Naked Motorcycles
1994Royal Enfield 500 Bullet
40 fields on record
The 1994 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet is a long-running classic single built by Royal Enfield in India. Its air-cooled 499cc single makes 22 hp and 35.2 Nm through a four-speed gearbox, for a top speed of about 123 km/h. A 760 mm seat, 184 kg wet weight and 14.5-litre tank keep it simple and charming.
- Capacity
- 499.0 ccm
- Engine
- Single, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 4-speed
- Dry weight
- 155.0 kg
- Seat height
- 760 mm
- Power
- 22.0 HP (16.2 kW)
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- Best suited to leisurely commuting, short scenic rides, and enthusiasts who want an authentic classic motorcycling experience rather than speed.
- Built for
- Delivers old-school charm with a thumping single-cylinder engine, low-end torque, and a slow, deliberate riding experience rather than sharp performance.
- Not ideal for
- Not a good fit for riders seeking high speed, modern handling precision, or long-distance touring comfort with a passenger.
Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.
Will it fit you?
Worked out in your browser - nothing is sent to usReliability & safety
Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaintsBike Reliability
How the score works →61
out of 100Good
The 1994 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 86.7% of the time, 3.1 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 61% of models.
All years of this model: 70 / 100 (good) from 32,095 tests.
86.7%Passed first time
2.3%Failed outright
10.9%Fixed during test
9,000Typical miles
128Tests
Pass rate by miles ridden
All years of this model.
Score by year first registered
56
68
67
61
64
65
60
48
63
65
74
70
70
70
73
72
73
70
60
64
70
91
'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'15'16
Against its rivals · ranks 2 of 6
| # | Model (all years) | Score | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Enfield 350 Bullet | 75 Good | 8,617 |
| 2 | Royal Enfield 500 Bullet | 70 Good | 32,095 |
| 3 | Honda CB 500 | 41 Average | 45,647 |
| 4 | Yamaha SR 500 | 40 Average | 722 |
| 5 | Suzuki Bandit 400 | 27 Below average | 853 |
| 6 | Suzuki GS 500 E | 23 Below average | 5,550 |
Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.
From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.
Engine
- Capacity
- 499.0 ccm
- Power
- 22.0 HP (16.2 kW)
- Torque
- 35.2 Nm (3.6 kgf-m)
- Engine type
- Single, four-stroke
- Power/weight ratio
- 0.1419 HP/kg (dry)
- Bore x stroke
- 84.0 x 90.0 mm
- Compression
- 6.5:1
- Cooling system
- Air
- Fuel system
- Carburettor
- Starting
- Electric & kick
- Ignition
- Points
- Valves per cylinder
- 2
- Lubrication system
- Dry Sump
Transmission
- Gearbox
- 4-speed
- Transmission type
- Manual
- Final drive
- Chain
- Clutch
- Wet Plate
Performance
- Top speed
- 123.0 km/h (76.4 mph)
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1370 mm
- Overall length
- 2120 mm
- Overall width
- 750 mm
- Overall height
- 1080 mm
- Seat height
- 760 mm
- Dry weight
- 155.0 kg
- Wet weight
- 184.0 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 14.50 litres
- Ground clearance
- 140 mm
- Reserve fuel capacity
- 1.20 litres
Chassis & suspension
- Frame
- Single downtube
- Front suspension
- Telescopic fork
- Rear suspension
- Twin gas charged shock absorbers with 5-step adjustable preload
- Front wheel travel
- 130 mm
- Rear wheel travel
- 80 mm
Brakes & wheels
- Front brakes
- Expanding brake
- Front brakes diameter
- 178 mm
- Rear brakes
- Expanding brake
- Rear brakes diameter
- 152 mm
- Front tyre
- 3.25-19
- Rear tyre
- 3.50-19
Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What changed, year to year
Differences highlighted| Specification | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 499 cc | 499 cc | 499 cc | 499 cc | 499 cc |
| Dry weight | 155 kg | 155 kg | 155 kg | 155 kg | 168 kg |
| Seat height | 760 mm | 760 mm | 760 mm | 760 mm | 760 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14.5 L | 14.5 L | 14.5 L | 14.5 L | 14.5 L |
| Bike Reliability ⓘ | 56 Average | 68 Good | 67 Good | 61 Good | 64 Good |
Illustrative - generated automatically by diffing the year records already on file, not a manufacturer-published changelog.
Rider Reviews
Common questions
What is the engine size of the Royal Enfield 500 Bullet?
The 1994 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet has a Capacity of 499.0 ccm (30.45 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Royal Enfield 500 Bullet have?
The 1994 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet has a Power of 22.0 HP (16.2 kW).
How many gears does the Royal Enfield 500 Bullet have?
The 1994 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet has a Gearbox of 4-speed.
What is the torque of the Royal Enfield 500 Bullet?
The 1994 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet has a Torque of 35.2 Nm (3.6 kgf-m or 26.0 ft.lbs).
How much does the Royal Enfield 500 Bullet weigh?
The 1994 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet has a Dry weight of 155.0 kg (341.7 pounds).
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