Tried the Honda Gromm (full review)

[derf]

Neat fucking little bike. I really have nothing else to say.

But I will. This bike is really cool. Its almost a full on street bike, but still manages to be a pit bike at the same time. Its small, nimble, fun, and it is just plain a hoot to ride. It turns in fast as all hell can wheelie on demand and stoppies are just barely too easy to start. The engine is pretty small so dont expect to go over 50mph, and really 45 isn't exactly a feasible speed unless you are on that mythical highway the Gromm will never see. Bellow 45 the thing is a monster.

I got a chance to ride the local MSF instructors bike while they were on their lunch break, and I never left the course. But damn was it fun going through all the MSF basic course skills tests on it. The bike ate up every part of the course. Really I would love the bike if they would have put in a 250cc engine rather than the miniscule 125. Possibly a laydown version of the CBR250 single cylinder thumper.

There are really 4 groups of people who the Gromm will be perfect for:

1. Someone who got a DUI and is only allowed to ride a scooter (I believe it is registered as a scooter)
2. People who never leave the city and want something small enough to fit into an elevator so the bike doesnt have to live outside
3. People with more money than they know what to do with and dont want to be seen on a lowly pit bike
4. People taking the MSF course, and only during the course

Overall I give it two thumbs up, but I really never expect to own one, and as much fun as the little thing is, there are better and cheaper bikes out there that fill the same niche. Need a farm/pit bike? Get a damn pit bike, a super moto or a dirt bike. Need a small city bike thats good on gas then buy a scooter. This thing tries to fill the gap between a super moto, a scooter, and a pit bike and does all fairly well. I just cant see any reason why someone would need a bike that fills all three of those areas at the same time.

It seems to me that Honda has designed a hole in their lineup then filled it with the perfect bike to fill that gap. it really is a fun bike, just not one I would ever own.