As electric motorcycles continue to permeate the market, designers and manufacturers have been faced with the challenge of having to pen proton-powered models that still manage to retain the classic appearance of an ICE bike. And very few designs have managed to merge these two worlds better than the eSCRAMBLER from Switch Motorcycles — a new offshoot of Shanghai Customs.
Designed by Michel Riis — an ex-Danish flat track champion and former designer for Yamaha — the bike is constructed around a unique take on the old-school double-cradle frame — rather than the typical twin-spar chassis seen on most ebikes — complimented by a kicked-up and hooped scrambler-style subframe, tracker bars, a sculpted faux-tank, anodized aluminum battery housing, 18” spoked rims, WP suspension fore and aft, and LED lighting throughout. The prototype also gets a digital display, a trio of ride modes, cruise control, and integrated GPS tracking. Slated to enter production in 2022, the eSCRAMBLER is aiming to offer a mid-drive motor with a 50kW (67hp) output and a 13kWh battery that allows for a 3.2 second 0-60mph time and a 90+ mile range and top speed thanks to a powertrain that includes a Gates carbon belt drive, Panasonic battery cells, and a Mopibus controller made especially for the eSCRAMBLER. And while it’s still going through the homologation process before entering production, the eSCRAMBLER will be campaigning in the 2020 Scandinavian flat track season.
