2020 Cake Kalk INK SL First Look

Swedish electric motorcycle manufacturer Cake has launched another road-going model based on its Kalk OR platform. The bike, called the Kalk INK SL, is a mid-year 2020 model that adds street capability to the company’s Kalk INK machine. The off-road INK electric debuted just last month and is aimed at “backcountry free-riding,” while the new SL allows you to zip around paved urban roads as well as dirt paths. Both of the similarly configured Kalk INK models also keep the price point below the more premium Kalk OR and Kalk& bikes.

The SL, as expected (“SL” stands for street legal), is essentially the Kalk INK model with the addition of lights and mirrors. Both the Kalk INK SL and off-road-only Kalk INK are based on the Kalk OR platform, which made its debut in 2018. All four Kalk models in the series (Kalk OR, Kalk&, Kalk INK, and Kalk INK SL) share the same basic drivetrain, battery, and 6061 aluminum frame/swingarm that were developed for the higher-spec, off-road-only Kalk OR and its street-legal sibling the Kalk&. To keep the price down, the Kalk INK and Kalk INK SL simplify certain systems, using a non-linkage rear suspension and a more robust yet still lightweight motocross-style front suspension instead of the Öhlins components found on the OR and the &. The other major points of difference are the black, injection-molded polycarbonate and ABS fenders and bodywork, but both INK models run the same sturdy 19-inch wheels for added durability and less overall maintenance. The SL adds weight and price—and top speed—over the standard INK, coming in at about 11 pounds heavier, $1,000 more expensive, and with a top speed of around 56 mph, Cake says.

Obviously, streetwise parts make an appearance on the SL, with added turn signals, a front headlight and rear brake lights, an LED display, a foot brake, and a license plate holder all making the Kalk INK SL fully street legal in the EU and US. The motor outputs a lower 10kWh, and gearing on the Kalk INK SL is also slightly revised (the newer model runs a 12-tooth front and 72-tooth rear sprocket) resulting in a higher top speed that can better match required highway limits. As with the INK model, the INK SL comes standard with a single easily removable 51.8-volt battery. Riding modes on both bikes are likewise a carbon copy, with riders able to select Explore, Excite, and Excel. Cake says riders can generally expect up to three hours of riding on a single charge using all the modes across varied terrain, but you can get a bit of power back into the battery by using the four-stroke and two-stroke modes.

With the SL, Cake now grows its range of street-legal models to four. “We are stoked to be able to expand the urban Cake presence with the new Kalk INK SL… This bike stems from the uncompromising and super-light Kalk&, but uses components, wheels, and suspension that are a bit more rigid, which means it’s straightforward to maintain and easy to use,” founder and CEO of Cake Stefan Ytterborn says. “With the launch of the Kalk INK SL, we introduce the fourth model of street-legal Cake bikes next to the Kalk& and recently released Ösa+ and Ösa Lite.”

The 2020 Kalk INK has a price tag of $10,500 (US) and will be available direct to consumers via ridecake.com and select dealer partners worldwide starting July 2020. Riders can already preorder the bike with a $200 USD deposit.