This Electric Bike Is The Perfect Post-apocalyptic Runabout... But Costs A Bomb!

Amidst the rising concerns of fossil fuel dependency, electric bikes have become all the rage now. One such niche e-bike maker based out of Sweden, Cake, has launched the Kalk Ink SL electric bike in the international market. It comes with a hefty price tag of USD 10,500 (about Rs 8.01 lakh) for the variant with one battery and USD 13,500 (around Rs 10.29 lakh) for the model with a spare battery. So what does it pack to make it so expensive?

Well, to begin with, it is built on a high-grade 6061 aluminium new-age double downtube frame. Thanks to its all-aluminium construction, the Cake Kalk Ink SL weighs just 82kg, including the battery pack! The 2.6kWh, 50Ah, 51.8V Lithium-ion battery pack sits bang in the middle and the 10kW electric motor is located just below the battery pack. It is capable of generating a healthy 42Nm of twist at the motor and using reduction gears, the peak torque stands at 252Nm at the wheel.

The electric bike offers a claimed top speed of about 90kmph and according to the WMTC-II cycle, the range stands at 86km per charge. It’s nothing segment-shattering, though. Cruising on the highway at around 70kmph will give you a range of 35km in one charge. Cake says if you’re having fun on trails/enduro riding, then the battery pack will last you for about three hours.

There are three riding modes to choose from. The Explore Mode is essentially the eco mode with the top speed limited to 45kmph and a 3-4 hour battery range. On the other hand, the Excite Mode is ideal for enduro and trail riding, and offers a 1-2 hour riding time. If you want to squeeze the maximum out of your electric bike, then switch to Excel Mode aka track/race mode. Under this mode, you’ll have the full power and torque output to play with but the battery will last only up to 1 hour. Apart from being capable of freewheeling, there are two regenerative braking modes.

What really takes the cake (in a good way) is that it gets a massive ground clearance of 300mm. Additionally, the MX inverted front fork offers a generous 200mm travel and the rear monoshock comes with a 205mm wheel travel. Even the spoke rims are made out of 6061 aluminium and they measure 19-inches on both ends and are wrapped with dual-sport tyres. Brakes include 220mm discs on both ends. There’s no ABS and considering the bike’s performance and price tag, it would have been better if the brand had equipped the electric bike with one.

Also Read: Electric Bike Maker Energica Likely To Enter India By The End Of 2020

Preorders are now open at the brand’s official website at USD 200 (around Rs 15,200) and the electric bike will be available at its partner dealers across the world from July 2020 onwards. The Cake Kalk Ink SL is the Swedish brand’s most affordable, full-sized, road-legal electric bike but even then, at USD 10,000, it is still prohibitively expensive. It is more of a lifestyle choice than a no-nonsense, eco-friendly commuter. The Zero FX is equally capable in terms of off-road ability and comes with a much more powerful 20kW/106Nm motor all the while undercutting the Kalk Ink SL by a whole USD 1,000 (about Rs 76,200).