BMW Motorrad has come to the IAA Mobility Expo in Munich with the Vision CE, a single-seat urban scooter concept advertised as not requiring any body protection to drive. It’s unclear whether any production plans exist for it.
The e-bike features a metallic tube-frame that doubles as a safety cage. The only seat available sports a tubular back with a safety harness attached to it. The two tube-frames are interlinked for further safety. According to the Motorrad division, this ensures a level of protection that’s sufficient to forego any safety wear, including even the helmet.
Why go to such lengths? The engineers explain that getting rid of the safety gear can make riding more effortless and enjoyable. Aside from that, the frame can be used for mounting additional gear when going hiking or to a picnic, for example.
To keep that tall frame straight when parked, the company uses an unspecified “balancing mechanism”. All we know about the powertrain is that it uses an electric motor. One has to wonder how the rider will fare if there’s a lateral collision.
