10 Reasons Why The Honda Grom Is The Best Mini Bike

Since 2014 the Honda Grom has been setting the standard for what a mini bike should be

The Honda Grom is a sport bike in every sense of the word minus the height and weight. It has a smaller engine, but that doesn't mean doesn't pack a punch.

With a fully customizable body, zippy speed, beginner-friendly nature, and fun factor it is easy to see why it has gained a giant following. With the modest price tag and the backing of the automotive giant, Honda, it is no surprise that it has sold over 750,000 units since its inception. You may already be a fan of the bike and are just looking to learn more about this little beast, or you might be a new rider looking to get into the motorcycle world. Either way, the Grom is great, fun bike for any rider, regardless of how long they’ve been riding.

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When you purchase a Honda, you know you are buying a reliable vehicle, and that's no different with the Grom. You can expect to get 25 years worth of rides on it. This, assuming you keep up with regular maintenance and avoid abusive riding. It has also been upgraded to a 38 tooth sprocket, and it has a 5th gear.

Most 125 cc mini bikes do not come with a with an overdrive gear, so you can ride with some level of reassurance that you are not going to wear out your drivetrain prematurely. So as long as you follow Honda's maintenance schedule, and don't ride too hard, it will literally last forever.

It has been stripped down to its bare bones. That's not to say it isn't eye-catching, it is. Honda has done away with all the frills and unnecessary extras. The bare-bones design is emphasized by the arrow-straight lines, a small subframe, and thick seat padding keeping you nice and comfortable even on less-than-perfect roads.

Keeping in a line with the unfussy design of the Grom, the bike stands out with a blacked-out engine, exhaust, wheels, and swingarm. It is topped off with a huge (for a mini bike) 1.59-gallon tank, an LCD digital dash with a gear position indicator, speedometer, tachometer, twin trip meters, fuel gauge, and clock.

Time and time again ask when you ask veteran riders (or if you Google good beginner bikes), they will tell you the Honda Grom is the perfect beginner bike. It is very light, weighing in at about 230 pounds, and very maneuverable with its small 125cc engine. The smaller engine makes it more approachable than standard bikes.

The maneuverability of the bike means any action you want to perform, it responds quickly. It has exactly the same controls as bigger bikes, so you will also get great practice using the clutch, brakes, shifter, indicators, and accelerator, without having to balance 500-plus pounds of rolling metal.

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You might be thinking you’re too big for the Grom, but do not fret, Honda has thought of us all. Even if you are as tall as 6 foot 4, you will still be able to ride the Grom. The seat height is an extra low 30 inches, so shorter riders won't have any issues either.

With a weight limit of 309 lbs or 140 kg, it is more of a personal commuter and will never be all that comfortable with a pillion anyway. It also benefits from a well-designed seat, so even if you find yourself at the extreme end of the scale you will still be able to find a comfortable position.

The Grom is something you can truly make your own. It was designed with customizability in mind, and comes with 4 easy to detach body panels. Even though it is a fun bike to ride straight from the factory, there is such a huge aftermarket for it that very few people leave it stock. Changing out the sprockets could easily add more acceleration, a bigger rotor allows for a better braking performance, better air intake, etc.

The one area where we would recommend an upgrade is the suspension. The stock suspension is fine, but when upgrading it, it really elevates your ride and the Grom's handling. With the low maintenance costs and the low initial purchase price, you can use the money saved to modify it to your liking.

The Honda Grom will set you back an easy $3,499, you cannot beat that. You’ll have enough money to buy some gear or mods, a lot of Grom owners turn the bike into a project vehicle. The money you would have spent on a standard bike can be used to create a bike that's an extension of your personality.

The modest price point makes it an easy choice for newbies to enter the motorcycle world without breaking the bank. Or maybe you are a seasoned cruiser veteran that is looking for a change of pace. Whatever your reason is, the price point of the Grom makes it a great bike for any level rider.

It boasts an amazing 166.5 MPG, and with ever-increasing gas prices, this bike will let you go around town and back without having to fuel up constantly. The Benelli TNT, which is one of its closest rivals, only gets 63 MPG, which means the Grom is more than twice as fuel efficient. You will not be breaking the bank or wasting time at the gas station filling up with the little Grom. It is one of the most fuel efficient motorcycles currently on the market and makes for a fantastic commuter.

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The size and weight of it makes it the perfect choice for stunts. Standard sport bikes weigh anywhere between 430 and 600 pounds. That's more than double of the Grom. Its smaller size makes it more controllable and forgiving of small mistakes. Seasoned riders might prefer to learn how to pop a wheelie on a Grom rather than risking it on other bigger bikes.

Also, the size and simplicity of it will teach the fundamentals of popping wheelies, and it will help you to perfect your technique. The relative ease of popping wheelies comes from the fact that it has a low center of gravity, a perfectly balanced engine, and a short wheelbase.

This might be one of the best bikes for riding in the city. In a city, with stop and go traffic, you won't need all that much speed and power. The narrowness of the bike is also perfect for congested roads. It allows you to flow through traffic with ease, and it will be easy to find parking in the city, even in the tightest spaces. The breezy 230 pound (100 kg) weight makes it easy to duck and weave through traffic, the way it zips through traffic makes it really fun to ride.

When you are a new rider standard-sized bike might be a little intimidating, but the Grom will take away any fears you have about riding. The stripped-down lightweight bikes will teach you expert control and handling you can take to your full-sized bike. There really isn't anything it can't do that other bigger bikes can, other than going over 60 miles per hour. It forces you to get back to the basics, without having all those luxuries the other bikes have, and it forces you to learn all the fundamentals of motorcycling.

Victor started riding and learning about motorcycles later in life. At the age of 28 he bought his first Harley-Davidson Sportster and hasn't put it down since. He rides in rain or shine. The only thing that would stop is Chicago's unforgiving winters. The excitement of riding daily led him to learning everything he could to maintain and upgrade his bike with his own two hands. He worked the office jobs and retail ones, but that did not satisfy his need to travel and adventure on his motorcycle. So he went to school for Marketing, so he can begin writing and riding full-time. He primarily rides the Sportster but doesn't shy away from sport bikes or scooters. He currently holds an Associates degree in Marketing and is attending college online to earn his Bachelors.