The Honda Grom is one of the nicest and most liked motorcycles around the world. It’s simple, peppy, affordable, and promises over 150 miles per gallon. All this also makes it a hit in the world of custom motorcycles, often resulting in some head-turning customs. Case in context this time is one such custom by UK-based bike builder Guy Willison.
The Honda specialist has transformed the jolly mini bike into a beastly drag racer, loaded with Nitrous Oxide (NOS) and a turbocharger. It represents all of Britain in Honda’s annual custom bike competition at the Wheels And Waves festival scheduled between June 21 and 25, 2023. To jog your memory, the Tokyo bikemaker had a similar competition with its Rebel lineup last year.
The Custom Honda Grom Is Built To Set The Drag Stripe Ablaze
Guy Willison’s inspiration for the Grom build comes from pro-street drag racing motorcycles. So the Grom flexes a stretched-out 6.25-inch swingarm, fabricated by the builder’s close friend This helps put all the power down effectively and also has a special space to house the NOS canister. A closer look also reveals there’s a solid strut in place of the Grom’s OEM monoshock since the motorcycle is no longer legal for bumpy country roads. Likewise, the 37 mm upside-down forks are two inches shorter to boost its straight-line prowess. The stock 12-inch wheels and the front disc brake have been left as is, though, which keeps the Grom vibe intact.
Another stark difference is in ergonomics. The tall stock handlebar has made way for a lower hanger, which is complemented by new footrests, now housed rearward on the swingarm instead of their otherwise middle position. These join hands with an aftermarket scooped leather saddle (with diamond stitching) to create a more aggressive riding triangle than the upright Grom. Once atop, you’ll find the same digital LCD and switchgear, although there’s no lighting or horn.
The Custom Honda Grom Promises Plenty Of Performance
In its stock avatar, the Grom employs a 125cc, single-cylinder engine that pumps out just under 10 horsepower and 8 pound-feet. But this custom is a whole different beast. The engine now pairs up with a Garrett turbocharger and a custom straight-pipe exhaust system for a sizable bump in performance. Add to this the helping hand of Nitrous injection, and you’re looking at a whopping near-85 horsepower figure. This is a recipe for a mighty quick quarter-mile time, as we’ve seen a similar NOS-equipped Grom almost beat a Suzuki GSX-R600.
In Willison’s words, “I felt there was the only direction we should go - a 'no holds barred' turbo-charged, nitrous oxide injected drag racer pared to the bone with styling and paint job to match.” Safe to say he’s nailed the job thus far.
The Custom Honda Grom Has A Stellar Aesthetic
But a custom build is never complete without some flashy paintwork, and this is where Matt from MattB Customs comes in. He’s a celebrated custom shoe designer who has big names like Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, and Marcus Rashford rocking his creations. Looped in by Honda for this project, the designer has taken inspiration from the Grom’s speedy credentials to come up with a bespoke livery.
It comprises vibrant colors (blue and two shades of pink), all painted to create an effect that means the bike is so fast, even the paint is flying off. The livery even extends to the seat and nitrous canister for excellent attention to detail. Oh, and lest we forget, the flying paint is also an ode to the bike’s name - Hold On.
Speaking to Honda, Matt said “It’s been such an unreal experience to explore and apply our art style to something crazy that isn’t shoes or accessories. We wanted to make it look as though the bike was THAT fast, the paint couldn’t even stay on, creating an illusion of the paint dripping off the bike. It's turned out exactly how we wanted it!” To round it off, Guy has replaced the Grom’s stock headlight with a self-built CB1000R-inspired racing cowl. It’s made of 16 layers of 0.3mm carbon fiber weave and helps shed some important pounds while amping up the sportiness.
Can You Buy This Honda Grom?
There’s no word on the matter as of now. However, if you like what you see, we suggest you vote for the motorcycle on the Honda Customs website. This will help Guy and Matt win Honda’s mini bike customization championship. Post which, you can get in touch with the builder for a quote on such a beast. A simpler alternative, meanwhile, is to just buy the 2024 Grom here for $3,599 and get it spruced up from an American shop.