The Switch Motorcycles eSCRAMBLER is one of the most considered electric scrambler designs to emerge from the independent motorcycle world. Born from the collaboration between Matthew Waddick, founder of Shanghai Customs, and designer Michael Riis, it captures the soul of classic trackers while delivering the performance of a modern electric drivetrain.
Why Switch Motorcycles Exists
Matthew Waddick built his reputation with Shanghai Customs, a workshop known for visually faithful interpretations of classic motorcycle culture. When the time came to evolve beyond combustion, Waddick did not retrofit electric power into a conventional frame. Instead, he and Riis designed the eSCRAMBLER from the ground up to feel like a tracker should: upright, balanced, and honest.
Frame, Suspension and Style
The eSCRAMBLER uses an old school double-cradle steel frame, the same construction approach favored by classic enduro and flat track machines for its simplicity and repairability. A period-correct tracker subframe and handlebar setup reinforce the identity, while what appears to be a fuel tank is actually a design element that houses electronics, maintaining the visual language of a traditional scrambler without a combustion engine to fill it.
Suspension comes from WP on both ends, a well-regarded motocross and enduro suspension brand. Both wheels use 18-inch spoked rims, a choice that prioritizes authentic scrambler aesthetics over the wider rubber profile favored by modern electric performance bikes.
Performance and Battery
Performance targets are ambitious: a mid-drive electric motor producing 67 hp connected to a 13 kWh battery, with a 0-100 km/h time of 3.2 seconds. The digital dashboard includes cruise control, GPS navigation, and selectable ride modes. These specifications put the eSCRAMBLER in a class with far more expensive electric performance motorcycles.
The Electric Scrambler That Respects Its Roots
The eSCRAMBLER was submitted for homologation and planned for debut at the 2020 Scandinavian flat track season, demonstrating that Switch Motorcycles intends this to be a racing-capable platform, not a concept that never reaches the track. This commitment to competition-proven development separates it from many electric concepts that never evolve past a render.
For riders who want a purchasable electric motorcycle with comparable spirit, the Tarform Luna electric motorcycle and the Arc Vector electric motorcycle are among the strongest options available today. Explore the full TheArsenale Electric collection and the broader TheArsenale motorcycle collection for the best in zero-emission riding.
