A Different Kind Of Power: Exploring NZ’s Back Country With An Electric Dirt Bike
An adventure enthusiast is exploring New Zealand's remote back country using a unique combination of a converted Nissan Leaf camper and a Surron Ultra Bee electric dirt bike. This setup allows for low-cost, sustainable travel without the need for traditional fuel or accommodation.
Why it matters
The story highlights the growing trend of using electric vehicles for unconventional recreational purposes and sustainable tourism.
Forget big adventure bikes and expensive touring. Michael Hood has discovered a different way to explore New Zealand’s back country, combining a converted Nissan Leaf camper with a lightweight Surron Ultra Bee electric dirt bike to create an affordable and surprisingly capable adventure setup.
Most adventure riders load up a big ADV bike, book accommodation and point the front wheel towards the horizon. Michael Hood has taken a very different approach.
His adventure vehicle is a converted Nissan Leaf. His trail bike weighs just 85kg, makes huge torque and doesn’t burn a drop of petrol. Together, they have opened up a new way of exploring New Zealand’s most remote tracks while keeping costs surprisingly low.
It’s certainly not the traditional way to go adventure riding—but that’s exactly what makes it interesting.
My setup revolves around two electric machines: a 2020 Nissan Leaf and a 2025 Surron Ultra Bee High Performance.
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