Man sets new Guinness World Record by riding a motorcycle across water in absolutely wild footage

Most people would think twice before taking a motorcycle anywhere near water, let alone trying to ride one across a lake to get a Guinness World Record.

A motorcycle entrepreneur has spent years chasing an idea that sounds almost impossible and now there’s video evidence that he finally did it.

Now, he’s finally pulled it off in front of Guinness World Records officials.

And the footage of his incredible achievement is seriously worth a look.

Motorcycle appears to skim across the water in wild footage

Zhang Xue, founder of Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO, has made history after riding a specially modified bike across open water in his hometown of Mayang, in China’s Hunan province.

The challenge took place on October 25, 2026, with Zhang taking a modified ZXMOTO MX450 onto the Jinjiang River for an attempt that had been years in the making.

Rather than simply crossing from one bank to the other, Zhang made repeated runs across the river to rack up an astonishing distance.

The motorcycle can be seen skimming over the surface as Zhang maintains his balance and control, with rescue boats and medical teams standing by throughout the attempt.

According to reports from China Daily and CCTV, Guinness World Records officials were on site to verify the results using GPS tracking, timing data and video evidence, and China Daily reported on the record-breaking attempt.

The motorcycle needed some serious modifications to stay afloat

Of course, the MX450 wasn’t exactly in its standard showroom condition for this particular ride.

The team fitted it with amphibious skis to help it stay afloat, while waterproofing modifications helped protect important components from the water.

An enlarged fuel tank was also installed, and the rear tire was adapted to push water backwards and propel the motorcycle forward, and a front ski helped Zhang steer while the bike skimmed across the river.

The team spent five months preparing for the challenge, repeatedly testing the motorcycle and refining its flotation system, waterproof seals and power setup.

The idea wasn’t entirely new for Zhang, either, because back in 2009, he first attempted to ride a motorcycle across water, but his early experiments ended with him falling into the water four times.

His best attempt back then covered just 20 meters.

Seventeen years later, he returned with a much more developed design and a far more ambitious goal.

Zhang Xue’s incredible ride earns him a Guinness World Record

The latest attempt saw Zhang cover an incredible 40.74km (25.31 miles) across open water, setting a new Guinness World Record for the greatest distance traveled over open water by a modified motorcycle.

That beat the previous record of 31.8km by almost nine kilometers, making the achievement even more impressive.

Zhang chose to stage the challenge in his hometown, giving the milestone a personal significance beyond the record itself.

Speaking to CCTV after the attempt, he said the timing was right because the MX450 was approaching mass production and his company now had the technology and resources needed to make the challenge possible.

For someone whose earliest attempts ended in the water after covering just a few meters, the result marks a remarkable turnaround.

And while this heavily modified motorcycle isn’t something riders should expect to take out on the water every weekend, Zhang has shown just how far persistence and engineering can take an idea that once seemed impossible, especially with a shiny new modified motorcycle Guinness World Record.