UJM fate - I vote STOP ruining awesome bikes, build rad Cafe's out of the rest!

BACK IN THE DAY, [ my day that is - early mid 60's ], bikes were a means of transport first and foremost - 100's if not 1000's of "commuter" bikes [ BSA, Norton, Aerial, Matchless .............. ] were abandoned for almost nothing as peeps switched to low cost cars for their commute / family transport. Those of us that had a passion for bikes and biking snapped these up for pennies. 8) But why would I want a cruddy B31 .... exactly the same as a 1000 other cruddy B31s - especially when they'd nearly all be Maroon ! Especially when [ for not a lot of money ] I could buy a complete Triumph 500 / 650 twin and plop the engine in the Beesa frame - AND CREATE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Did I think then that someone 50 years later would be paying obscene amounts of money for the bits I discarded ? ::)

What I have never understood is the "let's all be different together" mentality. Restore your 1954 BSA B31 and what have you got ? A restored turd, just like a 1000 other restored models. I suspect the same is true as to why peeps want to do something different with a stock UJM. Each to their own. As soon as you bolt a non standard part, or change the factory colour - you have begun customising your ride - it's just the level of customisation that differs. ;)
 
beachcomber said:
BACK IN THE DAY, [ my day that is - early mid 60's ], bikes were a means of transport first and foremost - 100's if not 1000's of "commuter" bikes [ BSA, Norton, Aerial, Matchless .............. ] were abandoned for almost nothing as peeps switched to low cost cars for their commute / family transport. Those of us that had a passion for bikes and biking snapped these up for pennies. 8) But why would I want a cruddy B31 .... exactly the same as a 1000 other cruddy B31s - especially when they'd nearly all be Maroon ! Especially when [ for not a lot of money ] I could buy a complete Triumph 500 / 650 twin and plop the engine in the Beesa frame - AND CREATE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Did I think then that someone 50 years later would be paying obscene amounts of money for the bits I discarded ? ::)

What I have never understood is the "let's all be different together" mentality. Restore your 1954 BSA B31 and what have you got ? A restored turd, just like a 1000 other restored models. I suspect the same is true as to why peeps want to do something different with a stock UJM. Each to their own. As soon as you bolt a non standard part, or change the factory colour - you have begun customising your ride - it's just the level of customisation that differs. ;)



Every bike I own (have owned?!) has been modified to some extent. I feel a deep need to make them "personal" and making changes to them accomplishes that for me. Some are quite moderate and others more radical, but I've always been pleased with the ultimate outcome, and that makes it all worthwhile.

Many times others like what I've done and on occasion, not. I'm totally ok with both reactions because I do it for me and not for others. Obviously it's MOST satisfying when other folks approve and enjoy them. That means I've found another lunatic "cut from the same cloth".


A couple of examples, from mild to a little more radical:



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I've loved 'em all. :D

Build whatever makes you happy. Be safe out there. 8)
 
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