A Motorcycle Travels Over 40 Kilometres on Water
Wednesday, October 28, 2026211 words3 minutes366 reads
Seventeen years after four unsuccessful attempts, Zhang Xue returned to the water in his hometown of Mayang, Hunan. On 25 October, he covered 40.74 kilometres in approximately 32 minutes on a modified MX450 motorcycle, completing seven turns. According to the supplied account, he broke the Guinness World Record for the longest open-water journey by a modified motorcycle, previously about 31.8 kilometres.
The machine relied on dynamic support rather than simply floating. Engineers added sliding components resembling water skis and adapted the rear tyre's deep tread to push water backwards. At sufficient speed, upward water forces on the sliding components helped support the bike's weight. Slowing excessively or losing balance could therefore cause it to sink. Turning required careful control of speed and body position, with the front sliding component helping guide the motorcycle.
The team also protected important engine parts and electrical systems from water and fitted a larger fuel tank. Months of testing preceded the attempt. Zhang, who began by repairing motorcycles and later founded a motorcycle company, had managed only about 20 metres during his 2009 attempts.
The contrast highlights how engineering and preparation can change what is achievable. It does not establish that ordinary motorcycles can travel on water, nor does the record eliminate the serious risks involved.
