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Tough, Electric, and a Little Disturbing: BMW's Cagey Comeback

Paul Roberts
Sep 3
4 min read

Back in the early 2000s, BMW tried to sell the world on a scooter with a roll cage and seatbelts. That was the C1—an oddball that turned heads but never caught on. Fast-forward two decades, and BMW is at it again with the Vision CE, unveiled at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich. Think of it as the C1’s grandchild: sleeker, electric, and loaded with gadgets. Still, does it actually ride like a bike—or is it just a futuristic prop for glossy brochures?

BMW hasn’t confirmed whether the Vision CE will hit production, but history shows their “Vision” concepts tend to escape the concept lab. Look at the CE 04 and CE 02—both started as sketches. So, the Vision CE deserves more than a shrug and a hint at where BMW might be taking urban two-wheelers next.

Safety Cage 2.0

The showstopper is the tubular safety cell. Strap in with the integrated seatbelts—BMW has even toyed with a five-point harness—and suddenly the scooter starts acting like a mini car. Helmet optional? Maybe. Laws still matter, so don’t go flaunting it where helmets are mandatory. BMW wants riders to feel a bit safer without feeling bogged down in armour.

Of course, this is controversial. The original C1 got roasted for the same gimmick: too heavy to be a proper scooter, too gutless to be a motorcycle, and weirdly awkward in traffic. The Vision CE has learned some lessons—the cage feels stronger, sits wider on the frame, and a self-balancing system keeps it from toppling at a stop. It’s still not a canyon carver, but it’s a smarter, more modern twist on BMW’s helmet-free oddball.

Self-Balancing Trickery

BMW is incorporating self-balancing technology, which means the scooter can hold itself up when stationary. No more putting a foot down at traffic lights. It’s also pitched as beginner-friendly, helping riders new to two wheels gain confidence. Purists will roll their eyes, but it’s another sign that BMW is aiming this at the urban mobility crowd, not seasoned tourers.

Performance: Built on the CE 04 Platform

They haven't released full spec sheet yet, but it’s built off the CE 04’s electric drivetrain. Expect something in this neighbourhood:

Motor Output: 42 hp (31 kW)
0–50 km/h: ~2.6 seconds
Top Speed: ~120 km/h
Range: ~130 km (real-world urban conditions)
Battery: 8.9 kWh lithium-ion
Charging: ~65 minutes from 0–80% with quick charging

That’s plenty for city work, but for extended longer hauls, you made need to stop for a quick panic charge or two, something us EV bikers are very familiar with. Add the extra heft of a roll cage, and don’t be surprised if the numbers dip a little.

Company Context

BMW Motorrad has been in the electric two-wheeler game longer than most legacy brands. The C Evolution scooter (2014) was one of the first production e-scooters from a major OEM, though it remained niche. The CE 04 is their current urban EV flagship, and the CE 02 targets younger riders. The Vision CE seems less about selling units today and more about testing whether people will buy into a “helmet-optional” urban commuter in 2026.

Style Points

The Vision CE is tougher and sharper than the old C1 ever was. Where the C1 looked like a scooter with some plastic velcro’d to a couple of walking sticks, the CE looks more like a two wheeled tank that wandered into a stock car paddock and decided to stay. The tubular roll cage ditches the C1’s fairing for something more aggressive, giving far better visibility all around. The trade-off? The original C1 kept the rain off, while the Vision CE looks wide open in BMW’s promo shots—maybe a sunroof is next. Beyond that, the lines are modern, the finish is minimalist, and it sits comfortably alongside BMW’s current design language—think CE 04 angles with more attitude.

The Real Question

Here’s the thing nobody at BMW will spell out: Is this really a motorcycle? Plenty of riders would laugh at the idea. Strapping yourself in with a seatbelt, sitting inside a cage, and watching a self-balancing system keep you upright sounds more like a mobility pod than a bike. A motorcycle is supposed to ask something of you—balance, awareness, skill. The Vision CE does half that work for you.

Sure, it’s got two wheels, lean angle, and BMW badges that whisper “Motorrad.” But if we’re honest, it feels closer to a city car that went on a diet. Call it a scooter with delusions of grandeur, or a motorcycle cosplaying as a track-day prototype—either way, it bends the definition.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. BMW isn’t chasing hardened riders here; they’re fishing for the people who’d normally never swing a leg over two wheels. In that sense, the Vision CE is a gateway drug into riding—just not the kind most of us grew up on. And maybe that’s the real rub: it’s less about motorcycling tradition and more about rewriting it for people who don’t care about tradition at all.

Not quite a bike, not quite a scooter—but definitely a two-wheeled thought exercise that only BMW could get away with. What do you think?

Ride safe, folks.