What It Is:
The Cake Kalk INK SL is an electric motorcycle meant to blur the lines between on- and off-road application. Actually, it’s meant to blur a lot of lines. At 187 pounds, it’s exceptionally lightweight for its power output. Consider that a dual-sport bike like Honda’s capable, and relatively light (for gas) CRF250L weighs 321 pounds.
This is not an apples-to-apples comparison, however. The Honda costs $5,200. The Cake is almost exactly double that price, at $10,500. But to stop there would miss the bigger mission.
A street-legal electric motorcycle that’s this svelte opens up a lot of possibilities. There’s no clutch to learn, because there’s only one speed. Twist the “throttle” and adjust your speed. That, and the brakes (one hand-brake on the right handlebar and a foot brake) are all you need to master. Also: It’s way easier to load this EV moto into the back of a pickup, again, because it’s not that burly. And because it’ll never leak oil or fuel or offgas, you could just as easily carry it inside a minivan, too, no sweat. No fuel means no exhaust—and very little noise, too. (Most off-road motorcycles are loud or VERY loud.) That’s less offensive to people around you—and perhaps, if you were reticent to ride before, to you, too.
A dirt bike that doesn’t offend other outdoor users is a revelation, and simply kinder to everyone. Even to your own ears.
We knew all this going in. But to experience it is another thing.
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