Enfield BULLET 500 MOT pass rate and common failures

Enfield BULLET 500 motorcycles pass the MOT 86.14% of the time, measured across 202 tests in the DVSA record. A further 8.42% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 0.7 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 86.14% 174 of 202
Fixed at the station 8.42% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 7,904 miles
Average age at test 20.61 years old
Engine 499cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Enfield BULLET 500 adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with not working - it accounts for 100% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and component leaking, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 7,904 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test Pass rate   Tests
16+ years 85.56% 187

Why the Enfield BULLET 500 fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

# Item Of failures   Tests
1 Not working 100% 14
2 Does not conform to the specified requirements 45.5% 5
3 Component leaking 9.1% 1
4 Damaged 9.1% 1
5 Designed for front wheel use fitted to the rear wheel 9.1% 1
6 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 9.1% 1
7 Flashing more than 120 times a minute 9.1% 1
8 Incorrect 9.1% 1
9 Incorrect colour 9.1% 1
10 Insecure 9.1% 1

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

# Item Of all tests   Tests
1 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4% 8
2 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 3.5% 7
3 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 2.5% 5
4 Has excessive play 2% 4
5 Has excessive wear or free play 2% 4
6 Excessively loose 1.5% 3
7 Has a major leak of exhaust gases 1.5% 3
8 Insecure 1.5% 3
9 Chain guard missing 1% 2
10 Excessively distorted 1% 2

Enfield BULLET 500 for sale

No Enfield BULLET 500 in stock at the moment - 0 other Enfield bikes are advertised.

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model Tests Pass rate   Avg mileage
Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc 5,400 89.76% 19,444
Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc 4,890 80% 29,308
Honda CBR600F · 599cc 4,710 85.56% 30,651
Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc 4,510 81.62% 26,019
Suzuki SV650 · 646cc 3,834 80.99% 27,644
Suzuki GSXR600 · 599cc 3,831 81.83% 25,077

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Enfield BULLET 500 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Enfield BULLET 500?+
86.14% of Enfield BULLET 500 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 202 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Enfield BULLET 500?+
Not working, which appears in 100% of failed tests on this model.
Where does this data come from?+
From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.
Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+
Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.
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