Griffon G80 (Peugot P108)

[mini-me]

They are not as anal about rivet counting as we are here in UK.  They reckon as long as it runs it'll do. I can see an argument for that.

Except when it comes to converting all the threads to their beloved Metric

I have seen some class restoration work over there though.

[iansoady]

Even so, got to be better than the fake patina that seems fashionable these days.

eg: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-w800-Brat-Style-Custom-Cafe-Racer-Bobber-Scrambler-Kevils-Speed-Shop/113140599970

And using metric fasteners is increasingly common in this country. I have no idea why as the proper stuff is easily obtainable and no more expensive.

[mini-me]

That's because some of the people playing with old bikes have not yet found out the right way to pick up a screwdriver.

Kids are not taught any kind of handicraft anymore.

I am amazed that Kawasaki is allowed on the road, I can see at least a dozen C&U regulations worthy of a nick.

I suppose they made more money flogging off the original parts.

Imagine riding  a bike like that back in the 1960/70s, Plod would have had a field day. When I think of the times I was pulled for no front number plate/horn rear lamp.................
well, it was  a Triumph 6T, seldom got to my destination without something dropped off..........

[Grunt]

In one of my ‘careers’ I worked in a local college, I’d say the vast majority of students weren’t aware there was anything other than metric, so much so they didn’t know it was called metric, and a lot of them didn’t know which way to turn a nut to undo it. How I hate the ‘righty tighty lefty loosey ’ saying. Next they’ll be making up a saying to wipe their arse.

As for the Kawasaki, it’s being sold as street legal when it obviously isn’t. Mudguards may not be MOTable but they are a legal requirement.

 I think the southern ‘70’s rozzers were as bad as the northern ones. Mind you we probably got what we deserved most of the time.

[Rex]

Using metric when Imperial would have been better and more appropriate is not just for the young and clueless; there's a poster on another site who has long championed the concept that near enough is good enough, and yet (apparently) has owned bikes for decades.
I never really understand that. Fair enough no-one can go into B&Q and buy 100 1/4 BSF nuts, but it's all available on-line and that's where the vast majority of old bike parts and supplies are bought.

[mini-me]

Who remembers Whistons?  where you could buy huge packs of all sorts of nuts and bolts, and other stuff that came in handy, even if you never used it

[iansoady]

C&D Autos when they were in Acocks Green used to sell big bags of nuts & bolts that seemed to have found their way under the fence from Armoury Road.

[murdo]

eg: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-w800-Brat-Style-Custom-Cafe-Racer-Bobber-Scrambler-Kevils-Speed-Shop/113140599970

We get them building the same sort of crap here in Aus too. None of it legal and shows the worst type of bike mechanic/builder where they cut off all the required bits with a grinder, add cheap ebay Chinese crap, put on some stupid truck tyres, spray can flat black everything and put on u tube to show off their handywork, followed by an ebay add for sale after they realise what a heap of shite it is to ride.

[Rex]

Sensible people stop removing mudguards when they're about fourteen and get caught out in the rain, and many owners don't know enough about engineering principles and safety to take a disc cutter to a working motorbike.

[mini-me]

back in the 1960s a mate bought one of those Pride and Clark Dustbin fairings to fit to his Triumph 21, yes really. In order to fit it had to leave off the front mudguard...............big mistake, every bit of road grit and crap got whooshed up into his face.