05-04-2016, 12:30 PM
Ever since they went on sale, I wanted a Honda Grom. It's just so goofy and childish, but I couldn't justify spending $4k to get one. Recently, I decided to do the unthinkable: sell my 1978 Honda XL175. I just wasn't enjoying it anymore and felt an old bike with little to no parts availability was becoming a liability. I work at a motorcycle dealer and the owner is a huge collector. He's asked me about selling it before and I finally decided to see if he wanted to work a trade. It wasn't an even up trade, but I made out well enough.
The day I brought the Grom home, I immediately started farkling it. New handlebars, carbon exhaust, and fender eliminator kit came first. Then, came the Ohlins suspension. The stock shock and fork are woefully undersprung a 225 lb rider. I could have done cheaper suspension upgrades, but when in Rome...
I've done short little hops close to home and it's a blast for ripping down to the store. 8 hp from 125 cc is just enough to keep up with traffic on city/suburban street. Anything above 50 mph starts to push it. I read they get better with a few hundred miles. It also vibrates a lot at 45+ because the tires are cheapo and not perfectly round. I have a set of Michelin dual compound scooter tires on order to remedy that. A small change in final drive gearing may help.
Yesterday, I rode it to work, 17 miles one way on 95% 45-55 mph secondary roads. On the way in, I was actually stuck behind a slow car, so not being able to run 55 into the wind along the 2-3 mile stretch of 2 lane wasn't a problem. On the way home, I ran that same stretch at WOT. The first half mile is uphill and I had it close to recline in 3rd which is an indicated 50 mph. Over the top, I shifted to 4th where revs fall back under 7000 and not much happens. I tuck down and coax it to 54-55 staying pinned the entire way. When I hit the last 1/3 mile, the road heads back downhill and I hit 64 before having to shut it down for a stop light.
Riding on the edge is really entertaining. Turns my boring commute into an adventure. I do need to dial some things in on the bike. The tires should smooth it out and maybe let it get up to speed better because the vibration may be hampering higher speeds. The exhaust is pretty obnoxious since I am at WOT all the time. Two Brothers makes a quieter end cap insert that I think may improve performance. This little engine needs some back pressure. I am going to see how the engine runs in before I fiddle with gearing. If it lessens up and is more capable of 55 mph cruising, I will be happy.
With my trick suspension, it's a blast and feels much more planted at speeds. It's a ridiculous emount of money spent on farkles, but it's so dang goofy and fun.
[url=http://s960.photobucket.com/user/Pflugerville_Bike_Guy/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160425_165008_zpsxhoqveys.jpg.html]![[Image: 9ac0aa5cc6522095ff07e8cd748dff8d.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201605/9ac0aa5cc6522095ff07e8cd748dff8d.jpg)
The day I brought the Grom home, I immediately started farkling it. New handlebars, carbon exhaust, and fender eliminator kit came first. Then, came the Ohlins suspension. The stock shock and fork are woefully undersprung a 225 lb rider. I could have done cheaper suspension upgrades, but when in Rome...
I've done short little hops close to home and it's a blast for ripping down to the store. 8 hp from 125 cc is just enough to keep up with traffic on city/suburban street. Anything above 50 mph starts to push it. I read they get better with a few hundred miles. It also vibrates a lot at 45+ because the tires are cheapo and not perfectly round. I have a set of Michelin dual compound scooter tires on order to remedy that. A small change in final drive gearing may help.
Yesterday, I rode it to work, 17 miles one way on 95% 45-55 mph secondary roads. On the way in, I was actually stuck behind a slow car, so not being able to run 55 into the wind along the 2-3 mile stretch of 2 lane wasn't a problem. On the way home, I ran that same stretch at WOT. The first half mile is uphill and I had it close to recline in 3rd which is an indicated 50 mph. Over the top, I shifted to 4th where revs fall back under 7000 and not much happens. I tuck down and coax it to 54-55 staying pinned the entire way. When I hit the last 1/3 mile, the road heads back downhill and I hit 64 before having to shut it down for a stop light.
Riding on the edge is really entertaining. Turns my boring commute into an adventure. I do need to dial some things in on the bike. The tires should smooth it out and maybe let it get up to speed better because the vibration may be hampering higher speeds. The exhaust is pretty obnoxious since I am at WOT all the time. Two Brothers makes a quieter end cap insert that I think may improve performance. This little engine needs some back pressure. I am going to see how the engine runs in before I fiddle with gearing. If it lessens up and is more capable of 55 mph cruising, I will be happy.
With my trick suspension, it's a blast and feels much more planted at speeds. It's a ridiculous emount of money spent on farkles, but it's so dang goofy and fun.
[url=http://s960.photobucket.com/user/Pflugerville_Bike_Guy/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160425_165008_zpsxhoqveys.jpg.html]
