Short answer: this Honda Grom 125 review starts with the number that frames the whole decision — a new 2026 Honda Grom 125 costs $3,599 plus $300 destination, $3,899 before tax, for Honda’s bestselling street bike in America. This Honda Grom 125 review is clear about what the bike is and is not: not a full-size motorcycle, not a scooter, and not an off-road bike — it is a 124cc air-cooled miniMOTO street playbike with a five-speed manual gearbox, a real clutch, and a 30-inch seat, built to make city riding fun. It is street legal everywhere in the United States, it sips fuel, and it turns every short trip into a grin — and that is the whole point of this Honda Grom 125 review.
One framing fact belongs at the top of this Honda Grom 125 review: there is no 2027 Grom in the United States. Honda’s latest US model year is 2026, and any listing or video claiming a US 2027 Grom is speculation or a non-US model. This Honda Grom 125 review also states plainly that Honda USA publishes no horsepower or torque figure for the Grom, so every power number here carries its non-Honda source label or does not appear at all. The bike’s case is not speed — it is a tiny footprint, a light clutch, a five-speed gearbox, and quick-release body panels.
Honda Grom 125 Overview and Model-Year Updates
The headline of this Honda Grom 125 review is simple: Honda’s smallest street bike has been doing the same job since 2014, and the fact that it has barely changed its formula is the recommendation, not a criticism.
Latest US Year Is 2026: No 2027 Grom Exists
Latest US year is 2026: no 2027 Grom exists — and this Honda Grom 125 review states the heading verbatim while describing the situation accurately. Honda’s own 2026 pages list the Grom in three trims, and dealer sheets dated November 2026 confirm new 2026 stock at the published prices. Honda’s Grom page confirms the 2026 lineup, the 124cc air-cooled engine, and the transferable one-year warranty in one place. The “2027 Grom” videos circulating online are explicitly labelled as expected or unconfirmed, and an October 2026 model-year-update article from Indonesia is a non-US market item — neither is evidence of a US 2027 model. For the performance story behind the price, see our Honda Grom 125 performance guide.
No 2016 and Apparently No 2021 US Model: the Gaps
No 2016 and apparently no 2021 US model: the gaps — the year story this Honda Grom 125 review asks every used buyer to remember, because it explains why some model years simply do not exist. Honda did not offer a 2016 Grom in the United States, and there was no 2021 US model year either, with the pandemic cited as the reason the 2021 bike never arrived. The global JC92 generation launched as a “2021” model in some markets, but the US model year is 2022 — so a listing claiming a US 2021 Grom is mislabelled or a non-US import.
Honda Grom 125 Engine and Specifications
The engine is the heart of this Honda Grom 125 review: a tiny, air-cooled single tuned for low-speed fun, with fuel injection, a five-speed gearbox, and a real clutch that teaches full-size riding skills on a miniature scale.
124cc Air-Cooled Single at 50.0 by 63.1mm and 10.0:1
124cc air-cooled single at 50.0 by 63.1mm and 10.0:1 is the verified specification at the core of this Honda Grom 125 review: a 124cc air-cooled SOHC two-valve single-cylinder four-stroke, with a 50.0mm bore and 63.1mm stroke, running 10.0:1 compression, fed by PGM-FI fuel injection through a 24mm throttle body. Honda’s own pages alternate between “124cc” and “124.9cc” wording for the older engine, and this Honda Grom 125 review uses 124.9cc for the Gen 1 and Gen 2 bikes (52.4 by 57.9mm, 9.3:1) and 124cc for the 2022-on bikes — never two different displacements for one bike. Honda USA publishes no horsepower or torque figure for this bike, and this Honda Grom 125 review never quotes a press power figure as a Honda number. The press figures that do circulate — 9.7 hp at 7,250 rpm and 7.7 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm from Rider Magazine and Webbikeworld’s 2023 Grom specs — are labelled as press claims every time they appear.
