Honda MSX125 (Grom)... should I?

[3DP]

The Horton is nearly here.... be afraid.

[LuS1fer]

If you've kept those horrendously nasty adjusters, I fear already. Weakest link in the entire concept along with the elastic chain.

[3DP]

LuS1fer said:

If you've kept those horrendously nasty adjusters, I fear already. Weakest link in the entire concept along with the elastic chain.

Going to see how I get on with them and when the chain is shagged and the adjusters annoy me, I'll do a 428 chain and sprocket upgrade and upgrade the adjusters. At the moment I'm rocking as much as 0.5bhp over stock.

[podman]

3DP said:

The Horton is nearly here.... be afraid.

Very good Pete..... Gis a go on ya Grom!

[Ilovejapcrap]

3DP said:

The Horton is nearly here.... be afraid.

Was hoping for full on JPS paint job but I still see blue as main colour.

[LuS1fer]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Groms are black, the inset (tank actually) is black plastic.

[3DP]

LuS1fer said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Groms are black, the inset (tank actually) is black plastic.

You are both correct.

[3DP]

podman said:

Very good Pete..... Gis a go on ya Grom!

Any time Bryan - of course a fair swap would be a go on the 500 2-stroke... don't you agree?

[bongtom]

3DP said:

LuS1fer said:

sc0tt said:

Pete, hundreds and hundreds of Groms in Thailand. Looked to be the new bike of choice.

The MSX and quite a lot of small Hondas are now built there. Quality not the same as Hondas of old.

They don't have the hewn from granite feel of C90s, but they are pretty robust. I have a Thai made Honda Vision 110, that is used everyday in all weathers for the last 3 years, and before that I had for years a Thai made Honda Innova 125 that had nearly 30k miles on it and was again used in all weathers including salt, ice, snow etc for many years with zero problems other than consumables and a few seized bits like drum pivot and centrestand pivot.

On the plus side, the parts are super cheap compared to Jap Hondas. If you buy off Thai sellers on E-bay it works out to about 1/2 to 2/3rds of UK price, even with shipping.

The main difference is that the fasteners and brackets are made out of very cheap metal that corrodes straight away. The rest of the componentry is pretty top notch, albeit feeling a little flimsier, but still lasts as well, as long as you don't abuse it. With C90s you could abuse them all day and they'd take it. But yes - the Japanese Hondas feel proper quality, the Thai Hondas, more Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki

Yes a lot of small Hondas are now made in Thailand, Grom, Today (50cc), Zoomer, Scoopy etc. The quality is good but not as good as Japanese made ones, as you say. In SE Asia there is a premium for Japan sourced bikes, especially the C90 round headlamp model.

The moto of choice is the MSX, for the cool kids, and the Zoomer, for the chicks, that took the place of the Zoomer.

Oddly there is very little modding gear around. Maybe because of the costs.

Keep on riding!

[Krikkit]

CBR500 and 650F are also Thai-built I think. No reason they can't be good quality of course, just not traditional!

[podman]

3DP said:

podman said:

Very good Pete..... Gis a go on ya Grom!

Any time Bryan - of course a fair swap would be a go on the 500 2-stroke... don't you agree?

Game on, be a good contrast! Meet you halfway at Boxhill in the Summer?!

[3DP]

podman said:

3DP said:

podman said:

Very good Pete..... Gis a go on ya Grom!

Any time Bryan - of course a fair swap would be a go on the 500 2-stroke... don't you agree?

Game on, be a good contrast! Meet you halfway at Boxhill in the Summer?!

You're on! I think one of us is getting the better deal there...

I can confirm the tyres not only feel plastic, but smell like burning plastic. Michelin power pure SCs yet to go on.

[Ilovejapcrap]

Oh yes !

it looked blue on my screen god knows why !!

on a side note you can tour on them now :

http://bikereview.com.au/ventura-luggage-systems-h...

[bongtom]

Good lord you look more of a burk on it then I had ever imagined!

[3DP]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Absolutely! Maybe on the Speed Triple though...

Ilovejapcrap said:

Oh yes !

it looked blue on my screen god knows why !!

on a side note you can tour on them now :

http://bikereview.com.au/ventura-luggage-systems-h...

I have the little Honda rack which I've taken off. You can attach a top box but as a base it's a little too small. As a cult bike, there are just tonnes of accessories and support though which is ace.

bongtom said:

Good lord you look more of a burk on it then I had ever imagined!

I do my best

[graham22]

3DP said:

You're on! I think one of us is getting the better deal there...

I can confirm the tyres not only feel plastic, but smell like burning plastic. Michelin power pure SCs yet to go on.

wankel Rep!!

[Mr2Mike]

graham22 said:

wankel Rep!!

That's a bit rude.

[3DP]

Bit of an update. I've finished the cosmetic mods that I plan. Performance wise, I've just done the airbox mod and put in a K&N. Future work will involve forks and some engine work, but only once I can convince my kids to take an interest and help.

Some photos.

[itcaptainslow]

I agree the standard IRC’s are atrocious-can’t wait to get rid of mine. No confidence at all leaning into corners and roundabouts!

[3DP]

itcaptainslow said:

I agree the standard IRC’s are atrocious-can’t wait to get rid of mine. No confidence at all leaning into corners and roundabouts!

IRCs? You mean the Vee Rubber tyres?