Universal Japanese motorcycle

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The term UJM stands for Universal Japanese Motorcycle and is a loose term coined in the winter of 1976 when Cycle magazine used the acronym to describe a then new phenomenon:

"In the hard world of commerce, achievers get imitated and the imitators get imitated. There is developing, after all, a kind of Universal Japanese Motorcycle.... conceived in sameness, executed with precision, and produced by the thousands." [1]

The term is neutral (neither complementary nor pejorative) and highlights a bike's strong similarity to other bikes -- rather than exclusivity, brand pretence or distinctive character.

Furthermore, UJM most often refers to the specific wave of cycles which originated beginning in the late 1960's when the Big Four Japanese manufacturers began replicating each other's designs and introducing them to the market in quick succession -- the bikes clustering around this feature set:

A prominent example of the classic UJM is the 1969 Honda CB750, which became an obvious template for subsequent designs from the other three of the "Big Four" Japanese motorcycle manufacturers - Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha -- though, unlike most UJM's, the Honda CB750 achieved prominence in motorcycle history by introducing a compelling feature set at an unprecedented price and unprecedented quality.

The Honda CB750 c. 1981, a classic UJM
The Honda CB750 c. 1981, a classic UJM

Contents

[edit] Classic UJM's

  • Honda: CB750, CB350, CB400, CB550, CB650, CB900, CB1000, Nighthawk 650, Nighthawk 750
  • Kawasaki: KZ900, KZ1000, KZ750, KZ650, KZ500/KZ550, Zephyr 550, Zephyr 750, Zephyr 1100
  • Suzuki: The 1976-1983 GS series: GS750, GS650, GS550, GS850, GS1000, GS1100
  • Yamaha: XS1100, XJ1100, XJ650, XJ750, XJ900

[edit] Variations of the UJM

While the term UJM is most often applied to the standard-riding-position, air-cooled two or four cylinder models that arrived in the initial grouping from Japan, a common variation of the term refers to later clusters of bikes mirroring some other common recipe and arriving from the four Japanese manufacturers in quick succession.

Cruiser UJM's include the Honda Custom series, Kawasaki LTD series, Yamaha Maxim series and included a lower seat, higher handlebars, and forward-mounted foot pegs. Sport UJM's include the Honda SS series, Kawasaki GPz series, Suzuki Katana series and feature more aggressive riding positions, tuned engines and stiffer suspensions.

Likewise, current bikes that roughly model the original UJM recipe, such as the DL650 or the Kawasaki Versys, may be referred to as UJM's.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Honda Nighthawk 700S. Cycle Magazine.