When Stefan Ytterborn first tried to build an electric-motorcycle, he used some of the popular DIY bike kits available on the market. But it wasn’t long before he realized he’d have to go rogue. The off-the-shelf hub motor was clunky; motorcycle parts were too heavy and bike parts too weak. “I recognized that if I was really going to be honest with myself, I would need to start from scratch,” Ytterborn says.
In early 2018, Ytterborn launched his own electric-motorcycle company, Cake, with the limited-edition Kalk. The bike had only five standard parts. Everything else, from the rims and tires to the fork, was designed in-house. Cake now has two models: the Kalk OR (above) for off-roading, and the street-legal Kalk&. Both bikes are built from plastic and aluminum and are powered by a supremely quiet electric drivetrain located under the seat. Best of all, they can rip around roads and trails for up to three hours before they need recharging.
