Flying Flea Evolves: Royal Enfield’s C6 & S6 Incoming
- Buck City Biker
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
After a week roaming Motorcycle Live at the Birmingham NEC, we made sure to carve out time with Royal Enfield — because tucked away on their stand were the two EVs that will define the brand’s next chapter: the C6 and the S6.
For a while, the “Flying Flea” name has floated around as a single upcoming electric motorcycle, a modern nod to the tiny WWII-era classic. But that’s not the play anymore. Royal Enfield has quietly turned Flying Flea into its own EV platform — the foundation for a family of electric machines. And now we know what’s coming first.
The C6 lands in January 2026 as RE’s debut road-going electric. Hot on its heels, the S6 — a scrambler built on the same frame and drivetrain — is tipped for 2027. Same platform, two very different personalities.
Here’s what we pulled from the team at MCL.
The C6: A Modern Flea With Bigger Ambitions
Before we get into the new stuff, it’s worth tipping the hat to the original Flying Flea — a 125cc two-stroke featherweight that British paratroopers literally dropped out of planes during WWII. It was tiny, tough, and built to be thrown into chaos and keep moving. That spirit clearly isn’t lost on Royal Enfield, but the 2026 C6 isn’t trying to cosplay as a retro military toy. Instead, it looks to channel the Flea’s simplicity and go-anywhere attitude into a clean, modern electric commuter.
The C6 is the first production bike to sit on Royal Enfield’s new Flying Flea EV platform, and from what we’ve seen, it’s shaping up to be a no-nonsense daily rider rather than a tech-soaked showpiece. Slim profile, 19-inch wheels, upright ergonomics, approachable size — all very much on-brand. But under the skin, it’s an entirely new direction for the company.
We don’t yet have the full confirmed spec sheet — Royal Enfield is still holding several cards close — but we can confirm that the one we photographed at MCL is the final product. We spotted 19-inch wheels, an enclosed belt drive, and a motor that we’re guessing is a 6 kW mid-drive (from the unit size and the C6 name), probably peaking somewhere around 10–12 kW. And an aluminum girder fork replicating 1940s-style suspension but with modern engineering.
RE told us the platform is being engineered for real-world range, urban-friendly performance, and low running costs — not headline-grabbing numbers. It will come with five riding modes — because four wasn't enough — including rain, city, sport, a bidirectional 'crawl' mode for tight manoeuvres, and a customizable mode to suit riders' preferences. So, a balanced setup rather than a performance outlier: something for riders who want an affordable, practical electric without losing the familiar feel that keeps REs so popular.
Tech includes integrated connectivity with remote locking/unlocking, an incognito mode for data privacy, optional location sharing, and tamper alerts. The display will offer dynamic range estimates and full map navigation.
But do you like it? That’s the real question. It’s a noticeable shift from Royal Enfield’s usual design language. The aluminum fins wrapped around the battery pack look sharp, but the overall package is slim and tall — great for “chuckability,” sure, but it does make you wonder whether a slightly lower stance might’ve delivered a more planted feel. On the upside, the inclusion of a pillion seat is a smart, very-RE touch, keeping the bike aligned with the practical, everyday heritage that made the original Flying Flea such a hit.
The S6: Same Bones, Wilder Attitude
If the C6 is Royal Enfield’s sensible electric daily, the S6 is the one that sneaks out after curfew. Built on the same platform — same frame, same core architecture — the S6 takes that foundation and gives it a proper scrambler twist.
Royal Enfield wouldn’t give us hard numbers (again), but the message was clear: the S6 is meant to be an off-road-capable machine. And even though it looks like it uses the same frame and motor as the C6, it offers some considerable differences. We saw a more conventional front end with piston forks, 250 mm of ground clearance, increased suspension travel, blockier tires, a scrambler-style seat, and geometry that looks far happier down a gravel lane than sitting politely in traffic. The display sheets also confirmed “user-adjustable regeneration settings,” “multi-level traction control,” and “tilt-sensitive ABS,” which can be deactivated for more rider control off-road. The S6 even throws in an additional ride mode, with a dedicated off-road setting.
The S6 at MCL wasn’t final-final — Royal Enfield hinted that tweaks may still come before release, likely in 2027 — but it was close enough to read the intent. One notable difference at the back: unlike the belt-drive C6, the S6 runs a chain and sprocket setup, reinforcing its dirt-friendly ambitions. No pillion seat on the S6, but to be fair, probably enough room for a small passenger.
Once the Flying Flea platform has seen some real-world miles under the C6, we expect Royal Enfield will dial in the scrambler flavour properly.
Final Thoughts
Royal Enfield didn’t turn up to Motorcycle Live with a flashy concept or a wild prototype. Sure, they’ve been sitting on this idea while other manufacturers have gone all-in, but they showed up with a plan — a proper platform, two bikes already mapped out, and a clear sense of what electric riding should look like for their riders: simple, affordable, and built for real roads, not just press photos.
The C6 will set Royal Enfield’s EV tone in 2026, with the S6 pushing the platform’s limits a year later. If both land as RE hopes, the Flying Flea could quietly become a significant presence in the lightweight EV segment.
No hype. No theatrics. Just a brand with heritage, finally making its electric move — and doing it the Royal Enfield way.
Ride safe, folks.
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