We tested Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle: retro design, only 124 kg in weight, and a price of 5,990 €
It has been almost two years since Royal Enfield announced that it would also venture into electric mobility. To do this, it created the new brand Flying Flea, whose design is inspired by its own history. Specifically, it draws from a 1940s military model that, weighing just 60 kg, was designed to be dropped by parachute to enable soldiers to move more quickly on the front lines.
The concept of Flying Flea is incredibly charming and fun, as its name suggests, which literally means “Flying Flea.” This innovative product aims to address urban mobility needs as well as those in suburban areas, adding a touch of elegance and vintage style.
Without compromising on efficiency and smooth performance, as demonstrated during its first outing in the picturesque and entertaining surroundings of Paris, France, it now showcases its elegance in the beautiful countryside as autumn begins. It also handles itself well amidst the intense traffic of the City of Light, where the FF.C6 proves to be a silent tool capable of navigating through it while enhancing the appearance of wherever it passes.
Excellent Design
The Flying Flea C6 presents a very classic look that breaks away from the typical concept of electric mobility. Its standout feature is the aluminum frame, made up of several unbolted pieces that are clearly visible, featuring an arch-shaped design with the battery and motor mounted on it.
The fork is another work of art and currently the only model in production equipped with it. It’s of the Girder type and consists of a pair of lateral beams that extend to the front axle, housing a pair of shock absorbers, supported by an efficient parallelogram system that provides the necessary progressiveness to absorb road irregularities. At the back, it features a simple cantilever design that allows for the use of a single shock absorber and is also very visible.
The seat uses a bike-style saddle, similar to those on early motorcycles, and optionally includes an additional seat along with corresponding footrests for the passenger. There are also fins that accurately replicate the shape of the tires. Incidentally, both front and rear tires have the same 90/90-19” size; they are supplied by the Indian giant CEAT and bear the Flying Flea name on their sides.
It features a very original design that encourages close inspection of every detail, with a highly refined finish. The overall structure stands out for its slimness and feels very light, weighing only about 124 kg.
Efficient mechanics
Its air-cooled permanent magnet synchronous motor delivers a maximum power of 15.4 kW at 3,500 rpm and 60 Nm of torque. It is powered by a 3.91 kWh lithium-ion battery made up of over 200 laser-welded cells, housed securely within a magnesium casing with flared exterior sections to enhance cooling.
The transmission system uses a pair of toothed belts. There is a primary drive from the motor to the drive sprocket, covered by a cover similar to an oil pan, which is another aesthetic nod to the original model that inspired the FF.C6. Alongside this is the usual secondary belt that drives the rear wheel.
In addition, Royal Enfield has developed Fleaware OS, which offers a next-generation riding experience through its exclusive adaptation of Android Automotive OS, working alongside the Flying Flea app. The system continuously learns from the rider’s behavior, enabling a more intuitive and personalized use experience, while remote updates ensure the motorcycle keeps improving.
Everything is manufactured in Chennai, India. For the development of this first C6 model, Royal Enfield allocated a dedicated 1,090 m² facility, filed over 45 patents for the project, and employed a team of more than 200 highly qualified engineers. They remain in constant contact with Royal Enfield’s technology center in Leicester, United Kingdom.
A stylish urban solution
At the handlebars, the C6 proves to be ergonomic for our 1.76 meter height. The seat is positioned just 834 mm above the ground, making it accessible to most riders given its low weight. The seat surface is quite adequate, as is its comfort level.
The footpegs are covered with rubber, a nice detail that protects more delicate footwear. There are no additional levers below, with all controls concentrated on the handlebars. This allows the footpegs to be turned to adopt a more customized position.
The ignition system eliminates the need for a physical key, requiring the installation of the corresponding Flying Flea app on the smartphone. It is housed in a specific phone compartment within the fake fuel tank, where it can be charged wirelessly at 15 W. It also features a 27 W USB-C port.
A button above the compartment allows activation of the ignition and release of the steering lock, triggering a series of different sounds that indicate various actions; for example, activating the ignition produces a sound similar to a pressure valve. We also hear the sound of laser swords clashing, or when both brakes are applied while stationary to activate autohold (handbrake), it sounds like an online message is arriving. Above the ignition button is the emergency call button for use in necessary situations.
The motorcycle turns on in the usual parking mode (P), and it is necessary to operate both brake levers for it to switch to drive mode (D) so that driving can begin. These levers have adjustable distance settings, but in the closest position they seem a bit far apart at first until we get used to them, and that’s considering our hands aren’t exactly small.
