The folks at the Swedish-based CAKE bikes have been earning a cult following for a few years now, thanks to their pared-back and utilitarian electric bikes and mopeds. This year, the brand is doubling down on its function-over-form approach to transport design with the announcement of the Cake Aik cargo e-bike (written Åik), which offers a blank slate for load-carrying on two wheels with hundreds of options to customise to suit your needs.
Announced at the recent gadget-lovers dream that is CES, the CAKE Aik forms a part of the “brand’s Work” line-up that is aimed at courier firms, small businesses and anyone looking to move things from A to B. Boasting CAKE’s signature minimalist forged 6061 aluminum frame, the bike is as lightweight as it is strong which allows for its impressive 200kgs gross vehicle weight (combined weight of the bike, rider and cargo), despite the bike itself weighting just 35kgs.
While it looks a treat and can more than handle a few parcels on its front and rear racks, perhaps the most impressive feature of the CAKE Aik is its range between battery charges. Powered by one, two or three 750Wh batteries, its range with a single battery is around 120kms, while if you carry all three you can expect up to 360kms of distance – making it a game-changing cargo transport vehicle. It charges quickly too, with 80% after 2 hours and 100% after 3 hours.
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The strong electric motor is able to produce 100 Nm of pedal assist torque, which is a must-have for anyone carrying particularly heavy loads, and is controlled by the market-leading Enviolo Extreme gearbox. A final compelling feature is the integrated dropper seat post, so if you’ve got a family or business where multiple people need to ride the Aik, they can adjust its height with the simple press of a button.
As far as commuters and cargo bikes go, this latest offering from CAKE is up there with the very best of them, offering solid customizability, strong load bearing capacity and an impressive range between charges. It’s currently available for custom order with an RRP of US$6,470 (AU$9,357).
