Boom Vader (China Grom clone) - how long do they last?

[mrzuzzo]

What's so funny about that? It's a mini bike, try to find a electric bicycle that can go that fast for that kind of money.

An electric bicycle is better in pretty much every way... lighter, can take it on bike paths & sidewalks legally, parks in bike rack, easier to handle, way more practical, etc.

Stock Grom tops out around 65, and I find that is the absolute minimum to be safe on roads with cars.

 

[rick]

Man, I want one ...just not sure what I'd do with it.
Sure, I can get something used with an ICE that goes much further much faster that won't burn my house down if it overcharges the battery but still.

 

[BiG Chris]

What makes the razkull a better choice? they look very similar (if not identical), is the QC that much better?

the razkul can use alot more of the grom parts

 

[Aware]

I looked at buying a used Chinese scooter or grom-alike. All those selling think they are worth $1000 regardless of age and condition.

 

[GAJ]

I bet in the 70's all bikes were crappy, we're not in the 70's any longer.

My 1972 Honda CB50 I rode as a lad in Belgium was actually of stunning quality.

Same engine as the SuperCub so essentially bulletproof.

Well, other than the one piece footpegs that bent when I (constantly) low sided it!

Had to stomp those back into place but they never broke!

 

[Blankpage]

My 1972 Honda CB50 I rode as a lad in Belgium was actually of stunning quality.

Same engine as the SuperCub so essentially bulletproof.

Well, other than the one piece footpegs that bent when I (constantly) low sided it!

Had to stomp those back into place but they never broke!

The CB750 was a good bike right from the start as were several other Japanese bikes from that time. You would have to go back way earlier then the 70's to find a Japanese bike as crappy in quality as modern day Chinese bikes.

 

[bobl]

The CB750 was a good bike right from the start as were several other Japanese bikes from that time. You would have to go back way earlier then the 70's to find a Japanese bike as crappy in quality as modern day Chinese bikes.

+100

Reliability is what made the Japanese motorcycle industry. Miss a shift on your Bonneville, and bend a valve. Ride your Brit bike as hard as you can ride a Z1 and it will die. Power, reliability, and parts availability made not only the Japanese bike industry, but helped get the rest of the industry off of it's ass.

 

[norcalkid]

I see groms and z125's in the 2 and 2.5K range on CL on occasion.



Most of them were throw a-ways, like todays Chinese bikes. But they were cheap to buy, like Chinese bikes are today. I'm sure if the Chinese built MCs to the standard of Japanese bikes, they'd cost just as much.

The question is how much time are you willing to spend maintaining your POS Chinese knock off, because you are going to be spending way more time maintaining it than you would a high end Japanese model. And personally, I would never buy a Chinese powersport product.

And the $2000-2500 Grom will have a resale value vs a broken Chinese POS which is basically guna be a total loss down the road. So the Grom might end up costing you the same or less over 3 years if bought used.

 

[redtail]

Stock Grom tops out around 65,

Wait, wot?!

My wife's stock Grom on flat ground will do around ~55 or so before running out of steam, Honda claims they'll do 56 mph.

You need to lean on the motor a bit to get a reliable 65 mph unless your back is to the wind and on long down hill.

 

[byke]

Joe Berk facial expression reminds me of Lou for some reason

Neither of which are hot enough to pull off the 'open mouth' look.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Wait, wot?!

My wife's stock Grom on flat ground will do around ~55 or so before running out of steam, Honda claims they'll do 56 mph.

You need to lean on the motor a bit to get a reliable 65 mph unless your back is to the wind and on long down hill.

Haven't been on a stock Grom in a while but changing the camshaft in our first Grom meant my wife could hit the rev limiter in 4th at 72ish..

I can do 65 with pretty basic mods on my second Grom. Flat road, no wind.

 

[MtnRider]

I was all for a Grom then I saw the Benelli in South America. SSR began importing them two months ago. The cost was $2500 rather than the Grom's $3300 tag.

Yes it's made in Wherethefuckever but for me the styling is far better and it includes many things the Grom doesn't have. Oil cooler, 5th gear, actual oil filter. Resale value....ya I doubt I will ever sell it so for me that isn't a consideration.

No this is not my photo

 

[mrzuzzo]

I was all for a Grom then I saw the Benelli in South America. SSR began importing them two months ago. The cost was $2500 rather than the Grom's $3300 tag.

Yes it's made in Wherethefuckever but for me the styling is far better and it includes many things the Grom doesn't have. Oil cooler, 5th gear, actual oil filter. Resale value....ya I doubt I will ever sell it so for me that isn't a consideration.

No this is not my photo
View attachment 510310

Does anyone here have one? Would love to street race one on my Grom.