Riding a (ridiculously) slow bike fast

[SRTie4k]

This Grom is the most fun city bike I've ever had the pleasure of owning. Ripping around Keene NH on this thing is ridiculously fun, it's like it was made for roundabouts. After replacing the crappy factory rubber polygonal shapes they call tires with Michelin Power Pure SCs and doing the $15 fork mod, the Grom will scrape pegs everywhere and not even yawn. Yes a Hyundai Accent will put it to shame in a straight line (found that out yesterday), but it's not about that at all...it's all about cranking the throttle wide open with every gear change and trying not to grind your boots down in every intersection. And everybody laughing, pointing and waving at you. Oh and doing wheelies at 10mph.

Then you add to that how stupid cheap it is. Grom was $2000 from some surfer stoner dude in Maine, oil change was $10 with whatever oil I could find (Rotella T6 is gold) and $5 worth of gaskets, fork mod was $15 and a trip to the hardware store, which increased fork travel by 1 inch and increased damping with 20w oil, tires were $100 and $0 install with screwdrivers and heater hose, wheel scratch repair was $0 because it's a fuckin Grom, gas is so cheap I feel bad using my credit card (~$2 every fill up, so like once every 2 weeks), the 14T front sprocket I just ordered was $9, and if I ever crash it, painted fairings are $30.

If you live in a town or city, get one, or at least borrow and ride one. I promise you'll be laughing maniacally if you have any sense of humor and enjoy having fun.

[Chippertheripper]

This pretty much sums up my feelings on my wife's vino125.
And being a scooter, coffee runs can be made in shorts and flip flops as weather allows.
2 speeds: WFO and on the brakes.

[PhilB]

Yeah, that sounds a lot like my college years, hooning around flat out with my friends on old Vespas, dragging knees and popping wheelies, and nobody cares because you're going 45 mph, and you're on a scooter.

PhilB

[ducatirdr]

GROM!!!! Yes we love them around town and getting around the pits.

Like you say. What other bike could I do this in the neighborhood and not have the cops called on me?

Honda Grom Wheelie - YouTube

[nhbubba]

Going rate on these things is down to $2k? Hmmmmph..

[Tekime]

I've only seen one Grom in the area and it was up on one wheel.

Things look like a lot of fun.

[oVTo]

There was a Grom in my ERC class yesterday. Cheater bike.

[SRTie4k]

Going rate on these things is down to $2k? Hmmmmph..

Most of them on craigslist are around $2500 now. I got kinda lucky and found an unmodded one for $2000.

[carsick]

GROM!!!! What other bike could I do this in the neighborhood and not have the cops called on me?

Depends on your neighborhood. Or in my case, depends on the wheelie.

[aldend123]

I want to justify buying something like this so bad. But I know I'd just want to use it for trips to the store but I'm not seeing much in terms of mass luggage.

Depends on your neighborhood. Or in my case, depends on the wheelie.

I was in the middle of nowhere on a dual sport ride coming out of a class 6 on to a maintained dirt road with one small house set back off the side of the road. The guy leading accelerates on to the road and casually wheelies away. I spot the homeowner tending to his yard a safe distance away. He motions to put the tire back on the ground. It was kinda depressing because if there ever was a time and a place besides totally uninhabited, that was it. I guess he was gonna shoot his eye out or something.

[breakdirt916]

Haha yup...I see mobs of them in groups riding down PCH and absolutely killing it at stunt spots

I live in a city...I prefer to have a plated Dirtbike since it will do dirt + urban...Vs. the from will only do urban

[typeone]

a buddy/neighbor of mine just got one, can't wait to ride it

[JettaJayGLS]

If I wasn't 100% positive it would get stolen, I'd be on my third or fourth by now...

I swear I've seen my stolen Zuma in a 12 o'clock wheelie at least half a dozen times now.

[loudbeard]

I had a blast on mine riding it around Boston, really can't beat it in a tight urban setting. I sold it because outside of that environment it was fairly boring.

