Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6: Everything We Know About Royal Enfield’s First Electric Motorcycle

Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6: A New Kind of Royal Enfield

Royal Enfield is preparing to enter a completely new era of motorcycling with the Flying Flea C6, its first production electric motorcycle.

We recently shared some early information about the Flying Flea on our social media pages and it certainly got people talking. We have had questions about everything from range and charging to performance, batteries, price and whether an electric motorcycle can really feel like a Royal Enfield.

So, we thought it was time to take a closer look at what we know about the Flying Flea C6 so far.

Some details surrounding the UK version, including final pricing, specification and availability, are still to be confirmed. The information below is based on details currently available about the C6 and Royal Enfield's development of its new electric motorcycle platform.

What Is The Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6?

The Flying Flea C6 is the first production electric motorcycle from Royal Enfield and the first model from its new Flying Flea electric motorcycle brand.

Despite being packed with modern technology, the C6 has a strong connection to Royal Enfield's history.

The Flying Flea name dates back to the lightweight Royal Enfield motorcycles developed during the Second World War. These small motorcycles were designed to be lightweight and portable, including being used by airborne forces.

The new C6 takes inspiration from that history but combines it with a completely modern electric powertrain, lightweight construction and connected technology.

How Is The Flying Flea C6 Powered?

Instead of the familiar Royal Enfield single or twin-cylinder petrol engine, the C6 is powered entirely by electricity.

Current information surrounding the production motorcycle points towards a permanent magnet electric motor producing approximately 15 kW of peak power, which is roughly equivalent to 20 to 21 horsepower.

Peak torque has been reported at around 60 Nm.

Power is delivered to the rear wheel through a belt drive rather than a conventional motorcycle chain.

As with all electric motorcycles, the way that power is delivered will be very different to a petrol-powered Royal Enfield. Electric motors can provide torque immediately, without waiting for engine revs to build.

Flying Flea C6 Battery

One of the most interesting parts of the C6 is its battery.

The battery pack is reported to have a capacity of approximately 3.9 kWh and contains 224 individual cells.

Royal Enfield has put considerable investment into developing and testing the battery system rather than simply treating the battery as a bought-in component.

The cells are connected using a laser welding process. According to information from Royal Enfield's EV development facility, using laser welding helps minimise heat transfer to the cells during assembly.

The battery is then housed within a lightweight magnesium casing, another interesting piece of engineering used in the C6.

How Far Will The Flying Flea C6 Travel?

This is understandably one of the biggest questions riders have been asking.

A figure of up to approximately 154 km, or around 95 miles, has been reported under the IDC testing cycle.

Real-world electric motorcycle range can vary considerably depending on speed, temperature, riding style, road conditions and the riding mode being used.

For that reason, we would wait for confirmed UK testing and final production specifications before treating any range figure as a guaranteed real-world distance.

How Fast Is The Flying Flea C6?

Current figures suggest a top speed of approximately 115 km/h, or around 71 mph.

Acceleration from 0 to 60 km/h has also been reported at approximately 3.7 seconds.

That gives us a good indication of where the C6 is positioned. This is not intended to be an electric superbike. It appears to have been designed as a lightweight motorcycle particularly suited to urban and everyday riding.

How Long Will It Take To Charge?

Charging is another area where there has been plenty of interest.

Figures currently being reported suggest a full charge from 0 to 100% could take approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes, while charging from 20% to 80% could take around 65 minutes.

Charging specifications can differ between markets and these figures should therefore be treated as an indication until the final UK specification is confirmed.

A Lightweight Electric Motorcycle

Weight is particularly important on an electric motorcycle because batteries can add considerable mass.

The Flying Flea C6 has been reported at approximately 124 kg.

If that figure carries across to the final UK motorcycle, it would make the C6 exceptionally light compared with many electric motorcycles and also lighter than the current Royal Enfield petrol motorcycle range.

Part of this has been achieved through the extensive use of lightweight materials.

Forged Aluminium Frame And Girder-Style Front Suspension

The design of the C6 is probably going to be one of its biggest talking points.

Rather than hiding the structure of the motorcycle underneath conventional bodywork, the Flying Flea uses an exposed forged aluminium frame that forms part of the bike's distinctive appearance.

At the front is an unusual forged aluminium girder-style suspension system.

It gives the motorcycle a look that manages to reference very early motorcycle design while still appearing futuristic.

Combined with the magnesium battery casing, belt drive and minimalist bodywork, there is very little about the C6 that looks conventional.

Riding Modes And Regenerative Braking

The C6 is expected to offer considerably more electronic adjustment than riders might normally associate with a Royal Enfield.

Reported riding modes include:

• Rain
• City
• Highway
• Sport
• A customisable riding mode

The electronic system can alter characteristics including throttle response, traction control and regenerative braking.

Regenerative braking allows an electric motorcycle to recover some energy while slowing down and feed it back into the battery.

A Very Different Royal Enfield Dashboard

The technology continues in front of the rider.

The Flying Flea C6 has been shown with a 3.5-inch TFT touchscreen display, bringing together the motorcycle's information and connected functions.

