It’s human nature. We all like to be catered to. But as a 52-year-old white male living in the United States who has an interest in seeing the motorcycle industry do well, I have to realize that I am not motorcycling’s future. I am its past.
2014 Honda Grom
In recent years, it has become popular among many of us in-this-for-life motorcyclists to shrug off Honda as irrelevant, a company grown too mature and no longer producing exciting products. But I think that perspective is becoming unfair. Honda is actually making an effort to produce motorcycles that will attract new riders.
The latest is called the Grom. Again, when my demographic has to go to urbandictionary.com to be sure what a name means, that may well be a good thing. The surfers and skateboarders know what it means, and that’s what matters.
In the United States today, we see a combination of motorcycle sales still barely more than half what they were in the real estate bubble years, fewer miles driven overall and especially by young people, who are more likely than ever to live in urban areas, and gasoline prices that remain high by historical standards. In that context, a funky little 125cc, 225-pound urban runabout makes some sense.
As I wrote in an earlier post, it’s a great time to be a beginner motorcyclist because the manufacturers are waking up to the need to draw in younger riders if they want to build sales in the United States. Another new bike from Honda for 2014 is the Forza, a 250cc scooter that gives commuters another frugal option. Add that to the new line of 500cc bikes and the NC700X commuter and it’s clear Honda is doing at least its share to try to go beyond the old business model of fighting over the same narrow and aging demographic by building a sportbike with two more horsepower than the competition or a cruiser with 10 more square inches of chrome and an inch-lower seat.
These small and practical bikes, especially the Grom, with its youthful style, may not excite many of us who already have two or three motorcycles in the garage and have supported the manufacturers for decades. But that’s not Honda turning its back on its clientele. It’s a case of a company turning its face toward the future.
Let’s face it, motorcycling needs some groms.
