Royal Enfield Flying Flea Electric Motorcycle Spied Testing In Ladakh
Royal Enfield recently shared images of the production-ready Himalayan Electric and Himalayan 750 being tested in Ladakh, on their social media handles. Now, spy pictures of the Flying Fea bikes being tested in the mountains have also surfaced, hinting at a possible market launch of these products in the near future.
For the uninitiated, the Flying Flea is the EV vertical of Royal Enfield. It is known to be working on a couple of all-electric models. The first to go on sale will be the C6- an electric motorcycle with a classy design and proportions. We expect it to launch early next year.
The concept bike was showcased at EICMA, where it gathered much public attention. The near-production form of the motorcycle is now being tested in Ladakh. Alongside, we can also see another motorcycle, which is likely the S6.
Both the C6 and S6 are based on a brand-new platform which the manufacturer calls the 'L-platform'. These seem to be undergoing extreme winter testing in the Himalayas.
The C6 will be a neo-retro-styled electric motorcycle. It will be out first and will be sold in international markets as well. It will be compact by Royal Enfield standards and could be priced between the 450cc and 650cc families. Though powertrain details are scarce at the moment, the C6 is expected to pack a lot of torque.
If the production-spec stands close to the concept, it will have a stylish Aluminium frame, premium switchgear, a circular dash as seen on models like the Guerrilla, and features like keyless go. It will be available in both single-seater and two-seater configurations as well.
Royal Enfield (read Flying Flea) has based the C6's design on the principle “Live Lightly.” It wants to make the motorcycle feel less intimidating, lightweight and more accessible even to new riders.
From its previous showcasing, the FF C6 looks good. It gets reimagined versions of Royal Enfield's signature girder forks. Royal Enfield has developed the battery packs, motors, ECUs, controllers, and most other parts of this motorcycle in-house. The battery pack uses a new cell welding technique which is claimed to improve battery health and safety.
The Flying Fleas will use AI-based smart systems to adapt to various terrains, detect obstacles and learn rider behaviour. Tech giant Qualcomm is also an integral part of the project. These motorcycles will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon QC2290 processor for functions like real-time feedback, OTA updates and more.
The Flying Flea team is also known to be working closely with sound engineers to develop new ways of communication through the bike, like smart alerts, chimes and haptic feedback- much like how a smartphone does...
The EV sub-brand has a “City+” vision for its products. The second product spied- the S6, is part of the same. It is in essence, an all-electric Scramber. In addition to being a comfortable city bike, it will offer the flexibility to do mild off-roading.
The S6 differs from the C6 with its design. It gets scrambler-like looks, a different handlebar, an offset instrument cluster and a high-set front fender. While the C6 in these pictures, is seen with alloy wheels and road tyres, the S6 gets knobby rubber and spoke wheels.
The team behind Flying Flea is said to be set up like a startupe. Decision-making is thus quick and efficient, as it runs independently. Umesh Krishnappa, CTO of EV at Royal Enfield had previously remarked that this freedom allowed them to come up with the C6 in just 20 months!
The Himalayan EV Will Be Sold Under Royal Enfield
The Himalayan has played a crucial role in shaping the ADV space here. Royal Enfield is now developing an EV based on this motorcycle, to carry forward its legacy. Interestingly, it will not be sold under Flying Flea!
As the latest set of images suggest, the Himalayan Electric could feature a design that's an evolution of the one found in the HIM.E concept. The battery pack and electric motor could be mounted as structural members on the production form. It could also have a single-piece seat, tall windscreen, all-LED lighting, knobby tyres, and Ohlins suspension.
Spy Image Source: Autocar