Search

Suzuki’s VanVan Goes Electric — The Weird Kid Is Back

Paul Roberts
Oct 13
3 min read

When you think of “quirky motorcycles,” the VanVan has always occupied a special corner of the room. Not quite a scrambler. Not quite a minibike. More of a mischievous street-sand hybrid. And soon, it’s coming back—with electricity in its veins.

A Bit of History

Back in the 1970s, when Honda’s little Monkey minibike was turning sidewalks into racetracks and spawning a cult of grin-fuelled riders, Suzuki wanted in. Their answer was the RV series, a chunky-tired line-up built for sand, street, and general mischief. The VanVan emerged from that lineage — less circus act than the Monkey, but just as cheeky.

It looked like a two-wheeled dune toy that somehow got road plates. The fat tires gave it go-anywhere vibes, and the small single-cylinder engine made it accessible to just about anyone. But while the Monkey became a pop-culture toy for adults, the VanVan lived on as the alternative underground pick — a little rougher, a little stranger, and, in classic Suzuki fashion, a little misunderstood.

The Comeback: Enter the e-VanVan

Fast-forward to 2025, and Suzuki’s decided it’s time to bring the oddball back — this time without the fuel smell. The e-VanVan, revealed at the Japan Mobility Show, keeps the silhouette that made it a cult icon: the banana-seat stance, the beach-bike tires, and the scrappy posture that says “yeah, I’ll ride on sand if I feel like it.”

But instead of a 200cc air-cooled single, they've thrown in an electric drivetrain. Suzuki hasn’t dropped full specs yet, but this isn’t just a concept sculpture — insiders say it’s headed for production as an affordable, urban-friendly EV that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Think of it as a cleaner, quieter echo of the original — a bike that doesn’t care about horsepower bragging rights as long as it’s still fun to ride.

What We Know and What We're Guessing

Confirmed features:

Wide tires, retro seat, and styling that mirrors the VanVan 200
Compact chassis, upright ergonomics
LED lighting and simplified handlebar layout
Design consistent with “easy, friendly, approachable” urban riding

Expected (based on design cues and Suzuki EV prototypes):

Single electric motor, likely hub
Possibly a removable battery — Suzuki’s played with that idea in other e-concepts
Urban-range focus, not long-distance touring

Speculative but plausible:

Suzuki could aim for 80–120 km range and 80–100 km/h top speed, roughly matching the VanVan 200’s usability.

So far, Suzuki’s playing it safe — retaining the VanVan’s approachable ergonomics, fat-tire stance, and old-school simplicity while modernising the guts. We expect a minimal digital dash, basic regen, and maybe a few ride modes, but nothing over-engineered. This isn’t a bike that should talk to your phone.

So What?

The Monkey got the fame, but the VanVan always had attitude. It was the underdog — the weird one. By electrifying it, Suzuki is tapping into something the EV space desperately needs: personality. Not another angular “urban mobility solution.” A bike that looks like it’s smiling even when it’s parked.

If Suzuki nails the balance — keeps it light, affordable, simple, and actually fun to toss around — the e-VanVan could become the anti-tech EV. A reminder that motorcycles, even the electric kind, don’t have to be serious to be good.

Final Word

The e-VanVan isn’t here to revolutionise anything. It’s here to remind everyone that riding can still be weird and fun. Hamamatsu’s answer to the Monkey might’ve missed the crown the first time around, but in an era where designers are pushing the limits of what looks 'normal', the e-VanVan could definitely have a shot at stardom

Ride safe, folks