Motorcycles

Cake electric dirt bike leaves behind plenty of dust but no emissions

Cake electric dirt bike leaves behind plenty of dust but no emissions
Cake shows its bike within the BrandNew section of ISPO Munich
Cake shows its bike within the BrandNew section of ISPO Munich
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The Cake Kalk is built to provide a lighter, cleaner way of zipping around local dirt bike trails and parks
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The Cake Kalk is built to provide a lighter, cleaner way of zipping around local dirt bike trails and parks
Cake has released a 50-model limited edition Kalk for US$14,000
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Cake has released a 50-model limited edition Kalk for US$14,000
With up to 50 mph of potential speed, the Kalk provides a fun time in the mountains or forest
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With up to 50 mph of potential speed, the Kalk provides a fun time in the mountains or forest
Cake held back-to-back US and European premieres at the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show in Denver and ISPO Munich
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Cake held back-to-back US and European premieres at the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show in Denver and ISPO Munich 
The all-new Cake Kalk electric dirt bike
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The all-new Cake Kalk electric dirt bike
Cake CEO and founder Stefan Ytterborn is also behind the helmet/goggle brand POC
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Cake CEO and founder Stefan Ytterborn is also behind the helmet/goggle brand POC
A little cross-brand promotion
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A little cross-brand promotion
Tearing it up on the Cake Kalk
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Tearing it up on the Cake Kalk
Cake seems determined to show that "electric" is more than just quiet and eco-friendly
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Cake seems determined to show that "electric" is more than just quiet and eco-friendly
Cake uses a 6061 aluminum frame and carbon fiber body parts
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Cake uses a 6061 aluminum frame and carbon fiber body parts 
The Kalk is powered by a 2.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
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The Kalk is powered by a 2.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
WIth its 15-kW motor, the Kalk is more powerful than some of the other light electric dirt bikes/electric mountain bikes we've looked at
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WIth its 15-kW motor, the Kalk is more powerful than some of the other light electric dirt bikes/electric mountain bikes we've looked at
Cake worked on its front and rear suspension with the boys at Öhlins
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Cake worked on its front and rear suspension with the boys at Öhlins
Cake says that it plans both chain and belt-drive models
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Cake says that it plans both chain and belt-drive models
Cake Kalk close-up
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Cake Kalk close-up
With its electric motor, the Kalk relies on a single gear and no clutching
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With its electric motor, the Kalk relies on a single gear and no clutching 
Cake Kalk close-up
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Cake Kalk close-up
No pedals here, the Kalk is all motor power
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No pedals here, the Kalk is all motor power
Cake Kalk close-up
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Cake Kalk close-up
The Cake rides on 24-in 6061 alloy wheels
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The Cake rides on 24-in 6061 alloy wheels
Cake Kalk close-up
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Cake Kalk close-up
Cake Kalk close-up
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Cake Kalk close-up
The Calk seat is designed by Reconsider
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The Calk seat is designed by Reconsider
Looking at the Cake battery pack
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Looking at the Cake battery pack
Instead of borrowing parts from the mountain bike and moto industries, Cake developed its own components
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Instead of borrowing parts from the mountain bike and moto industries, Cake developed its own components
Cake Kalk close-up
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Cake Kalk close-up
Cake Kalk close-up
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Cake Kalk close-up
Unfortunately, Cake reps weren't around when we passed through, so we didn't get to chat with them about the bike
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Unfortunately, Cake reps weren't around when we passed through, so we didn't get to chat with them about the bike
Cake shows its bike within the BrandNew section of ISPO Munich
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Cake shows its bike within the BrandNew section of ISPO Munich
POC was previously a winner of a BrandNew Award, and Cake was voted a finalist for this year's awards
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POC was previously a winner of a BrandNew Award, and Cake was voted a finalist for this year's awards
Cake Kalk European premiere at ISPO Munich
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Cake Kalk European premiere at ISPO Munich
A closer look at the battery pack
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A closer look at the battery pack
Cake Kalk European premiere at ISPO Munich
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Cake Kalk European premiere at ISPO Munich
Whether watched on the show floor or on your tablet, the video really sells Cake's vision
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Whether watched on the show floor or on your tablet, the video really sells Cake's vision
View gallery - 34 images

Your helmet is essential, but it's typically the machine accompanying that helmet that really impresses. Perhaps that's why Stefan Ytterborn, founder of global helmet brand POC, turned his attention to the world of powered bikes. His new company Cake debuts to make dirt trails a little quieter and cleaner. Its launch product the Kalk, however, makes no pretensions of being a means of exercise or fitness – it hits the trail as an all-electric dirt bike that's light, lithe and ready to party.

When we first saw Cake on the roster for the recent Outdoor Retailer and ISPO sports shows, we assumed it had an electric mountain bike waiting in the wings. And by the way it teased the bike prior to its full reveal, we assumed it to be a high-powered (but still pedalled) electric bike like the Stealth B52 or Greyp G12S.

