Photos courtesy Drew Ruiz/Honda
2022 HONDA GROM Big Things For The Little Bike By Jason Gearld
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rommet” used to refer to Southern California surf kids according to the Urban Dictionary, but the diminutive derivative Honda Grom is big fun for kids of all ages… and definitely not limited to the beach communities. Making a big splash with the little bike, more than 750,000 Groms have been sold since its introduction back in 2014. After spending the day in the new thicker, flatter saddle, we have to admit three quarters of a million customers can’t be wrong! Honda has made some substantial changes to the third generation Grom. The new engine, with a higher 10:1 compression ratio combined with fuel injection, increases power and adds to the performance. — a whopping 9.7 horsepower and 7.7 pound-feet of torque are now on tap! Plus, Honda has seen fit to add an extra cog in the gearbox… big fun rowing through the 5-speed. And if kids should get a little too “exuberant” with twisting the throttle, the disc brakes work (don’t ask me how I know)! There is even an ABS upgrade available for an additional $200, on the hang tag. Huge improvements to this little pocket rocket. Additional updates include the aforementioned seat, LCD digital instrument cluster and an ever so slightly larger gas tank (now 1.59 gallons vs. 1.45 gallons for the Gen 2 version). However the flawless PGM-FI fuel injection means the extra
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thimble full of gas makes for 155-mpg estimated fuel economy and a 200+ mile range (depending on how big the kid riding the Grom is, and how much they are abusing the throttle, of course). But the biggest news of all are the Grom’s new body panels. The four main body panels quickly attach/detach, facilitating customization with just three bolts.