[yugi]

Just got both. Got used 2012 Wolf for $2000+120 taxes (1000 miles), got new Grom for $3945 OTD.

Initial impressions compared to my Sym Wolf Classic 150.
Top speed: Grom - 50-55, sometimes 60. Wolf - 60-65, sometimes 70. Advantage: Wolf
Weight: about the same feeling, Grom a bit lighter. Advantage: Grom
Handling: Definitely better handling on Grom for the combination of tires and suspension. Advantage: Grom +2
Acceleration: Wolf feels faster, due to more power and 5 speeds. Advantage: Wolf
Looks: Wolf looks nicer to me. Advantage: Wolf
Center stand: Wolf has one, Grom doesn't: Advantage: Wolf
Wheels: Wolf - spoke wheels, Grom - spokeless. Advantage: Grom
Seating position: Wolf has more comfortable seating position, while Grom handlebars are too much back: Advantage: Wolf
Brakes: Wolf has disk in front, drum rear, stainless line. Grom - both disks, rubber lines, Grom's rear brake is marginal. Both fornt and rear brakes on Wolf are better than on Grom. Advantage: Wolf.
Highway legality: Wolf - legal, Grom - not. Advantage: Wolf.
Kickstarter: Wolf has one. Advantage: Wolf
Mileage: Dunno yet, but most likely Grom. Advantage: Grom.
Price: Wolf - $3000, Grom $3200, OTD by local dealers: $3500, $3945 respectively. Advantage: Wolf
Warranty: Wolf - 2 years, Grom - 1 year. Advantage: Wolf
Parts availabilty and dealer network - definitive advantage: Grom
Gas tank size: Wolf - 2.45gal, (209 miles range @85 mpg) Grom - 1.45 (174 miles range @120 mpg) gal. Advantage: Wolf
Country of origin: Wolf - Taiwan, using Honda CB125 tooling, Grom - Thailand, using cheap labor. Advantage: Wolf
Redline: Wolf - 9500, Grom - 8250(?). Advantage: Wolf
Helmet lock: Wolf - no need to remove the seat. Grom - need to remove the seat (PITA to put it back). Advantage: Wolf
Suspension: Better on Grom, but adjustable preload on Wolf. Suspension on Grom is definitely much better. Advantage: Grom, I'll give it +2
Sidestand sensor: Grom has one, Wolf doesn't. Advantage: Grom.
Steering lock: Wolf - with additional lock, Grom - with ignition switch lock. Advantage: Grom
Stock mirrors: Much better on Wolf. Advantage: Wolf
Gast tank opening. Nice and wide on Grom, narrow and covered with spring loaded cover on Wolf. Advantage: Grom
Gas tank plug: Detachable on Grom, attached on Wolf. Advantage: Wolf
Turn signal switch: Wolf has 3 positions - left, right and middle (cancel). There is no push to cancel feature. Grom has conventional turn signal switch, but it's located in a non standard location (under the horn button). Tie.
Gas: Grom - 86, Wolf's sticker says 87-92, manual says 90 minimim, compression is the same as on Grom (9.3), I guess I can use 87, but I'm using 91. Advantage: Grom
Instrument cluster: Wolf has a classic instrument cluster which consists of speedometer and tachometer. Odometer and tripmeter are mechanical. Tachometer has the following indicators: high beam, low fuel, neutral, and turn signal (one). Grom's IC is more modern and has much more functions than Wolf's one. Advantage: Grom.
Storage: Grom has some storage under the seat. Wolf does have a small toolbox under the battery, no any other storage. Advantage: Grom
Overall score so far: Wolf - 16, Grom - 14.
I will continue testing both bikes.

 

[mad8vskillz]

minigp capability: grom yes, wolf no.
bars are easily replaces ($15 for low bars on amazon)
grom has the best front brake of any street bikes i've owned. the rear i have never used for anything in my life

 

[yugi]

minigp capability: grom yes, wolf no.
bars are easily replaces ($15 for low bars on amazon)
grom has the best front brake of any street bikes i've owned. the rear i have never used for anything in my life

Try BMW (Brembo) brakes, those are the best in my opinion.
I was riding Grom to work today, and at one point I've seen the speed of 59 on a slight downhill.

 

[MrGrody]

Looks: Wolf looks nicer to me. Advantage: Wolf
Center stand: Wolf has one, Grom doesn't: Advantage: Wolf
Brakes: Wolf has disk in front, drum rear, stainless line. Grom - both disks, rubber lines, Grom's rear brake is marginal. Tie.
Highway legality: Wolf - legal, Grom - not. Advantage: Wolf.
Kickstarter: Wolf has one. Advantage: Wolf

Looks = Grom +1
Center Stand = not needed... Grom +1
Brakes = rear brakes are useless on street, drums blow... Grom +1
Highway legality = doesnt matter both are suicide on a freeway. Grom +1 just cuz
Kickstarter = not needed either... Grom +1

Grom 15 vs Wolf 1 (+1 for bigger gas tank)


Just my two cents

 

[yugi]

Looks = Grom +1
Center Stand = not needed... Grom +1
Brakes = rear brakes are useless on street, drums blow... Grom +1
Highway legality = doesnt matter both are suicide on a freeway. Grom +1 just cuz
Kickstarter = not needed either... Grom +1

Grom 15 vs Wolf 1 (+1 for bigger gas tank)


Just my two cents

I rode both on a highway. Wolf is still manageable, while Grom was too dangerous. Will not ride Grom on highway, but will do with Wolf occasionally (if not other choice). Center stand is very handy for all the maintenance. Like that! Kickstarter - not really necessary, but just in case. Still give looks to Wolf, and tie for the brakes.
Yeah, and bigger gas tank for Wolf - 2.5 gallons.

