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Honda Grom vs Benelli TNT 135 vs Kawasaki z125

I work on groms all time and i own a few and i have a grom with a built cbr300 motor in it and i currently make 35whp and cruise the freeway at 75mph and cops don't really look twice as im not impeding traffic. I am also debating on selling the grom to build another even bigger.
 
Why not, like, buy an actual motorcycle?
I will never understand the whole "mini" thing for street transportation.
 
If they at least tried to make the sur ron look cool I might accept it, but alas they succeeded at making it both incapable and dorky.

OP why don't you just get a nice little 1996 GS500? It's way cheaper than a grom, faster, and still super nimble.
 
kuksul08 said:
If they at least tried to make the sur ron look cool I might accept it, but alas they succeeded at making it both incapable and dorky.

OP why don't you just get a nice little 1996 GS500? It's way cheaper than a grom, faster, and still super nimble.
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Fuck it, why not just go all the way and buy a turbo Hayabusa? :laughing

If you think the GS500 is anywhere as nimble as a Grom, I'll have to disappoint you. I actually don't know why anyone would want a 20 year old entry level turd over any of the newer offerings.
 
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kuksul08 said:
If they at least tried to make the sur ron look cool I might accept it, but alas they succeeded at making it both incapable and dorky.

OP why don't you just get a nice little 1996 GS500? It's way cheaper than a grom, faster, and still super nimble.
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It sure stirs up a lot more conversations than a grom will, everytime I ride it everyone asks about it. If I was riding a grom they'd just go meh another grom. They'll also see me passing them on the bike lane. I don't have to pay annual registration also.
 
For me it's all about available room in the back of my truck and have access to, without unloading everything.
I have a TW200 in winter storage, I would much rather have, but due to the real size moto, it conflicts with the first statement.
I was carrying a cruiser bicycle, I talked myself into more range and speed.
I think of the mini as more of a dink, (dingy, in the yachting world)
When the truck needs servicing, I have transport.
 
HadesOmega said:
It sure stirs up a lot more conversations than a grom will, everytime I ride it everyone asks about it. If I was riding a grom they'd just go meh another grom. They'll also see me passing them on the bike lane. I don't have to pay annual registration also.
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So the coolest thing about your Chinese E-bike is that people talk to you about it? The second coolest thing is that you can ride I'm the bicycle lane? The third coolest thing is that you register it like a trailer?

Got it.

None of these things are selling points to most people, save for those with a bizarre need for attention.

Re: Z vs Benelli, and the war over mini bikes vs cheap old smaller bikes...

First off, the Mini bikes are entry level as well. They're not coming with adjustable suspension or top shelf components. They're a cheap way to get a fun city/short range two wheeled piece of transportation that's not a Scooter. If you're seeking practicality, get a scooter, I promise it will be better.

If you have a need to ride.in skate parks, jump curbs, do wheelies, or engage in antisocial behavior, buy a mini bike.

I don't care how well sorted any GS500 is, it won't be nearly as much fun in a skate park as a mini. The small bikes don't pack the same giggle factor.

I would offer up the option of just illegally riding an 80cc MX bike in town as the only way to upgrade the stupid/fun factor of mini bikes.
 
mrzuzzo said:
Fuck it, why not just go all the way and buy a turbo Hayabusa? :laughing

If you think the GS500 is anywhere as nimble as a Grom, I'll have to disappoint you. I actually don't know why anyone would want a 20 year old entry level turd over any of the newer offerings.
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:wow How can you insult the venerable GS500. As long as it's equipped with ATV bars, any more nimble and it would fall right over in the corners.
 
Here's my .02

Out-of-the-box:

Benelli 135cc: 5 speed tranny and a bit more hp, over the others. Additionally, the 150cc Kymco Spade (also 5 speed). Long term support for either, questionable.

Grom: for a lazy / cruising ride. Seems to be the most popular.

Z125: nearly equal to the Grom. However, the rider position, suspension, and rear-set ground clearance, makes for a better track / race bike or spirited rides, than the Grom and others alike. Also, cheaper (new and re-sale) than the Grom.

If going beyond out-of-the-box, get the Grom. So many options available that exceed personal desires.
 
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davidji said:
Not in California.

Freeway legal in most states I think, but 150cc required here, so I expect even typical 150s don't qualify, at 149cc.
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Curious if they could technically give me a ticket when riding my Energica on the freeway. It doesn't even have 1cc
 
Yeah I don't think the cops care about that law.

Was Gromming down Hwy17 this morning, got a guy on a Ducati Hyper to move over in the split to let me pass, eventually he caught up to me and did a double take. Then I got on 85 at some point and was in the left pretty much the entire time.
 
Not interested in an E-bike, just not my thing..thank you for the suggestions on it, though. I'm just looking for a stock bike, won't be making mods in it at all. At this point, I'm thinking between the 135 and the Grom. Grom is cool but the prices, even used, are ridiculous. People riding the piss out of them and then trying to ask full price. Honda quality is a great factor. The TNT using an oil filter instead of a screen, a fifth gear, etc is definitely a great plus for that bike. Not to mention a $2600 price tag new. Just going to have to test ride both and go from there.
 
Stock for stock the Benelli is better for sure and will be faster.

What's questionable is the reliability/parts for it. The Honda is bulletproof.

Also, the Grom valve clearance adjustment takes about 10min to do so there is that. It's really well thought out.

I added a clutch cover on my Grom that has an integrated oil filter to make things easy.
 
How much reliability do you really need? you gonna tour on the thing? or is it just for laughs?

I'd go for the Benelli.
 
maidenfan84 said:
People riding the piss out of them and then trying to ask full price.
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Trust me, it's the only way they're ever going to be ridden, if you want to get anywhere, you're going to have flog the stock motor senseless. Not sure what you're used to riding, but these bikes are not quick by just about anybody's definition.
 
Grom has been updated since this old thread. More power, actual oil filter, 5-speed. Not sure what else. 2022 MSRP seems to be $3399--which is cheaper than some used older generation Groms on CL. Tax? I'll pay it on either bike new or used.

What updates have the other two bikes gotten?

The TNT135 still costs less, though it looks like its other advantages are reduced. And it's probably still heavier as well.

I wonder how the bikes would stack up against each other now?
 
The TNT is quite a bit heavier at 255lbs, the Z125 is 225, and I think the Grom is about the same as the Z. I considered getting a TNT not too long ago, as Fremont Kawasaki had them on sale for around $2700 before tax and fees, etc. I do like the engine design a bit more, but I didn't care for the extra weight(a bit more effort to get into my van), and maintenance looked like more of a pain on the TNT(mainly getting at the valves). The Z and Grom come apart in a few minutes, where as the TNT has more fasteners and things to take apart than my Ninja 1000. For a play bike, I wanted maintenance to be as easy as possible. Sure, it's not that big a deal, but I already have other vehicles taking up my time, so I wanted to make it as easy as possible. I was also worried about parts availability on the TNT. It's still a cool little bike, it just didn't fit my wants. I'd still like to ride one though.

Ended up with a used Z125. I love it! It makes me grin like a kid at Christmas time, every time I see it and ride it. First time I rode it, I felt like I as doing something illegal, like riding a pit bike on the street. :laughing
 
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redtail said:
Trust me, it's the only way they're ever going to be ridden, if you want to get anywhere, you're going to have flog the stock motor senseless. Not sure what you're used to riding, but these bikes are not quick by just about anybody's definition.
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That's how I ride my Super Cub it's gutless so I gotta wring every last HP out of it. From what I hear if you don't modify them they are really reliable you can beat on it and it won't care.
 
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