Cooke switches on new Adelaide electric motorbike start up
A South Australian startup – led by the REISA chair and former Specsavers state director – is launching a new Adelaide showroom to target the growing EV market.
A South Australian electric motorcycle start-up’s first showroom is set to be launched in the city’s East End, as its owners target Australia’s rapidly growing two-wheeler EV industry.
LEKI opened its flagship space on Ebenezer Place to display its designs, all assembled in Adelaide. The company says the move positioned South Australia as a vanguard to the national electric mobility market, which is forecasted to reach $480m by 2029.
Chief executive Cain Cooke, who has worked with some of the country’s most recognisable retail brands including being a former national operations manager for Boost Juice and state director of Specsavers, said Adelaide offered the perfect environment to grow a new generation of electric motorcycles.
“There’s a great emerging innovation hub happening here… having a community around you that wants to help and lift you up is really advantageous at this point in business,” Cooke told InDaily.
“We saw a clear gap in Australia for an affordable and stylish electric bike that still delivered on performance.
“Adelaide has a long history of manufacturing and innovation, and we wanted to build something here that could appeal beyond traditional motorbike enthusiasts.”
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“I’m an Adelaide boy born and bred… when you can make something work in a tough or conservative market, it’s easier to grow into others.”
Assembled at its Gepps Cross workshop, LEKI bikes use a 57-part modular system that can be constructed by technicians in 60 minutes.
Cooke, who is chair of the Real Estate Institute of South Australia, said the streamlined process meant customer could receive their motorcycle within two to five days Australia-wide.
“A lot of our design is outsourced or contract engineered, it’s how we go far on a startup budget,” he said.
Co-founded alongside Fairlie Delbridge, Cooke believed the company’s early success stemmed from online demand, reflecting a shift in the way Australians consumers shop for vehicles.
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“People want a simple and seamless digital experience that shows them exactly what they are investing in,” Cooke said.
“Our showroom adds to that by giving Adelaide locals a relaxed space to see and feel the bikes without the pressure that often comes with traditional dealerships.
“The East End is cool, it’s where people want to hang out. We want people to experience the bikes in a low-pressure environment that feels more like discovery than a dealership.”
LEKI intends to position Adelaide as a frontrunner in electric mobility by highlighting the environmental benefits of switching to two-wheel EVs.
”South Australia leads the country in solar adoption; we should be a great urban city for electric mobility, powered by the renewable energy we generate,” Cooke said.
The company estimated each bike could save around 546 kilograms of carbon emissions a year based on average travel distances.
“Demand for eco-friendly transport is increasing everywhere,” Cooke said.
“We want South Australia to be at the forefront of that shift by offering a genuinely accessible option for urban commuters.”
“It’s not as intimidating as a traditional bike, it’s twist-and-go, quiet, light. That’s why we’re seeing interest from women 50 plus, older first-time licence holders, and young riders.”
Available to those on learner’s permits, the motorcycles use standard 240V charging with estimated running costs equating to about $2.33 per 100 kilometres. The range featured 5000-watt and 10000-watt motors with top speeds that exceeded 160 kilometres per hour.
