Honda MSX125 Grom
Honda's pocket-sized funster. 125cc air-cooled single, 5-speed manual, full-size suspension and brakes on tiny 12-inch wheels. A1 license friendly. Honda originally launched the Grom in 2013 to capture young riders entering the market; ten years on it's still in the lineup and selling steadily as a fun second bike, urban commuter, or first manual bike for CBT graduates. Customisation culture around it is enormous.
- Engine
- 124 cc
- Power
- 10 PS
- Weight
- 103 kg
- Seat height
- 761 mm
- A2 licence
- —
Air-cooled SOHC 2-valve single
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 50 · Insurance 92 · Theft 35
The Honda MSX125 Grom holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 30% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and is cheap to insure (around £220/yr typical). Theft risk is high.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: MSX125 Grom
Engine
Petrol · 124cc
Power
10 ps
Torque
10.8 Nm
Weight
103 kg
Seat
761 mm
Transmission
5-speed manual
Economy
158 mpg
Current-gen Grom with 5-speed gearbox (2022+, replaced the 4-speed). 12-inch wheels, USD forks, ABS standard. 103kg wet — easy at low speed for new riders. 6L tank lasts ~200 miles.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£2,659
Range £2,393 – £2,925
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£3,999
At 5 years
£2,399
At 10 years
£1,680
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£1,239
Per year
£413
Per mile
£0.05
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
ABI motorcycle scheme · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£220/ year
Roughly £18 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £363 | £484 | £678 |
| Age 22-29 | £223 | £297 | £416 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £165 | £220 | £308 |
| Age 40-49 | £145 | £194 | £271 |
| Age 50+ | £132 | £176 | £246 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
3/4High risk
High risk
Frequent theft target — appears regularly on UK police hot-lists, especially in London. Expect insurers to demand Thatcham chain + ground anchor + disc lock; tracker can knock 10–15% off premium.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
What this means for you
Groms are stolen frequently — light, easy to lift into a van, strong used-parts demand, popular target for joyriding teenagers. Chain + disc lock + ground anchor essential; ideally garaged overnight.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Chain & sprockets Small wheels + spirited riding wears the drivetrain quickly 8-12k mi | £120 |
| medium | Aftermarket exhaust theft Modded Groms get exhausts stolen off the bike — keep on stock pipe overnight in public any age | £300-800 |
| low | Front brake pads 6-9k mi | £40-60 |
| low | Battery every 3 years | £40-60 |
| low | Speedo cable (older 4-speed bikes) 15k+ mi | £35 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Honda MSX125 Grom, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Strengths
- +CBT-friendly — ride on L plates straight off the test
- +158mpg real-world — astonishing running costs
- +Massive aftermarket and customisation scene
- +Light (103kg) — easy for short riders and pushers
- +Honda reliability — Thai factory, 10+ years in production
Watch-outs
- −Theft target — chain it up properly or watch it vanish
- −Top speed ~58mph limits motorway use entirely
- −Small fuel tank (6L) means weekly fill-ups
- −5-speed gearbox only from 2022+ — pre-2022 4-speed feels overgeared at speed