The electric motorbike scene really falls into two camps: those that try to disguise their electrified innards behind traditional motorbike styling, and those that toss convention out of the window and proudly celebrate the future.
Personally, I’m a fan of the latter. It saves me from having the same old chat with onlookers about why there’s no engine noise or exhaust pipe to admire.
Take BMW’s CE 02 as the perfect example. It’s so unapologetically bold and unconventional that most people are too taken aback by its futuristic looks to even draw comparisons with petrol-powered bikes.
In essence, the CE 02 is the smaller, more approachable sibling to BMW’s CE 04 — still futuristic, but designed for a broader range of riders. It’s just as suited to newcomers wanting an easy urban runabout as it is to experienced riders looking for something stylish and hassle-free for city life.
Boosted performance
You can option it in either 4kW (5hp) or 11kW (15hp) guises, the former of which can be ridden on a CBT here in the UK. The flat, skateboard-style seat lifts to reveal one or two removable batteries depending on the model, and you can top them up from a standard household socket in around five hours. An optional fast charger cuts that down considerably.
“True to BMW form, the build quality feels solid and premium”
BMW calls it an “eParkourer” – a slightly bizarre term that we are yet to fathom, but you get the idea. It’s an agile, lightweight urban machine that’s designed to be threaded through busy city traffic, tipping the scales at just 132kg (or 119kg for the 4kW version), with a claimed range of up to 60 miles on a full charge for the more powerful model.
Regardless of output, the CE 02’s power delivery is tuned for urban fun. It rockets from a standstill to 30mph in under three seconds – ideal for darting away from the lights – and it feels as playful as a pushbike when you throw it into corners.
Both front and rear brakes are controlled via the handlebars, much like an e-bike, with only the front linked to ABS. Grab a handful of the rear brake and it’ll happily kick out the back wheel for some cheeky skids – if that’s your sort of thing.
“The CE 02 doesn’t pretend to be a traditional motorbike”
There’s even regenerative braking in its liveliest ‘Flash’ mode, which helps recover a bit of charge as you slow down.
Breaks the ICE
True to BMW form, the build quality feels solid and premium, and it looks utterly unique. There’s a whiff of Honda Grom about it, but with a distinct sci-fi twist that turns heads wherever you park.
You’ll inevitably attract attention – usually from curious bystanders asking about top speed, range, charging time or whether it can carry a passenger (it can, by the way). Others will quiz you about smartphone mounting or BMW’s companion app, which handles navigation and basic connectivity.
But that’s part of the fun. The CE 02 doesn’t pretend to be a traditional motorbike – it’s proudly different, with the perfect mix of usability, performance and design for modern urban life.
The Deus Lodge in Boscombe got its grubby mitts on one and proved just how good this thing looks with a bit of light customisation. In this case, it is simply a very snazzy paint and decal job but man, it looks great.
The sticking point? The price. The CE 02 starts at £7,450 for the 4kW model, rising to £8,450 for the full-power 11kW version. It’s not cheap, but BMW offers finance deals from around £89 per month with an initial deposit – not far off the cost of a monthly travelcard, and a far cooler way to get across town.
