I bought one on a lark about the time I turned 50. It was a good bike to learn on, my cousin and I even used it to pass the Ca. DMV motorcycle road test (which in my opinion is designed to be a fail).
I stepped up to a Ducati Scrambler shortly after and the time I spent on the Grom helped with that.
I found out about the Yamaha TW 200shortly after, and that bike is much more in line with my little bike needs. The Grom is relegated to an airport cruiser and a loaner bike for beginners and those taking the DMV test. It is fun though..... Even got a head nod from a Hell"s angel at an intersection.

When I think back to the intro road riding course I took, it was 12 people pushing 12 others on the bikes, engines off. This way new riders could get familiar w/ pulling in the clutch and applying brakes.
I had to roll my eyes a little bit at the time.

Not much later I heard a student at a HD dealership accelerated straight into the side of their building.
Once they freak and get a death grip on that throttle, they ain't stopping.

"But there were also those archaic devices called "clutches" to be mastered. She had never used a "clutch" before. Oh, those pesky clutches!"

They weren't Honda's, but I was at a local dealer, and 2 guys were riding something similar. I think one may have been a Yamaha, the other an Aprilia. Can't remember.

But I did walk up and talk to them. They were having a blast riding them like hooligans around an enclosed parking lot.

I was curious, and realized I'd piss of the neighbors tearing around the neighborhood. I don't think I'd want to ride one on public roads.

At $3500 MSRP you might consider a used 250 Nighthawk for around $1500. A little heavier with full size wheels, but can be taken on the highway if you aren't much over 200 lbs.

It’s hard to justify the price of a Grom when I can find a clean BMW K75 for the same price. The K75 has crash bars too. Hmm. With that engine orientation it looks like it might carry its weight low like my R100.