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Review: Cake Electric Motorcycle

Have you ever wanted to go a bit further, explore a bit more, or see around the next corner on your adventures?

By: Chris Engelsman + Save to a List

Have you ever been bummed when you are enjoying a peaceful hike on a mixed-use trail and have a loud fume-y motorcycle come by to put a damper on the experience? So have I!

Enter the Cake electric motorcycle. These new electric motorcycles are designed in Sweden, and there are no off-the-shelf parts, every part of the Cake electric motorcycle has been designed specifically for its intended use, and you can tell as soon as you ride one. 

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On a recent trip to experience Jackson Hole’s via ferrata, we had the chance to bring a couple of Cake electric motorcycles on the camping trip. Let me tell you; they are a ton of fun. As a kid, I grew up riding motorcycles exploring trails and tracks in Michigan, so I was excited to try out these new electric motorcycles. 


Let me tell you; they are sweet! There is no clutch, no shifting, twist the wrist and go. If you can ride a bike, you can ride one of these! Cake has designed three riding modes - 1, 2, and 3. One is the beginner or easy mode with the smoothest throttle response. Top speeds for mode 1 seemed to be around 25-30 mph, but with no speedometer, it was tough to tell precisely how fast we were going. The one thing to note is that with the smooth throttle response, it takes a bit to get to top speed. If you are looking for a bit more pep, turn the dial to mode 2. Riding mode 2 is an excellent in-between setting that provides more throttle response and higher speeds, and what I used most of the time. If you are looking for the most torque and performance, turn the dial to 3. The one thing to note, when switching from the different throttle options, all you have to do is let off the throttle for a moment, and it will transition to the next riding level. 

The battery life on the motorcycle is impressive. Like a hybrid or electric car, the Cake electric motorcycle has three options for regenerative braking options. Level 1 has the least amount of regenerative braking and also provides the smoothest ride. Pair braking level 1 with riding level 1 and you have the easiest mode that anyone can enjoy. Turn the braking level up to 2, and when you let off on the throttle, you will feel the rear tire slow down. Level three has the most regenerative braking power, which is helpful if you are on a long descent. In that case, you barely need to use the brakes.


With the three riding levels and three regenerative braking levels, how long does the battery last? During our trip, they would last a solid three hours, and we were throttle happy powering up hills and experiencing the direct-response of the throttle. The Cake electric motorcycles come with an inverter to power them up, find any outlet, and plug them in. According to Cake's stats, their battery will charge from 0-80% in an hour and a half. To do a full charge from 0-100% they say it takes 2.5 hours. We never ran the batteries down to zero, but plugging them in for 20-30 minutes does provide a quick charge. If you are camping or off the grid, you can use Goal Zero’s Yeti Portable Power Station or a similar product to power-up the bikes!

Ohlins, another Swedish company, designed the suspension on the Cake electric motorcycle and set them up so that you can easily switch between firm and soft settings. Soft is great if you want the suspension to absorb bumps and provide a smooth ride. Firm is perfect if you will be jumping or in performance mode. If you want to really dial in the suspension they have over 60 different settings to fine-tune the ride! 


One thing that we kept saying to each other while riding the electric bikes is how awesome it is to be riding quietly along a trail or road. You could actually hear birds chirping! That’s not something you can do on a traditional motorcycle. Also, we had to be a bit more aware of the person behind you because they were so quiet. The only sound is the whirl of the electric motor and the chain! Cake recently released a belt-drive option that will make the electric motorcycle even quieter!

Besides the quietness of the Cake electric bikes, I liked the fact that we didn’t have to use gas or mix oil to ride the bikes - simply power them up with (ideally) clean solar-generated power, and off you go. Cake is starting to do a lot of demos across the western USA. Check them out; they are a ton of fun!

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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