If there’s one environment in which electric motorcycles or scooters make compelling sense, it’s in the city. For short commutes and zipping through the urban jungle, it’s hard to see why you’d want much more. Except…Except the streets of London or Los Angeles and every congested conurbation in between aren’t exactly swarming with e-scoots. Not yet. One good reason why: To the younger generation, as well as those of us who like a little engineering quality in our lives, the typical electric offering lacks some appeal. The X factor is invariably missing.

Enter the BMW CE 02, an 11kW (15 hp) e-scooter that looks more like a design project dreamed up by a skateboarding intern than a production motorcycle, but in terms of youth appeal and, yes, that X factor, it is taking no prisoners.BMW describes it as an eParkourer and, while the CE 02′s styling influences are clear, this German electric is much more than a design exercise. It features a reverse gear, two selectable riding modes as standard, traction control, and ABS. There’s also Recuperative Stability Control (RSC), which acts like a slipper clutch, and a keyless ride.

It will come to the market this spring and will be priced at $7,599. Opt for the Highline package, which adds a gold fork and graphics and a raft of goodies including an extra riding mode, heated grips, a smartphone holder, and a quick charger that reduces the charging time from 5.2 hours to 3.5 hours. However, that price leaps to $8,475. That’s not an insignificant amount of money, especially for the youth of today.

Battery, Motor, ModesThe 15 hp CE 02′s motor has a continuous power rating of 6kW/8 hp and makes a handsome 40.5 lb.-ft. of torque right from the initial opening of the throttle. The bike has two batteries, each 48 volts and rated at 1.96kWh, and a claimed top speed of 59 mph, and 0-to-30 mph acceleration of three seconds. Under World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC), battery range is a claimed 56 miles.

There are two riding modes, Flow and Surf. Flow is an urban setting with a soft throttle response and medium energy recuperation, and Surf is a sharper mode with no energy recuperation to allow coasting on a closed throttle. A sporty Flash mode is available only with the Highline package.2024 BMW CE 02 Riding ImpressionBMW set Cycle World loose on the CE 02 eParkour on the streets of Lisbon, Portugal, where the first task was to get the thing started. With the keyless fob in your pocket, you press the unlock button on the right handlebar, then press the red starter button while holding either brake lever (both on the bars)—and the micro-dash highlights “ready.” Then, finally, you twist the throttle and go. (Or press down and hold the reverse button on the left bar, twist the throttle, and go backward.)

As you roll away in near silence, the torque of the air-cooled, synchronous-current motor gives the BMW serious energy compared to equivalent internal combustion engine scooters. It’s a tiny machine but makes an immediate statement that it won’t be pushed around, and while electric bikes can feel a bit jagged and digital on the initial pickup, the CE 02′s response is smooth and easy, especially in Flow mode.Once used to Flow mode, you can start to use its recuperative function to slow the bike down, much like a soft rear brake, and there is enough instant drive to jump easily ahead of the hordes at the stoplights. However, Surf mode is preferable, which is more responsive and, like a two-stroke, has minimal engine-braking on a closed throttle. You quickly adapt by closing the throttle earlier for turns and rolling smoothly and satisfyingly to a stop—which also increases the displayed battery range.

It’s fun to hustle. Hold the throttle to the stop long enough and you will see an indicated 62 mph. And with instant torque and no clutch or gears to worry about, the 100-yard drag race from the lights is where the CE 02 truly turns heads. It’s a good feeling to sit waiting at the lights—silent, confident, a little bit self-conscious too—knowing you’re going to leave the rush hour behind as soon as the light turns green.Traction control, in the form of Automatic Stability Control, comes as standard and, with such a large serving of torque on tap, it’s useful when the surface is polished or wet. So too is that reverse drive. Weighing in at 291 pounds and with a low seat (29.5 inches), it’s easy to move around, but smaller lighter riders will welcome the assistance, especially when trying to pedal backward on a slight incline.

ChassisThe CE 02′s super-compact chassis comprises a steel double-loop frame with an upside-down 37mm fork and a single-sided swingarm and directly mounted, preload-adjustable shock. Wheelbase is just 53.2 inches, the head angle is steep at 24.5 degrees, and the wheels are just 14 inches in diameter, suggesting agility was a high priority for BMW. Braking is via a 239mm disc up front and a 220mm disc at the rear, with ABS on the front wheel only.

Much of the bike’s 291 pounds (the single-battery 4-hp version weighs 262 pounds, and is available only in Europe) are accounted for by the batteries and the motor. The batteries are stored under the skateboard-style seat, while the motor is positioned low in the chassis to give a natural balance to the bike’s low-speed handling. The riding position is upright like a BMX bike, and there are two options for your feet: either on pegs that are mounted slightly forward like footboards on a conventional scooter, or on the pillion pegs which are set farther back, like rearsets on a sportbike. As there are no foot controls (both brake levers are on the bars) you can switch between pegs as you ride to suit your mood and the moment.The CE 02′s steering is responsive to the touch and predictably quick; so fast it has made a turn or jumped into a gap seemingly before you’ve thought about it. Stability is superb, even at 62 mph, but you need to be aware that the slightest input by the rider will affect the steering.

Ride quality is excellent, and the CE 02 soaked up all the cobblestones and potholes Lisbon could throw at it. The suspension is soft but supportive, though the rear can feel a little harsh when jumping over speed bumps and hitting imperfections at speed. There are none of the bangs and rattles you hear on many silent-running e-scooters, even when hitting those cobbles at speed, which is a sign of quality. Incidentally, Cycle World’s test machine was fitted with the Highline package plus an optional comfort seat, suggesting the standard “skateboard” seat might not be overly sumptuous.

The TFT micro-dash is clear and functional and gives a mileage range and percentage of battery used. Riding briskly around hilly Lisbon, I covered 32.5 miles and had 16 miles or 27 percent battery remaining, which suggests a range of 48 miles, though in reality you could expect more as your riding style adapts to the range remaining, much as you would with the fuel warning light on. As we tested the Highline model, we got the opportunity to test the included BMW Motorrad Connected app which, combined with the bar-mounted smartphone holder, delivered clear navigation around Lisbon via the switch gear on the left bar.Conclusion

Overall, there is no denying that the build quality and level of finish of the CE 02 are better than any other gas or electric scooter in this segment, or that it is a brilliant, charismatic, and enjoyable way to deal with the daily commute, and the best electric bike in this segment by far. But it’s hard to ignore the price: $7,599 for the 11kW (125cc-equivalent) version and, with the Highline package, $876 more. Add some luggage and a comfort seat and you’re up at around $9K, that is about a grand more than Vespa’s Elettrica.

Zipping around Lisbon in relative quiet was truly enjoyable. Safe, predictable handling allied to fast steering, a lack of bulk, and enough oomph to keep you in the fight away from the lights made for a fun, dynamic urban ride; so good I’d take the BMW over any gasoline equivalent.

2024 BMW CE 02 Specs