[Axe77]

Karthikk, what a review man! This was superbly detailed and absolutely fantastic.

I have no idea how many of these BMW will sell but I’m all for manufacturers having a bit of fun and launching funky off center stuff in India. No problems with that at all. I mean, on the one hand we’re complaining that Honda can’t think beyond Activa 345th G and counting and then we plaster BMW for launching this.

Personally, it doesn’t move me (no pun intended) but I don’t mind that it exists. I could almost admire them for their chutzpah in visualizing and actually implementing this and honestly, the CE 04 really does stand out in its own right at least when I see it in Europe so no reason to not attempt this Mini / SE / lite version of the 04 in an 02 guise. If nothing else, it might warm up some folks to the TVS X (which I simply loved visually at least).

I was once chatting about the target audience of the BMW maxi scooter with someone and apparently it had its share of takers with some of the trader community - those who have shops in relatively inaccessible locations, are reasonably loaded and like the idea that they are seen on a 14 lakh “scooter”. I see no reason why a sub section of that populace might not opt for an electric version of the same image at a third of the price. But let’s wait and watch for that.

[Joe367]

Originally Posted by ach1lles

We enthusiasts are a funny bunch. We demand the most esoteric of things for ourselves, and yet bash and pull down anything which doesn’t make conventional sense for us.

True. This seems more pronounced in Indian market. Look at what happened to Honda Navi.😅 They're still manufacturing it in India and exporting to other markets.

On the side note, I wish Honda made an electric version of the Navi. It already has space to put the batteries on. And it will be cheaper than electric Activa.

[Kashi053]

KarthikK - superb review. I have zero interest in this bike and just came here to check pros & cons. But the level of insight you provided kept me go on.

[adrena]

Fantastic review with great amount of detail. I commend your dedication to this work however ugly and useless the machine itself can be.

This is another example of a two wheeler that looks kinda awkward with a rider on it. Even without the rider, the BSA Champ style handlebars are so totally out of place.

Guess its a time when BMW design is just going out of whack (including grills and cuts on their cars) that I don't seem to understand any of it.

[Utopian]

I somehow liked the overall design although not sure on how comfortable the pillion would be. Practicality wise there are issues and hence this can best be a style statement for people who have multiple mobility options.

Level of detailing is amazing, thanks Karthikk.

[ach1lles]

The torque, which is instantly available from the word go, can rival the torque of 400-500cc bikes if not more! This translates to effortless pulling power and acceleration bursts in urban confines, which in turn, makes city traffic-ridden commutes very enjoyable and something an office (or college) goer will actually look forward to instead of dreading (contrast this with an ICE bike user operating the clutch and gears, dealing with heat and fatigue).

The more I read about this, the more I like it. Thanks for the review, @KarthikK. I have been looking for something very similar, like a (well made) bicycle-ish thing with fun amount of power on tap.
Not too long ago, I wanted to create something similar.

I’m glad they made this, are offering it here, and sincerely hope they offer test rides. If it adds joy to in-city movement, an order will be placed.

[sunikkat]

I don’t think even BMW will be serious about selling this. Who would buy an electric scooter at ~5 lakhs and which is least practical. I can only see some super rich buying this to travel with in their bungalow garden

[bled_soul]

I don't understand why people bash enthusiasts who want something different but then criticise when things like this one are launched. There has to be a middle ground between the Activa xG and this. We want good premium products but not at the cost of functionality and utility. Don't give us the mundane, but don't give us the absolute funky unusable and eye wateringly priced yulu as well. Improve the price, but improve everything about it. Next thing we know, we will be getting a reliant Robin in some funky electric avatar and people will scoff at enthusiasts saying they aren't lapping it up. We are giving something unique. Not how it works.

[sandeepmohan]

I gotto say, when I saw the thumbnail image of this, I thought this was some Lego derived scooter. The blue tint windscreen is a common theme on Lego. They also seem to mimic the design language with some of their M cars.

