Chinese entrepreneur sets Guinness World Record, riding a motorcycle over water for more than 40 km

A record on water

Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Xue has set a Guinness World Record by riding a motorcycle across the surface of water for more than 40 kilometers. This was reported by Kun.uz, citing CGTN. For the record, the production MX450 motorcycle was modified so it could travel both on land and on water: special skis for gliding over water were installed, the fuel tank was enlarged, and protection against water ingress was reinforced.

How it works

The run works like this: the motorcycle first gains speed on land, then enters the water. The skis help keep the machine on the surface, with the front ski used for steering. The rear wheel works differently than on solid ground: instead of resting on the surface, it pushes water backward, creating thrust.

40 kilometers — not in one go

An important detail the source emphasizes: the record distance was accumulated through multiple crossings of the river — Zhang Xue did not cover the more than 40 kilometers in a single continuous run. The design was additionally refined to ensure enough fuel for the long distance and to allow the motorcycle to withstand repeated contact with the water.

The road to the result since 2009

Zhang Xue made his first attempt to cross a water surface on a motorcycle back in 2009, using equipment with minimal modifications. At that time he fell into the water four times, and the maximum distance covered was only 20 meters. This was followed by years of experiments to improve the design. The current result was recorded as part of an official record attempt on the specially modified MX450. The publication notes separately that this motorcycle is not presented as a production vehicle for universal use on land and water: this is not about readiness for everyday travel over water.