Royal Enfield used last month’s Rome marathon to kick off its 125th anniversary celebrations in Europe, and to showcase its upcoming Flying Flea C6 electric commuter bike.
A collection of 23 Royal Enfield motorcycles from throughout the company’s history formed a cavalcade through the Italian capital’s cobbled streets ahead of the marathon, while the sponsorship agreement also saw the latest Guerrilla and Himalayan models deployed as support bikes during the race itself, with 30 machines used to transport mobile support teams, stewards and media units.
But it was the appearance of the Flying Flea that was most significant for the company. The learner legal electric is expected to hit showrooms in the coming months and combines traditional design with futuristic technology. Royal Enfield says it deployed 200 engineers on the project, filing more than 45 patents as it looks to attract a new and younger audience to motorcycling. There’s still no specific news on when the Flying Flea will enter British showrooms, but the appearance of the camouflaged prototype in Rome suggests it’s not too far from series production.
The marathon sponsorship followed a 125km ride out around nearby Lake Bolsena, arranged by the Rome branch of Royal Enfield’s Riders Club of Europe, one of many anniversary events being arranged in 2026. The Club had dozens of regional events and ride outs planned in the UK this year, while celebrations will conclude at the huge Motoverse event held on the Indian holiday island of Goa in November.
