2022 Honda Grom | First Ride

The third generation of Honda Grom improves in all the right ways while maintaining the same low price.

The throttle was pinned as I raced down Venice Boulevard with my chest on the gas tank and my chin jutting forward. With this purposeful, steely-eyed commitment to total performance, it took the length of seven blocks for the 2022 Honda Grom to reach 59 mph.

As I cross Los Angeles on this brilliant yellow pill of a motorcycle, launching from green lights and filtering at red lights, I experience a pure and simple joy. The Grom has been popular since its 2014 introduction, thanks to its easy handling, low price tag, and jaunty—one might even say welcoming—design. Now Honda has updated it in all the right ways, focusing on engine power, fuel efficiency, home maintenance, and ease of customization. The 2022 Grom suffers no increase to its $3,399 price tag, yet enjoys a great improvement to overall function and design.

Ergonomics

At 6-foot-4, I never expected to fit on a Grom. Anyone who happens to catch a glimpse of me on the thing is practically obligated to toss off a Grape Ape or Shriners joke. But the freshly redone ergonomics make the little bike a joy to ride. The new seat is longer, more cushioned, and totally flat, still providing room for a passenger but allowing a solo rider to slide back on the seat more easily. The new seat sits atop a new subframe, one slightly smaller than before and now removable. Small jaunts around town and one-hour-long rides across Los Angeles were both surprisingly comfortable and easy.

Approachability

For some reason, people wave and throw me a thumbs-up a lot more often when I’m on the $3,400 Grom than when I’m on a $21,000 Harley. It’s bright. It’s small. It would scream “Wheeeee!” from its exhaust pipe if it could. It’s unpretentious, and therefore by the transitive principle its rider is as well, authentic and approachable. You’re not trying to be a calloused biker on this machine, that’s its strength. You’re a rider who has left their ego and Buck knife at home in lieu of good times and bright colors. If you see someone riding a Grom, say hi; after all, you meet the nicest people on a Honda.

Engine Updates

And this year, it’s a slightly faster little Honda. In updating the engine, Honda wanted to make it more fuel efficient and more easily maintained at home. It achieves this, partially, with a removable oil filter, compared to past models where owners would just clean the oil spinner and screen. A larger airbox also increases intervals between maintenance, as Honda claims it will only need to be changed every 10,000 miles in “normal riding conditions.”

The engine now features a slightly longer stroke and smaller bore, as well as a compression ratio bump from 9.3:1 to 10.0:1, a recipe for torque and engine response. That comes despite a claim of lower fuel consumption on average and some pretty significant changes to the bike’s gearing.

Updated Gearbox

The Grom’s gearbox and final drive have been reworked with longer range in mind, adding a fifth gear and increasing the rear sprocket sizing from 34 to 38 teeth (the front remains unchanged at 15T). With newly adjusted sprocket gearing ratio the Honda feels quicker off the line, but the added fifth gear and the new wider spread of ratios in the gearbox let the Grom reach a higher top speed without over-revving the engine. In real-world testing, the new fifth gear served as more of an overdrive. Fourth gear is needed for any real acceleration, but once the bike gets up to speed, fifth gear is there to reduce the engine’s speed while cruising.

Still, run upon a steep hill and it’s back down to fourth gear, maybe even third, to make sure you don’t slow down too much. On level ground, with my admittedly above-average frame tucked in as much as I could, I was unable to reach 60 mph.

Suspension

At low and mid speeds, say up to about 45 mph, the suspension is perfectly adequate. But as you get toward the bike’s top speed it runs out of stroke much more quickly, transferring bigger bumps to the rider. Approaching any obstacles or potholes, I found myself standing, almost trying to bunny hop the bike to avoid them, as they were likely to overwhelm the soft suspension. There was no notable weight transfer on acceleration, but hard braking led to notable fork dive; moving back on the seat helped significantly.

[lukewalker]

One of the best reviews of any motorcycle I have seen.
Well explained and thank you.

[harveymorford]

I am 80 years old with considerable motorcycling experience and i want to resume riding after being away from it for about 8 years. I just want to ride on local secondary roads and once again enjoy the fun of riding a motorcycle. I see where everyone thinks the Grom would be good for a beginner but I am wondering it might also be a good bike for an older rider like myself. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated!

[TheJosephayal]

If you 5'9 like me or shorter this is the perfect bike for you

[Twonkyful]

Please go talk to Kevin about what 'over-square' is in relation to an engine :)

[Elisplushieswoodierc]

I’ve watched several videos of the new 2022 grom with odd noises like a bad bearing wearing out, and dealerships can’t really diagnose the issues.Happens in 4-5th gear when warmed up.That’s to bad because I like this new grom and changes made to it and it’s siblings the monkey and super cub.

[dangrass]

oversquare means the bore is larger relative to the stroke....the opposite of what was stated. In fact, the 2022 engine is more UNDER square than the previous version. (was 52.4mm x 57.9mm, now 50mm x 63.1mm)

[patmansadventures.]

I had a 2018 that got stolen.Went and bought a 2022 and the forks are better than on the SF.The SF would bottom out on everything from day one.The 2022 has not bottomed out on me yet.Different fork oil maybe?Or beefier springs?

[willyd]

Over-square is a larger bore and a shorter stroke....

[Tarkov.]

You should display the MSRP on screen in text when you talk about the pricing. I found myself rewinding to listen to what you said a second time.

[CorePathway]

Over square = bore larger, stroke shorter. Under-square is a bore diameter smaller than the stroke.

[jamesgeorgevellavella]

Prices jumped in Australia $5200 (1yr on road included though)

[WamRebel]

I don't think he placed his fist into his other open hand nearly enough. Dissapointed.

[pptldzw]

Engines are “under square “ when the stroke exceeds the bore, not “over square.”

[-tj]

This guy looks comical on this, but if he can fit on one, so can anyone.
A 150 cc version with 15'' wheels would be tempting.
As others have pointed out, over-square involves a shorter stroke.

[SSS-mpth]

Seriously considering getting a 22 Monkey but really wish Honda would have come out with a 150 or 200cc. Also the $4199 which equals $5, 300 OTD is a bit of a pill. Although a completely different kind of bike it has me thinking of getting a 200 Duke as you can get 2020 models for $3, 500 in my area. The minimoto's sure look like fun though and I really like the weight.

[shazzthedon]

Are these available to buy in Montreal?

[MrGen]

How tall are you? I am 192sm and like the the grom very much. I am about to order it despite my high.

[ss_whole]

I never heard of a bike in my life that you need to replace the air box after a certain amount of time.

[brianrichard]

The side panels are only $30 a set from honda. Get some color for cheap.

[zefautino]

4400€ is a "budget" bike!
Yes, the price did increase, 700€.
You know fork springs don't cost more if stronger, don't you?
My 2018 already comes with an IMU, what's new in that?
No one asked me what I wanted on a new version.