We were wrong. The Cake Kalk doesn't wear pedals at all and is very much a full-blown electric off-road motorcycle meant to throttle its way over dirt and rock. Leg muscles simply aren't required when there's a 15-kW (20-hp) mid-motor powertrain running the show (the aforementioned Stealth B-52 runs on a 5.2-kW/7-hp motor for comparison). Once the juice gets flowing from the 2.6-kWh lithium-ion battery, the motor will get the bike firing to speeds of up to 50 mph (80 km/h) or ranges as far as 50 miles (80 km) a charge. The 31 lb-ft of torque help get the bike up to a brisk pace from standstill.

With up to 50 mph of potential speed, the Kalk provides a fun time in the mountains or forest
With up to 50 mph of potential speed, the Kalk provides a fun time in the mountains or forest

Riders manage motor power using a three-mode computer-controlled system with a beginner-oriented, 28 mph (45 km/h)-limited "discover" mode, a range-maximizing "explore" mode, and a quick, high-powered "excite" mode. A motorcycle braking system and engine braking bring the 24-in wheels to a stop.

It may be all motorcycle by definition, but we suspect the Kalk will distinguish itself by its mountain bike-inspired ride. Enduro and downhill bikes, in particular, helped guide its geometry, suspension, components and handling. One only need watch it in action to see it maneuver and corner very much like a bicycle, albeit with no pedalling effort. Cake says the Kalk weighs in just under 155 lb (70 kg), and with the mid-motor powertrain and central battery cage, those pounds are clearly focused centrally and lowish inside the carbon-faired 6061 aluminum frame.

The Kalk is powered by a 2.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
The Kalk is powered by a 2.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack

The Kalk's frame is obviously quite unlike the average mountain bike or motorcycle because its development involved a ground-up, from-scratch mentality. Existing mountain bike parts were deemed too weak, existing motorcycle parts too heavy, so Cake engineered and fine-tuned its own solutions with help from partner brands.

The upside-down fork specially developed by Öhlins features an air/oil spring system inside its sturdy 38-mm stanchion tubes, offering up to 8 in (204 mm) of travel. Öhlins also whipped up a special linkage rear suspension using its TTX coil spring tech with a nitrogen-pressurized bladder reservoir and plenty of compression and rebound adjustability.

Cake says that it plans both chain and belt-drive models
Cake says that it plans both chain and belt-drive models

The trail-ready Kalk bike may help speed the acceptance of electric dirt bikes, but despite being quite successful on the OR and ISPO awards circuits, it isn't the first of its kind. We've seen a number of light, maneuverable electric dirt bikes of various shapes, styles and power levels, most recently the LMX 161-H, and the Stealth H-52 and EMX before that.

Cake introduced the Kalk at the inaugural Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show in Denver late last month right before bringing it to ISPO Munich, where it was a finalist for a Brandnew Award. The US$14,000/€14,000 first edition bike is available for pre-order now for a $/€1,000 reservation fee. Deliveries will begin in mid June, and the series production model will follow later in 2018.

Cake says the Kalk is the first "among a number of models to come." In case you're thinking the name is related to the caulk you seal bathroom fixtures with, it's actually a reference to kalksten, the limestone that serves as the bedrock of Sweden's Gotland island, Cake's proving grounds.

Be sure to check out the footage below. Or perhaps we should say, after scrolling straight down and watching the footage, you can find more details about the bike above.

Full launch video - editor's cut

Source: Cake

View gallery - 34 images
6 comments
6 comments
ptim
I wish they'd include the live audio of these bikes... I don't love engine sounds - reckon the full stealth experience would be awesome - just the sound of tearing over gravel!
notarichman
i agree; that is a pet peeve on videos for me. let us hear how quiet the bike is at different speeds! also, 50 mile maximum range sucks. i have ridden 350 miles in a day on lousy roads and trails with my ICE bike. essentially no comparison. also they don't say the size and weight of the rider and those limitations. i'm 6' 5" 260 lbs. so i imagine my range would be 40 miles if i could ride it.
jd_dunerider
I wish these bikes could go further/longer. I would love to pull the trigger on a lighter, quieter, and less maintenance electric dirt bike, but my trail rides are always many hours long. I could change the way I personally ride, but all of my riding buddies are still going to go on the same many hour rides. What kind of diminishing returns are there with going bigger on the batteries (ie: adding triple the battery storage)? I really hope a breakthrough in battery technology is not far away, for many reasons beyond just dirt bikes of course.
guzmanchinky
If this were street legal I'd be buying one today. In California, it's just not useful, since you can't use it on bike trails, and you can only use it on trails where "green sticker" bikes are allowed (basically a dirt bike, no license plate). Unfortunately, most of these are connected by dirt roads which require license plates. Someone PLEASE build an electric dirt oriented dual-sport with 50 or more miles of realistic off road range. Please...
ljaques
Those look like Stealth Bombers without the cool, plus a higher price. Black, white, gold, silver, and gray? I'll bet that white seat stays white for about seven seconds. Who "designed" this? The Zero FX ZF7.2 completely outstyles this box on wheels. 90 mile range. With the combo bike + fast charger priced $3k less than Cake, what's not to like? Pardon my drool. I'm still waiting for Zero to cut its prices in half so I can't put off going into debt any longer.
MauriceH
Ludicrous price