Summary

• The Kawasaki Z125 Pro provides impressive fuel economy of 135.5 miles per gallon, making it a cost-effective choice for commuters.
• The Z125 Pro has a higher top speed of 64 miles per hour compared to the Honda Grom's 62 miles per hour, giving it a slight advantage for those seeking speed.
• The Z125 Pro is more affordable than the Grom, with a lower price tag and easier availability on the used market, making it a budget-friendly option for buyers.

The minibike market has been around for a long time. Long enough, in fact, that every mainstream motorcycle manufacturer took a crack at building one at some point. Yes, we even got one from the likes of Harley-Davidson. Before long, everyone was in on the rush to build these affordable, fun machines for riders of all ages. And there was a reason for that. In most parts of the world they were simply a great and inexpensive way to get to work or run errands. In countries where cars and large capacity motorcycles were more prevalent, minibikes became an introduction to motorsports for youth and those looking to dip their toe in without spending an arm and a leg for a full size bike.

Perhaps the one manufacturer that got what these minibikes were capable of best was none other than Honda. From one of the best-selling motorcycles in the world, the Honda Cub to the current price leader, the NAVI, Honda instinctually knew how to build them and for what purpose. From the Monkey to the Trail 125 to the Grom, there's simply no one out there that can truly compete with Honda. The Grom, chief among all, is the crown king of the minibike world, due to its huge popularity, cultural relevance and technical capabilities. And though its reputation is hard-won, perhaps there is a better, though lesser-known, alternative waiting just around the corner after all.

Pulling data directly from Kawasaki, reputable news sources, reviewers and other reliable sources, we've compiled a list of reasons why the Kawasaki Z125 Pro is a better choice than the Honda Grom.

Updated September 2023: The minibike market continues to ascend in popularity and Honda and Kawasaki show no signs of slowing down. Because of new models and refreshes happening every year, this article will be updated periodically.

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10 Impressive Fuel Economy

One of the Honda Grom’s claims to fame was its insanely good fuel economy. At 166.5 miles per gallon, you could ride all day or commute all week and not worry about filling up. The Kawasaki Z125 pro may not get quite as good of fuel economy, but 135.5 miles per gallon is nothing to shake your head at. When you take into account the fact that it has a larger fuel tank, the Z125 Pro has better range. These are also all manufacturer-claimed numbers based on their testing. Your riding style and the type of fuel you use in your motorcycle can drastically reduce these impressive numbers, so the size of the tank really counts.

9 Higher Top Speed

Let’s face it; you aren’t going to win any races on either of these bikes. That’s not what they were built for. However, given their small engine and overall size, they are surprisingly quick and nimble. The Kawasaki Z125 Pro, though lower in power specs, is technically slightly faster, with a top speed of 64 miles per hour, compared to the Honda Grom’s 62 miles per hour. Will that extra two miles per hour make much of a difference when you’re on the road? Probably not. However, if bragging rights are important to you, then the Z125 is factually faster.

RELATED: 2023 Kawasaki Z125 Pro: Performance, Price, And Photos

8 More Affordable

The Kawasaki Z125 Pro is more affordable than the Honda Grom. While Honda increased the price of the Grom, the Z125 Pro has stayed the same. If you are budget conscious, this slight difference could mean a lot to you. When released, Honda listed the 2023 Grom with an MSRP of $3,599. Kawasaki introduced the Z125 with an MSRP of $3,399. In addition, because the Grom gets all the attention, they command a premium on the used market. This means it is far easier to find a great deal on a used Z125.

7 Taller Seat And More Comfortable Riding Position

The Kawasaki Z125 Pro has a slightly taller seat height of 31.7 inches. This slightly higher stance is much appreciated for taller adults or those with long legs. While the Honda Grom is cute, sitting with your legs crunched up isn’t. Plus, your legs start to cramp and ache after a while, which takes a lot of the fun out of riding. The narrow design of the seat on the Z125 means that you have more legroom (well, slightly more).

6 Packed With Performance

The engines in the Honda Grom and Kawasaki Z125 Pro are almost identical. The Grom has a 124cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine. The Kawasaki Z125 Pro has a 125cc air-cooled, single-cylinder, SOHC, two-valve engine. You will get the same sporty performance and throttle response out of the Z125 Pro that you get from the Honda Grom. In addition, these little bikes have impressive power-to-weight ratios that make them feel way faster than they actually are.

5 Ride More and Refuel Less

It may not seem like a lot, but the extra half a gallon of capacity you get with the Kawasaki Z125 Pro can make a world of difference when you are out cruising the town. Essentially, you get an extra half-gallon of fuel capacity in the tank. That translates to driving another 68 miles before having to refuel. So if you achieved the manufacturer’s stated miles per gallon (which is borderline impossible), you could ride 271 miles on the Z125 Pro before needing to refuel. On the Honda Grom, you can ride 266 miles before refueling. In the real world the Z125 will actually most likely go even further.

4 It's Lighter

Technically, the Honda Grom weighs more than the Kawasaki Z125 Pro. However, the difference between the two bikes is all of 2 pounds. That isn’t enough to notice. The curb weight of the Honda Grom is 227 (or 231 with ABS), while the Kawasaki Z125 Pro weighs 225 pounds. Both of these bikes are light enough that if you needed to, you could pick the bikes up and physically move them. The low weight also contributes to how fun they are to ride. You can easily throw it around while riding on city streets or backcountry roads.

3 Well Designed

The Honda Grom and the Kawasaki Z125 Pro have similar designs. In fact, it is so similar you could easily confuse one for the other as they ride by you on the street. The Kawasaki Z125 Pro does a better job with fairing styling, having a more attractive shape and lines around the tank and engine. The Grom looks a bit too much like a toy. There are better color options for the Z125 too. The 2023 model Grom is a bit of a letdown in terms of color choices with Matte Black Metallic, Cherry Red, and Force Metallic Silver as your options. The Z125 Pro comes in Pearl Matte Sage Green, Metallic Ocean Blue, and Firecracker Red.

Beyond the general esthetics, Kawasaki seems to have gone to greater care to make sure that the Z125 Pro fits in with the rest of its lineup. Honda's Grom looks like nothing else in their lineup, while you could really the design language and model evolution of the Z lineup starts with the Z125 and ends with the ZH2. Which, for new riders who are drawn to the Kawasaki brand, is the ultimate way to progress in their skills, while staying loyal to the big green.

2 Much More Maneuverable

The wheelbase on the Kawasaki Z125 Pro is slightly shorter than the Honda Grom. At 47 inches, the Grom extends beyond the Z125 by an inch or so. This may not seem like much, but the wheelbase directly influences how the bike handles on the road. When you turn the front wheel to steer, it tracks in a new direction, then the rear tire must follow. The shorter the wheelbase, the quicker the bike handles. Generally, more experienced riders prefer a shorter wheelbase. With the Z125 Pro being just slightly shorter, experienced riders may well prefer it.

1 Kawasaki Does It Better

The small, lightweight design makes these bikes agile on the road. However, the slightly narrower tires on the Grom may make it feel more responsive. It wasn’t always like this, the previous generations of the Z125 Pro actually had the narrower tire. A slightly wider tire on the 2023 model will equate to more road feel, which in turn, will give you more confidence in the bike. Ultimately, how the two bikes handle is pretty similar, though.

Kawasaki Z125 Pro Highlights

• Better range and fuel economy
• Designed to fit in with the rest of the Kawasaki lineup
• Faster and more nimble
• Lighter, with a taller, more spacious seat
• More affordable and available on secondary market