Royal Enfield Bullet 500 (2002)
2002 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
CarHunch analysed 344 real MOT records for the 2002 Royal Enfield Bullet 500. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2002 Bullet 500 passes its MOT test at 84.5%, which is a solid 4.5 points above the UK average—suggesting these machines are generally well-maintained and reliable. With only 7.6% ever having a dangerous defect flagged, this is a low-risk proposition for a buyer from a safety perspective.
These bikes are running modest mileage for their age, averaging just 10,300 miles, which points to careful ownership and low-intensity use rather than hard riding. The 1.18 average failures per vehicle is lean, but the 2.7 advisories suggest routine wear items (chain, cables, bearings) need regular attention—budget for preventive maintenance rather than expecting a bulletproof machine, and have any prospect inspected in person before purchase.
What to check before buying a 2002 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Royal Enfield Bullet 500
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (98%) | 338 | 84.5% | 1.17 |
| Diesel (1%) | 4 | 85.4% | 2.25 |
| Other (1%) | 2 | 87.5% | 0.5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2002 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 vehicles fall between 4,662 and 12,882 miles.
2002 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 77 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (43% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Royal Enfield Bullet 500?
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