New BMW CE 04 Vagabund is an e-moped that can carry a surfboard

By James Attwood

3 Mar 2023

It’s a common problem we’ve all experienced: you want to hit the beach to go surfing, but your electric motorbike doesn’t have anywhere to carry your surfboard. Thankfully, that will no longer be an issue thanks to the new BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept.

Okay, we’re exaggerating when we describe that as a common problem, but there’s more to the new version of BMW’s excellent electric moped than its ability to carry unusual loads. The new Vagabund Moto Concept has been designed to showcase how urban e-motorbikes can be customised to an individual’s needs.

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The machine is a collaboration between BMW Motorrad Austria and Austrian motorbike customisation specialist Vagabund, and is a BMW CE 04 that has been heavily customised to showcase new multifunctional design elements. Including, most notably, a special attachment giving it ability to carry a surfboard.

“The surfboard isn’t just a piece of sports equipment: it’s also a metaphor for a sustainable urban lifestyle,” said BMW Motorrad Austria boss Oliver Balzer. “The BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept combines work, leisure and individual flair, demonstrating that there needs to be no contradiction between any of these areas.”

No, we're not 100 per cent sure what all that means, either. But the bike is very well done: beyond the surfboard, there are number of other functional changes, with the standard CE 04’s storage space given a functional top case to increase storage capacity.

The machine has also received extensive styling modifications. There’s a new white, dark green, beige and black livery, and the addition of a smiley face motif on the front wheel hub and indicator lights.

The concept retains the same powertrain as the standard BMW CE 04, with a 31kW motor and 8.5kWh (usable) battery that gives an official range of 81 miles.

Vagabund boss Paul Brauchart said: “We haven’t reinvented the wheel, but we have taken a new look at function. We call it drawing on the synergies between functionality and aesthetics in a way that is suitable for everyday use.”

Whether your everyday use involves carrying a surfboard on an e-motorbike is another question, but it’s nice to know you could. Sadly for surfing e-motorbikers, the machine is a one-off for now.