He said "it's not, but there are specs for how much force you are supposed to put on the shifter and your toe uses a lot less than your heel."

I was laughing my *** off. I should have hit record on my phone and uploaded the audio here.

 

He also asked me how long I have been riding.

 

You shoulda asked him how long has he been an idiot?...

 

Amazing!!!!!!!

What a stupid statement especially from a dealer service department.

Did he also share with you that the seat is not to be set on full time? That you should stand some while riding!

I love the heal shifter and I use it 100% of the time on three different touring models over 9 years and 120k miles with zero issues.

Ride on

 

Sounds like either the service manager has no clue or he is stupid.

Kinda reminds me when my ex-wife bought this $ 1000 vacuum and 6 months later the vacuum doesn't suck anymore, we send it back to the manufacturer for repair under warranty, and the lady that called from the manufacture says the vacuum wasn't made to suck up dirt and ashes from a fire place. We didn't have a fire place.
They fixed it and it work good sitting in the closet

 

Yes you should have.

 

This is the first bike in 50 years I ever had with a heel shifter. It's not an issue for me because I can't do it without major spastic looking jerks with my foot, which then falls off the floorboard. I started with a suicide shift but that would surely be the kiss of death for me now. I expect to be driving a Ridley (automatic) before long.

 

I can't remember the last time I upshifted with my toe.

Just when you think you've heard it all. The service manager is a f'in moron.

 

That has to be one of the most idiotic statements ever attributed to a "service manager".
Every Harley mile that I've ever ridden with the exception of the 600 miles that I owned a Switchback (no heel shifter available then) was upshifted by heel. Never, ever an issue over 5 bikes and I don't know how many miles.
Too bad the OP didn't have his owner's manual handy so that said service manager could point out that section.
To call the guy an idiot is an insult to idiots everywhere.

 

People like this are the reason people do their own work or find an indy.

Do you think he was just making a joke maybe (in his defense of course...) Cant be that stupid / clueless and have that job....