The BMW CE 04 in this write-up was kindly provided by Continental Motorrad Wellington. All opinions are my own, and this article was not reviewed or altered by the dealership prior to release.

Within the two-wheeling world, the electric category has been a volatile market that draws many controversial discussions. I think we can skip the formalities of introducing the first ever ‘electric motorcycle’ from the 19th century, and fast-forward to the electric motorcycles we can see and recognise today. LiveWire, Zero, Energica, and Stark Varg may all sound familiar if you’ve been keeping up to date, but today we’re covering BMW’s offering in this rapidly developing market.

Rolling out the door is the CE 04 Avantgarde in the Magellan grey metallic. The Avantgarde showcases a vivid contrast with the bright orange accents, and what initially irked me is something I grew to appreciate a bit more.

A different Light White colour-scheme, being a standard black and white, balances out the colours and allows for two very different paths in personalising your ride.

Sharp Lines and Modern Tech

As you’d expect from any BMW motorcycle, the advancements in tech and modern features always make themselves prominent in every model. The centre of tech lies in the cockpit with the 10.25″ TFT display, giving you more than enough info and options to dive into. Ride modes offer variations in power delivery, traction control and engine braking (re-gen!), with Eco, Rain, Road and Dynamic making up the four offerings.

Road and Dynamic provides instant torque while retaining a comfortable smoothness. It’s not twitchy, but if you twist that wrist fast, that electric motor will most certainly hurl you back a bit.

Eco and Rain remain safe choices for the wet weather and perhaps newer riders in the electric scene, with the rider aids and power delivery opting for a more gentle ride.

The Wonder Wheel

The iconic navigation button…

It’s a bit of a hallmark of BMW models now, but it’s the first time I’ve used one, and it’s probably one of the most straightforward buttons I’ve used!
Calling it a glorified Bop-It is arguably the easiest way to explain the interface. Navigating menus is as easy as twisting the dial and depressing it either forward or backward to select and go back, respectively. Once you begin using it, it feels incredibly intuitive and calls for less fiddling and button-hunting in your usual jam-packed switch-blocks.

Zipping Power — here, there, and away.

Until I was made aware of it, the small hint of the 04 in the name wasn’t the clearest in indicating the 400cc class. After a ride on it, I can see where they were going with tackling the 400s in terms of a somewhat quantified sense of ‘usability’. Coming off the line calls for insensible laughter with its peppy motor, pulling about 42 hp (31kW) and 62Nm of torque. For the commute, that’s more than enough to get you from A to B! I found myself pulling through the metaphorical gears at every traffic light, enjoying the torque but simultaneously feeling weirded out about the lack of exhaust note. A faint whine only makes itself most apparent when you get yourself up to speed, but it actually became quite a cool noise to hear. The CE 04 well and truly rides, feels, and sounds like a spaceship!

Combining a long wheelbase of 1680 mm (66″) and general scooter geometry, the CE 04 handles like a whale. The stability at speed was absolutely incredible, and with a stated top speed of around 120kph, I could see those speeds being hit without too much sketchiness. Weaving traffic and changing lanes were plenty easy too. It’s in the proper turns or slower speed manoeuvres that the CE 04 begins to need some guidance. It really comes down to the geometry and handlebars, requiring a bit more suggestion from the rider when making a turn. To be honest, with any scooter of this size or length, that’s pretty normal! It’s at no fault to BMW, because the CE 04 truly is a stand-out when compared to its competition.

Verdict

BMW have set a high premium baseline for the electric scooter/commuting market, offering all the tech and creature comforts you could possibly ask for. You pay for it accordingly, and I think that’s where most people will catch themselves feeling interested and open-minded… until they need to fork out the $29,000 to own one. It is quite the hefty price tag, and if you asked me if it was worth it? I think I’d say yes.
Although a decent portion of that is buying into an established and premium brand, the standard is also set high. Having access to all the cool and practical features in a tight, thought-out package is a rarity in this market. BMW have offered the ‘what if you go all out?’ option to those wanting to venture into the plug-in world of commuting. Why hop on a cheaper electric commuter that clearly has cut costs in build quality, when you could splurge a bit and have more accessories and benefits on a scooter than even the average motorcyclist? BMW asks a high price, but you get all you pay for!

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