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.
Gen Z Gateway Bike
Andrew Diprose testing the CE 02 on the streets of Lisbon. He is nowhere near BMW’s Gen Z target rider.
Photograph: BMW
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.
Quick, but Average Staying Power
The all-electric CE 02 is capable of zero to 30 mph in three seconds, and has a 55-mile max range.
Photograph: BMW
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.