Swedish design manager Stefan Ytterborn has worked for globally recognized brands including IKEA, Ericsson, Saab and Absolut Vodka. In 2005 he launched POC, a cycling and snow protective gear company that was purchased by Dainese in 2015. Ytterborn and his new team at Cake just introduced the Kalk electric off-road motorcycle, with a range of 50 miles and a top speed to match.

The frame and swingarm are made made with extruded 6061 aluminum, both CNC jointed and welded with a carbon fiber body. [Cake]
Influenced by downhill and enduro mountain bikes, the Kalk motorcycle weighs just under 150 pounds, compared to 250 pounds for a typical off-road ICE bike. Every part of the Kalk—including rolling chassis (frame, cockpit, wheels and tires), components, suspension and drivetrain—was engineered, designed and manufactured for optimal performance.

“Light, silent and clean electric off-road motorbikes will make the era of noise, disturbance, pollution and complexity a thing of the past,” Ytterborn said. “The category will evolve into an independent pursuit, offering action and magic in combination with responsibility and respect toward people and planet.”

A $1,000 deposit gets you in line for just one of 50 limited-edition Kalks, with delivery slated for mid summer 2018. Retail price is $14,000.

The Kalk is a high-concept, limited-production design item, with visual cues reminiscent of Philippe Starck’s iconic Aprilia Moto 6.5 – it’s those seamless surface transitions and ultra-clean, pale color tones.  While it has excellent suspension, brakes, and theoretical performance, it’s real-world off-road capabilities remain to be seen – is this a serious dirt bike, or a beautiful trail bike?   Or something else – a beautiful object?

Only 50 Cake Kalks will be made, with the $14,000 eBikes starting delivery in mid June 2018. [Cake]
The handlebar is made from aerospace-grade 7050 aluminum, is 800mm wide with a 20mm rise and 31.8mm clamp diameter. [Cake]
The 15kW mid motor is powered by a 51.8V, 50Ah battery to produce 16 hp. [Cake]
The upside down Öhlins fork is air/oil sprung and features 38mm stanchion tubes for extra rigidity and strength, with 204mm travel. Adjustable for high-speed compression, low-speed compression and low-speed rebound. [Cake]
The front hub is CNC machined from 7075 aircraft aluminum, using a 25mm axle and stainless steel SKF cartridge bearings. [Cake]

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