Cake, a brand of mountain bike-inspired electric motorcycles, has released its very first pedal-assist eBike. The Åik is marketed squarely as a utility vehicle with a claimed range of 224 miles and a maximum cargo capacity of 441 lbs (200 kgs).
The Cake Åik’s motor produces a maximum torque of 100 Nm; its top speed is 25 kph (16 mph)
Since its creation in 2018 by the founder of POC, Swedish brand Cake has stated its mission is “to inspire to a zero-emission society”. For its Osa and Makka urban electric motorcycles, it has produced a wide variety of accessories to broaden their application from simple A to B means of personal transport, to practical vehicles that can actually be used commercially for deliveries throughout urban environments, only without the higher emissions taxes that would apply to use of a petrol or diesel engine. You can even use the Osa to drive your mountain bike to the trail head.
The Åik benefits from an Enviolo Extreme Internally Geared Hub with automatic and step-less shifting
Now, Cake is taking the next step with its first pedal-assist eBike. The Åik is built upon a modular 6061 aluminum frame able to accept racks, bags, trailers, baskets, and even passenger seats. The brand says it is the utility choice for the demands of working professionals who rely on two-wheeled transportation for their livelihood.
The Cake Åik benefits fro a dropper seat post helping to make the eBike more versatile for a wider range of rider heights
To that end, the Åik can accomodate three 750 Wh batteries at any one time. That energy can be used to transport the rider up to a claimed 224 miles (~74.5 miles per battery), or it can be used to simultaneously power all manner of useful items during transport such as temperature-controlled food boxes, electronic tools, and other electronic equipment. Now, the real scope of its utility becomes evident.
The Åik is a Class 2 e-bike in North America; that means it can be ridden on the road without the need for a license, and on networks of cycle paths and cycle lanes where its non pedal-assist equivalents would be prohibited from venturing. It should, therefore, also be much easier to park. It seems that for people requiring rapid transport around built-up city centers only, this would be the obvious choice over the Cake Osa electric motorbike.
Each of the three 750 Wh batteries can be locked to the frame to prevent theft
Though it is no featherweight, the Cake Åik is pretty light given its 441 lbs pay load weighing a claimed 77 lbs (35 kg).
“With Åik joining the :work series lineup, we’re now offering a complete assortment of electric two-wheeled solutions for any business in need of a transportation solution” said CAKE founder and CEO Stefan Ytterborn. He continued “Our range is optimized for artisanal needs, from the fastest deliveries in town through to surveillance work in the backcountry.”
Pricing & Availability
The Cake Åik is available for pre-order on the Ride Cake website with a starting prcie of $6,470 USD (no racks or the like), and is expected to start shipping in May of this year. Additional components are priced as follows:
Front Carrier: $285 USD
Rear Carrier Medium: $315 USD
Rear Carrier Large: $345 USD
Extra Battery: $780 USD