Chinese entrepreneur and founder of the ZXMOTO motorcycle company Zhang Xue has set a new Guinness World Record by riding a specially modified motorcycle 40.74 kilometers across the surface of an open body of water. This was reported by the Chinese news agency Xinhua, and the details of the test were confirmed by international publications, including CGTN. The previous record in this category was 31.8 kilometers—thus, Zhang Xue increased the distance by almost 9 kilometers, marking a significant breakthrough in the history of water motorcycle rides.
A motorcycle built for water
For the run, an MX450 off-road motorcycle model was used, which underwent deep modernization. ZXMOTO designers equipped the vehicle with amphibious float-ski attachments that keep the motorcycle on the water's surface. The front ski acts as the steering control, while the rear wheel, equipped with special treads, works as a water jet propulsion unit: as it rotates, the tire pushes water backward, driving the motorcycle forward. In addition, the fuel tank was enlarged to ensure autonomy over a long distance, and all critical engine and electronics components received reinforced waterproof protection. Essentially, a unique amphibious structure was created from a regular off-road motorcycle, capable not only of staying afloat but also maintaining steady motion across the water's surface for tens of kilometers.
From 20 meters to 40 kilometers: a 17-year journey
The idea of riding a motorcycle on water came to Zhang Xue back in 2009. Over the years, he made repeated attempts, but his best results only managed about 20 meters across the water surface. The motorcycle would sink, lose control, and break down. Nevertheless, the entrepreneur did not abandon the idea and spent 17 years refining the design and mastering riding techniques. Nearly two decades after his first failed attempt, Zhang Xue finally achieved his goal, turning the experiment into an officially verified world record.
The test run and verification
The ride took place on the Jinjiang River, flowing in the Mayang Miao Autonomous County of Huaihua City, Hunan Province. According to several publications, covering the 40.74 km distance took Zhang Xue about 32 minutes. Representatives of the Guinness World Records observed the process and confirmed the result based on GPS satellite navigation data, timing, and video recordings from multiple angles. It was this multi-factor verification that allowed the achievement to be officially registered in the world records registry.
«The main thing is not speed, but stability»
In an interview after the ride, Zhang Xue emphasized that this time the priority was not maximum speed, but the stable and safe completion of the entire distance. According to him, the team of engineers and testers worked on preparing the motorcycle and practicing the route for several months, conducting dozens of trial runs on various sections of the river. The philosophy of the approach was to ensure predictable behavior of the structure throughout the entire journey rather than chasing peak performance. This principle, according to Zhang Xue himself, became the key factor that allowed the 20-meter failures of 2009 to be transformed into the 40-kilometer record of 2026.
