The Grom

jhwalker
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The Grom

Post by jhwalker »

The pit bike goes mainstream... http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/car ... m/3006255/

http://powersports.honda.com/2014/grom.aspx

An article in the LA Times over the weekend (I think) said the dealers all have waiting lists for these little things. Are you guys seeing any of them on the road?

I see them as a step up from the pocket rockets, which were just a bit too small for me. And Honda says they will make no profit, they are just trying to grow some new-gen riders. Wait until they find out about the mountain roads! But they might be faster than the bicyclists. :whistle:

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xjrguy
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Re: The Grom

Post by xjrguy »

I am sure if I ride up to the Rock Store off Mulholland there might be one there if they are out.

There were tons of bikes out this weekend and I was one of them. Great days to ride!
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jhwalker
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Re: The Grom

Post by jhwalker »

xjrguy wrote:I am sure if I ride up to the Rock Store off Mulholland there might be one there if they are out.

There were tons of bikes out this weekend and I was one of them. Great days to ride!
Maybe we upgrade the 12" wheels and put a Hayabusa in it. :whistle: Well, add some brakes too, I guess... :-D

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Brakelate
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Re: The Grom

Post by Brakelate »

MOTORCYCLIST Magazine has a write up on them this month. Apparently they LOVE them. This mini bikes come and go about every ten years or so. I am waiting for Kawasaki to retaliate, as it's model though a year off, will more than likely have more power and priced just to compete with this thing.

Little bikes have historically always been fun, attention getters. Like the scooter craze that comes and goes, I wonder how much road rash will be attributed to first time riders in board shorts, tank tops and flip flops.

Would make for a fun "box stock" race series at the local kart tracks though! :think:

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Brakelate
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Re: The Grom

Post by Brakelate »

MOTORCYCLIST Magazine has a write up on them this month. Apparently they LOVE them. These mini bike fads come and go about every ten years or so. I still lust after the '86 Z50 Honda in Chrome that I should have snapped off the dealership floor and kept forever. I later bought a White one for my son when he was Four. He wouldn't touch it, even with training wheels. The Chrome model still is getting top dollar on the collector market. Regardless, I am waiting for Kawasaki to fire back, as it's model, likely a year off, will without doubt have more power and performance, while being priced just to compete with this thing.

Little bikes have historically always been fun, attention getters. Like the scooter craze that comes and goes, I wonder how much road rash will be attributed to first time riders in board shorts, tank tops and flip flops.

Would make for a fun "box stock" race series at the local kart tracks though! :think:

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Re: The Grom

Post by jhwalker »

That would be great fun. Where could weight be added to equalize weights? :-D

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Brakelate
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Re: The Grom

Post by Brakelate »

That is the real trick, isn't it? Equal Power to Weight ratios. Make skinnie guys wear SCUBA style lead weight belts!

Cool thing is about these little bikes, they have real transmissions and manual clutches, rather than the auto-clutch centrifugal type which prevents burn outs, wheelies and other general hooliganism.

I am going to get that little Yamaha Zuma scooter back from my daughter in college. She doesn't use it, and it sure was fun!

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xjrguy
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Re: The Grom

Post by xjrguy »

jhwalker wrote:That would be great fun. Where could weight be added to equalize weights? :-D
well, a stomach to start...LOL :) :)
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jhwalker
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Re: The Grom

Post by jhwalker »

xjrguy wrote:
jhwalker wrote:That would be great fun. Where could weight be added to equalize weights? :-D
well, a stomach to start...LOL :) :)
Back in the day, in tri-state events (Florida, Georgia, Alabama) I would end up racing a guy on 250s whose nickname was "The Flea", who weighed about 125 lbs. All sinew.
No bueno when I weighed 185. Nothing like power to weight ratios... oops, detoured down memory lane...

With these 125s (10 hp and 225 lbs) with another lardy 200 lbs sitting on it -- 40+ lbs per horse -- I donno. :whistle:

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Brakelate
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Re: The Grom

Post by Brakelate »

Same reason I suck at those "slick track" events, or those where I either get left behind due to my girth, or I have to make "do or die" banzai runs in hopes of catching up to the "skinnies" who typically can't drive, but squirt off on power alone.

Reminds me of the warm up Auto-X portion of the Chevrolet Demo event we went to. I got a great time in that damn Cobalt... by running through the (premature in my opinion) shut down braking zone - still running flat out. :o I killed some cones after the last timing gate (and got my ass chewed) but, the time stood. Making it all well worth it to see my name in lights, as brief as it may have been. But, my plan worked! :lol:

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