Naked Motorcycles
1996Royal Enfield Bullet 500
39 fields on record
The 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 is the larger version of the long-running, Indian-built Bullet. Its air-cooled 499cc four-stroke single makes 22 hp and 35.2 Nm through a four-speed gearbox. A 780 mm seat, 184 kg wet weight and a 14.5-litre tank suit relaxed, classic riding.
- Capacity
- 499.0 ccm
- Engine
- Single, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 4-speed
- Dry weight
- 155.0 kg
- Seat height
- 780 mm
- Power
- 22.0 HP (16.2 kW)
Other years
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- Built for relaxed, classic-style cruising and short commutes rather than outright performance.
- Built for
- A charming, old-school single-cylinder machine that prioritizes character and simplicity over speed or modern refinement.
- Not ideal for
- Not for riders seeking quick acceleration, high-speed touring, or serious off-road capability.
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 →65
out of 100Good
The 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 86.7% of the time, 3.8 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 65% of models.
All years of this model: 70 / 100 (good) from 32,095 tests.
86.7%Passed first time
4.4%Failed outright
8.8%Fixed during test
8,000Typical miles
113Tests
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 Bullet 500 | 70 Good | 32,095 |
| 3 | Honda CB 500 | 41 Average | 45,647 |
| 4 | Yamaha SR 500 | 40 Average | 722 |
| 5 | Suzuki GN250 | 35 Below average | 5,445 |
| 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
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1370 mm
- Overall length
- 2120 mm
- Overall width
- 1080 mm
- Overall height
- 1120 mm
- Seat height
- 780 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 | 1996 | 2002 | 2008 | 2013 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 499 cc | 499 cc | 499 cc | 499 cc | 499 cc |
| Dry weight | 155 kg | 168 kg | 160 kg | 160 kg | 160 kg |
| Seat height | 780 mm | 780 mm | 780 mm | 780 mm | 800 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14.5 L | 14.5 L | 14.5 L | 14.5 L | 13.5 L |
| Bike Reliability ⓘ | 65 Good | 70 Good | 70 Good | Too few tests | Too few tests |
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 Bullet 500?
The 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 has a Capacity of 499.0 ccm (30.45 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 have?
The 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 has a Power of 22.0 HP (16.2 kW).
How many gears does the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 have?
The 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 has a Gearbox of 4-speed.
What is the torque of the Royal Enfield Bullet 500?
The 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 has a Torque of 35.2 Nm (3.6 kgf-m or 26.0 ft.lbs).
How much does the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 weigh?
The 1996 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 has a Dry weight of 155.0 kg (341.7 pounds).
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