The Current: Swedish Cake serves up Kalk

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.

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?

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