Electrifying urban mobility
BMW has been at the forefront of motorcycle design and technology since the mid-1900s, designing and delivering motorcycles that have gone against the status quo. These design marvels have railed against the norm and thus we have machines with horizontally opposed boxer engines, parralel twins with new suspension types and now the new frontier, electrification.
Related: BMW M1000R (2023) Review
The CE04 is not BMW's first attempt at an electric bike, that honour goes to the C-Evolution of 2014, a step-through maxi scooter that challenged perceptions and was one of teh few bikes that didn't lose its concept-ness after it went into production. The CE04 is the successor to the title and much like teh Evolution, has also not lost any of the concept-ness that makes this such a radical urban commuter.
Styling
From a purely aesthetic point, the CE04 looks ungainly and oddly dimensioned. It is indeed long, coming in just short of the length of an R18 Transcontinental in terms of its wheelbase. It is also quite heavy coming in at 231 kg, however, it has this uber cool design language that is a cross between maxi scooter, sportbike, and futuristic sci-fi vehicle that wouldn't be out of place on the deck of a nuclear aircraft carrier. The LED lighting package and cyberpunk colour pallette lend the CE04 its air of futurism and urban cool that fits with what the Bavarian brand is trying to convey, lets make urban mobility cool!
Tech and Features
The Ce04 is pretty advanced and its equipped with many of the features that you will find on their top-tier machines. BMW Motorrad Connectivity and the BMW Motorrad Connected app keep you and your bike in communication and that can be operated through the 10.25” TFT display featuring a split screen option and the all too familiar scroll jog wheel controls on the left-hand control stack.
You get heated grips for winter riding as well as Keyless entry and when it comes to storage you need not worry, your smartphone can just stay in the watertight and ventilated storage compartment and it is also charged in the process thanks to a USB C connection. There is an environmentally sealed compartment under the seat where you can put your helmet or the charging cable
Drivetrain
Positioned low down and aft of the 8.9kWh battery is a 31kW electric motor that transfers all the torques to the solid rear wheel via sturdy belt drive. The rear wheel is pushed into the ground by a single shock which is offset to allow for the maximum amount of travel in the low-profile frame.
Although very compact the suspension is absolutely fantastic, isolating the rider from road imperfections. One gets the impression that the CE04 suspension was tuned for European cobblestone streets. The solid wheels are rather plain and could have used a little bit more design trickery as they are such a prominent feature of teh CE04 but it is the addition of Pirelli Rosso tyres makes up for it.
Let's Ride
Riding the CE04 is as a unique experience as its futuristic styling. The startup procedure is just like what you would expect in a sci-fi movie. Push the button, pull the lever, and engage propulsion. Twisting the throttle will see the CE04 rocket forward and get to 50km/h in 2.6 seconds, its probably why the seat is so impossibly long, to stop you from flying off the back!
BMW Motorrad technology keeps you plenty safe though with ABS, ASC, DTC and ABS Pro all being standard features. Along with the alphabet soup of control systems, you also get 4 riding modes namely ECO, Rain, Road and Dynamic. ECO Pro and Rain reduce throttle input with the former giving the most regenerative braking with Road and Dynamic being teh sportier settings. Sadly riding the CE04 in either of those two will see the effective range shrink considerably. Dynamic is by far the most fun but you will feel it at the plug.
Pros and Cons
- Market leading tech
- Comfortable
- Fun
- Environmentally friendly
- Small effective range
- Uninspired wheel choice
Model and Price
| BMW CE04 (2024) | R296 200 |
* BMW CE04 is sold with a 5-year / Unlimited warranty and service plan
Verdict
I am glad that the CE04 exists, it shows that the Germans still have a sense of humour and can make something that is not only stylish and cool but fun to ride. Sadly this is one of those motorcycles that just isn't made for the motorcycling public. It is made for commuters that live in the suburbs and work in an urban centre and are only covering a very small distance. You will be hard-pressed to find a motorcyclist taking this on a breakfast run and that is why as cool and fun as this machine is don't expect to see many of them out and about.
