We are firm believers that electric powertrains work best for smaller motorcycles that blur the line between bike and scooter. Take a look at the stylish new BMW CE 02, and it’s clear that the Bavarian brand feels the same way.
BMW CE 02 is the company’s second car electric motorcycle released for many years, following on from CE 04. As a smaller machine than its sibling, BMW is presenting it not as a motorcycle or a scooter, but as something that’s in the middle. They’re calling it ‘eParkourer’—although it’s not a real word, implying that it’s geared toward traversing urban environments.
To convey this message, BMW’s marketing material places CE 02 smack bang in the middle of an urban jungle—surrounded by concrete, murals, skaters and cool youngsters. It all feels a bit clunky, which is ironic, because CE 02 actually looks nice enough without being too frills.
Designed like some futuristic mini-bike motorized BMX and rolling on cute 14-inch die-cast aluminum wheels, it looks compact and fun. The base model is mostly black, but the higher-end version (called the ‘Highline’) has a much more vibrant paint job. With its benches and high bars, it seems like the perfect setup to glide through traffic and into small alleyways.
The chassis uses a dual-ring tubular frame, with a telescopic fork at the front and a monoshock connected to a single swingarm at the rear. There’s 4.6 inches of suspension moving up front, with 2.2 inches at the rear. Single disc brakes are on duty at each end, with only ABS on the front wheels.
The CE 02’s mid-mounted engine sends power to the rear wheels via a belt drive. Two versions of the sled will be available. Standard version with a maximum power of 11 kW [15 hp] with a torque of 55 Nm, but also 4 kW [5 hp] variant limited to a top speed of 45 km/h [28 mph]. The slower CE 02 meets the requirements of the German ‘AM’ license class, which means anyone with a driving license can drive it (regulations will vary by country).
11 kW CE 02 reaches a speed of 95 km/h [59 mph], with a claimed minimum range of 90 km. It comes standard with two drive modes; ‘Flow’ for gliding through traffic and ‘Surf’ for a more dynamic ride. A more vivid mode, ‘Flash’, is available as an additional option and is part of the Highline specification.
The CE 02 also comes standard with BMW’s Automatic Stability Control and Restorative Stability Control. The 11 kW one weighs 132 kg [291 lbs]the 4 kW one weighs 119 kg [262 lbs]. The saddle has a beginner-friendly height of 750 mm [29.5″]and there is only enough space for two people.
Charge via the included external charger, with a more powerful fast charger available (again, as an aftermarket device or as part of the Highline package). Both will work with any household electrical outlet.
BMW advertises the CE 02 as packed with innovative features, but most of the truly technological stuff is confined to the cockpit. The bike uses a mini TFT display, which outputs common information such as speed and battery status. Like most BMWs, it can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, with a USB-C port to charge your phone.
The Highline model enhances this functionality by featuring a smartphone holder that places your phone next to the TFT display. Pair it with the CE 02 and put it in ‘Cradle’ mode and it acts as a second monitor. Other highlights include keyless ignition and LED ambient lighting.
While CE 02 intrigued us, its price could be a tough spot. BMW Motorrad USA is listed at $7,599 for the base model and $8,474 for the Highline specs.
Old fashioned cyclists will probably balk at that listing the many gas-powered bikes they can buy for that money. But they are not the intended audience of the CE 02, as BMW is clearly targeting young people.
However, that could prove to be an even tougher sell. After all, you know how many 15 to 25 year olds are willing to spend 8k dollars on a bike?
