Honda MSX Grom 1199 Panigale

Thailand-based bike builder Mario Kleff wanted to show the world that the Grom can be a force to be reckoned with, despite being a nine hp bike in stock trim. So he took an 1199 Panigale engine and stuffed it in the tiny MSX 125 frame. It may be hard to believe, but the mill fits almost perfectly.

The Honda MSX 125 became the Mod Dam and gained a little weight after the transplant. From a 102 kg (225 lb) bike, it jumped to 137 kg (302 lb), but the rest of the performance specs skyrocketed.

Mod Dam is no longer striving to reach the 105 km/h (65 mph) top speed; instead, it can blast along the highway at 320 km/h (200 mph), as it looks like the "gentlemen agreement" limiter was also removed, and the 205 horsies of the Panigale engine can roam free.

Now, don't expect to see the Grom's chassis being able to accommodate the 1199 Panigale engine. Kleff had to build a special trellis frame that was bolt on to the powerplant. In fact, he replicated the way Ducati superbikes are built, using the engine as a stressed member.

The small dimensions of the Grom forced Kleff to relocate the radiator under the seat and leave only the oil cooler in the front. The wheelbase was only increased by a centimeter (less than half an inch) and no other major modifications were performed.

Kleff had to build an entirely new exhaust system, and the result is stunning. The routing had to obey certain engineering constraints, so the welding job on the collectors adds a hefty dash of aggressiveness.

Sadly, we will never know how fast the Mod Dam 1199 Panigale-powered Grom can go, because the bike burned down completely. After a few test runs, a friend of Kleff's and mechanic in the project also rode it. A fuel line ruptured and the motorcycle caught on fire, burning completely and being reduced to a smoldering wreck.

However, Mario bought another 1199 Panigale R and plans to build a new Grom, so not all hope is lost.