THE IDEA LAB:

Retro-Futuristic Electric Motorcycles by Switch

Wakatipu native Matthew Waddick knows a thing or two about retro-inspired electric motorcycles. In 2018, while living in Shanghai, Matthew developed and brought to market an electric conversion kit for the classic Honda Cub moped as part of Shanghai Customs.

In addition to Shanghai Customs, which mostly focuses on custom electric motorcycles and moped builds, he’s back with another new electric motorcycle company, Switch Motorcycles, which has just unveiled a decidedly impressive electric motorcycle known as the eSCRAMBLER.

Matthew founded Switch Motorcycles to produce larger electric motorcycles with higher-performance specs, which describes the eSCRAMBLER well.

Matthew partnered with ex-Yamaha Advanced Labs industrial designer and former Danish Flat Track racing champion Michel Riis to develop the eSCRAMBLER’s design.

The design brief was simple: It had to be a mid-sized motorcycle with a powerful belt-driven mid-mounted motor and be production ready. That meant tooling, CNC’d welding jigs, parts designed to be molded, the works. This wasn’t going to be vaporware — this was a bike designed from the outset for production.

Come along our IDEA LAB to hear about Matthew's Startup Journey.

This is being held at URBAN GRIND, 72 Ardmore Street Wanaka

... followed by a Questions & Answer session