When I talked to the service guy I was all primed for a new cam, install and $250.00 dyno tune. When I started getting the "hey we got a sucker here" treatment I just said no thanks and left.

From page 78 of my owner's manual: Upshift (Acceleration) Gear Speeds: Six Speed.......... Fifth to Sixth - 55 MPH. Obviously there are times and places when 6th gear is not the preferred gear to be in and I'm pretty well aware of them.

 

On our 07, at 70mph the engine is running right t 2700 rpm's..
At 60 she's turning around 2300rpm's...

Before I did the stg1 and cams she would almost bog down in sixth below 70.. and fuel mileage dropped big time anytime I used 6th gear..

After the work she'll now run easy at 60 in 6th, even 2 up with no bogging feeling and has plenty of power to pass without droping a gear.
She now get the best mileage between 60-70 in 6th.
The dyno show's she gained around 10% More TQ at 2300 rpm's now than she did at peak in the stock engine. The stocker was 75#'s at 2300, now she puts out 84#'s at 2300.

As free as she run is ain't IMO lugging at all..

I'd agree some builds if U tried to run at 2300 it might be lugging.
Like the ones with high compression and big lift cams, I've read in here on some really big builds U need to keep the rpm's higher.

 

My 09 Lowrider was the same way before the stage one, pipes and PC-V. First thing I noticed was being able to cruise in 6th at 60-65.

 

The manual on all six speed give 55 as the acceptable shift point into 6th. But then what does HD know?

I have an 07 FXSTX, 10 Dyna SG and a 10 Ultra. All will cruise on the flat at 50 without lugging and pull strong when twisting the throttle.

Went across three mountain ranges on my ride this year and had no trouble going up the Rockies and Cascade mountains at 70 in 6th gear. My son on his 06 Street Bob had to use 5th a lot and 4th a couple times.

Your guy was just saying his opinion and was concerned about the welfare of your ride. Good for him. But as an actual fact, his opinion has only a little merit.

Lugging involves the motor bucking because it does not have the torque to maintain that speed or acceleration. When that happens things start to break.

 

I agree with this.
Do you really expect a dealer to be familiar with parts they don't sell? Do you ask the Ford dealer if Chevy parts are OK to use? Do you expect anyone at an Apple Store to recommend or know how to work with Microsoft products?

Different mechanics have experience with different parts or combinations and their experience/relationship with manufacturers and distributors. Is part of the service you get from them. You are better off finding someone who likes the products you are having them work on.

 

No doubt.. your lugging it...

 

How then did he immediately know that the PC-V would be nothing but problems and how did he know that you couldn't tune a PC-V if you put in a cam. The cam was a Harley part. Also a few days prior to talking with them in person I called to inquire about a dyno tune and that was before I was thinking of a cam. I told them the bike had a PC-V in it and the service person I talked to said that was not a problem that they tuned a lot of them.

 

San Diego HD told me the same thing about being in 5th gear under 70mph

 

Final drive ratio was reduced (raised numerically) on 09 Tourers, not sure about the Dynas and Softails. The 07-08 Tourers are geared taller. My 09 FLHT is "perfectly happy" running along at 55-65 mph in 6th on a mostly level road and not calling for much acceleration. Up hill, accelerating, or a strong head wind is a different matter.

 

All part of the HD in-house training to get the service desk to sell-sell-sell that service, parts, and extras.
They come across to experienced owners looking like a goose but I'll bet they sell a BUNCH of stuff to the inexperienced and/or new owner/rider.