He Tron Light cycle? That bike from Akira? A two-wheeled Stormtrooper? The first impressions of the CE 04 are of a motorcycle sent in the time from the future. A radical aesthetic sketched out in the 1980s for riding in the 1980s.
It is still relatively rare for vehicles to go into production that closely resembles their advanced design prototypes, but eagle-eyed motorcycle geeks will recognize the CE 04 of BMW’s Motorrad Concept Link 2017 and its updated version of the 2020, the Definition. Very little seems to have changed in the final production bike: the modular plastic panels, the “floating” board-like seat, a rake-looking fork and that long profile stretched … everything is there. Aside from the need to accommodate traditional restrictions such as a fuel combustion engine, an air box and an exhaust system, BMW has been able to throw out the rulebook.
Driving the CE-O4 (the “04” refers to a combustion engine size equivalent to 400 cc) requires a full motorcycle license, but you can specify that the electric bike is less powerful for a lower category motorcycle license . This puts the fat-filled version of the CE-O4 in the realm of bikers who take themselves “seriously” with bikes, rather than basically newly-trained rookies or renegade fast food messengers.
With a powerful 31 kW (42 hp) liquid-cooled electric motor, the CE 04 will take you to over 30 mph in just one shade for two and a half seconds. This equates to a real word feeling of “Woahhh!”And it means that practically nothing will touch you away from the traffic lights. Simply put, CE 04 does not accelerate; takes off.
Add a stopped acceleration at a top speed of 75 mph (120 km / h) and the CE 04 domain extends to open roads. In fact, this electric bike seems to have a significantly greater potential than its marketing suggests in the city. My daughter (the passenger of the WIRED test passenger) was constantly urging me to run out of sports bikes out of the lights.
All this exciting propulsion is powered by 8.9 kWh of battery power, the same type of cells found in the batteries that power BMW’s own iX and i4 cars. These cells provide a range of up to 80 miles (130 km) in Eco mode. In comparison, the range of the Vespa Elettrica is 62 miles and costs almost half as much as the BMW, but it is very much an electronic moped.
The most important charging times of the CE 04 are: from empty to full in 4 hours and 20 minutes, with the optional fast charger that reduces to 1 hour and 40 minutes, or from 20 to 80 percent in 45 minutes, doing this ” long coffee break “. charge almost possible. Please note that the fast charger costs an additional £ 850 in the UK, while in the US it is included in the $ 1,665 Premium package, along with features such as adaptive headlights and seat heating. The batteries themselves are placed under the long ground plate of the bicycle. It’s a smart way to keep that weight low for stable handling.
Almost everything related to electric mobility is reduced to battery, battery and battery. The capacity of your bike will affect your journey from speed to range. CE 04 aims to take motorists out of the city center to the suburbs with the option of weekend trips on these faster roads. During a five-mile round trip, bikers (as WIRED did) will easily spend a week without even bothering a wall outlet. Two days of real-world urban driving in the fastest environment with one passenger half the time they stole my bike’s battery by 30 percent, bringing it down to 70 percent.
Easy Rider
Photo: Joerg Kuenstle / BMW
Turning on the bike is easy. Hold down the rear brake and press the power button. Now the bike is ready to go; just lift the bracket (which, by the way, activates the brakes like a death switch when it’s down) and you’re off.
Energy is distributed through one of three driving modes, Eco (I may be fast, but I’m saving the planet), Rain (I may be fast, but I’m a responsible biker) or Road (I’m just fast) . Motorcyclists also have the option to upgrade to the sports package for an additional Dynamic driving mode (it may be fast, but I’m rich too).