Modifications by Steelheart Engineering

I had a long list of bits I needed dong to my 7/11. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or some of the tools to undertake the jobs myself. So I decided once again to use Lee at Steelheart Engineering to get the necessary fabrication done and give the 7/11 a holiday in Canterbury.

My list included; exhaust, steering damper mount, headlamp mounting, chainguard and gear-change linkage. Obviously, as soon as I got there my brain started spending more money. The more Lee and I chatted, the more the ideas kept flowing - I could almost hear my bank account emptying by the second.

First thing for Lee to sort was the swingarm. I have a Metmachex swingarm, but I have never been able to get the wheel aligned properly. I had been blaming the torque-arm as this seemed to be pushing the wheel over slightly. I also thought the concentric adjusters must be knackered as it shouldn't be possible to get a wheel out of alignment with these adjusters. It turned out that the Metmachex swingarm was 4mm out so alignment would never be possible without making new spacers.

I'm not overly keen on concentric adjusters anyway, as I think they are a cheap alternative to a proper solution. Lee suggested removing them completely and making covers to hide the adjusters. I requested that the torque-arm link neatly to the brace and asked if possible to fill the manufacturing holes that Metmachex leave in their swingarms. Lee suggested filling them then putting a thread in to accept some crash-bobbins (also allowing me an easier way to hold the bike on a paddock stand).

Lee also made me a chainguard, and even that became a work of art.
I took the gear-change arm from my GSXR1000 and fitted it to the gearbox-spindle (thankfully the 1000 and the 1100 have the same size shaft and number of teeth). A rod was cut to length, with threads put at each end to allow adjustment of the lever.
I had some small projector beam headlamps to fit, Lee machined up the brackets and even allowed for a recessed slot to allow a pair of Kellerman micro-indicators (something that I'd forgotten about).
The tank was also raised 6mm by making new mounts on the subframe - this is to allow clearance for the Pingel tap I'm going to fit.
I asked for the frame to be gusseted to give a little extra strength around the headstock. I'd also bought a steering damper a short while ago and wanted a neater way of mounting it than the clumsy bracket that it came with. Unfortunately it was at this point that I discovered the damper was too short and seriously restricts the turning-circle of the bike, so another steering damper is being sought after now. Lee manufactured and welded a neat boss onto the frame.
Finally came the exhaust. I had wanted to have a pair of short cans underneath the bike, but Lee informed me that my design was not possible due to little items like the side-stand being in the way. I didn't want to have an underseat system as the upright mid-pipes mean either spacing out the footpegs or going so far back I'd lose that open look at the back of the bike. n the end I told Lee to make whatever he wanted - a completely free hand to manufacture whatever he desired. All I asked was that I wanted it to be different. Well it certainly is different!!
It probably won't do anything for power delivery and will probably move about a little, but who cares when it looks this controversial ;-)