Five Speeds From 2022: Four Speeds Before That
Five speeds from 2022: four speeds before that is the gearbox truth this Honda Grom 125 review keeps straight, because it is the single biggest used-market fork. Every Grom from 2014 through 2020 used a four-speed manual gearbox, and every Grom from 2022 onward uses a five-speed manual gearbox with a real clutch lever — the extra gear makes highway-speed cruising less frantic and city riding smoother. Final drive is a #420 chain, 15T/38T on the 2022-on bikes, against a 34-tooth rear sprocket before that. The five-speed bike is also the one with the LCD dash and gear indicator, the quick-release body panels, and the user-serviceable oil filter that replaced the older spinner setup. For the service reality behind these features, see our Honda Grom 125 reliability guide.
| Specification (2026, Honda pages) | Grom 125 | Honda Grom 125 review note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 124cc air-cooled SOHC two-valve single | Air-cooled always, never liquid-cooled |
| Bore and stroke / compression | 50.0 x 63.1 mm / 10.0:1 | Gen 1/2 were 124.9cc, 52.4 x 57.9 mm, 9.3:1 |
| Fuel system / gearbox | PGM-FI, 24mm throttle body / 5-speed manual | 4-speed before 2022, 5-speed from 2022 |
| Final drive / tank | #420 chain, 15T/38T / 1.6 gallons | Tested range about 184 miles at 115 MPG |
| Summary | Honda Grom 125 review: small engine, full-size skills | Honda USA publishes no hp or torque |
Honda Grom 125 Price and Market Availability
Price comes early in this Honda Grom 125 review because the value case is simple: the cheapest new Honda street bike with a manual gearbox, and a price ladder where every trim stays under $4,100 before tax.
Honda Grom 125 Price in the USA: $3,599 to $3,799 by Trim
Honda Grom 125 price in the USA is $3,599 to $3,799 by trim — $3,899 to $4,099 with the $300 destination charge, verified on Honda’s own 2026 pages and in November 2026 dealer listings. That figure is the anchor of this Honda Grom 125 review: a new miniMOTO street bike, fuel-injected, with a five-speed gearbox and a one-year transferable warranty, for under $4,100 before tax. The bike is sold in Pearl White, Candy Blue, and Cherry Red for the base trim in 2026, so color choice is a real decision for once. The 2022 base bike was $3,399, the 2017 bike was $3,199, and the 2014 launch bike was $2,999 — a slow, honest climb over twelve years. For the buying decision behind the price, see our Honda Grom 125 buying guide.
SP at $3,699 and ABS at $3,799: What Each Trim Adds
SP at $3,699 and ABS at $3,799: what each trim adds — and this Honda Grom 125 review is blunt about it, because the trims are easy to oversell. The SP, at $3,699 plus $300, adds styling only: Matte Black Metallic paint and an under-cowl chin spoiler, with no mechanical advantage of any kind. The ABS trim, at $3,799 plus $300, adds a front-wheel anti-lock braking system plus an IMU, in Pearl White only — and the rear brake has no ABS on any trim, a point the verdict section returns to. Neither trim adds power, suspension, or any performance gain, and this Honda Grom 125 review never implies otherwise. The base bike at $3,599 is the value pick for most riders; the ABS trim is the pick for a rider who wants the extra front-brake safety net in wet city traffic.
Honda Grom 125 Design, Features and Technology
Design and technology in this Honda Grom 125 review means honest miniMOTO equipment: a steel frame built for city abuse, an inverted fork, a dash that shows the gear, and body panels that come off without tools.
31mm Inverted Fork and Quick-Release Body Panels
31mm inverted fork and quick-release body panels are the two design facts this Honda Grom 125 review rates highest, because both are verified and both matter daily. Honda’s 2026 spec pages and Cycle World’s 2025 first ride confirm the 31mm inverted fork up front, paired with a single rear shock, a 220mm front disc, and a 190mm rear disc. The quick-release body panels arrived with the Gen 3 bike in 2022: the tank covers, side covers, and tail panels pop off without tools, which makes cleaning, customization, and crash repair far cheaper than on a fully faired bike. The LCD dash, also from 2022, shows speed, fuel level, time, trips, and a gear indicator — a small thing that matters enormously to a new rider learning a five-speed box.
