The iconic motorcycle brand Royal Enfield has announced that the company has now started delivering its inaugural e-bike model, the Flying Flea C6. The maiden deliveries are made through the new Royal Enfield-focused EV showroom in the dedicated Flying Flea EV centre in Jayanagar, Bengaluru, and the High-street capital has become India’s first city to see the arrival of the new-age electric motorcycle.
It’s immediately obvious that the Flying Flea C6 has a retro-modern style. On a surface level, it is evident that it is definitely a Royal Enfield. The brand’s classic appeal remains with the circular headlamp LED lights, simple bodywork design and fuel tank integrated fittings that incorporate sculpted styling. All the elements of the headlamp, the body and the fitting incorporated into the fuel tank deliver the classic appeal of the brand with the circular LED headlamp brightening the way. Under the elegant facade, however, lies a fresh electric platform uniquely created for future Royal Enfield EVs. This is perhaps one of the main reasons behind the motorcycle’s high excitement generated by the enthusiasts.
One of the biggest highlights of the Flying Flea C6 is its performance. Its electric motor is coupled to a 3.9 kWh battery pack with 15.4 kW of electric power and 60 Nm of torque right from the start. The electric motorcycle is claimed to have the ability to travel up to 154 kilometres on a single charge, which is well suited for City commute and Weekend driving. It can reache at the top speeds of up to 115 km/h, making it great for commuting to work and highways. The low 124 kg kerb weight provides agility and responsiveness in addition to the efficient powertrain, and is backed by the claimed 154 km IDC range for everyday use.
The braking system works with a 260 mm front disc, a 220 mm rear disc and a dual-channel ABS control system which features 3 sensitivity settings which adapt to the different riding conditions. Additionally, riders have the option to disable ABS for the rear wheel to control during sensitive situations. Traction control and a lean-angle sensitive ABS system aid the rider’s stability during cornering and add to safety, as do numerous other advanced safety features. Other key design elements include an electronic tip-over alert, which informs the owner when the motorcycle tips over and a “Share My Status & Location” capability to enable riders to share their real-time location with other motorcyclists for greater safety and connectivity.
The electric motorcycle features a balanced and stable suspension up front with a girder linkage-type hydraulic twin suspension; at the back it is hitched to a direct-acting mono-shock with an internal floating piston to maintain a level and stable body attitude on city roads and varying surfaces. It’s ideal for absorbing bumps with 100 mm of fore-wheel travel and 110 mm of rear wheel travel. The electric bike is fitted with 19-inch tubeless tyres of CEAT on the front end, and a CEAT 90/90-19 on the rear end, to enhance handling and grip. This suspension and tyre setup is integral to how lightweight the C6 handles, builds the rider’s confidence and makes for comfort on the road.
For charging Batteries, Flea C6 features an on-board charger and can be charged using an electronically locked cable via C13 and C14 sockets. The electric motorcycle is capable of accepting an AC input voltage between 100V and 270V, while the output voltage for the DC is between 80V to 120V. Royal Enfield reports that the Flying Flea C6 will be able to charge the battery at around 1% per minute, so it will take about 65 minutes to fully charge the battery in the ideal scenario.
In term of tech, it features an advanced in-house operating system which features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon QWM2290 processor dedicated to two-wheelers connected with computers. This technology ensures seamless 4G, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity, leaving pillion riders connected at all times. The Instrument cluster features a 3.5 incg of TFT touchscreen display, which includes a built-in navigation system, voice control and automatic over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The bike is also compatible with riders’ phones or smartwatches, allowing for a completely digital and keyless ride.
Connectivity isn’t the only smart thing about the Flying Flea C6, there are lots of other cool capabilities geared towards making things easier and more customisable. The dedicated mobile app allows riders to fine-tune the ride modes remotely and view vehicle diagnostics. Riding control with smart controls on the handlebar and voice-assisted navigation make this system easier to use on the road. The in-house developed Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) is at the heart of these features, managing thousands of combinations of rides and continuously optimising the system to generate a highly intelligent, connected and rider-centric mobility experience.
As far as the pricing is concerned, The Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6 comes ex-showroom at a price of ₹2.79 lakh with the battery. The other aspect that’s catching its focus is Royal Enfield’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) programme. To make the electric motorcycle more accessible, Royal Enfield is also pushing the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model that would cut the initial purchase price to ₹1.99 lakh (ex-showroom); this means that BaaS cuts the initial investment price down by approximately ₹80,000. This arrangement involves a reduced initial price for the bike, and customers are responsible for making separate payments for the battery through subscription fees.
The Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6 does not have a direct rival in the retro-premium electric motorcycle segment yet. However, it competes with several premium electric motorcycles available in India, including:
Royal Enfield has just kicked the tyres on its new Flying Flea C6 on the Indian streets and officially ushered in a new chapter in its storied history. This electric motorcycle might be worth considering if you wish for reduced running expenses, state-of-the-art connected particularities and the support of the horse of a renowned motorcycle brand. Riders that do a lot of long-distance touring, however, may prefer to hold off until charging stations are more prevalent. This motorcycle is an interesting option for the urban rider who wants a style that’s influenced by history and tech-forward in the future.