[SRTie4k]

Haha yup...I see mobs of them in groups riding down PCH and absolutely killing it at stunt spots

I live in a city...I prefer to have a plated Dirtbike since it will do dirt + urban...Vs. the from will only do urban

I know it's not nearly as capable as a pure dirt bike, but you can now get dual sport tires for the Grom. Something like this:

Maxxis M6024 Dual-Purpose Front/Rear ScooterTire - Motorcycle Superstore

[MattR302]

So my 2007 FZ6 with 31k miles has been for sale for a while now. My asking price is $4300 with the seat/luggage/fork upgrades, or $3300 without.
I was offered a trade for a 2018 Grom with 300 miles, plus $1000 cash.

My initial thought was "nope, no trades" but on second thought, I am considering it. It seems like there is a bunch of FZ6's on CL now, and a friend who had a 2008 FZ6 with 15k miles, sold his for I think $2600 last year. I'm thinking I would be lucky to get $3000 without the upgrades. A new Grom retails for $3300 and seems like the demand would be higher than an 11 year old FZ6.

On third thought, my commute is about 12 miles / 20 minutes, on 35-45mph back roads and this thing might be hella fun...

[stoinkythepig]

My wife and I are making plans to sell our house and buy a live-aboard boat. It will be our home and main transportation. We were thinking a Grom fitted with dual-sport tires in the cockpit would be great way to get around on land, but maybe a scooter with some built-in storage would make more sense... Do people put luggage on Groms? Is two up riding a viable option on a Grom?

[Pigman]

I gotta do the fork mod...but I would def recomend a few other bits and you will see 70+............Love my Grom's best little bike around

[Pigman]

My wife and I are making plans to sell our house and buy a live-aboard boat. It will be our home and main transportation. We were thinking a Grom fitted with dual-sport tires in the cockpit would be great way to get around on land, but maybe a scooter with some built-in storage would make more sense... Do people put luggage on Groms? Is two up riding a viable option on a Grom?

Yes....they can get the Dual sport treat ment. Kenda knobb tires, rear and side luggage racks are availble also...

[stoinkythepig]

Yes....they can get the Dual sport treat ment. Kenda knobb tires, rear and side luggage racks are availble also...

Sweet, thanks! Might have enough room for two, she's a licensed rider too...

[Imbeek]

You won’t be reinventing the wheel with two up, OR luggage

http://cyclesource.com/newsblog/wp-c...bike_thumb.jpg

[scubasteveRR]

now that I live in Cambridge and sold my CBR last year and I have been looking at the Groms. I might pull the trigger over the summer if i can find a cheap one.. Otherwise i'll buy a new one after i pay off my car next winter.

[TwelveGaugeSage]

I put 4000+ miles on my Z125 last year. It's perfect for my commute and a blast for exploring. I took mine down all sorts of trails on the stock tires, and now I have the Maxxis dual sport tires mounted. I wouldn't recommend 2-up on one unless you are both tiny. My kids love riding around my yard sitting on the back though. I also wouldn't want to take it on an interstate. If it died, I would absolutely buy another.

[SRTie4k]

I can't say I'd recommend the Grom for offroad riding, not unless all you'll be riding is smooth dirt anyways. Last time I tried taking it out on a pretty easy unmaintained road (slightly rocky but pretty smooth) I could barely see my eyeballs were bouncing around so much. It's just not made for soaking up bumps like that, it's made for mostly smooth pavement.

[csmutty]

I can't say I'd recommend the Grom for offroad riding, not unless all you'll be riding is smooth dirt anyways. Last time I tried taking it out on a pretty easy unmaintained road (slightly rocky but pretty smooth) I could barely see my eyeballs were bouncing around so much. It's just not made for soaking up bumps like that, it's made for mostly smooth pavement.

I know many upgrade to the ohlins kit. Maybe that makes it better.