A two-wheeler is broadly classified as either a motorcycle, a scooter, or a bicycle which runs on either fossil fuels or battery. Rarely will you come across a two-wheeler which, although runs on battery as a power source, doesn’t fit into a specific category. Instead, BMW Motorrad refers to it as “eParkourer”. However, we’ll simply refer to the CE 02 as an electric two-wheeler or bike.
Even BMW refuses to categorise this into a scooter or a motorcycle. Instead it is essentially a crossbreed of the two segments, quite similar to a moped. Co-developed by BMW alongside TVS, the CE 02 will be manufactured at the latter’s Hosur-based plant. BMW says that this bike has been designed and manufactured in India from the ground up, barring a few components that had to be imported of course.
Bookings for the CE 02 commenced on September 7 at all authorised BMW Motorrad dealerships across the country while prices will be announced by the time this report goes live. The CE 02 is claimed to be the first locally produced BEV in India from BMW Motorrad, although the German brand refused to divulge the exact levels of localisation achieved for this product. Besides India, BMW plans to sell this model to other foreign markets as well.
BMW CE 02: Futuristic design
Even though the design of a vehicle is purely a subjective matter, one look at the CE 02 and everyone would agree that it looks futuristic and absolutely unique. Like or hate it but you’ll definitely can’t ignore it when you spot one. As mentioned in our earlier report, BMW Motorrad has opted for a functional design that prioritises simplicity and minimalism over glamour.
The front face bike is characterised by a sleek, compact fly screen positioned above the distinctive square-shaped headlamp and elegant golden-coloured front forks, adding a touch of sophistication. Moving to the rear, the CE 02 gets a flat, single-piece seat perfectly colour-coded with the side panels, creating a seamless visual flow. Other thoughtful styling elements include neatly integrated saree guard and a rear tyre hugger with a conveniently mounted number plate.
BMW CE 02: Packed with features
While it may look like bare bones, the BMW CE 02 is actually loaded to the gills with features although most of them are available as part of the optional Highline package. Features like a 3.5-inch TFT instrument panel, USB-C charging port, reverse mode, reverse assistant, Automatic Stability control, Recuperative Stability control, BMW Motorrad Connected app, all-LED illumination, two ride modes: Flow and Surf, and keyless ride are standard offerings.
The Highline package adds amenities like a third ride mode called Flash, golden-coloured front forks, a mobile phone holder, a tri-colour saddle, heated handlebar grips, and an external 1.5kW charging socket.
BMW CE 02: Hardware & Powertrain specs
Don’t get fooled by the golden-coloured forks at the front, they are conventional 37mm telescopic forks and not upside down units. The rear gets an offset mono-shock at the rear. The bike sits on a tubular steel frame and single-sided rear swingarm while it rolls on 14-inch wheels. The saddle height is super accessible at 745 mm while safety is guaranteed by a single-channel ABS.
However, BMW hasn’t revealed quite a few key specs like ground clearance, disc brake size, and overall dimensions. Powering the CE 02 air-cooled synchronous motor which pushes out 15 bhp and 55 Nm of peak torque. Power is delivered to the rear wheel via a belt drive which means efficiency will be high and power delivery will be smooth. The motor derives energy from two 1.96 kWh batteries which are not removable. While BMW claims a range of 108 km (ARAI), in real world it would return a range of 90-95 km on a single charge.
BMW CE 02: Riding experience
We got to swing our legs over the BMW CE 02 and ride it for a brief period of time in peak traffic conditions in Gurugram. Like most modern EVs, the power delivery of the CE 02 is smooth. Just release the throttle and you can extract all the torque instantaneously which can be controlled via the ride modes. However, we weren’t fully convinced by BMW’s explanation of these modes.
A senior executive from BMW claimed the ride modes not only modulate the power and torque outputs, but also inflect the levels of battery regeneration. How this is possible we can only affirm once we have ridden the bike for a longer duration. That said that throttle inputs varied with the change in ride modes.
Sticking to basics, the ride quality of the CE 02 was on the stiffer side and felt a bit harsh even on smooth tarmacs of the urban environment. However, this is mostly attributed to the saddle which could have done with a little padding. Moreover, while it is long enough to accommodate two people, the seat in itself is very narrow and not at all recommended for anything more than your regular commutes.
Be prepared to be tossed around if you encounter some broken tarmac or potholes. That said, the riding triangle is very comfortable with the tall handlebars and forward-set foot pegs.The Michelin rubber used offered good grip and confidence in dry conditions, at least. Speaking of which, the 120/80 front and the 150/70 rear tyres offered more than decent cornering clearance and was fun to partially lean over the turns despite the laid back riding stance. The 142 kg kerb weight felt very nimble while changing the lanes and manoeuvring through tight traffic.
BMW CE 02: Verdict
As mentioned earlier, the CE 02 is a locally-developed and manufactured product and yet it is priced steeply at Rs 4.49 lakh (ex-showroom). For the price at which it is tagged, the BMW CE 02 offers very less value for money even with the amount of conveniences it is kitted with. Plus, one has to pay a premium for the Highline package which adds all the additional niceties.
On top of this, for a two-wheeler designed solely for urban commutes, the CE 02 is very impractical as there is no storage space on offer. Good thing though, BMW realises that this is a niche product and wants to keep it that way. Therefore, for the price one pays, he/she gets to own a BMW branded electric two-wheeler strictly for the daily commutes which has a very good build quality and a good number of features.
