2021 Cake Kalk OR Race and Kalk INK Race First Look

Swedish electric motorcycle manufacturer, Cake, invited Cycle World to “Cakema”—a virtual replacement for what would have been its presentation at EICMA 2020. At this virtual presentation Cake CEO Stefan Ytterborn and Europe Brand Manager Klara Edhag discussed Cake’s 2021 model updates as well as the company’s upcoming involvement in racing.

If you have been keeping up with the electric manufacturer’s lineup, you will know that it has been quickly increasing its fleet size with two main platforms: Kalk (Kalk&, Kalk OR, Kalk INK, and Kalk INK SL) and Ösa (Ösa Lite and Ösa+). For 2021, the newest model additions are the Kalk OR Race and Kalk INK Race. These models take the Kalk OR/Kalk INK off-road models and fit them with a race kit upgrade consisting of a higher front fender, fork guards, MX-specific rims and hubs, and “more extreme” tires. If you already own a standard Kalk OR or Kalk INK, this kit can be purchased separately as well.

The new models are touted on being “light, quiet, and clean.” More specifically, the Kalk OR Race weighs a claimed 75 kilograms (165 pounds) and the Kalk INK Race weighs a claimed 78 kilograms (172 pounds). The quiet and clean factors come in the form of its 11kW electric motor that delivers a claimed 42Nm (30.98 pound-feet) of torque at the motor axle and 280Nm (206.52 pound-feet) of torque at the wheel.

In regard to the specific targets Cake would like to address, Ytterborn stated, “In general, looking at the business' long term it’s all about establishing a turnkey business where we are looking to be one of the key players in the premium segment…the transition from combustion to electric is just starting to happen so at this point it’s all about making sure that we develop, learn, and lead what we define as the light category of electric motorcycles.”

Ytterborn stated, “The start of 2021 is all about racing for Cake. It’s always been a part of our DNA, but with the launch of the new Kalk OR Race and Kalk INK Race models and the [International Cake] One Design Race series, we’re taking it to the next level and inspiring a new interest in motorcycle racing that is clean, quiet, and approachable.”

“The idea has always been to establish a format around racing, so we have and are still developing tracks and enduro formats at our test grounds on Gotland Ring on the island of Gotland,” said Edhag, Cake’s Europe brand manager. These tracks are being designed by Enduro and MX professional Robert Kvarnström with the assistance of MTB Enduro athlete Robin Wallner.

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The International Cake One Design Race series' goal is “to expand the race series to cities throughout the globe and to also establish FIM approval. The first race in the Cake One Design Race series occurred in St. Tropez, France, September 5-6, 2020, and was hosted by the team at Elektra Future with additional races being planned for summer 2021,” the press release covered.

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As part of the presentation, Cake also highlighted a number of updates to other models in its lineup. In the street-legal “&” models, the current Kalk INK SL will be renamed the Kalk INK& to match the naming convention of its Kalk& sibling. Both the Kalk INK& and Kalk& will feature new DOT 19-inch “Town and Trail” tires developed in partnership with Kenda and also see an updated polypropylene fender, new cable sleeves, new 4-inch hi-res display with button interface, and improved motor sensors. The Kalk INK& will also come standard with a new 80T rear sprocket while the Kalk& will come standard with the Gates belt drive system for near silent operation, Cake relayed.

The Kalk OR Race starts at an MSRP of $13,000 and the Kalk INK Race starts at $11,000. Deliveries of the models begin March 2021. The Race kit will be sold separately for $2,100 and will be available starting in December 2020.

With continuous development of its models and the extension of its outreach, Cake is spreading awareness of its models with a simple and clear overarching plan in place: Get more people excited about and on electric motorcycles.

For more information, visit ridecake.com/en/event-eicma/.