The battery is gonna be real tight. Probably will only be 1/8” to 1/4” between side of battery and the chain after I make a box[/QUOTE]

Go to a battery for an XS650. much smaller and it will crank over a sporty engine. That is what I did for my chop.

 

Go to a battery for an XS650. much smaller and it will crank over a sporty engine. That is what I did for my chop.[/QUOTE]

Does it crank well in the cold still? I ride in the mountains a bunch and sometimes it may be 85 where I live, but only 35-40 up there

 

Does it crank well in the cold still? I ride in the mountains a bunch and sometimes it may be 85 where I live, but only 35-40 up there[/QUOTE]

I have only ridden mine between 50° and 90° F not sure about colder.
Stock HD battery has 310 CCA YTX14AHL has 210 CCA, there is a cost for the smaller battery.

 

I'm debating just running the stock battery. It will be tight but in theory the chain shouldn't have any lateral movement. If it did the bike would throw it. That being said 1/4" sure is a small gap

 

You are braver than I

 

I ended up going your route with the xs650 battery. Of course my battery box for the oem battery looked bad ***. And why wouldn’t it since it’s destined for the shelf now. I’ll be making a new one for the new battery tomorrow

 

It gives a lot more space for the chain.

 

I'd be very careful of a chain with that little clearance. I've had two bad experiences involving a drive chain connecting something that it shouldn't have.