Honestly, BMW Motorrad is having a bit of a mid-life crisis, but in the best way possible. They’ve spent decades perfecting the massive R 1250 GS that looks like it could survive a nuclear winter, and then, out of nowhere, they drop the BMW CE 02 electric motorcycle. It's weird. It’s stubby. It looks like a LEGO Technic set came to life and decided it wanted to hang out at a skatepark.
BMW doesn't even want to call it a motorcycle. They’ve coined the term "eParkourer."
Whatever.
Call it a bike, a scooter, or a motorized bench; the reality is that the CE 02 is a surgical strike on urban commuting. It’s meant for people who probably wouldn’t be caught dead in neon yellow Dainese leathers but still want to zip through traffic without smelling like exhaust fumes. If you’re looking for a cross-country tourer, stop reading right now. You’ll hate it. But if your life exists within a 15-mile radius of a city center, this machine starts to make a terrifying amount of sense.
Is it Actually a Motorcycle or Just an Overgrown Toy?
The design is the first thing that hits you. It’s stripped back. Raw. There’s a flat, slab-like seat that looks remarkably uncomfortable but is actually fine for short bursts. You’ve got these chunky 14-inch wheels that give it a "fat-tire" look, and a single-sided swingarm that shows off the rear rim in a way that feels way more premium than a budget commuter has any right to be.
It's heavy for its size, though. At about 291 pounds for the high-output version, you feel the mass when you’re pushing it into a garage. But once you’re moving? That weight disappears because the center of gravity is somewhere down by your ankles.
There are two main versions. One is a 4kW (5 hp) model limited to roughly 28 mph, which is basically a moped for teenagers in Europe. The one we actually care about is the 11kW (15 hp) version. It hits a top speed of 59 mph. Is that fast? No. Is it enough to get you across a bridge or down a short stretch of highway without getting bullied by a semi-truck? Just barely.
Power, Torque, and Why Numbers Lie
On paper, 15 horsepower sounds pathetic. My lawnmower has more than that. But electric torque is a different animal. The BMW CE 02 electric motorcycle produces 40.6 lb-ft of torque right from zero RPM. That’s more than some 400cc gas bikes.
When the light turns green, you aren't just moving; you're gone. There’s no clutch to faff with, no gears to click through. You just twist the grip and the world gets blurry for a second. It hits 30 mph in about three seconds. In a city environment, that’s the difference between getting stuck behind a bus and being two blocks ahead of it.
The Battery Reality Check
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: range. BMW claims about 56 miles for the 11kW version.
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Don't believe it.
If you ride like a sane human being in "Flow" mode, you might get close. But if you’re using "Flash" mode—which is BMW’s fancy name for "Sport"—and you’re pinned at 50 mph, expect that range to tumble. Realistically, most riders are looking at 40 to 45 miles of "real world" use. For a suburbanite with a 20-mile commute, that's cutting it close. For an urban dweller? It’s plenty.
Charging is handled via an external charger. This is a bit of a polarizing choice. It means there’s no massive heavy charging brick built into the bike, but it also means you have to carry a backpack if you plan on charging at work.
- Standard charging: 0% to 100% takes about 5 hours with the 0.9kW charger.
- High-speed charging: If you opt for the Highline package, you get a 1.5kW charger that drops that time to about 3.5 hours.
It plugs into a standard household outlet. No fancy Level 2 wallbox required, which is a massive plus for apartment dwellers who can snake an extension cord out a window.
Handling the "eParkourer" Lifestyle
The suspension is surprisingly stiff. BMW went with an inverted 37mm fork up front and a single shock in the back. Because the wheels are small, you feel potholes. You don't just ride over them; you experience them. It’s not "unrefined," it’s just communicative.
One of the coolest features is the "Flow" and "Surf" riding modes. "Flow" gives you a heavy dose of regenerative braking—basically one-pedal driving for a bike. You let off the throttle and the motor slows you down while putting juice back in the battery. "Surf" lets you coast, which feels eerie but wonderful on a long downhill stretch.
And then there's the reverse gear. Yes, a 300-pound bike has a reverse gear. It feels like overkill until you’re trying to back out of a weirdly angled parking spot on a hill. Then, you’ll want to kiss the engineer who decided to include it.
The Tech and the "Phone as a Dashboard" Idea
BMW is trying something risky here. The base dash is a tiny 3.5-inch micro-TFT screen. It gives you the basics: speed, battery percentage, the usual stuff.
But the "Highline" package adds a smartphone cradle. You use the BMW Motorrad Connected app, and suddenly your phone becomes the primary display. You control it using the multicontroller on the left handlebar. It’s clever because your phone's GPS is always better than a built-in bike GPS. But, it also means your $1,200 iPhone is sitting out in the rain and vibration.
BMW says the mount is secure. It feels secure. But it still feels a little "DIY" for a premium German brand.
Safety Features That Actually Matter
For a bike this small, the safety suite is impressive:
- ASC (Automatic Stability Control): Keeps the rear tire from spinning out on wet manhole covers.
- RSC (Recuperation Stability Control): Basically prevents the rear wheel from locking up during heavy motor braking.
- Front-wheel ABS: Standard, as it should be. The rear is a disc brake but lacks ABS, so you can still slide the back end out if you’re feeling rowdy.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Price
The BMW CE 02 electric motorcycle starts at roughly $7,599. If you want the Highline kit (and you probably do), you’re pushing past $8,400.
People scream. "I can buy a used Honda Rebel and five years of gas for that!"
They aren't wrong. But they’re also missing the point. You aren't buying this to save money on gas. You’re buying it because you want a premium, zero-maintenance, silent urban tool that doesn't require you to check oil, clean a chain, or deal with a hot exhaust in 90-degree summer traffic. It’s a lifestyle gadget, like a high-end e-bike but with enough muscle to keep you from getting killed on a main road.
It’s also surprisingly accessible. The seat height is a low 29.5 inches. If you’re five-foot-nothing, you can flat-foot this thing. That opens up riding to a whole demographic of people who are intimidated by the "tall and heavy" nature of traditional bikes.
The Real-World Verdict
Is it perfect? No. The range is a limiting factor for anyone living outside a major metro area. The lack of built-in storage is an oversight—you basically have to buy the optional luggage or wear a backpack. And the styling is... well, it's a choice. You’ll either love the futuristic "urban rebel" vibe or you’ll think it looks like a motorized bench.
But here’s the thing: It’s fun. Like, genuinely, giggle-in-your-helmet fun. The silent acceleration and the ability to flick it into corners with zero effort makes city riding feel less like a chore and more like a video game.
Actionable Next Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re actually considering dropping eight grand on one of these, don't just look at the specs. Do these three things first:
- Audit Your Daily Mileage: If your daily round-trip is more than 35 miles, the CE 02 will give you range anxiety. Check your route for hills and high-speed sections, as both will eat your battery faster than BMW’s marketing suggests.
- Test the "Standard" vs "Highline": The Highline package isn't just cosmetic. The faster charger and the "Flash" riding mode significantly change the ownership experience. Most riders will find the base model feels "unfinished" without these perks.
- Check Your License Requirements: Depending on where you live, the 11kW version might require a full motorcycle endorsement, while the 4kW version (if available in your region) might only require a car license. Don’t get caught out by the "it’s just a scooter" assumption.
The CE 02 isn't trying to replace the motorcycle. It's trying to replace the second car or the miserable subway commute. In that context, it's one of the most interesting things BMW has built in a decade.