Sinje Gottwald, a B2B Account Manager, has accomplished a remarkable feat by riding the longest distance on an electric motorcycle. She completed her 124-day journey along the West Coast of Africa on the CAKE Kalk AP, covering 13,000 km from Spain to South Africa without technical or medical support. Despite facing daily challenges such as inclement weather, terrain, charging the bike, and dehydration, Sinje’s triumph on the Kalk AP is a breakthrough for technological and social aspects.
Sinje, a veteran of motorcycle adventures, gained recognition in 2017 after accomplishing a solo circumnavigation of the world, breaking down barriers and normalizing the idea of independent female riders achieving such feats. Her other expeditions include traveling overland from Europe to Asia, exploring Australia, traveling from South to North America overland, and from Morocco to Mali.
See also: CAKE launches Electric Offroad Motorcycle for kids
Sinje’s motivation for the trip was to showcase Africa and highlight the positivity of its blend of languages and cultures. Engaging with its people and landscapes was just part of why her experience was so memorable, along with the practical and logistical challenges of crossing borders, applying for visas, and having the correct documentation with her at all times.
As part of her preparation, she readied herself with two batteries, two chargers, spare parts, a laptop, a camera, and personal belongings. Sinje started her African exploits on October 14, 2022, in Spain, ferrying across to Morocco, where the deep sand caused the first technical difficulty with a fuse burnout. Before long, she entered Mauritania and Senegal, famous for their role in the iconic Paris-Dakar Rally.
From Gambia, she entered Guinea Bissau, where the entry into Guinea presented the challenging but advantageous combination of muddy and waterlogged jungle tracks where no car could venture. Sinje continued down the Ivory Coast, onwards through Ghana, Cameroon, and Angola amid the endless African majesty on the way. She finally arrived in South Africa to complete her unforgettable journey.
See also: Everything You Should Know About CAKE Bukk Specifications
Sinje’s motivation for human and cultural reasons, coupled with the challenge presented by using a wholly electric motorcycle, was a significant step forward for the possibilities of vehicle electrification, the sustainable future for personal transportation, and the unique challenges of adventure riding.
The Kalk AP has demonstrated the previously-thought impossible effectiveness, durability, and versatility of an electric motorcycle, overcoming the array of vehicular challenges presented by charging, mechanical care, and spare parts. Together, Sinje and the Kalk AP achieved a feat far beyond the bike’s intended purpose, with the Kalk AP exceeding expectations by completing a 13,000 km-long journey in just 124 days without experiencing a flat tire and requiring less than 140 charges.
The Kalk AP’s performance in Africa has provided irrefutable evidence of CAKE products’ build quality and likely life cycles. Stefan Ytterborn, CEO and founder of CAKE, has been one of Sinje’s most prominent supporters throughout the buildup and duration of her adventure, and he is thrilled about their ability to support her while genuinely getting a chance for extreme field testing.
