[Offcenter]

Don't overlook the Honda CB1100, introduced in 2011 and still in production. Honda even reverted the rear suspension to the good old twin shock setup, forgoing the mono-shock.
View attachment 75115

That's about as UJM as they come.

Now THAT is a good looking bike.
I think that most of the bikes available today are JPU! (Just Plain Ugly)
It seems that every one of 'em is covered with goofy angles on every
surface, or stupid beaks out front.

 

[mike721]

rear frame/suspension design that's amenable to anything from a pillion to large baskets carrying 5 bushels of produce.
seat height that accomodates most adults with reasonable stopping comfort.
easy maintenance.
ability to "scramble" - not strictly a street bike.
Transverse isn't really required, though it became The Thing- there are single and boxer UJMs (I would argue that the older naked wings were, for sure)
what else?

Engine layout really doesn't matter, most were parallel twins or 4s but it doesn't matter, neither does air or water cooled.
The seat height is surprisingly high on my 1978 Honda Hawk2, it's not much lower than the Vstrom but the secret is the Honda is VERY thin, letting your legs stay close and it feels lower, it's also light, it's very approachable, I learned to ride on one just like it in 1986 on my own, coming from a moped I was riding the highway on the first day on the Hawk. Other than clutch/ shifting those bikes are as intuitive to ride as a bicycle.
UJMs were simple and tough, basic transportation, meant to be left sitting around then just start and run to get you where you were going with no drama. I like the fact that my Hawk has both kickstart and electric, back in the day my original one was always sitting in the yard with a dead battery but who cared, a couple kicks and it was running.

 

[vito]

I think the “Universal” part was that it was a do-everything bike. Use it to commute or run errands, or throw some soft bags and a clip on windscreen and take off for two weeks. It was just a “motorcycle”, not a type of motorcycle. And for us older riders, nostalgia and fuzzy memory plays a role. Maybe those old Nighthawks were not quite as “universally” great as we remember them, but years and youth make them seem so today. If Honda came out with a 900cc naked standard with a 29 inch seat height, v4 engine, a detachable windscreen, ABS, fuel injection and electric starter of course, with about a 3 gallon gas tank, a price about $7,000, it would sell a ton of them.

 

[brian10x]

If Honda made a real modern UJM, that is, air cooled, inline four, round headlight and gauges, I'd set my back pocket on fire ripping my wallet out to buy one.

 

[brian10x]

Now THAT is a good looking bike.
I think that most of the bikes available today are JPU! (Just Plain Ugly)
It seems that every one of 'em is covered with goofy angles on every
surface, or stupid beaks out front.

The CB1100 is no longer available here in North America. I had one, and I think the last year was 2014. It was too heavy for me, and the brakes were hyper-sensitive.

 

[sietchtabr]

If Honda made a real modern UJM, that is, air cooled, inline four, round headlight and gauges, I'd set my back pocket on fire ripping my wallet out to buy one.

I'd be okay with the mid 80s rectangular light and Max Headroom gauges. but that's swappable parts.

 

[genel]

I'd be okay with the mid 80s rectangular light and Max Headroom gauges. but that's swappable parts.

That's what I got with my 85 Honda 650 and so far, I have only one complaint, thanks to the feds, it runs lean at the low end.