BMW CE04 Fully electric REVIEW 2024 Expensive but great! (read description first) @standupmoto(74)

This is my review of the all electric offering from BMW. As a full-on petrol head, I was certainly not expecting to be almost overwhelmed with the performance breaking and manoeuvrability of this top-shelf scooter. Does the CEO4 warrant the price tag? Have a look at my review and let me know what you think.
Also in this video I have a bit of fun with the regenerative braking side of things, please don’t take the experiment too seriously BMW has not been able to alter the laws of thermodynamics but it is interesting to be able to put a bit of gas back in the tank as such.
Thanks for watching, don't forget to like and subscribe. Cheers Steve.

Instrument/storage options/charge cord photos a courtesy of BMW website.

[mervharris]

Brought one 4 months ago. And I’m a long time mature GSA rider. Switch gear all the same, heated everything and reverse gear. I love it and now look for any excuse to zip around the Melbourne cbd. Just gives me a big smile, especially when the bigger sports bike riders look confused in the rear vision mirror.

[hadriez]

as an owner of this scoot, your review is spot on. the only thing I hate most is the rear signal. pretty easy to snap off!

[chriswilliams]

Phantastic review! Here some info from a very experienced EV driver: Regen braking is there for many years with EVs, you get, depending on quality of inverter and electric motor, between 50 to 70% energy you need to go uphill/accelerate back into the battery.
A recent EV study found out, that this alone brings you about 15 to 18% energy saving in normal city traffic. Regen braking is the reason for two more common facts, that many people do not understand, but are clear to every EV owner.
*) weight plays a very little roll in EVs/electric bikes, because regen braking get so much energy back
*) mountainous terrain changes your range very little, off course you need a lot of battery to get uphill, but you get a lot of that back when you go downhill.... so in the practical world, climbs and hills do very little to range of todays modern electric vehicles.
As always in a comparison combustion engine vehicle to EV.... you save about 70% energy, as overall efficiency is 3 times highter than a vehicle with a combustion engine. Usually the electric motor, inverter, battery has no servicable parts, no clutch and no engine oil off course. (the motor is always connected to the wheels via a fixed transmission, everything else is done by the inverter via applying load or regen power if downhill or braking. EVs are phantastic efficient machines and it's a great future as batteries get better every year.

The example with the city ride and the magically growing range... the amount of energy is off course not really growing if you use regen braking, (except if it would be a long downhill ride), its only the prognosis of the tripcomputer thats changing and you get a little more range if your driving style (powerconsumption/regen ratio) changes to less consumption and more regen braking. Same very strong effect ist there if you go uphill or downhill, that changes the range prognoses dramatically as the tripcomputer can only base his prognoses on a certain driving model that is taking your actual style into consideration.
High end EVs like Tesla will be VERY accurate with range prognoses if you set a target destination, as it calculates height profile, temperature, road conditions into its calculation model, but very few cars do that as of now.

[cromulentparty]

These are SO cool. I love that they went crazy with the design.

[damienbartlett]

Thanks for the best CE04 review I’ve seen to date 👍

[alexgere]

Great review again👍👍 I have a Honda pcx 125, is 75% cheaper then this expensive BMW. Range is three times more and using very less petrol. 😀😀

[bajo]

Nice review! Big fan of this scoot. I feel whatever BMWs next version of this is going to be absolutely brilliant.

[ChristineDavison-tirf]

What a great review, thanks for explaining how the electric regen braking works. Excellent.

[DeGroove]

Another owner here...Bought it september '23, put around 10.000km on it. Great review, I can agree with most of your statements here, it has been a joy to ride. I started late (30), but been riding for almost 20 years now. I exchanged my 2017 GS (bought second hand) for this one, only paying 1000€ on top of that. It was a big change coming from a GS, but I'm getting used to it. Indeed, I save around 250€ a month as apposed to my GS, so you do the math. I do a 100km a day commute, Summer/winter come rain come shine. A few remarks I might add: I cannot fit my Schuberth M1 size 60 (XL) in the storage compartement, I always carry 2 charging cables (default one for charging at home and at work and a fast charge cable), so storage compartment is in use at all times, hence my added top box. I also added the GIVI high windscreen, which is an absolute joy, and looks very nice. The BMW-app can only give you charging status within bluetooth range.
As for range: my 50km one way commute contains 20km motorway and some other long stretches of +100km/h and I get a range of 85km on a full charge. When used in city and stricly suburban routes, range will likely be higher. I ride in Dynamic mode exclusively (better acceleration, better regeneration, I hardly use the brakes), because that's the only mode which resembles my previous petrol bikes.
I think overal it's the smartest choise as a commuter bike, not so much a replacement for a leisure motorcycle. And, it's a scooter, it does NOT ride like a motorcyle because there's is no innerleg contact to toss it around, but as I said...I'm getting used to it.
Nice colour scheme that loaner!

[stephenwhitfield]

To explain your range gain with the regen experiment, I've noticed my range will adjust itself to my driving style on the day. If I start the day with highway speed, it will drop quite quickly. Then going to 60mh/hr streets, the range can increase.

[MichaelSeow]

After watching.... I want to buy it already... We'll done sir.. Fantastic review.. Honest, straightforward and informative

[taktischekartoffel]

This looks like a great commuter bike. Very tempted to get one.

[-tj]

One of only two EV bikes I like. Far too expensive in Thailand. Way more than you quote. 859, 000 baht, actually. Apart from the range [not so bad if BMW aren't exaggerating], the lack of noise is its worst point. It's dangerous. How long does the battery last? Edit: 10/15 years, you say.
Good review. Pommie Nick.

[ronedwards]

Just took mine out for a ride yesterday. It was put in climate controlled storage since 11-1 -23.

[markbernhardt]

I am going to guess the bike adjusts the mileage prediction based on the type of driving that has been done so far. So if it assumes you are going use 50km range through mixed driving and notices you are staying in the city with no appreciable wind resistance, it can start assuming this is the driving you will be doing for the rest of the day and bump up your range. Google maps kind of does this as soon as you start speeding on the interstate.

[florimondkrins]

I don't get BMW, I bought a second hand C-Evolution + last year and it has better range (80 to 100 miles), better top speed (85mph) and more practical aspects : decent storage under the seat for a full size helmet, a decent windscreen (even though I got a Puig touring screen which is much better above 50mph) and a top box that doesn't mess with the pillion space.

[blkvtrk]

I’d like to see you review the CFMOTO Papio that was in the dealership. Great review as usual.

[michaelhinchey]

Does the bike have a security built in?
Also can you leave it out or drive in the rain?

[MoosesValley]

03:25 Looks pretty awesome, but the range is a let down: 130 Km (80 miles). There are eBikes that already far exceed this, such as the GForce T7 Folding Electric Bike, which has a range of around 100 miles (pure throttle use, minimal pedalling) or 130 miles (with pedal assist) - depends on terrain, wind, riding style, rider weight, etc.

[davidrochow]

For what I would use it for the price is to high and the distance is to low. I'll stick with my 82 VF 750 thanks.