Considering Buying a "Pocket Motorcycle"; What's Your Experience?

Irate Monk on 07/09/2017 - 21:34

Of late, been seeing folks zipping around on these dwarf machines; looks fun indeed.

And seems sensible for the quick commute too.

Cute, small and agile; easily tamed. So could get my wife enticed on the idea.
But ride I would; "to keep the batteries charged" :)

Choice is between the Honda Grom and the Kawi Z125.

Want to listen to owner experiences.

  • Could get one in decent condition for around 3K it seems?
  • Will the fun and novelty fade fast?
  • Practical as an everyday commuter?
  • Rego and fuel savings over beefier options?

Thanks in advance for all comments.

Automotive

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2017 - 21:44

    you need a licence first

    • Irate Monk on 07/09/2017 - 22:05

      No problem with the license. Have one.

      But before I squeeze the trigger, want to make sure if I should go for a more "serious" bike instead.

  • raytriplej on 07/09/2017 - 22:00

    Loads of aftermarket parts for the Grom, not too sure on the Kawasaki.

    You could also track down a skyteam/chinese z50 copy they come in 125cc. They also make a copy of the honda Dax.
    If you buy a 50cc bike you only need a car licence in QLD.

    I collect the 1970s and 1980s original Honda Z50s.

    • Irate Monk on 07/09/2017 - 22:09

      Thanks raytriplej

      many forums say the 50CC machines are riskier from a safety perspective.
      The Grom and the Z125 has just enough grunt to get out of sticky situations fast… etc.

  • rambutann on 07/09/2017 - 22:12

    I've sat on a number of them - some of them are weird, some feel really good. I can't remember which ones were bad but I remember the grom being good. From a reliability stance I'd pick the grom also due to its popularity and availability of parts. But I would definitely suggest test riding a couple of them..

    I used to own a Honda CBR125R. It had no problems with power limitations, including metro freeways because they are quite sheltered from the wind. I once rode it from Melbourne to Adelaide and back.. And around Tasmania… I don't know if the grom would fair as well because its not as aero.

    But I too have recently contemplated a small bike like this for its maneuverability in traffic as I currently fang it through traffic on a Suzuki V-Strom 650…

  • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2017 - 23:14
    +2

    Ex Motorcycle rider here… and fellow ozbargainer.

    So motorycles sound fun… They are fun… You should only get a motorcycle, for fun.

    Look at the countless posts on ozbargain about getting fines, running reds, getting in crashes; being unable to follow road rules etc; Sydney is the most dangerous city in the world for motorcycles. Our roads are to thin and our drivers I feel are unable to handle the road conditions presented to them.

    The novelty fades fast. They also lose heaps of value each time a car hits them.

    The honda upright bikes are great commuters and can be bought for under 3k. (even some of the 900s).

    Remember… Car drivers in sydney…. believe it is perfectly within common sense…. to accelerate quickly to 60km/h on a single lane portion of thin cbd road; prior to complaining the speed limits are too low. I had a "cheap $500 commuter" which was ruined when someone decided they were in fact an F1 driver. I got out pretty unscathed but still.

    I upgraded to a cheap $3k honda 900; enough to outpace all the shit people needing to speed back to their shitty houses in the shitty suburbs. This was later destroyed by a trady in a ute who ran into me during bumper to bumper traffic because he was looking at my phone (kinda just wedged the back wheel and started crushing the bike)… I no longer had a bike… I made sure he no longer had a job. It was probably because the speed limits were too low…

    • raytriplej on 08/09/2017 - 17:17

      You definately can get some great bikes for $3k. No need to go for old ninjas/R1s either, too uncomfortable.

  • pegaxs on 08/09/2017 - 07:53

    Don't do it. There is a reason that there are so many of these things on gumtree and like sites. They have novelty value only. Unless you live close to work, in 60km/h zones, then maybe as a commuter, but there are better bikes out there even for that.

    They are slow. There is no two ways about it. I test rode one from a bike shop that had lots of aftermarket mods done to improve power and it was still not enough. The guy at the bike shop told me not to take it anywhere near a highway, that being overtaken by a B-Double truck is not a pleasant experience.

    If you want a fun little monkey bike to run around on but feel like it won't get away from you, go for it. But I think their main issue is people get bored quickly with them because to get any serious horse power and go out of them, you may as well have bought a 600 for the same price…

  • fruit on 08/09/2017 - 07:54
    +1

    Put the money on an Opal card

  • mskeggs on 08/09/2017 - 13:25

    Postie?

  • rhino015 on 08/09/2017 - 13:39
    +1

    Just get a real bike. Some are cheap. Much more useful. More fun cos they aren't a lawnmower

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