How Long Do Honda Groms Last? (6 Examples)

The Honda Grom was first introduced in 2014 as a compact, fuel-efficient 125cc mini-bike. 

The Grom was and is still a popular choice among beginners, either looking to learn or seeking to scoot around town on more than a bicycle.

Honda designed the Grom to be a comfortable, simple ride while still fun by splashing it with a sportbike style that leaves a healthy space for customization, but how long does Honda’s entry-level mini-bike last? 

Read on to find out.

Here’s the Short Answer to How Long Honda Groms Last:

A new Honda Grom has the potential to last over 80,000 miles or 25 years, providing it has been safely stored, ridden responsibly,  and serviced according to Honda’s suggested maintenance schedule. The longevity of a used Grom is affected by new riders and customization.

How Many Miles Do You Get on a Honda Grom?

A Honda Grom that’s serviced per Honda’s spec instructions can last over 80,000 miles, providing it’s ridden regularly and respected as the mini 125cc bike that it is. Your Grom is meant to be ridden around town in quick sprints at moderate speeds.

It’s a learner bike, not a mini stunt racer, at least not off the lot. 

As I mentioned earlier, the Grom is a popular choice for riders who customize or stunt mini bikes, as they’re cheap and generally thought of as a low-stakes option for a ripping little novelty bike. 

I say that because I’ve lived it—I’ve ridden a tricked-out Grom, and it was fun, but it wasn’t nearly as reliable as it was when the owner took it home from the dealership. 

After-market customization can lead to poor engine tunings and improper air-fuel ratios, significantly reducing the number of miles your novel little ripper will run.

I’m not bashing on any of the custom cats on the scene, but facts are facts—If you want your Honda Grom to last as long as possible, keep it factory spec and maintain it per Honda’s guidelines.

Extend your Grom’s life by keeping up with oil and coolant changes, tire rotations, and filter replacements.

Also, use it regularly to keep its juices flowing and store it away from corrosive chemicals and elements. 

The Honda Grom is a reliable, fuel-efficient bike with a stylish compact design, but it’s prone to rust if left outdoors unattended.

Some owners claim it took less than a year for their Groms to rust, so be sure to store it indoors or under a tarp as corrosion will shave some miles off your motor scoot for sure. 

And to any of our readers living in colder climates where the roads get salted for ice melting,  be aware that your Grom should be cleaned and dried if you aim to prolong its expiration date.

The same goes for our ocean-coast Grom rippers exposed to salty air; keep it clean and keep it lasting long. 

When cleaning your Grom for rust prevention, keep an eye on these spots:

• Frame
• Reflectors
• Gas tank 
• Bike chain
• Nuts and bolts

Related: How Long Do Honda Silver Wings Last? 5 Examples

What Is Considered High Mileage for These Models?

A Honda Grom is considered high mileage after 35,000 miles as far as the used market is concerned, though a well-kept Grom can last well over 80,000 miles. It’s common to look at mileage over other information; mini-motorcycle mileage has a more negligible effect on reliability and longevity than proper care.

What’s better: buying a Grom with 10,000 miles that has been dropped during the learning process or grabbing a Grom with 20,000 miles that has no visible damage?

Think about it like this; I’d rather have a 40,000 mile Grom that’s been stored indoors and regularly serviced than a 5,000 mile Grom that was first-gear-gunned and wheelied around the backyard.

When shopping for a used Honda Grom, determining its quality, longevity, reliability, and value requires you to consider more than just the odometer reading.

During your search, favor any Groms you find with a clear maintenance history. Also, how many previous owners the Grom had is more valuable in that assessment than mileage, as scoots with one owner are often in much better shape than those that change hands frequently. 

An owner who’s careful enough about riding safely to avoid falls and drops during the learning process suggests a longer-lasting bike than a Grom with low miles that have been knocked around by multiple owners. 

We’re not saying to interrogate the Grom’s previous owner here but ask for the bike’s service records, as they can give you a better idea of its quality compared to considering whether it’s high-mileage. 

Looking for a used Grom with low miles isn’t the wrong place to start, but you shouldn’t overlook a motorcycle with higher miles and an impeccable track record of fuel and filter changes and service inspections.

In summary, while a Honda Grom is considered high mileage after 35,000 miles since it’s a learner’s bike, both its longevity and reliability depend on a handful of factors besides mileage, like: 

• Past accidents
• Frequency of oil changes
• Attention to fluid top-offs
• Other regular upkeep matters like routine inspections and regular lubrication
• A Honda Grom could clock in at 80,000 miles or more without an issue with a clean background

How Many Years Does a Honda Grom Typically Last?

A Grom can last for over 20 years, providing its owner has responsible maintenance and riding habits. The average Grom is ridden around 4,000 miles a year, and a well-kept Grom can go for 80,000 miles. 

You might feel tempted to only look at mileage when assessing the lifespan of a Honda Grom, especially if you’re looking at a specific year or model.