 

[mad8vskillz]

manufacturer: sym -10000. honda +1

 

[yugi]

manufacturer: sym -10000. honda +1

I have no loyalty to both Honda and Sym, or any other brand. They are all the same.
Honda - made in Thailand (using cheap labor), Sym - made in Taiwan (using Honda equipment). Another +1 to Sym.

 

[mad8vskillz]

I have no loyalty to both Honda and Sym, or any other brand. They are all the same.
Honda - made in Thailand (using cheap labor), Sym - made in Taiwan (using Honda equipment). Another +1 to Sym.

as with any off-brand, it's not the equipment or the labor, it's the support/warranty/parts availability you can get in the states.

 

[yugi]

as with any off-brand, it's not the equipment or the labor, it's the support/warranty/parts availability you can get in the states.

Parts availability may be problematic, that's true, but you can always order from Taiwan. There are dealers there which will ship to US, and their prices are better than local dealers.
The warranty is better for Sym vs Honda: 2 years vs 1.
I also found another advantage for Wolf: redline is 9500 rpm vs 8250(?) for Grom.

 

[CiscoSanJose]

sell the Grom and buy another Sym, that way you'll have spare parts.

Here is the deal any two wheel motorized vehicle that will put a smile on your face and get you where you need to go is a winner in my books

 

[yugi]

sell the Grom and buy another Sym, that way you'll have spare parts.

Here is the deal any two wheel motorized vehicle that will put a smile on your face and get you where you need to go is a winner in my books

I had no need in spare parts for Sym yet. The quality of Sym is excellent so far.
One Sym is enough for me. I have two other bikes and a motorized bicycle (want to sell this one). I'm still choosing whether to sell Wolf or Grom. So far Wolf looks better to me, but I'll ride few more weeks, and then decide.

 

[yugi]

One more small nice touch on Sym - proper helmet lock, without removing the seat.

 

[mad8vskillz]

Parts availability may be problematic, that's true, but you can always order from Taiwan. There are dealers there which will ship to US, and their prices are better than local dealers.
The warranty is better for Sym vs Honda: 2 years vs 1.
I also found another advantage for Wolf: redline is 9500 rpm vs 8250(?) for Grom.

why i switched to suzuki after lemon-lawing my aprilia. while they are better bikes, as soon as you have a problem, you're waiting 3 months for a slow boat from italy. no matter how fantastic a bike is, if it spends 2 months down because parts are unavailable, it's of no use to me.

 

[yugi]

why i switched to suzuki after lemon-lawing my aprilia. while they are better bikes, as soon as you have a problem, you're waiting 3 months for a slow boat from italy. no matter how fantastic a bike is, if it spends 2 months down because parts are unavailable, it's of no use to me.

I have a backup in a form of Buell and BMW (where parts availability is pretty good), so I can wait. Buell parts are 2-3 times cheaper than BMW or Japs, BTW. I haven't had a Japanese bike since 2008.

 

[Stray Dog]

I'm not sure if I'm missing the point here, but!
Ya come on a Grom forum and extol the virtues of the Sym, why ????
Maybe you should sell your Grom and go play on the Sym forum

Oh hang on you already do...

 

[Miweber929]

Yeah, this thread is pointless; two different bikes, two different uses. If you think the Grom is too "dangerous" on the highway, sorry you feel that way but it works fine going on the freeway to and from work for me and I'm 6'3", 240lbs so that's nothing but personal opinion. And that's not what either of these bikes are made for anyway.

The Sym us a cool looking bike but it's not a Grom, nor is the Grom a Sym. Cool story.

Mike

 

[CiscoSanJose]

yep, just ride your motorcycles like you stole it. Motorcycles should be fun no matter what brand, how big or small just as long it puts a smile on your face and you have no worries in the world while riding down the roadway of life because once you are dead you are gone from this earth and let me tell you there is no 20-60-90 virgins waiting for you when you die they are all alive and living now so go get some now while you are alive.

 

[yugi]

I'm not sure if I'm missing the point here, but!
Ya come on a Grom forum and extol the virtues of the Sym, why ????
Maybe you should sell your Grom and go play on the Sym forum

Oh hang on you already do...

This is the section of the forum, called Grom vs. the Competition. Sym Wolf classic is a closest competition to Grom. I couldn't find anything closer to Grom, other than Wolf. I have both, so I'm comparing. What's your point? Did I hurt your Honda feelings? I'm really sorry about that!

 

[yugi]

Yeah, this thread is pointless; two different bikes, two different uses. If you think the Grom is too "dangerous" on the highway, sorry you feel that way but it works fine going on the freeway to and from work for me and I'm 6'3", 240lbs so that's nothing but personal opinion. And that's not what either of these bikes are made for anyway.

The Sym us a cool looking bike but it's not a Grom, nor is the Grom a Sym. Cool story.

Mike

Those two bikes are pretty similar, as I can tell. I'm alternating between the two each other day. Once again, Grom is dangerous on a freeway, or at least where I ride, like 101 in SF Bay Area. Sym is also dangerous, but less so, as it can cope with traffic in a right lane, going 65 mph. Grom can't do that, that's why it's too dangerous.

 

[Stray Dog]

What's your point? Did I hurt your Honda feelings? I'm really sorry about that!

No you didn't hurt my "Honda" feelings....idiot!!!
I ride/own many bikes.
Harley, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki plus a couple of junk Chinese Scoots
But a Grom and a Wolf similar, do me a favor!!!!!

Grom is dangerous on a freeway, or at least where I ride,

Well that says more about the rider than the bike.