2022 Honda Grom

Honda’s Grom—the undisputed King of Fun and the model that put the popular miniMOTO concept on the map—gets an extensive makeover for the 2022 model year with cool, modular styling and some comfort-focused updates.

Since its 2014 model-year introduction, the Grom has always been about enjoyment—an unintimidating option for new riders to learn with, an entertaining plaything for experienced riders and a customization platform for those looking for an amusing project. A cross-demographic army of enthusiasts have embraced the diminutive model with remarkable passion. With 750,000-plus units sold worldwide to date, the Grom has spawned a vibrant subculture of fun-seekers, serving as an inspiration and focal point for riding clubs and social-media groups, while also supporting a healthy aftermarket of accessory and performance parts. 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.

The Grom’s success has also served as the springboard for a trio of retro-themed miniMOTO siblings: the Monkey and Super Cub in model-year 2019 and the Trail 125 for model-year 2021.

Introduced in some markets last fall, the Grom’s latest iteration is now coming to the U.S. market for model-year 2022, featuring striking new bodywork that facilitates customization, plus a peppy new engine, now with a fifth gear. Not lost in the redesign are the Grom’s amazing gas mileage, low operating and maintenance costs, attention to detail and Honda’s legendary reliability.

DESIGN / STYLING

Now in its third iteration, the Grom sports all-new, pared-down styling with straighter lines, a smaller subframe and thicker seat padding (seat height is still a low 30 inches). Best of all, the four main body panels quickly attach/detach, facilitating customization—a hallmark of Grom culture that is sure to be welcomed by customers eager to personalize their rides.

The 2022 Grom’s minimalist aesthetic is enhanced with by its blacked-out engine, exhaust, wheels and swingarm, while a special SP version has a gold finish on the fork, wheels and brake calipers, plus a yellow shock spring.

Practical improvements include an increase in fuel capacity, from 1.45 gallons to 1.59 gallons. 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.

ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN

The Grom’s updates are more than skin deep. The new engine is a modern design that includes—for the first time—a fifth gear for more comfortable cruising. Honda’s engineers achieved this by specifying a wider spread of gear ratios and replacing the previous 34-tooth final-drive sprocket with a 38-tooth size. The changes not only provide peppy acceleration from low speeds, but increase top speed as well.

The 125cc two-valve, overhead-cam, air-cooled engine has a compression ratio of 10:1 (versus 9.3:1 with the previous model). This is achieved via an undersquare design, with a narrower bore and longer stroke than its predecessor—50.0 mm and 63.1 mm, compared to 52.4 mm and 57.9 mm with the previous engine.

State-of-the-art PGM-FI fuel injection assures optimal fuel delivery and highly efficient combustion. A large, 2.5-liter airbox houses a panel-type, wet-paper filter with a 10,000-mile life in normal riding conditions.

Many Grom owners prefer to do their own maintenance, and a welcome addition to the 2022 model is a replaceable oil filter, a practical upgrade from cleaning the previous model’s oil spinner and screen.

Do-it-yourselfers will also appreciate the redesigned exhaust downpipe and muffler, which are now two separate parts for ease of replacement.

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION

The suspension remains unchanged with a 31 mm inverted fork and a single shock. The brakes feature a dual-piston front caliper with 220 mm disc, and a single-piston rear caliper with 190 mm disc. Wheels are a 12-inch cast design—a signature feature of the Grom—but the 2021 model boasts a new five-spoke pattern.

Of special note, the available front ABS system operates through an IMU (inertial measurement unit) to help prevent front-wheel lockup and keep the rear wheel down during aggressive braking.