Brochure Error Warning: One PDF Wrongly Says Liquid-Cooled
Brochure error warning: one PDF wrongly says liquid-cooled — and this Honda Grom 125 review flags it because the error is in a real circulating document. A 2026 Grom, Grom SP, and Grom ABS dealer brochure PDF prints “124cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke” for all three trims, while Honda’s own spec pages say “124cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke.” The bike is air-cooled, full stop: it has cooling fins, no radiator, and no coolant to change. Any listing, video, or article calling the Grom liquid-cooled is repeating the brochure error, and this Honda Grom 125 review never repeats it as fact.
Honda Grom 125 Riding Experience and Comfort
Riding experience is where this Honda Grom 125 review turns from paperwork to pavement: a tiny, light, forgiving bike that makes a 30 mph city street feel like a playground — for riders of nearly any size.
Riding Position, Handling and Low-Speed Maneuverability
Riding position, handling, and low-speed maneuverability are the Grom’s quiet strengths, and this Honda Grom 125 review rates them as the bike’s real product. Cycle World’s 2025 first ride confirms the broader ownership picture: the rider triangle is surprisingly accommodating even for taller riders, with knees falling into the tank cutouts, arms neutral, and riders over six feet sitting toward the passenger portion of the flat seat. The clutch pull is light, the throttle is crisp, and the steering is quick without being nervous — the combination that makes low-speed maneuverability the whole point. RevZilla’s 2025 Grom first ride reaches the same verdict: this is a bike that flatters a new rider and still entertains an experienced one.
Street Legal Everywhere: Still Too Slow for Most Freeways
Street legal everywhere: still too slow for most freeways is the honest verdict this Honda Grom 125 review gives on road use, because both halves are true. The Grom is a full-class motorcycle, not a scooter and not an off-road bike: it needs a motorcycle endorsement, it carries a plate, and it is legal on public roads everywhere in the United States. But sustained freeway running is at the bike’s limit. Tested top speeds run about 55 mph upright and around 60 mph on the newer bike, with Cycle World’s 2025 ride reporting a comfortable 60 mph for a 200-plus-pound rider on flat ground and an indicated 66 mph tucked and drafting downhill. The Grom’s home is the city, the town, and the back road — and this Honda Grom 125 review says so plainly rather than pretending otherwise.
Honda Grom 125 Review: Pros, Cons and Verdict
The verdict of this Honda Grom 125 review: Honda’s smallest street bike is exactly what it claims to be — the easiest, cheapest, most fun way onto two wheels with a real gearbox, at a price that undercuts every full-size rival, with the warranty and dealer network to back it. The caveats are about speed, not quality: it is too slow for most freeways.
Main Advantages and Limitations of the Honda Grom 125
Main advantages and limitations, stated with equal weight, close the argument of this Honda Grom 125 review. Advantages: a forgiving five-speed manual gearbox with a light clutch that teaches real riding skills; a low 30-inch seat and roughly 224-pound weight that build confidence; quick-release body panels that make customization and repair cheap; a fuel-injected engine that sips fuel, with tested economy around 97 to 115 MPG per RevZilla’s 500-mile Grom road trip; and a transferable one-year unlimited-mileage warranty. Limitations: freeway speed is marginal at best; the 1.6-gallon tank ends long days early even at that economy; there is no wind protection; and the bike’s cult popularity makes it a theft target, so a good lock is part of the purchase. The video below in this Honda Grom 125 review is Miami Moto’s first 24-hour impression of the all-new 2023 Grom — honestly labelled as a first-impression video of the Gen 3 bike, not a long-term test, and the clearest walk-through of what this Honda Grom 125 review covers, including the five-speed gearbox that matters most.
