Lean, Clean, Silent CAKE KALK High-Performance Electric Motorcycle Means Off-Road Fun

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Yum, yum, do we like the idea of a light, lean, and torquey electric off-road motorcycle (e-motorcycle). This new company is from Sweden and it is called CAKE. It just announced it is making high-performance off-road e-motorcycles.

CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle

CAKE High-Performance Electric Motorcycle

CAKE’s mission is to speed up a zero-emission society through electric vehicles (EV). Its first EV is an e-motorcycle designed from scratch with performance in mind and attention to every detail. This is a light, silent, and lean high-performance off-road bike.

The first goal the company aimed for was to reduce the weight to below similar combustion bikes. The second was to respect the environment using renewable energy with solar panels from the company.

CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle

After having tested all available technology with international pro athletes in MX, DH MTB, and Dirt — as well as average riders with no prior experience — CAKE started from a clean slate and ended up with the KALK. It’s the company’s first model. It was designed as an off-road e-motorcycle influenced by DH and Enduro MTBs. CAKE told us every single component had to be developed in-house from scratch. That means the sizing, geometry, and engineering of axles, hubs, rims, and suspension were designed and customized by CAKE.

What does KALK mean? CAKE chose the name KALK for the local KALKsten (Limestone) bedrock of the island of Gotland, which is largely made up of coral reefs from 400 million years ago.

CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle

Warning: Extremely Technical CAKE KALK Specifications Approaching …

The CAKE KALK e-motorcycle uses a standard IPM motor customized for CAKE and made in Europe. The 15kW peak (9kW continuous) or 16 hp mid motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack using 18650 cells and rated at 51.8 volts, 50Ah, 2.6kWh. It uses an ACE Astute Controller Engineering controller pushing out 42 Nm (31 lb. ft.) at the motor shaft. The CAKE weighs in at below 70 kilos (154 lb) and has a single pivot direct drive.

CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle

The e-motorcycle rides on suspensions developed with Öhlins. The front sports 38mm stanchion tubes with 204mm travel. The upside-down fork is an air/oil-sprung 38mm stanchion tube with 204mm travel. It is adjustable for high-speed compression, low-speed compression, and low-speed rebound. The rear shock and linkage suspension include Öhlins TTX dampening technology, a nitrogen pressurized bladder reservoir system, 3-level high speed and 16 clicks low-speed compression and 7 low-speed rebound adjustment, connected to CNC machined 7075 aircraft aluminum linkage.

The CAKE Kalk was designed in-house, including axles, hubs, sprockets, and even the tires. The latter are 25 mm axles with aerospace-grade 7075 Power hubs™. The bike includes 24 inch/50 mm 6061 alloy, triple bridge rims and 24 inch specially developed tires for durability and minimum trail wear.

CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle

The KALK’s top speed is 80 km/h (50 mph) with a range of up to 80 km (50 miles). It has three adjustable regenerative braking modes. The frame is built out of 6061 extruded aluminum. The frame is CNC jointed and welded, while the body is made of carbon fiber. The brakes are motorcycle-standard four-piston calipers, alloy levers with 220mm/3.2mm stainless steel rotors.

The front rims and rear rims are 24 inches (50mm) wide and built like an MTB DH. They are reinforced with triple chambers, welded, and anodized in 6061 aircraft aluminum. Complete wheels are 32 spoked and tubeless compatible.

The front hub is CNC machined from 7075 aircraft aluminum, using a 25 mm axle and stainless steel SKF cartridge bearings made of 32 pull spokes used with the CAKE rotor discs. The rear hub is the same but uses a 15 mm axle and stainless steel SKF cartridge bearings.

As far as the CAKE rotors, they are 220mm in diameter and 3.2mm in thickness and made of laser-cut stainless steel. The direct mount CAKE stem is CNC machined from 7075 aircraft aluminum and made to fit the CAKE/Öhlins triple clamp. It’s designed to suit 31.8mm bars, is 60mm long, and has a 15mm rise.

Finally, all bearings (except for the headset) are SKF, stainless steel cartridge bearings. Whether using chain or belt, the sprockets are specifically engineered to support high torque. The chain sprocket shown in the picture is made of CNC machined anodized 7075 aircraft aluminum.

CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle

https://vimeo.com/251788459

CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle CAKE KALK e-Motorcycle

Final Thoughts On The Wild & Incredible CAKE KALK

As to its price, the company settled on $14,000, which all things considered is not bad considering the amount of in-house engineering and design. It is available now for pre-order on the company’s site with a $1,000 deposit.

Stefan Ytterborn, founder and CEO of CAKE, told CleanTechnica: “With a clear mission to contribute speeding up the transition towards a zero-emission society, CAKE aims to turn the motorized two-wheeled future upside down. Light, silent and clean electric off-road motorbikes will make the era of noise, disturbance, pollution, and complexity a thing of the past. The category will evolve into an independent pursuit, offering action and magic in combination with responsibility and respect towards people and planet.”

We’ve covered a few great off-road e-motorcycles in the past, ranging from what Alta Motors offers to the French startup LMX 161-H, but we’ve never had such a thorough amount of information from an EV maker, traditional or startup. CAKE held no specifications back and told us everything there is to know about its first KALK e-motorcycle. It was particularly refreshing to have all the information at our fingertips. You can find out more on CAKE’s CoLab site.

And speaking of fingertips, you’ll have to wait until late 2018 to get your hands on a KALK model. We absolutely cannot wait to take a spin on one of the first CAKE KALK off-road e-motorcycles.

By the way, you can follow this new company online on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Vimeo.

https://vimeo.com/251785960


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Nicolas Zart

Nicolas was born and raised around classic cars of the 1920s, but it wasn't until he drove an AC Propulsion eBox and a Tesla Roadster that the light went on. Ever since he has produced green mobility content on various CleanTech outlets since 2007 and found his home on CleanTechnica. He grew up in an international environment and his communication passion led to cover electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, renewable energy, test drives, podcasts, shoot pictures, and film for various international outlets in print and online. Nicolas offers an in-depth look at the e-mobility world through interviews and the many contacts he has forged in those industries. His favorite taglines are: "There are more solutions than obstacles." and "Yesterday's Future Now"

Nicolas Zart has 572 posts and counting. See all posts by Nicolas Zart