That said, other variables have more bearing on a bike’s lifetime, like: 

• Extreme hot and cold weather
• Adherence to Honda’s spec maintenance schedule
• Storage habits
• Tire, chain, and fluid-level maintenance.
• Overall rider performance and scoot usage

Your Grom can last for 20 years if you move in sync with the climates you’re riding in. 

If you avoid starting your Grom below freezing temperatures or riding in sweltering summers, you’ll save it a few years of life by minimizing engine wear. Avoid idling your Grom in the heat by killing your bike when you’re stuck in traffic on mid-summer commutes. 

Stick with regular maintenance to keep your Grom on the road for years and ride it like the entry-level bike it is, as ripping your RPMs through the redline range tears up engine components as well. 

Related: 4 Most Common Problems With Yamaha DT125

Is the Honda Grom Reliable?

The Honda Grom is reliable, but regular engine motor maintenance plays a significant factor in its overall reliability. Keep your Honda Grom on the road and out of the shop by following Honda’s spec ownership habits.

A Grom with a neglectful owner who goes 12,000 miles between oil changes will not be as reliable as a Grom that’s well-cared-for. 

Keep up with the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual to ensure your Grom stays a reliable little city-ripper.

Basic maintenance procedures like filter and fluid changes need to happen every few-thousand miles to keep your Grom on the street as a reliable roaster.   

Debris can cling to old oil and get in your engine, and unkept air filters get clogged, and it all stays that way until you clean or replace them, sometimes causing your engine to choke up or, in dire situations, seize.

In short, the Honda Grom is one of the more reliable entry-level bikes, providing you keep up with its routine service schedule outlined in the owners manual, and that includes inspections and lubrication.

Does a Honda Grom Last Longer Than Other Motorcycles?

The Honda Grom lasts longer than other motorcycles in the entry-level class due to its updated 125cc engine. Not only is it fuel efficient, with lower revs putting less wear on its motor than on other, higher revving bikes, but the Grom is also easy to maintain at home.

The Grom has a larger airbox than other mini-bikes, meaning it requires less frequent maintenance, implying an increase in longevity. 

The secret to the Grom’s leg up over its competition is its slightly longer stroke and smaller bore. It has a compression ratio of 10:1, meaning that it has a fast and torquey engine response despite its low-revving fuel efficiency. 

Its gearbox and final drive are two more strings behind the Grom’s mysterious longevity act. 

Despite its small, 125cc displacement, unlike other minibikes, Honda upgraded the Grom with a 5th gear on a rear sprocket with 38 teeth.

This makes the Grom quicker off the line than the competition and provides enough power for the mini-ripper to reach its top speed without over-revving the engine, helping it to live than other bikes in its class. 

While a Grom rider still has to use fourth gear to accelerate, the fifth gear acts as an overdrive to reduce the revs down to the midrange while cruising. 

There aren’t many 125s with overdrive gear, meaning the Grom lasts longer than other bikes in its class.

Related: How Long Do Honda VT125s Last? 3 Examples

What Typically Breaks First on a Honda Grom?

The first thing to break on a Honda Grom, particularly on models manufactured between 2013-2015, is the fuel pump. Honda recalled 17,643 units of the model years 2014-2015 Groms due to swelling resin brackets inside the fuel pump of the affected units.

In extreme cases, the Grom could swell big enough to cause the pump impeller to seize, which will cause the engine to stall with the increased potential for a crash.

• Honda notified both Grom owners and Honda motorcycle dealerships, instructing the dealer mechanics to replace the fuel pump assembly with one that uses a metal bracket internally, free.
• In summary, Honda recalled and upgraded many of the affected units a year ago during the recall procedure.
• But there are always some neglectful owners that don’t keep up with service bulletins and recalls who never had their fuel pumps upgraded. On those bikes, the fuel pump is certainly going to be the first thing to break.

3 Great Tips to Make Sure Your Honda Grom Will Last Long

Following these three simple tips will increase the longevity of your Grom to well past its 80,000-mile life expectancy. 

1. Don’t overwork the engine; don’t ride hard. Honda designed the Grom for entry-level riding and straightforward commuting. Riding or upgrading it with other intentions will shorten its life. 
2. Follow Honda’s spec maintenance schedule provided in the owner’s manual. Service doesn’t mean just changing oil and filters—it means inspecting and lubricating multiple components at various intervals. If you lack the tools to perform the full service outlined in your Grom’s book, there’s no shame in taking it to a pro; it might be a lifespan difference of a decade.
3. Store the Bike Properly. Outside is fine as long as it’s stored under a protective structure of tarp, hefty enough to keep it untouched by the corrosive heat and precipitation elements. Storing it in a garage is, of course, ideal, but holding it indoors with airborne-corrosive chemicals can hinder its longevity and reliability as fast as the rain and scorching sun.