Royal Enfield Bullet Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Royal Enfield Bullet car check
Is the Royal Enfield Bullet reliable? We analysed 6,089 real MOT tests across 925 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Royal Enfield Bullet? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Royal Enfield Bullet is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, footrest insecure and steering headbearing has excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Royal Enfield Bullet.
Royal Enfield Bullet Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Royal Enfield Bullet. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Royal Enfield Bullet MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Royal Enfield Bullet to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Royal Enfield Bullet Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Royal Enfield Bullet fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Royal Enfield Bullet Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Royal Enfield Bullet owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Royal Enfield Bullet MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Royal Enfield Bullet year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 55 | 81.8% | 123 | 795 | 3,531 |
| 2016 | 183 | 91.3% | 1,791 | 3,455 | 7,246 |
| 2015 | 252 | 89.7% | 2,374 | 4,197 | 7,105 |
| 2014 | 143 | 90.9% | 2,911 | 5,036 | 9,547 |
| 2013 | 86 | 87.2% | 1,054 | 2,419 | 5,088 |
| 2012 | 119 | 84.0% | 1,766 | 4,020 | 19,882 |
| 2010 | 191 | 85.3% | 2,035 | 4,167 | 8,124 |
| 2009 | 84 | 84.5% | 689 | 2,360 | 10,822 |
| 2008 | 74 | 79.7% | 570 | 1,261 | 2,551 |
| 2007 | 115 | 88.7% | 1,488 | 4,507 | 12,128 |
| 2006 | 145 | 91.0% | 1,946 | 3,367 | 6,624 |
| 2005 | 287 | 91.3% | 3,082 | 6,435 | 12,388 |
| 2004 | 141 | 88.7% | 2,148 | 5,694 | 11,764 |
| 2003 | 434 | 90.6% | 3,571 | 7,372 | 14,730 |
| 2002 | 93 | 89.2% | 3,566 | 5,960 | 16,026 |
| 2000 | 125 | 82.4% | 1,894 | 4,295 | 13,857 |
| 1999 | 207 | 87.9% | 2,944 | 5,803 | 10,962 |
| 1998 | 84 | 89.3% | 1,287 | 3,780 | 7,916 |
| 1997 | 84 | 95.2% | 5,024 | 12,396 | 14,240 |
| 1993 | 501 | 86.4% | 5,319 | 12,732 | 21,430 |
How Long Does a Royal Enfield Bullet Last?
Based on 925 Royal Enfield Bullet vehicles on UK roads.
Royal Enfield Bullet Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Royal Enfield Bullet MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Royal Enfield Bullet
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
96.1% MOT pass rate from 102 tests
79.7% MOT pass rate from 74 tests
The best year to buy a used Royal Enfield Bullet is 1961, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.1% across 102 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Royal Enfield Bullet Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Enfield Bullet THIS CAR | 89.1% | 6,089 | 7,000 mi | 71 yrs |
| Royal Enfield Bullet 500 | 89.5% | 29,852 | 6,990 mi | 32 yrs |
| Royal Enfield Interceptor Int 650 | 91.7% | 9,779 | 4,502 mi | — yrs |
| Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | 90.5% | 8,105 | 6,317 mi | 37 yrs |
| Vauxhall Astra Exclusiv 98 | 85.4% | 2,315 | 77,698 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 (89.5% pass rate) and the Royal Enfield Interceptor Int 650 (91.7% pass rate), the Royal Enfield Bullet trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Royal Enfield Bullet you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Royal Enfield BulletShould you buy a used Royal Enfield Bullet?
The Royal Enfield Bullet has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.1% across 6,089 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Royal Enfield Bullet are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (32 recorded failures), footrest insecure (15), and steering headbearing has excessive free play (14). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Royal Enfield Bullet owner drives around 323 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Royal Enfield Bullet models stay on UK roads for around 71 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.