One of the best motorcycle trips of my entire life was riding tiny vintage Hondas from California to New Mexico with a handful of friends. Ever since that trip, I’ve had a huge crush on little motorcycles. Though they may not be the most practical thing in the world, mini-motos are endearing and ridiculously fun.
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The Honda Grom first rolled out in 2014 and ushered in a wave of tiny bike enthusiasm. Somewhere between pit bike and commuter, the Grom delivers a healthy dose of fun in a pint-sized package. For the 2022 model year, the little Grom is getting big upgrades with a focus on modular styling and comfort-enhancing updates.
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Now in its third iteration, the Grom sports all-new, pared-down styling with straighter lines, a smaller subframe and thicker seat padding (of course, seat height is still a wee 30 inches). The four main body panels quickly attach and detach, facilitating the customization that is a hallmark of mini-moto culture. The 2022 Grom’s aesthetic is enhanced with a blacked-out engine, exhaust, wheels and swingarm.
Practical improvements include a peppy new engine, now with a fifth gear, and an increase in fuel capacity. The 2022 Grom holds 1.59 gallons of gas and the new 125cc engine delivers 155 miles per gallon. That means it’s got a longer range than your new Tenere 700, though it might take you a bit longer to get there, as the Grom’s top speed is just 60 miles per hour.
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In addition, the upgraded LCD digital dash now has a gear-position indicator, alongside the speedometer, tachometer, twin trip meters, fuel gauge and clock. The 2022 Grom is offered in Queen Bee Yellow, Matte Black Metallic, and a special SP color option that has stylish graphics and a yellow shock spring, plus a gold finish for the wheels, brake calipers and fork. The ABS version is available in Candy Blue.
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What won’t change at all with the new upgrades is the heart of what Honda says the Grom is all about, “eliciting laughs from those who ride it, thumbs-ups from fellow motorists and traffic-light smiles from pedestrians, the Grom is also a motorcycling evangelist, spreading positive powersports vibes wherever it goes.”
Photo Credit: Honda Powersports
Motorcycle Industry News by Eva Rupert. Follow Eva @augusteva.
