Royal Enfield common problems and MOT failures
From 13,266 MOT tests in 2024, 9.5% of Royal Enfield vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.
Top Royal Enfield MOT failure reasons
| # | Problem | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | tyre tread depth outside legal limits | 54 |
| 2 | stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 48 |
| 3 | brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 46 |
| 4 | stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released | 38 |
| 5 | reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear | 38 |
| 6 | transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn | 33 |
| 7 | direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 33 |
| 8 | number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 32 |
| 9 | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 31 |
| 10 | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements | 30 |
What this means if you're buying a Royal Enfield
The single most common MOT failure for Royal Enfield is tyre tread depth outside legal limits, accounting for 14% of all failure items. A set of new tyres typically costs £200–£500 depending on size.
These figures are from real MOT inspections. They show what testers actually find wrong with Royal Enfield vehicles. If you're viewing a used Royal Enfield, it's worth checking these areas specifically.
Royal Enfield models by MOT pass rate
Lowest pass rates first. These models have the most testable issues.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet Efi E4 | 204 | 86.3% |
| Bullet Classic Efi 20 | 214 | 87.9% |
| Continental Gt 650 | 541 | 88% |
| Continental | 478 | 88.3% |
| Bullet 350 | 319 | 88.4% |
| Bullt | 842 | 88.6% |
| Himalayan E5 | 423 | 88.9% |
| Himalayan | 1,823 | 89.4% |
| Interceptor Int 650 | 2,124 | 90.5% |
| Bullet 500 | 854 | 90.7% |
| Bullet | 328 | 90.9% |
| Continental Gt 650 E5 | 215 | 91.2% |
| Himalayan 20 | 631 | 91.8% |
| Bullet Classic Efi E4 | 1,021 | 91.9% |
| Interceptor Int 650 20 | 329 | 92.1% |
Buying a specific Royal Enfield? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.
Check MOT history on GOV.UK