| June 13, 2024
Honda introduces its 2025 Grom at the Barber Small Bore gathering in Alabama, and we join in on all the fun.
Honda revealed its 2025 Grom at the Barber Small Bore gathering in Alabama. A highlight of the event is the three-hour Endurance Team Race. Here, CN’s Keith Dowdle leads the way—or is he getting lapped? You decide.
By Keith Dowdle | Photography by Drew Ruiz
In 2014, a company called MNNTHBX (pronounced “Man in the Box”) with the mission statement “to expand and promote the small-bore scene” did just that, by hosting a little event called the Tennessee Crawl. The event was a way for MNNTHBX to fulfill its mission statement and show off the parts that it makes for small motorcycles, mainly the Honda Grom.
The ’25 Grom is essentially the same as before, except for some updated plastic and packages.
In the first year, about 200 small-bore enthusiasts gathered in a muddy field and did what came naturally among motorheads on small bikes in a muddy Tennessee pasture. Needless to say, they had a great time, and the event took off, growing every year until finally, Barber Motorsports Park reached out to MNNTHBX and asked them to move the event to their facility. This year, over 3000 participants showed up for what’s now called Barber Small Bore to compete, hang out, and kick tires—muddy tires. They may not be in a field anymore, but you know they’re going to find some mud to play in.
The Honda Grom is by far the most popular bike at Barber Small Bore and is also American Honda’s number one-selling street bike. So, when it was time to reveal the 2025 Grom, Honda used the Barber Small Bore gathering to do so and invited the media to experience what small-bore fun is all about and why so many people love these little bikes and this big event.
One of the several competitions is the Hillclimb.
The 2025 Grom isn’t exactly new. It’s the same Grom that’s been around for years, but the 2025 styling is more aggressive and racier. They went back to a more traditional look by restyling the body panels and offering a cool-looking under cowl for the SP version. The under cowl gives the bike a road-racing look, and it’s offered as an accessory so you can attach it to any of the three available models: Grom, Grom SP or Grom ABS. There are also three accessory packages to choose from to make outfitting the bike to suit your style a little easier. The great news is that the price of the new 2025 Grom didn’t change at all—the base model is still just $3599.
So why would the powersports media drop what they’re doing to go to a press intro for a bike that really hasn’t changed much? Well, the invitation started with, “Wanna race?” Specifically, do you “wanna” compete in a three-hour team endurance race on modified 2025 Groms at Barber Motorsports Park? Of course, no good moto journo would ever say no to that in a million years, so the race was on.
It wouldn’t be the Small Bore gathering without mud.
What yours truly failed to consider is that many of these moto journalists are former road racers, not potato farmers (dirt bike riders) like me. So, I got lapped—a few times. But hey, it was fun and there was plenty of dirt and mud to be found at the other competitions that were held for the patrons.
How can you not root for Harbor Freight Racing?
However, the Hillclimb was the most fun and something that must be seen to be truly appreciated. Think: mariachi band, a steep muddy hill with obstacles, and a couple thousand of your closest friends who may or may not have had a few too many Coronas. There was also a pit bike moto race, straight rhythm competition, the Creek Bottom Classic (I’ll let you imagine what that was like), drag races, stunt shows, parade laps on the big track, a fan zone, and more. Let’s just say that there’s plenty to do.
What’s a hillclimb without a mariachi band? It certainly wouldn’t be the Barber Small Bore Hillclimb.
Barber Small Bore is a true classic, and there’s so much to do at this facility, including visiting the Barber Motorsports Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of historic motorcycles. The museum is always adding and changing its exhibits, so there’s always something new to see. Do yourself a favor and plan on attending the 2026 Barber Small Bore. Whether you’re 6 or 76, you’ll have a ball. And if you buy a new Honda Grom, you’ll be all set to join in the fun and excitement.CN
