Been thinking hard about changing the gearing on my 08 Crossbones. Vulcan makes this eliminator kit that only requires getting into the primary case, no need to pull the inner primary to change out pulleys and rear belt. It also comes with a new primary chain. This gets the job done with a lot less cash and labor.
Eliminating comp also saves lots of rotating mass, 8 lbs is the claim.
What's the down side?

 

I have no idea how vulcan can claim to save 8lbs of weight. Eliminating the compensator means your bike will be subject to more vibration and you are going to make something else in your drive chain take on more stresses then it was intended to.

Simple and effective modification like you said. I swapped mine for a baker comp sprocket. All the way down to a 21t with new chain.

I'd suggest baker comp over the vulcan "eliminator" kit.

 

This is nonsense. I run the 30 tooth compensator eliminator from Evolution Industries with no issues whatsoever and I'm doing 127/126?
A little more chain noise and I can feel the engine pulses at idle.
Another member here runs one with like 130 torque at 2200rpm...no issues.
A tech at FM runs it on a 107/999-6A build and has 60,000 miles on it...no issues.
The only ones that claim issues are those that have never run it.
I'm not familiar with Vulcan. but I highly recommend the Evolution Industries. Same deal, comes with new, shorter chain and sprocket bolt. Use the stock tensioner or one of your choice.
They also make a 34 tooth for those not wanting a gearing change but still lose that hunk of dead weight hanging off the crank. ( I believe 7lbs. and some change lighter).

 

Ditto..... with a 32T solid sprocket from Vulcan Works, on my bagger at 135/151...

 

Yes I was hoping some guys that actually use the eliminator would chime in, thank
I'm a lightweight compared to you guys, stock 96 with Woods 222 cam, road rage pipe . 82 HP and 96 Torque.

 

I didn't do it due to my power output... My OEM 2016 comp was handling my power just fine...

I did it to change gearing... I must add, I don't ride it like I stole it... I'm a rather sedate cruiser with epidodes of "playing around".....

I was all ready to experience all the bad things I had read about, that were going to happen without the OEM compensator.... But quite frankly, I just didn't notice a major difference..

I am noticing on some HD forums, there are a lot of complaints about "issues" that would have been laughed off a forum, if forums existed, in the 70's... There are many people who have wants and expectations of motorcycles, that some of us older salts might consider a tad unreasonable, or kind of silly.... but to each his own... Your wants/expectations might lead you to a different opinion...

But IMHO... there is a difference between a solid gear and a compensator.... but nothing I find objectionable or severe...

 

The references to power are for those that think it might be fine for a stock motor but not one with significantly more torque. Although I'm sure some sort of increase comes from going to a solid sprocket too. Losing 7lbs of weight hanging off the crank is no small thing I'm sure.

But even feeling the pulses at idle I kind of like. Reminds me I AM on a motorcycle. The slightly noisier primary is something I don't even notice over the exhaust but I know it's there because I made it a point to listen for changes.
The truth is, you won't find a single instance of it ever causing any damage to anything.
I did it for the gearing change I wanted at the same time my compensator needed replacing and I remembered a conversation I had a year earlier in which Bobby Woods recommended it along with his 999-6As for a quick stage 2 barhopper. At the time I decided against it due mainly to all the "the world will come to end and you'll twist your crank" crap like the post here.
Well all those things can happen just as easily with a compensator as without one.J

If you want a gearing change there's no better way to do it imo. Kill 2 birds...
And it doesn't throw your Speedo off. You will lose your 6th gear indicator or gear indicator in general but that can fixed with the PV or TTS tuners.
But gearing change aside, knowing what I know now, I would still opt for a solid sprocket over a compensator

 

pretty much the same setup except for cam choice and i have a vulcan 32t eliminator waiting (on me) to go it.

 

We don't need no stinking compensator.

 

I was out riding today and I don't even think about the 30t compensator eliminator anymore. My only reminder is the 6th gear light is on a lot more and the smile on my face. My bike pulls hard off the line. Passing is a joy.. I was ripping through twisties.