ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET CLASSIC EFI

499cc Petrol Class 2

#2050 of 5426 overall #35 of 36 ROYAL ENFIELDs #1247 of 2787 other bikes

86.5%

first-time pass rate

5.8%

failed outright

4,918

median miles at test

1,720

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The BULLET CLASSIC EFI's first-time pass rate has risen 11.6 points since 2013, 76.8% to 88.4%.

What fails on a BULLET CLASSIC EFI

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	44	23	1.1×
lighting and signalling	35	18.3	0.3×
brakes	33	17.3	0.3×
structure and attachments	21	11	1.4×
tyres	12	6.3	0.9×
steering	11	5.8	1.5×
drive system	10	5.2	0.4×
tyres and wheels	10	5.2	0.2×
steering and suspension	8	4.2	0.1×
Identification of the vehicle	7	3.7	1.8×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the BULLET CLASSIC EFI beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the BULLET CLASSIC EFI.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2011 (86.9% pass). Weakest: 2010 (85.8%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET CLASSIC EFI FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET CLASSIC EFI reliable?

The ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET CLASSIC EFI is about average for its class: 86.5% of its 1,720 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2050 of 5426 models.

What does a BULLET CLASSIC EFI fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 23% of all defects recorded against failed BULLET CLASSIC EFI tests.

What is the best year of BULLET CLASSIC EFI to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (86.9%) and 2010 worst (85.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.