Oil quantities

Harleys have a "dry sump" oil system, very different from a typical car/truck/van, where most of the oil is in the "oil pan" on the bottom of the engine. Most of the oil in a Harley (running right) is in the tank ("oil bag") all the time, although it should always be moving when the engine is running. Harleys don't need much oil PRESSURE - but they most assuredly need oil FLOW to pick up heat from here & transfer it there - the oil cools even more than it does lubricate.

Many race cars use a "dry sump" system too & one reason is so the oil doesn't get "shoshed around" under acceleration / cornering / braking. Same type deal there - nearly all the oil is in the tank, but moving all the time when the engine's running & the oil level in the tank when the engine's running or not should be nearly the same. But race cars don't have the gravity pulling oil down from the tank & overcoming the valve to stop it that H-D's do.

I check mine on the life and be sure the dipstick just rests on the trans filler opening. Don't screw it in. I always put 3.5 qts in. Run it for a few minutes. Let it drain back down. Usually go inside the house for a rest. Come back out and check oil and also check to see that the oil is at the fill neck in the tank. 40,000 miles and no problems with fluids or drive train.

Probaly so you have cranked it and they know that the oil filter is full of oil and the oil has gone everywhere threw the system.