During the World War II, Royal Enfield (“The Enfield Cycle Company Limited” then) was called upon by the British authorities to develop and manufacture military motorcycles. That was the birth of the Royal Enfield WD/RE series of motorcycles, also known as the "Flying Flea".

Conceived as a tribute this “Flying Flea” and Royal Enfield’s military heritage, Royal Enfield today launched a special limited run version of the Classic 500 called the “Pegasus” edition. With only 1000 units to be sold worldwide, the online bookings were opened for 250 of them last week in India and each one of them got sold out in under 3 minutes.

Royal Enfield entered the motorcycle industry more than 116 years back in the UK. Such a company was ordered to make a lightweight 125cc motorcycle for the parachute regiment that flew into battle during WWII. These machines had to be dropped by parachute with airborne men or carried in gliders, hence the name “Flying Flea”. They were built in an underground factory from the 1930s, right through to the ‘60s.

The Flea was a runaway success. It saw action all over the world, and today, this whole phenomenon was proved right when 250 of the Classic 500 Pegasus go all sold out in a new record of just 178 seconds, or 2 minutes and 58 seconds to be precise. North America, Europe, India and Australia each will receive 250 units in the coming months.

What different has in this Pegasus you ask? Well, for starters, Royal Enfield teamed up with the British Army’s Parachute Regiment to encapsulate all the history and the legacy of the RE/WD 125cc Flying Flea. The bikes get a Pegasus emblem, the official Parachute Regiment symbol, and a unique serial number stenciled on the tank.

Genuine period correct paintjob ensures the feels stay high and the chaps have even included the yellow stripe on the crankcase that once used to notify the airmen the center of mass for loading onto a plane. Service Brown and Olive Drab Green palettes are complimented with brown handlebar grips, leather strap with brass buckles across the air filter, blacked out silencers, rims, kick-starter, pedals and headlight bezel salutes the rawness intending here.

The bikes also receive a pair of military-style canvas panniers also flying the Pegasus logo along with a host of other accessories ranging from shirts, t-shirts, caps, lapel pins, bags and helmets. The famous Royal Enfield ‘Made Like a Gun’ decal on the battery box is another reminder of the machine’s heritage.

Mechanically, however, it is still the same Classic 500 with the 499cc Single Cylinder, 4 stroke, Twinspark, Air cooled mill producing a healthy 28 hp power and 31 lb-ft max torque. The bike’s ride quality is assured by front 35mm telescopic forks (130mm travel) and a rear twin gas charged shock absorbers with 5-step adjustable preload (80mm travel).

Each of the Pegasus 500 will be priced at around $ 6,500, a $1,500 premium over the standard Classic 500. How fast do you reckon will it take to sell 250 Classic 500 Pegasus units in the US?