Other technology associated with the C6 includes:

• USB-C charging
• Wireless device charging
• Electronic handlebar locking
• Traction control
• Multiple riding modes
• Regenerative braking adjustment
• Connected motorcycle technology

Royal Enfield Has Built A Dedicated EV Development Facility

Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the Flying Flea story is what has been happening behind the scenes.

Royal Enfield has established a dedicated electric vehicle development facility at its Tiruvottiyur factory in Chennai.

The facility reportedly represents an investment of around US$7 million and is being used to develop and test batteries, powertrains, electronics, software and complete vehicle systems.

The company is clearly looking beyond a single electric motorcycle. The facility has been developed with future Flying Flea models in mind.

Battery Safety And Testing

Royal Enfield appears to have placed a major emphasis on battery safety.

Battery cells are tested at different temperatures and samples can undergo CT scanning to inspect their internal construction.

Testing reportedly includes:

• Different temperature conditions
• Battery cycling
• High-rate discharge testing
• Water ingress testing
• Dust ingress testing
• Battery management system testing

Royal Enfield has said that reliability testing is carried out extensively on the electrical subsystems, with development targets designed to represent many years of use.

Software Is Becoming Just As Important As The Hardware

The C6 also demonstrates just how different developing an electric motorcycle can be.

Royal Enfield uses a Vehicle Control Unit, or VCU, which effectively acts as the central command system for the motorcycle.

It manages the huge number of electronic signals passing through the bike and works alongside the battery management and other electronic systems.

Royal Enfield has also invested in specialist facilities that allow engineers to simulate faults and unusual situations in software before they happen on a motorcycle in the real world.

Connectivity and cybersecurity have also formed part of the development programme because the C6 is intended to become a global motorcycle.

A Dedicated Flying Flea Production Line

The Flying Flea is not simply being assembled alongside existing motorcycles without any changes to production.

A dedicated production line has been created for Royal Enfield's electric motorcycles.

It consists of three main areas:

• Motor assembly
• Battery assembly
• Final motorcycle assembly

The line has reportedly been designed with the flexibility to manufacture future Flying Flea models as well as the C6, with a potential capacity of around 120,000 motorcycles per year.

We already know the C6 will not be the end of the story either, with the Flying Flea S6 scrambler-style model also forming part of Royal Enfield's electric plans.

How Much Will The Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6 Cost In The UK?

At the moment, this is one area where we would advise caution.

There are various prices and estimates circulating online, including figures based on overseas pricing and predictions of what the C6 could eventually cost in the UK.

Some reports have suggested a possible UK price in the region of £3,800 to £4,000, while other information has suggested European pricing could be below €7,000.

These figures should not be treated as confirmed UK retail pricing.

Until official UK pricing is announced, we would rather not speculate about exactly what customers will eventually pay.

When Is The Flying Flea C6 Coming To The UK?

The Flying Flea C6 is not currently available for immediate retail sale and delivery in the UK.

A wider international rollout has been expected following its initial introduction, but exact UK timings, final specifications and sales arrangements still need to be confirmed.

As for whether you’ll see the Flying Flea sitting on the CMS showroom floor, that part of the story is still a little up in the air. The way Flying Flea will be sold in the UK has yet to be fully confirmed, so we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves and promise something before Royal Enfield has finished making the rules!

We know there is already plenty of interest in the C6, including from our own customers. So, while we can’t currently promise that CMS will be able to sell the Flying Flea directly, we certainly won’t be ignoring it. We’ll keep you updated as more official information becomes available and, where we can, help point you in the right direction if you’re hoping to get your hands on one.

After all, we might not get to make the rules, but we can at least help you keep up with them! 

Is This Really The Future Of Royal Enfield?

That is probably the biggest question of all.

The Flying Flea C6 is very different from a Bullet, Classic, Himalayan, Interceptor or Continental GT. There is no exhaust note, no traditional engine and no need to change gear in the conventional sense.

But there are still some very Royal Enfield ideas behind it.

It is relatively simple in appearance, takes inspiration from the company's history and has been designed as an accessible lightweight motorcycle rather than chasing enormous performance figures.

Royal Enfield is also continuing to develop and manufacture its petrol motorcycles. The arrival of Flying Flea does not mean the end of the Royal Enfields riders already know.

Instead, it gives the company another direction and potentially introduces a completely different type of rider to the Royal Enfield name.

Would You Ride An Electric Royal Enfield?

We know electric motorcycles divide opinion, and judging by the response to our recent Flying Flea posts, riders have plenty of questions about this one.

Would a lightweight electric motorcycle with around 20 horsepower appeal to you for commuting and shorter journeys?

Would the expected range work for the riding you do?

Could you see yourself owning one alongside a petrol motorcycle?

Or, for you, does a Royal Enfield always need a petrol engine and an exhaust note?

Whatever your opinion, the Flying Flea C6 is an interesting glimpse at a very different side of Royal Enfield.

We will be following the development of the Flying Flea closely and sharing more information as confirmed UK details become available.