Universal Japanese Motorcycle

The basic platform was an upright, open seating position motorcycle powered by a carbureted, air-cooled engine wrapped in a steel-tube cradle-type frame, and at least one disc brake to bring it all to a stop.

[2][3] In 2011, the New York Times said lightning struck for Honda "with the 1969 CB 750, whose use of an inline 4-cylinder engine came to define the Universal Japanese Motorcycle.

"[4] The UJM template featured a four-cylinder engine, standard riding position, carburetor for each cylinder, unit construction engine, front disc brake, conventional tubular cradle frame and telescopic front forks and twin-shock rear suspension.

As the major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha, began replicating each other's designs, the UJM's created a homogeneity of form, function and quality.

[14] The term "universal" arose from the fact that during the 1970s, the Japanese "big four" (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha)[15] all produced very similar designs.

There have been several market revivals led by increased demand for simplified standard general purpose,[18] or naked[19] bikes and has led Japanese manufacturers to introduce modern interpretations of the UJM; first in the early 1990s with the Honda CB750 RC42 and CB1000, Suzuki GS1100G and VX800, the Kawasaki Zephyr Series, and Yamaha continuing to sell its SR Series.