In our country, a scooter means immense practicality and low running cost. While I like the funky design language, practically thinking (lets forget range for a moment), I don't think anyone would want to leave this scooter parked on the side of the road. Karan Johar will buy one to potter around town but I am sure he'll have a few NSG chaps stand beside the scooter while its parked. None of us have that luxury.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Looks like this one evoked more interest and defense than I would have expected. Not bad - If only sales reflect this!

The problem with the CE02 is that it looks cheap (the XL Yulu comments for example!), ugly (subjective!) and not really very futuristic IMHO. This wasn't the case with the original CE04, which is also available in India at 14.9 lakhs ex-showroom. The CE04 concept looks jaw-dropping smashing back when it came out, was watered down for the production version and was cheapened out for the 02.

If the CE02 was more of a baby 04, instead of the toy it currently looks- would have been much more widely accepted IMHO

The CE04 -

[AnAntinspired]

The irony that could emerge, is that most who can afford it may look comically large on it!

It's unfortunate that in India prosperity often shows on the waist and many who indulge in this may have an indulgent appetite, doing disservice to an onlooker's visual opinion of the bike when on it!

Personally though, I've always found the BMX styling rad and agree this is more eye-catching than the scooter styled EVs out there. However it's novelty + that unlike BMW, cheaply stickered 2d branding, may make the larger population out there presume it's modified with wannabe stickering at Irfan bhai ka BMW - Bengaluru Motor Workshop!

[Turbanator]

What a review! I don't think anyone would have gone into such detail for this model, which probably is not going to sell in double digits.

I saw this in Canada some time back and asked an experienced SA about the target audience. Per him, only a few have been sold; people will mostly put these on their trucks and take them along to their cottages/ holiday homes on weekends. I don't know if he was telling the truth or sharing a narrative given by BMW.

I don't see any use case in India, irrespective of the prices. Even if it was half the price, it would still be unusable. We can see the pictures of some of the people and can only laugh.

BMW has priced this very well, though, if we compare it with international markets. If they had priced the other ones, C400GT and CE04, with the same factor as they have CE02, they would have sold much higher numbers of those. These are Canadian Dollar prices for comparison.

[Pontiac]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

The 4 kWh battery pack of the CE 02 is non-removable and cannot be charged at public charging stations because it comes with a regular power cable suitable for charging with household sockets only. This can effectively be a deal-breaker for folks who live in apartments where charging infrastructure is still undeveloped in the basement parking zones.
.

BMW says the battery can be taken home to charge it on a household wall socket. I thought the battery is detachable. Is it not? I felt this is an added convenience for people living in apartments who find it difficult to find charging infrastructure.

If you struggle to find charging facilities when you’re out and about, you can simply take the battery home with you and charge it using your domestic socket outlet. The 4-kW version charges from 20% to 80% in 1 hour and 25 minutes, and the 11-kW version with an optional quick charger takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. With a full charge, you can cover up to 90 kilometres, and up to 50 kilometres with the 4-kW version.

https://www.bmw-motorrad.in/en/model...ction-b27010a3

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

BMW has priced this very well, though, if we compare it with international markets. If they had priced the other ones, C400GT and CE04, with the same factor as they have CE02, they would have sold much higher numbers of those. These are Canadian Dollar prices for comparison.

C400GT and CE04 are both imported CBU vehicles, whereas the CE 02 is made in India by TVS.

[KarthikK]

Originally Posted by Pontiac

BMW says the battery can be taken home to charge it on a household wall socket. I thought the battery is detachable. Is it not? I felt this is an added convenience for people living in apartments who find it difficult to find charging infrastructure.

https://www.bmw-motorrad.in/en/model...ction-b27010a3

Unfortunately as per what I was told by the BMW staff at the launch event, the battery is removable only by the service centre personnel at Motorrad authorised workshops and not by customers at their homes. This could probably be a case of the CE 02’s batteries being removable in other countries and not India, but maybe BMW re-used the same catalogue wordings on their Indian website too .