The braking system is provided by ByBre (BREMBO’s affordable range for Asian production), and its feel seems slightly inferior to the quality of the rest of the setup. It functions well and comes equipped with ABS assisted by a module that takes the slope angle into account. If we use the rear brake excessively, ABS activates very easily, with a response that feels like a ratchet is being engaged, thereby prolonging the braking distance. The front brake doesn’t activate as readily but still delivers sufficient braking power. It also features traction control, whose intervention is very smooth, giving the impression of cutting off power to the transmission system.
There are five driving modes: City, Highway, Sport, Rain, and Custom (personalizable), which adjust the accelerator response, engine braking, top speed, and more. Obviously, Sport mode is the most fun, offering rapid acceleration without becoming overly aggressive. It can go from 0 to 60 km/h in just 3.7 seconds… We also measured a top speed of 115 km/h. In short, the C6 allows you to leave town and use bypass highways without any major issues.
A true urban athlete
The FF.C6 feels very agile, and the weight of our body affects its reactions. It has suspension systems that work excellently, absorbing any uneven surfaces. The constant bouncing of the upper parallelogram in the fork is noticeable, but it’s best not to get distracted, as things can happen very quickly in a C6. The simple speed control is another convenience on board. It’s ideal for tackling the most monotonous routes or avoiding fines for inattention.
The meticulously crafted aesthetics are a priority in the FF.C6, featuring details such as the symmetrical design of the pins that hold the various switches. To the extent that the turn signal buttons are placed too close to the other buttons, requiring an adjustment period to avoid confusion. Additionally, they lack auto-off functionality, meaning they must be activated again to turn off.
Rapid charging
In terms of range, it claims a maximum of 104 km in urban conditions according to the WMTC 1 cycle, and around 81 km outside cities. Obviously, the C6 isn’t meant for long trips, but it does suffice for urban mobility and even a bit further, adding that stylish touch wherever it goes.
The consumption is, by default, measured in percentage of battery charge per kilometer traveled. When rounded, this results in a range of over 100 kilometers of range. During this initial assessment, we were unable to confirm this due to the presentation format. We traveled just over 60 kilometers in total with several stops, during which the organizers decided to charge the motorcycles even though we hadn’t reached the battery reserve level. What we could confirm, however, is that in just one hour during the break, the motorcycle recharged almost the full 80% of its energy, going from 23% to 97%.
The charger is integrated into the FF.C6, and a standard PC cable with C13 and C14 connectors is used for charging. On conventional power grids, it takes one minute per percentage point of the total charge. The cable doesn’t have a predetermined location on the motorcycle for storage, though having one at regular charging stations shouldn’t be a major issue. The system is designed for both fast charging and maintenance charging.
Royal Enfield was one of the pioneering manufacturers to offer navigation systems on its motorcycles. Initially, it used the simple Tripper system with arrow indicators; now, its touchscreen dashboard, featuring a 3.5-inch circular TFT panel, allows users to view maps for navigation when needed. The GPS can also be accessed through a simpler system of arrows and distances located on the edge of the screen, giving priority to essential driving information. In short, it’s a feature made possible by modern technology that is very convenient for everyday use.
Strong Investment at an Affordable Price
Royal Enfield has built a new factory in Chennai for its electric motorcycle division. An investment of $7 million is said to have been made for the plant, with the entire project costing $22 million. Following the FF.C6 will be the scrambler FF.S6, which we saw in person with a highly artistic customization. More models are planned if everything goes as scheduled.
Royal Enfield, continuing with its policy of reasonable pricing, has set the price for its new electric model at 5,990 €. This is a quite fair figure considering everything it offers, as we’ve tried to detail in the text. Additionally, it’s available in three different colors: Flea Green, Storm Black, and Parachute White. We were already aware of the availability of this white color during the same launch event. It’s important to note that each color comes with a specific frame shade. That’s what’s known as paying attention to detail.
The new model began selling in India last spring, with more information to be released before its launch in Europe. For now, the Flying Flea will be distributed through five dealerships in Europe, located in London, Berlin, Paris, Rome, and Barcelona. The one in our country shares facilities with Royal Enfield Barcelona, situated at Carrer de Buenos Aires, 53, Eixample.
Flying Flea is a major push by Royal Enfield to make sustainable urban mobility more accessible, with a stylish and casual touch. Could we be witnessing a plague of stylish flying fleas?