Honda MSX125 (Grom)... should I?
Discussion
Golgarth said:
plenty of mods out there to make 75mph easy ;-)
The 10bhp limit is not set by the 125cc engine, it's set by various governmental legislations.
Here on the continent, iirc the limit is for 11bhp and 125cc to be able to ride it without a bike license (!), a simple car license will do, which opens the market to millions that wouldn't be able to ride it otherwise.
My mate had one for an afternoon last weekend. I had a little blast on it mainly followed. He commutes all year round and wanted to buy one.
In my view they're dangerous as a commuter. It was practically silent, no one saw him at all so when filtering or overtaking a couple of times I was behind him and I saw the car drivers jump as he passed. For anyone 6ft or over unfortunately it was just a bit too small. Both our knees went passed the place where yourknees should go and into a really uncomfortable bit of plastic. The suspension was so squashy and soft it felt almost broken.
The good bits. I think it cost 7.50 to fill. It was a total hooligan mini bike. My mate was endoing and sliding it all over the place. It got to 70mph on a slight downhill.
All in all I think it'd get old very fast as a commuter you had to use, and it wouldn't surprise me if it led to an accident just for how invisible you are on the road. If you and your mates have some money to burn and a group of you bought some I could imagine some really good,funny group rides though.
In my view they're dangerous as a commuter. It was practically silent, no one saw him at all so when filtering or overtaking a couple of times I was behind him and I saw the car drivers jump as he passed. For anyone 6ft or over unfortunately it was just a bit too small. Both our knees went passed the place where yourknees should go and into a really uncomfortable bit of plastic. The suspension was so squashy and soft it felt almost broken.
The good bits. I think it cost 7.50 to fill. It was a total hooligan mini bike. My mate was endoing and sliding it all over the place. It got to 70mph on a slight downhill.
All in all I think it'd get old very fast as a commuter you had to use, and it wouldn't surprise me if it led to an accident just for how invisible you are on the road. If you and your mates have some money to burn and a group of you bought some I could imagine some really good,funny group rides though.
Mine is now approaching 4500 miles, in use as a daily commuter. It's black but I have never had any problem being seen (Touchwood).
Interestingly, my front indicators are on, permanently, as position lamps, which helps a lot.
I met another MSX owner with a bike, the same age and his didn't. Not sure why.
Interestingly, my front indicators are on, permanently, as position lamps, which helps a lot.
I met another MSX owner with a bike, the same age and his didn't. Not sure why.
Ilovejapcrap said:
If Honda do a 300 cc version of this they will sell loads, I'd buy one for a bit of fun
I would agree only in this case my vertically challenged wife fits the the MSX125 perfectly, but 10bhp is far too slow compared with the derestricted 2 stroke NSR125 she currently has.But surely the whole point of it being a 125 is that you can ride it with a CBT. That's why I got mine.
Mines due it's 2nd service (2500 miles) and Honda want £142 to change 0.9 litres of oil!
Not sure how the previous poster managed to get £7.50 worth of fuel in it, as the most i've ever put in mine was £4.80 and that's with the posh fuel!
Mines due it's 2nd service (2500 miles) and Honda want £142 to change 0.9 litres of oil!
Not sure how the previous poster managed to get £7.50 worth of fuel in it, as the most i've ever put in mine was £4.80 and that's with the posh fuel!
spareparts said:
SMIDSY.
Are people really having lots of "SMIDSY" instances on these? more so than on any other bike?Really????
In my experience if people aren't "looking" they won't see you, regardless of whether you are riding a Goldwing or a Grom or even in a fully marked-up POLITE bike.............
stay frosty
Tim85 said:
My mate had one for an afternoon last weekend. I had a little blast on it mainly followed. He commutes all year round and wanted to buy one.
In my view they're dangerous as a commuter. It was practically silent, no one saw him at all so when filtering or overtaking a couple of times I was behind him and I saw the car drivers jump as he passed. For anyone 6ft or over unfortunately it was just a bit too small. Both our knees went passed the place where yourknees should go and into a really uncomfortable bit of plastic. The suspension was so squashy and soft it felt almost broken.
The good bits. I think it cost 7.50 to fill. It was a total hooligan mini bike. My mate was endoing and sliding it all over the place. It got to 70mph on a slight downhill.
All in all I think it'd get old very fast as a commuter you had to use, and it wouldn't surprise me if it led to an accident just for how invisible you are on the road. If you and your mates have some money to burn and a group of you bought some I could imagine some really good,funny group rides though.
I think you are drastically over estimating how much your average car driver pays attention. On anything but the loudest bikes the noise will be drowned out by the radio, talking to passengers, phone whatever. In my view they're dangerous as a commuter. It was practically silent, no one saw him at all so when filtering or overtaking a couple of times I was behind him and I saw the car drivers jump as he passed. For anyone 6ft or over unfortunately it was just a bit too small. Both our knees went passed the place where yourknees should go and into a really uncomfortable bit of plastic. The suspension was so squashy and soft it felt almost broken.
The good bits. I think it cost 7.50 to fill. It was a total hooligan mini bike. My mate was endoing and sliding it all over the place. It got to 70mph on a slight downhill.
All in all I think it'd get old very fast as a commuter you had to use, and it wouldn't surprise me if it led to an accident just for how invisible you are on the road. If you and your mates have some money to burn and a group of you bought some I could imagine some really good,funny group rides though.
Dragging this thread up from the past a little. But currently in Thailand and seen a few about.
Tim85 said:
My mate had one for an afternoon last weekend. I had a little blast on it mainly followed. He commutes all year round and wanted to buy one.
In my view they're dangerous as a commuter. It was practically silent, no one saw him at all so when filtering or overtaking a couple of times I was behind him and I saw the car drivers jump as he passed. For anyone 6ft or over unfortunately it was just a bit too small. Both our knees went passed the place where yourknees should go and into a really uncomfortable bit of plastic. The suspension was so squashy and soft it felt almost broken.
The good bits. I think it cost 7.50 to fill. It was a total hooligan mini bike. My mate was endoing and sliding it all over the place. It got to 70mph on a slight downhill.
All in all I think it'd get old very fast as a commuter you had to use, and it wouldn't surprise me if it led to an accident just for how invisible you are on the road. If you and your mates have some money to burn and a group of you bought some I could imagine some really good,funny group rides though.
I think you are drastically over estimating how much your average car driver pays attention. On anything but the loudest bikes the noise will be drowned out by the radio, talking to passengers, phone whatever. In my view they're dangerous as a commuter. It was practically silent, no one saw him at all so when filtering or overtaking a couple of times I was behind him and I saw the car drivers jump as he passed. For anyone 6ft or over unfortunately it was just a bit too small. Both our knees went passed the place where yourknees should go and into a really uncomfortable bit of plastic. The suspension was so squashy and soft it felt almost broken.
The good bits. I think it cost 7.50 to fill. It was a total hooligan mini bike. My mate was endoing and sliding it all over the place. It got to 70mph on a slight downhill.
All in all I think it'd get old very fast as a commuter you had to use, and it wouldn't surprise me if it led to an accident just for how invisible you are on the road. If you and your mates have some money to burn and a group of you bought some I could imagine some really good,funny group rides though.
Dragging this thread up from the past a little. But currently in Thailand and seen a few about.
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