.
09:54I fit on the bike, uh, incredibly well.
09:57It's, it's a small bike.
09:58Yes.
09:59But it's, it's super, uh, accommodating for a wide range of riders.
10:03So, um, yeah, no issues.
10:05If you're like, ah, there's no way I'm going to fit on that.
10:08Um, it's not the case.
10:09You, I almost guarantee that you will.
10:12Uh, one of the nice things I've noticed is that these little side cutouts here in the
10:16tank, the little pockets, uh, actually, yeah, fit pretty well with my knees right there.
10:21So that's good.
10:22Nice, relaxed bend in my arms, a little comfortable, uh, just comfortable, natural, neutral seating
10:30position.
10:30So, uh, no real issues from that.
10:33And, uh, yeah, not a lot in terms of, like I said, performance, the, it's a Honda.
10:39So you feel some quality and in all of the touch points, you know, it's got traditional
10:44Honda switch gear and all the levers are tight.
10:48Nice.
10:48It's a, it's a quality machine.
10:49It's, um, yeah, I think it's, it's well-built and it's a Honda and I think they've proven
10:54to be dead reliable.
10:56Uh, the one thing I did want to mention that I, I'm going to call a negative, um, is the
11:02display.
11:03No, it's not a negative in that it doesn't work well or anything like that.
11:07I just, I would love to see like a little TFT on this thing.
11:11We've seen other manufacturers be able to do that on inexpensive, uh, small displacement
11:16machines.
11:17And I think we're to a point, uh, where, where you can do that, where manufacturers should
11:21be able to introduce that stuff for relatively cheap.
11:23I think that would be a really cool feature.
11:24It would be a really cool upgrade and it would help set apart any of the new models versus
11:29the previous generation Groms.
11:31I would love to see a little TFT display and heck while they're at it, make some like a
11:35phone connectivity or something.
11:36I don't know.
11:37I know, I know that's always a hot topic because people are like, I don't want to be on my
11:41phone when I'm riding.
11:42But, uh, yeah, I think just building some tech into this thing, I think Honda could,
11:48should be able to do that for, um, relatively reasonable amount, um, and not totally up
11:54the price of the bike.
11:56So, uh, if Honda's listening, would love to see that in the near future.
12:01Uh, maybe some like, you know, upgraded turn signals and things like that.
12:04Just, uh, those are some of the things that I would like to see a Honda, Honda do.
12:10But, uh, other than that, I think again, they're going to leave so much of it, uh, up to people
12:14to customize the bike and, uh, accessorize it and build it to build it to their own.
12:20Um, yeah, okay.
12:23We'll talk about things like brakes and transmission and, and, and whatnot.
12:27It's, um, again, that's not, that's not the big talking points for a bike like this, but
12:32just, just so you're aware, I mean, the brakes are, are plenty firm enough to get the things
12:37slowed down.
12:38Well, you're not going too fast in the first place, but, um, yeah, it's, uh, the brakes
12:42are good, solid, uh, transmission actually is really smooth.
12:45No clunkiness or getting into false neutrals or things like that.
12:51Seat's pretty comfortable.
12:52The seat's wide, actually, the seat's not like really narrow, so it's, it's very supportive
12:56and nice.
12:56So, um, happy about that.
12:591.6 gallon fuel tank.
13:02So you've got, uh, yeah, plenty of range.
13:05I mean, it gets exceptional fuel mileage.
13:07I'm sorry, I don't actually have the fuel mileage.
13:09I, uh, it would probably take me quite a while to burn through an entire tank here, but,
13:14uh, yeah, 1.6 mile or sorry, 1.6 gallon tank and, uh, yeah, really, really good fuel range.
13:22So, um, top speed.
13:24You probably do want to know that we did get to do a little bit of a ride earlier.
13:28I got to do a ride with some buddies.
13:29Uh, we were able to get kind of tucked in and do a ride and got up to, I was like in
13:33the draft.
13:34I was able to hit about 65 miles per hour.
13:37Um, when I got out of the draft to drop down to about 60, uh, 60 is about the top speed
13:42in fifth gear.
13:44So just so you know, um, yeah, that's, that's kind of what you got.
13:48It's, um, it's, you're not screaming past cars.
13:52I got to, uh, run back here.
13:53I got, okay.
13:54He's got me show him a little wristband, but, uh, yeah, so that's top speed.
13:58Um, I will say when you're, when you're doing that all wide open throttle, you probably
14:03will be hurting your fuel mileage, but, uh, yeah, you'll, uh, you'll be having some fun.
14:08Um, maybe some new meters.
14:09These are just like, I don't know.
14:11You don't eat them.
14:11They work, but, uh, yeah, they're just like old school Honda Honda's Honda's always been
14:16really good about, uh, carrying over parts from one model to the next.
14:20And I think that's a thing that helps them.
14:22Uh, it, it helps them keep price down, but it's also kind of cool because if you need
14:25new parts, you could just, uh, yeah, generally they've, they got them on hand.
14:28Cause it's like fits a bunch of different bikes.
14:31So they just dealerships are going to keep them in stock and things like that.
14:35So that is, uh, that's basically, I wish I could keep talking to you guys because I
14:40could, I could ramble on about many motors all day, but, uh, yeah, there's, there's,
14:44in terms of the Grom, if that's what you came here to learn about and see there's,
14:47there's not so much to talk about.
14:49Um, yeah, just, it's, it's part, it's part about the culture and all that, right.
14:56It's, it's, it's so much and about the feel.
14:58And unfortunately you kind of almost have to be on one.
15:01You kind of got to experience it to, to understand and appreciate that.
15:04So, um, yeah, if you do get a chance to jump on one and try it out, you really should.
15:10If you haven't yet, I mean, the bike's been around since 2014.
15:14So hopefully maybe, maybe you have already, but, um, you absolutely should.
15:17If you, if you haven't, I think, uh, once you, once you throw a leg over one and go
15:21rip around for a little bit, you'll realize why the things are so popular and so successful.
15:27Um, it is, it is Honda's most successful street bike for a little bit.
15:32The, uh, the Navi was, uh, was taken over on that, but, uh, yeah, the, uh, the Grom
15:39took it back, took back that number one spot.
15:42So we're just rolling back into the paddock here at Barber.
15:45I'm going to cruise up to the Honda truck.
15:47It is still raining, so I'm going to try to dry off, but, uh, yeah.
15:51Hey, thanks for coming along for the ride for this little 2025 Honda Grom.
15:55It's nice to get to, uh, go for a little loop outside of the, uh, outside of Barber
16:00Motorsports Park in Experience, Alabama.
16:02Uh, I'll be at a very wet Alabama right now, park this thing.
16:06And, uh, yeah, appreciate you guys tuning into the video.
16:10There will be a review and some stories on the 2025 Grom at cycleworld.com.
16:15So be sure to check that out.
16:17And, uh, yeah, we appreciate you guys tuning in.
16:20All right, we'll see ya.