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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: vf84pc on September 05, 2025, 08:33:48 PM

Title: 850 small block high milage
Post by: vf84pc on September 05, 2025, 08:33:48 PM
What is considered “high mileage” on an 850 motor?
Anyone have 50K or more?
Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: brider on September 06, 2025, 10:14:39 AM
Can't believe I'm the first here....any minute now a dozen people will reply with testimonials of 100K, 200K or more. 50K is nothing.
Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: PeteS on September 06, 2025, 10:23:13 AM
First question is what era 850 is the question about. ‘70s/‘80s or current production?

Pete
Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on September 06, 2025, 10:29:10 AM
First question is what era 850 is the question about. ‘70s/‘80s or current production?

Pete

"850 small-block" kind of answers that question.  :wink:
Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: twowheeladdict on September 06, 2025, 10:42:42 AM
Just like most questions, the answer is "it depends". 

I'm guessing you are asking at what mileage is the engine in need of internal work, or becoming unreliable.

It depends on how it is ridden and cared for. 
Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: brider on September 06, 2025, 11:30:14 AM
Sounds more to me like the OP is looking at an 850 of undefined vintage with 50k on the clock.
Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: PeteS on September 06, 2025, 11:34:24 AM
"850 small-block" kind of answers that question.  :wink:

Only bike that fits that definition is the current V7. They were never small blocks in the ‘70s. I doubt there are too many 850 V7s that have 100k miles on them yet.

Pete
Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: SmithSwede on September 06, 2025, 01:12:41 PM
I ran my 2013 V7 small block past 150,000 miles before the accident.  No rebuilds or engine repair.  Engine ran fine.  I gave the bike to a friend’s son and bike is still on the road. Gas mileage same as before.  Doesn’t burn oil.  Valve clearance hardly moves. 

Same for transmission.  I’d say 50,000 miles is nothing. The only exception might be shaft drive components and the clutch, which wear out at about 50,000.

Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: Kev m on September 06, 2025, 05:41:22 PM
I ran my 2013 V7 small block past 150,000 miles before the accident.  No rebuilds or engine repair.  Engine ran fine.  I gave the bike to a friend’s son and bike is still on the road. Gas mileage same as before.  Doesn’t burn oil.  Valve clearance hardly moves. 

Same for transmission.  I’d say 50,000 miles is nothing. The only exception might be shaft drive components and the clutch, which wear out at about 50,000.

I didn't mention your bike because the Hemi Heads are more different than not from the Heron Heads, especially your old and my current MkI Stone.

Starting with the 750 Hemi Head bikes the crankshafts were changed to pressed assemblies instead of using bolt on Con Rods. Obviously there were changes to the cylinder heads and pistons.

The 6-spd transmissions are different from the 5-spds as well using an oil pump and smaller capacity.

Now I'm not sure if the 850 V7's are the same or different still. And we know there are a lot of differences in the newest 850's from the earlier ones with the EFI system.
Title: Re: 850 small block high milage
Post by: Dirk_S on September 07, 2025, 11:51:04 AM
Only bike that fits that definition is the current V7. They were never small blocks in the ‘70s. I doubt there are too many 850 V7s that have 100k miles on them yet.

…And the V9 and the V85TT, both of which have been around longer than the E5 850cc V7