Cake Åik: A Pedelec with Many Sides to Its Character

This year, at the leading electronics trade fair CES in the USA, the focus was less on ebikes than at the previous edition. But that doesn’t mean there were no novelties to see. One of the discoveries in Las Vegas was definitely the Åik utility ebike from Cake. The Swedish manufacturer has so far been known exclusively for its light and premium e-motorbikes. Now it has presented its first pedelec to the public.

Utility ebike has now established itself as a term for a bicycle that you don’t want to call multi-talented, because that sounds too trite and many decades ago it might have been called a jack-of-all-trades. Whichever description you like best – you should mentally add urban. Because the Åik is unmistakably designed for riding on the road and in an urban context.

Convertible in its own way

Within this mental bond, however, it buzzes around, ready to take on the most diverse forms and thus serve the most diverse purposes. Quite aptly, Cake himself says that the Åik would be just as useful in a commercial ebike fleet as it would be as a bicycle for daily commuting. More generally, it is suitable for both private and commercial use.

The origin of this versatility lies in the modular frame, which is made of aluminium and shaped into a wide U. On its seat tube and head tube there are mounts for carriers, some of which are very massive, for bags and for baskets. Seats for passengers can be attached to the rear carrier, as can lockable transport boxes. The apparently very robust Åik can even pull a large trailer like the Carla Cargo.

Small powerhouse

Behind these numerous options is a maximum permitted total weight that some people might not believe the compact bike with its just 20-inch wheels can carry. The bike, the cargo and you together may weigh a total of 200 kilograms. Of this, 35 kilograms are deducted for the Åik. That leaves 165 kilograms. If you want to make full use of the rear carrier, you can carry a maximum of 60 kilograms on it. In the case of the front carrier, this is 20 kilograms. In the end, this means that you can weigh 85 kilograms and at the same time remain within the stated limit. Such figures would look good on any e-cargo bike.

Of course, this configuration is not a must. If you simply like the shape of the Cake Åik, you can also do without any carriers and ride a minimal setup. By the way, this is basically suitable for people with a body height between 150 centimetres and 195 centimetres. According to the manufacturer, the frame with its one-size-fits-all design is suitable for them. A dropper seat post and height-adjustable handlebars make it easier to adapt to the respective body size.

Equipped for every detour

Loading a lot of stuff is all well and good, but of course you should also be able to get around with all that weight. At best, easily and not just somehow. This is ensured by a mid-mounted motor with a torque of 100 Newton metres. It provides 500 watts at peak power, the usual 250 watts in continuous operation and supports you up to a speed of 25 km/h. During the ride, you can choose between three support levels. Cake calls them “Reach”, “Efficiency” and “Power”. The “Reach” level is most suitable for saving battery power. “Power” gives you the maximum boost.

However, you don’t have to worry too much about the battery capacity. With 750 watt-hours, one battery is already relatively large. It is charged within three hours, which also sounds good. What some people might like even more is the fact that there is room for three of these batteries on the Åik. The necessary mounts are behind the seat tube and under a board that is mounted as a large cargo area on the rear carrier. In this way, the capacity can be increased to a remarkable 2,250 watt hours. According to Cake, this is enough for a range of up to 360 kilometres. You can even use the batteries to power other devices. At home, as a large power bank, so to speak. Or even while riding, for example to power a cool box. That should make delivery services sit up and take notice.

The power of the drive is transferred to the road with the help of a hub gear from Enviolo. With the Extreme Automatiq, you shift automatically and steplessly within a transmission range of 380 percent. Hydraulic disc brakes bring you to a halt. Cake has dimensioned them sufficiently large. We are talking about a model with four brake pistons and brake discs with a diameter of 203 millimetres.

Parking with ease

In addition, there are a few nice details here and there, such as the ergonomic grips and the saddle from Ergon. Furthermore, Cake puts a lot of emphasis on safety. For example, the manufacturer equips the models with turn signals as standard. To protect against theft, the bipod stand also functions as a bicycle lock. After setting up the bike, it can only be folded back in with the key if you have locked the stand beforehand. Special screws secure both wheels. The seat post is also secured with an extra lock. The app includes a GPS-based alarm function and the option to lock and unlock the bike remotely.

You could come across the Åik on our roads from May. That’s when Cake wants to deliver the first models. In terms of price, the journey starts at 6,470 euros. The manufacturer has announced more detailed information on all accessories for this spring. The model can already be pre-ordered on its website.

Cake Åik at a glance

• Frame: 6061 aluminium
• Motor: 250 W, 100 Nm
• Battery: 750 Wh, 2,250 Wh with optional three batteries
• Display: TFT display
• Drivetrain: Enviolo AUTOMATiQ Extreme
• Brakes: Tektro HD-E740
• Front carrier capacity: 20 kg
• Rear carrier capacity: 60 kg
• Weight: approx. 35 kg
• Maximum permitted total weight: 200 kg
• Price: from 6,470 euros

 

Pictures: courtesy of @ridecake – ridecake.com