We still have a hard time with electrified two-wheelers if they don’t have pedals. In view of the range, the charging speed, the weight and the price, the reservations are justified, but at least in urban mobility, electric motorcycles are now enjoying growing popularity.
Especially if they can score points in terms of design, and that’s exactly where BMW comes in with the CE 02. The Bavarian brand had already presented the CE 02 as a concept in 2019, when many still doubted whether the bold look would make it into series production.
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For young people
At the “BMW Motorrad Days”, the manufacturer proved the skeptics wrong and presented the finished CE 02 largely unchanged. It is very independent in design and does not want to be either a scooter or a motorcycle. BMW speaks of an “eParkourer” and is targeting the young generation with this attribution of moving through the city in a sporty, creative and crazy way.
It was created for use in the city and urban environment. This classification takes the wind out of the sails of those who could rightly criticize a lack of range. The designers play with the cubic shapes, it looks a bit as if the driver is sitting on a battery with two wheels. As a counterpoint, they drew a circle on each side of the electric motor. The CE 02 abruptly stops behind the deliberately flat seat and the rear wheel is practically free.
14-inch wheels
The unusual disc wheels with aluminum rims appear larger on the compact bike than they really are because they are only 14 inches in diameter and are fitted with 120/80-14 and 150/70-14 tires. Despite the futuristic look, the CE 02 has a classic steel double cradle frame.
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BMW launches a new electric motorcycle. The young generation was selected as the target group.
At the front, a telescopic fork with 117 mm spring travel guides the front wheel, at the rear a spring strut with 56 mm spring travel is directly linked to the single-sided swing arm. The BMW developers don’t even try to imitate a tank and do without bulky containers. Instead, the seat runs backwards from the steering tube like a ski jump and there is a gaping hole underneath. This makes the CE 02 look lighter. With a seat height of 750 mm, it is low anyway.
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Handy and with reverse gear
With a wheelbase of 1353 mm, the CE 02 remains compact, the steering head angle is 65.5 degrees and the caster is 91 mm, which matches the handiness advertised by BMW for city use. The CE 02 allows itself a special gag with the footrests, one pair sits just in front of the pivot point of the swingarm, another pair is attached to a crash bar at the front.
This allows you to stretch your legs forward in a relaxed manner. The handlebars are cranked very high, almost like a chopper. A TFT display provides the driver with all important information. Below the handlebar clamp is a USB-C charging connector for the smartphone. Since the e-bike has no gears, there is no clutch, the hand lever on the left of the handlebar operates the rear wheel brake. The BMW even has a reverse gear for maneuvering. As a modern motorcycle, the CE 02 has LED lights all around, with daytime running lights at the front that are separate from the headlights.
BMW offers the CE 02 in two performance versions for the A1 and B196 driver’s license, so the air-cooled electric motor has a peak output of 11 kW and a permanent 6 kW and achieves a torque of 55 Nm. In a 4 kW version, which is limited to 45 km/h, holders of the AM driving license can drive it from the age of 15.
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