Zhang Xue, a Chinese entrepreneur, has claimed a Guinness World Record after riding a modified motorcycle across 25 miles of open water in Hunan province.
The feat, reported by engineering publication Interesting Engineering, saw the rider cover 40 kilometres by completing several runs across a river. Zhang, who founded motorcycle manufacturing firm ZXMOTO, used a specially modified MX450 motorcycle to complete the distance.
The crossing represents a major milestone for ZXMOTO. Hunan, a landlocked province in southern and central China known for its river networks, provided the freshwater setting for the record attempt, which was officially logged as a world record by Guinness World Records.
Development and water modifications
The successful crossing followed years of work that began in 2009, when Zhang first attempted to ride a motorcycle on water. That initial test proved difficult, with Zhang falling into the water four times and managing a top distance of just 20 metres.
Despite the early setbacks, Zhang spent years refining the design to travel across water. The modified MX450 operates differently from conventional watercraft, featuring amphibious skis, an enlarged fuel tank and additional waterproofing. The motorcycle gathers speed on land before skimming onto the water surface, where the front ski provides steering and the rear wheel drives propulsion by pushing water backward.
The record run does not prove that the setup is ready for general water transit or everyday commuting. The machine remains a single modified motorcycle rather than a production vehicle built for regular amphibious transport.
Wider motorcycle industry developments
The achievement comes as other motorcycle manufacturers reveal notable road models. British luxury brand Aston Martin recently presented the AMB 002 Roadster, its first motorcycle built for public highways. Production will be handled by Brough Superior, which plans to limit output to 300 models. The two companies previously built the AMB 001 and AMB 001 Pro exclusively for racing circuits, making the new roadster their first joint machine eligible for public registration, insurance and road use.
Chinese motorcycle manufacturing has also drawn attention in Western consumer markets. An American video blogger recently bought a Moto Morini X-Cape motorcycle for 6,500 dollars. Although Moto Morini originated in Italy, the bike is built in China. In a video discussing the machine, the blogger admitted that he had not expected to enjoy riding it as much as he did.
