It’s like a Grom, only green. And maybe a little better. And a bit cheaper.
The Honda Grom has been a big hit by being one of the few motorcycles that appeals to a wide range of riders, both newbies and experienced. Kawasaki has decided to cash in on that success and offer a similar bike that looks to be a little better or equal and $200 cheaper.
Last fall, Kawasaki announced two versions of its Z125 for Asian markets: the Pro, with a four-speed transmission, and a regular Z125 with an automatic. Kawasaki has now confirmed the U.S. market is getting the Pro.
Don’t expect rolling burnouts, but Kawasaki’s version of the air-cooled 125cc engine may be slightly stronger than Honda’s. We’ll find out the first time the inevitable Z125 Pro vs. Grom race happens.
Since it’s very obvious that the Z125 Pro is directly aimed at the Grom, it makes sense to compare the two, though all we have for the moment is the spec sheet. The air-cooled, 125 cc engines look virtually identical, but the Kawasaki has about a 10 percent shorter stroke and corresponding bigger bore, plus an additional half point of compression. It appears the Z125’s redline is about 500 or 600 rpm higher, but those small changes may not make a discernable difference in performance.
The front disc looks a little rudimentary and the fork seems spindly, but really, where else are you going to get an inverted fork and disc brakes front and rear for under $3,000?
The claimed weight and the suspension travel are identical, and other measurements, from the seat height to the wheelbase, are nearly the same. The disc brakes are similar in size and the Kawasaki rides on slightly narrower tires. The Z125 Pro holds 2.0 gallons of gas, compared to the Grom’s 1.45 gallons. As mentioned before, the Z125 Pro is listed at $200 less. But overall, I think you’d have an easier time finding differences between a ZX-6R and a CBR600RR than between a Z125 Pro and a Grom.
When I wrote about the Grom when it was introduced, I was partly wrong. I focused on how it was aimed at providing an affordable, unintimidating option for new riders, and suggested that it wasn’t the kind of bike to interest older, more experienced riders like me. But the Grom has been a success because it has appealed to both young people and jaded guys like me, for different reasons and uses.
Kawasaki is clearly marketing this bike to the kids, but plenty of middle-aged guys are buying them as pit bikes, minibike racers, third bikes for short hops around town, and to strap on the back of the RV.
Sure, it can be fun and cheap transportation for the kind of skateboard-riding youths depicted in Kawasaki’s marketing materials, but that’s jut the beginning. The Z125 Pro will, like the Grom, no doubt be pressed into duty in local minibike racing leagues and used as a pit bike in race tracks everywhere. It will be strapped to the back of RVs on vacation and given to teens as their first rides, with a suitably tame powerband. They’ll be an affordable platform for customizing, whether you plan to build a Z125 “scrambler,” a hopped-up minibike racer or even a stretched and lowered mini (I’ve seen plenty of photos of Groms given that treatment).
The LED taillight is a nice touch.
The Kawasaki has at least the potential to outdo the Grom, in part because of a lower price, but also because it has some upscale touches, from the LED taillight to the gauge cluster that includes a gear indicator and a fuel gauge and would not look out of place on Kawasaki’s full-size bikes. Plus, there’s the potential for a tiny performance advantage, due to the differences in the engine.
This doesn’t look like something on a cheap bike.
Will the Z125 Pro arrive in time for Kawasaki to cash in on the remnants of the Grom’s success? It’s not a bad bet for Team Green.
 2017 Kawasaki Z125 Pro |
|
|---|---|
| Engine | air-cooled 125 cc two-valve single |
| Bore x stroke | 56.0 mm x 50.6 mm |
| Compression ratio | 9.8:1 |
| Fuel system | fuel injection, 24 mm throttle body |
| Transmission | four-speed |
| Final drive | chain |
| Rake / trail | 26.0 degrees / 2.7 inches |
| Front tire | 100/90-12 |
| Rear tire | 120/70-12 |
| Wheelbase | 46.3 inches |
| Front suspension / travel | inverted fork / 3.9 inches |
| Rear suspension / travel | single shock / 4.1 inches |
| Front brake | single 200 mm petal-style disc |
| Rear brake | single 184 mm petal-style disc |
| Overall length | 66.9 inches |
| Overall height | 39.6 inches |
| Seat height | 31.7 inches |
| Curb weight | 224.8 pounds |
| Fuel capacity | 2.0 gallons |
| Colors | Candy Lime Green Metallic Graphite Grey |
| MSRP | $2,999 |
