The BMW M2 Coupe is nearing its long-awaited launch and ahead of the long-awaited date, BMW->ke178 is doing its part to drum up interest in its first compact high-performance sports car->ke506 by introducing the Cruise M Bike Limited Edition. Yes, it’s a bicycle and yes, I’d like to have one, please. The special edition bike is limited to just 1,500 units and just like the car that it’s commemorating, it’s pretty much cut from the same cloth as the M2->ke3901 coupe.

For instance, it’s been finished with a Long Beach Blue metallic paint color, exactly the same as the official color of the M2 Coupe. In terms of its built and design, BMW spared no expense in giving the Cruise M Bike Limited Edition the best of both worlds. The frame is made from hydro-formed aluminum while the seat post and spacer are made entirely out of carbon fiber. It also has features a 30-gear system, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and 28-inch wheels that ensure comfort and balance for the rider in any type of road surface. Fittingly, BMW capped off the exclusivity of the Cruise M Bike Limited Edition with specially made plaques to denote the production number of a particular piece relative to all 1,500 available units.

The BMW Cruise M Bike Limited Edition is one of the highlight pieces of BMW’s 2016 bike collection. One unit retails for €1,400, which is around $1,600 based on current exchange rates. Seeing as the price of the actual BMW M2 Coupe starts at $51,700 (not including destination and handling), it might not be a bad idea to give the limited run Cruise M Bike a double-take.

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Why it matters

It wouldn’t be BMW if it didn’t do something like this, would it? Now I know that some people are of the thinking that promoting a new car with a special edition bike is a little too much, but I don’t see anything wrong with it. On the contrary, I actually think it’s smart for BMW to use the understandable attention the M2 Coupe is getting by promoting its line of bicycles. The Cruise M Bike Limited Edition may be the face of this “promotion,” but make no mistake, BMW also wants some attention to go to its other bike products like the Cruise Bike and more importantly, the Cruise e-Bike.

And for what it’s worth, I happen to be a fan of BMW bicycles. I’ve never owned one, but I have ridden my share of them, and from my experience, they’re one of the smoothest bicycles you’ll ever get to ride. Sure, they don’t come with the same technological wizardry as other performance bicycles out there, but these bikes have never been all about performance. These bikes are geared more towards the urban landscape and BMW has done a tremendous job in building and developing them to fit that purpose.

The Cruise M Bike Limited Edition may not be as alluring as the actual M2 Coupe. But bike aficionados will surely appreciate that BMW took the time out to build 1,500 units of this special edition bike. These people may not have the money or the inclination to buy the compact high-performance sports car. But they do like themselves a good bicycles and that’s what the Cruise M Bike Limited Edition should be. The mere fact that it’s a special edition is merely icing on the cake.

BMW M2

Read our full review on the BMW M2 here.