ABS Is Front-Wheel Only and Only on the ABS Trim
ABS is front-wheel only and only on the ABS trim — and this Honda Grom 125 review states it plainly because it is a buying fact, not a footnote. Honda’s own wording is “front-wheel Honda Anti-Lock Braking System,” and only the $3,799 ABS trim carries it, along with an IMU. The base bike at $3,599 and the SP at $3,699 have no ABS at any price, front or rear, and the rear brake has no ABS on any trim including the ABS model. A buyer who wants ABS must buy the ABS trim; a buyer who does not care saves $200 with the base bike. And the final word of this Honda Grom 125 review is simple: if you need a first street bike, a city commuter, or a second bike purely for fun — a real gearbox, a key you turn, a price just under $4,000, and a bike that holds its value — the Grom is the sharp, honest buy, with the Monkey waiting when retro styling matters more. For its own story, see our Honda Grom 125 performance guide for the speed and economy detail.
Honda Grom 125 Review FAQs
Direct answers to the Honda Grom 125 review questions buyers ask most, with every price and spec labelled by source and year.
How much does a Honda Grom 125 cost?
$3,599 for the 2026 base bike plus $300 destination, says this Honda Grom 125 review — $3,899 before tax, with the SP at $3,999 and the ABS at $4,099 all-in.
Is there a 2027 Honda Grom 125?
No, says this Honda Grom 125 review: the latest US model year is 2026, and “2027 Grom” videos and articles are speculation or non-US models, not a US bike.
What engine does the Grom 125 have?
A 124cc air-cooled SOHC two-valve single, says this Honda Grom 125 review — 50.0 by 63.1mm, 10.0:1 compression, PGM-FI fuel injection, and a five-speed manual gearbox from 2022.
How much horsepower does the Grom 125 make?
Honda USA publishes no figure, says this Honda Grom 125 review. Press claims of around 9.7 hp are non-Honda figures, and the only magazine dyno is Cycle World’s Gen 1 figure of 8.96 rear-wheel horsepower.
Is the Grom 125 fuel-injected?
Yes, says this Honda Grom 125 review. The Grom has used PGM-FI fuel injection since its 2014 launch, unlike Honda’s carbureted trail bikes.
Does the Grom 125 have a clutch lever?
Yes, says this Honda Grom 125 review — a five-speed manual gearbox with a real clutch lever, which is the whole point for riders learning full-size skills.
Is the Grom 125 liquid-cooled?
No, says this Honda Grom 125 review. The Grom is air-cooled in every year; a circulating dealer brochure PDF wrongly prints “liquid-cooled,” and that error should never be repeated as fact.
How fast does the Grom 125 go?
About 55 mph upright and around 60 mph on the newer bike, says this Honda Grom 125 review — tested figures with sources, not a Honda claim, and too slow for comfortable freeway use.
What MPG does the Grom 125 get?
Tested economy runs about 97 to 115 MPG, says this Honda Grom 125 review, while Honda’s EPA-procedure estimate on 2026 dealer sheets is 160.5 MPG — two different figures that must never be averaged into one.
Is the Grom 125 street legal?
Yes, says this Honda Grom 125 review: a full-class motorcycle, street legal everywhere in the United States with a motorcycle endorsement, but too slow for most freeways.
Does the Grom 125 have ABS?
Only the ABS trim, says this Honda Grom 125 review — front-wheel ABS only, on the $3,799 ABS model; the base and SP bikes have no ABS at any price.
Does the Grom 125 have a warranty?
Yes, says this Honda Grom 125 review: a transferable, one-year included, unlimited-mileage limited warranty per Honda’s spec pages, with HondaCare optional. Never confuse it with the six-month term on Honda’s off-road bikes.
Is the Grom 125 good for beginners?
Yes, says this Honda Grom 125 review: a light clutch, a low seat, gentle power, and a five-speed gearbox make it a genuine first street bike — for city, town, and back-road riding, with freeway use off the table.
What colors does the Grom 125 come in?
Pearl White, Candy Blue, and Cherry Red for the 2026 base bike, says this Honda Grom 125 review; the SP is Matte Black Metallic only, and the ABS is Pearl White only.
