If you’re the type of person who buys into “They’re all in on it!” media conspiracies, I guess you can add MCN to the list.
When the UK motorcycle newspaper posted spy-shot images of Royal Enfield’s forthcoming electric motorcycle last month, it chose to make what I thought was a very awkward comparison to the iconic RE125 Flying Flea model that was used by Second World War paratroopers.
Indeed, when I first read that article I said ─ to myself, in the privacy of my own office, with no one around ─ a lot of unpleasant things about MCN’s editorial standards, suggesting that the comparison was made solely for the purpose of padding a story and improving its SEO.
But, clearly, I’m the dumb one here. As we learned at EICMA 2024 last week, Royal Enfield’s new electric platform is called Flying Flea. Or, well, actually, Royal Enfield is calling it a “brand,” presumably mimicking what Ducati attempted (but arguably never succeeded at) with its Scrambler models.
“Marking a major milestone in the company’s 123+ years of history, Royal Enfield proudly enters the EV space by announcing the launch of its completely new electric vehicle brand, Flying Flea,” declares a press release. “Flying Flea’s first products will be the classic-styled FF-C6 followed by the scrambler-styled FF-S6, both expected by early 2026.”
There are 1,500 more words to that press release and we’ll dig into them a little more in a second but the thing that stands out most about Royal Enfield’s announcement is the sum total of zero words that it offered to answer the questions most riders are going to have about this new platform brand.
Those questions can be reduced to just three words: power, range, and price.
And maybe charging time. Those are the things that anyone wants to know about an electric motorcycle. It agitates me that makers of electric motorcycles don’t seem to know this. The world may be fully ready for electric motorcycles but I still don’t think we’re at a point where your marketing can lead with dream-speak the way it might for an internal combustion bike.
For example, if Harley-Davidson introduces a new model, it most likely leads its pitch with, “Freedom… something something… independent… something something… bad-ass… something something,” and then it moves on to the engine. But I don’t think we’re yet at a point where we immediately want to know how an electric motorcycle is going to make us feel; we want to know what it’s actually going to do. And Royal Enfield is not yet answering those questions about the Flying Flea.
Maybe, considering that it knew the name of the brand, MCN is right that the Flying Flea will be comparable to a Maeving RM1S. In which case, we’re looking at an £8,000 bike that’s equivalent in power to a 125cc machine and has a range of about 80 miles. Which makes it pretty niche.
Counter that with the fact that Royal Enfield manages to deliver gorgeous ICE bikes for less than everyone else, and maybe the Flying Flea will be so much better. Maybe. Or maybe that’s why RE wants to refer to Flying Flea as a brand ─ to create separation.
“Flying Flea is not just a new division but a completely fresh start in every respect,” says Mario Alvisi, chief growth officer of electric vehicles for Royal Enfield. “This is much more than a new brand from Royal Enfield ─ this is a whole new approach from the brand. We have worked tirelessly to assemble a world-class team and culture, invested in a groundbreaking infrastructure, class-leading technology and have formed both the brand and products from a blank sheet of paper. With no carryover, no crossover and no cutting of corners the end result is products unlike any other in the market.”
Royal Enfield says it has filed some 28 patents in relation to this platform, “with further advancements coming by the day.” What is clear is that the bikes will be tech-heavy with every digital bell and whistle one can imagine, including over-the-air updates, which is the sort of thing that makes Americans nervous (though, obviously, Royal Enfield is not Chinese).
“Bespoke software, developed in-house, constantly monitors and optimizes riding experience, from improving mileage to creating a captivating riding feel,” states the press release. “To leverage the full capabilities of the FF-C6 we have developed a central Vehicle Control Unit, which… enables over 200,000 different ride mode combinations.”
I can’t even fathom that.
In addition, Royal Enfield says the bike will offer “efficient and capable highway cruising with cruise control.” Which would be equally difficult to fathom if it really were a machine that’s comparable to a Maeving RM1S.
So much of this is just a frustrating mystery. All criticism aside, though, it is a very attractive thing. I love the old-style front fork set-up. And I like the way the motor/battery housing reminds me of the stillsuits worn by the Fremen in Dune.
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