ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET TRIALS 500
The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The BULLET TRIALS 500's first-time pass rate has risen 2.5 points since 2022, 89.5% to 92.0%.
What fails on a BULLET TRIALS 500
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lamps and reflectors |
|
14 | 50 | 1.3× |
| wheels |
|
4 | 14.3 | 9.5× |
| brakes |
|
3 | 10.7 | 0.1× |
| tyres |
|
3 | 10.7 | 0.8× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
2 | 7.1 | 1.7× |
| structure and attachments |
|
2 | 7.1 | 0.6× |
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
On first-time pass rate the BULLET TRIALS 500 beats 1 of its 1 closest rivals (HONDA CRF450).
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 TRIALS 500.
Compare with any bike
More ROYAL ENFIELD models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2019 (91.9% pass). Weakest: 2020 (91.4%).
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 TRIALS 500 FAQ
Is the ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET TRIALS 500 reliable?
The ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET TRIALS 500 is more reliable than average for its class: 91.4% of its 524 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #588 of 5428 models.
What does a BULLET TRIALS 500 fail its MOT on most?
lamps and reflectors — 50% of all defects recorded against failed BULLET TRIALS 500 tests.
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