Review: BMW CE 02 E-Motorbike

Remember those flip books from when you were a kid? The ones where, by selecting various disparate body types, you could create a weird and wonderful creature? I’m imagining the design folks at BMW are pursuing the modern equivalent with their e-motorbike range.

With the fork of a scrambler, the handlebars of a BMX bike, a seat like a skateboard, and the trailing swing arm of Tron’s Light Cycle, the CE 02 is a mixed-breed marvel. Neither scooter nor motorcycle, the bike sits in a happy hinterland.

In fact, it’s not an understatement to say the 02 is in a genre of its own. Very much a “Woah, what is that?” kind of bike. BMW hasn’t so much ripped up the rulebook as it has thrown it on the floor and done a wheelspin on it. Like a teenager’s sketch of a jump-bike/motocross scrambler mash-up, this is a bike that could be bought on its visual appeal alone. Put simply, it’s engineered to look fun.

Billed somewhat painfully as an eParkourer (yes, BMW has made up a name for this genre, too), the all-electric bike is styled and marketed squarely at Gen Z. The videos and stills lean heavily on skate, BMX, and street dance vibez. Yes, vibez with a z. You can imagine why BMW has targeted that demographic. It’s not a stretch of the imagination to see younger riders weaned on ebikes and escooters making the transition to more mature motorized transport via this gateway bike.

At £7,450 ($7,599) for the 4-kW base model or £8,495 for the 11-kW, the 02 isn’t exactly a steal, and there are scores of more affordable gas 125-cc scooters, let alone power-comparable EV ones. But if you must have a counterargument, it should be noted that it’s the same price as a midrange Specialized Levo e-mountainbike.

Anyone 16 and older can swing a leg over the 4-kW bike, and UK riders taking a day’s CBT (one-day training) or holding a full motorbike license can ride the 11-kW (125-cc equivalent) model. Laws vary by state in the US, of course.

How do these numbers translate to performance on the road? The 132-kilogram, 11-kW bike I tested will take you from 0 to 30 mph, a good benchmark for speed restrictions in urban environs, in an eye-watering three seconds—perfect for swatting off other riders and drivers jostling for position at the traffic lights. A bike’s ability to move out of danger and into a safer position can’t be overestimated when it comes to city riding, and with a top speed of 60 mph the bike has potential to leave the city on larger carriageways. The 4-kW bike can manage just 28 mph and gets a matching 28 miles of range.

Powering this performance are two 1.96-kW usable-power batteries and charging them from 20 to 80 percent takes 168 minutes. Tight on time? The additional Highline package (an extra £880, or $875) drops it to 102 minutes. Range is a decidedly average 55 miles (90 kilometers).

The bike is engineered around a double-looped steel frame and has an oversize, motocross-styled, upside-down, hydraulically damped telescopic fork. Out back, a single-sided swing arm damps the ride and hosts the rear-wheel belt drive. Fourteen-inch alloy wheels run 240-mm disc brakes (ABS front) and are supported by Automatic Stability Control (think traction control) and Recuperative Stability Control (think traction control for engine braking)—smart, high-end features that are no doubt reflected in that price.

A small, significant detail: The double footpegs are some of the best indications of just how much of a hybrid this bike is. On our brand-hosted test day, regular motorbike riders seemed to favor the rear set, which mirrors the position on a regular motorbike, while scooter riders favored the front, which replicates the position of a stepthrough moped footrest. Eagle-eyed fans of the bike will also notice, in press images of the prototype, a skateboard being used as a footrest, making use of the gap in that bottom loop of the frame.

One of my first questions when looking over the very covetable 02 was, “Where can I put bike locks?” Buying this bike is an investment. How to protect that investment in an inner city environment when the bike isn’t garaged is a question all riders should ask. BMW fits an antitheft alarm and steering lock as standard, but the first thing I’d do after buying the 02 is grab a high-end chain and D-lock. This ride screams “Steal me!” almost as loud as it screams “Ride me!”

The youthful styling works its way down to the tech. Riding modes called Flow and Surf (City and Sport on a regular e-moto) put the bike into drive. Flow features a steady and mellow acceleration while Surf benefits from a more sprightly feel.

Riders with the upgraded Highline package benefit from an extra Flash mode (think turbo), offering up the bike’s strongest acceleration and recuperative braking. Flash won’t suit every rider though. Yes, you have seemingly blistering acceleration, but rolling up to the lights is regulated by that engine braking and is not for those who like the feeling of coasting to a stop. Surprisingly, you can’t change the level of regen braking.

Casting your eye over the rest of the cockpit reveals a remote-control-sized 3.5-inch display and a USB-C charging port, perfect for a phone linked to BMW’s Connected app. Load up the app and pair via Bluetooth for navigation, charging status (including predicted end of charge), and trip recording. Cleverly, you can mount your phone in the dedicated cradle and use it as an additional display that can be manipulated via controls on the handlebar—no fumbling with gloves on the touchscreen.

Sadly, I can’t say navigation is a breeze, and although the handlebar-mounted buttons for moving between bike display and phone function flawlessly, the slightly complicated UI takes time to master. BMW’s app is great for riders who want that connection and data transfer with the bike, but for navigation it’s tough to beat Google Maps or Waze.

So, how does it ride? The bike is as fun as it looks, and as we’ve established, it looks fun. Hardened motorbike lovers may be won over by the build quality but frustrated by the neutral handling; this isn’t a sports bike. The scooter squad will be smitten with an easy twist-and-go rig with big bike acceleration, and the handling is light and predictable enough for first-time riders.

I enjoyed the riding position—upright and commanding, like an adventure bike without the weight or seat height—but would find the saddle uncomfortable after a couple of hours. In truth, it’s really engineered for looks and short hops across the city.

On WIRED’s brand-hosted media drive I rode just over 30 miles around the hilly cobbled streets and dual carriageways of Lisbon, and at the end was left with a battery level of 23 percent. My take is that the BMW engineers imagined this bike doing trips of 6 miles or so, to and from an office, rather than longer trips.

At slow speed the bike is pleasingly predictable, but it’s a noticeably bigger, “more serious” bike than a nippy little moped. That’s the trade-off with the 02. As a rider, are you looking for a bike that’s small, light, easy to park, and able to blend into the background on city streets? If so, get a moped. If you’re looking for a bike with head-turning looks that’s fast, heavier, and potentially a magnet for thieves, get the CE 02.

Wondering whether you should save up for the 02’s big brother, the CE 04? First off, there is that £3,300 ($4,170) hike up in price. Then, to keep it simple, you’re looking at a longer, heavier, and faster bike. Also, the extra side-by-side length (31 centimeters) is noticeable. Speedwise, you’ll be getting an additional 15 mph and that pulse-quickening acceleration, shaving another half-second off the CE 02—2.6 seconds to 30 mph. Around town handling? Even though the CE 04 bluffs out that additional length with urban-friendly maneuverability, its strength is its stability at speed. Yes, the 02 goes 60 mph, but it really feels like 60 mph, whereas the 04 with its length and stability is just happier when driven faster, even at 75 mph.

With the 02’s deliberately youthful styling, sporty ride, and singular design, it looks like BMW is hoping to mop up riders who wouldn’t consider the bigger, heavier, and more old-fashioned petrol super scooters. Such customers will have to get over that price point, though, when this bike lands in late spring, especially since the 02 is being marketed squarely at teens and twentysomethings with arguably less spending power than required to secure such a pricey ride.

Regardless of the clever engineering, modern connected features, and responsive ride quality, the success of the 02 will likely be based on the appeal of that unique, revolutionary aesthetic—and perhaps the pocket depth of generous parents.