ZXMoto MX450 Rides 40 km Across Water: How the World Record Was Set

• 40.74 kilometres on open water, the previous record stood at 31.8 kilometres
• The base is the not-yet-available ZXMoto MX450 weighing around 104 kg with more than 60 hp
• Five months of development, including a paddle wheel, steel skids and emergency buoyancy

It started on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 11 a.m. local time. The venue was the village of Xiaopo in Mayang County in China’s Hunan province, the home of Zhang Xue. The 39-year-old rode six laps on a wide stretch of river with his modified off-road bike. At the end, the counter showed 40.74 kilometres. Xiong Wen, an official adjudicator from Guinness World Records, confirmed the new record on site. The official category is the longest distance travelled by a modified motorcycle on open water.

How did Zhang Xue’s world record unfold?

Zhang Xue rode six laps on a marked course and stayed on the water without interruption. After 40.74 kilometres, the previous record of 31.8 kilometres had been clearly beaten.

The team had gone to great lengths beforehand to ensure safety. Rescue boats and medical teams were on standby throughout the entire ride. The Guinness adjudicators evaluated GPS data, timing as well as video and audio recordings to properly document the distance.

Physically, the ride was a real strain. Zhang had to keep his balance over the entire distance and be particularly careful at the turning points. That is exactly where the team saw the greatest risk: because of the limited body of water, the distance could only be covered by turning several times. In every turn the speed drops, the skids have less contact with the water surface and the motorcycle threatens to sink.

The development showed how exhausting riding can be. With the first version of the conversion, Zhang says he was already sweating after just a few minutes. Only over several development stages was the motorcycle tuned so that the long distance could be sustained.

Why doesn’t a ZXMoto MX450 sink on water?

The motorcycle does not float, it planes. At high speed, the tyres and skids hit the water so quickly that it cannot give way and carries the vehicle. If the speed drops too much, this effect disappears and the motorcycle sinks.

This effect is called aquaplaning. On the road it is feared, here it is the basic principle. The margin for error is correspondingly small. The team therefore relied on several measures that have to work together.

Propulsion via a paddle wheel

The MX450 builds up momentum on land and then rides into the water. There, a specially made, large paddle wheel at the rear takes over propulsion. It pushes the water backwards and thus drives the motorcycle forwards. To ensure the drivetrain can withstand this, the machine was given a reinforced sprocket. A larger tank ensures there is enough fuel for the long distance. In total, the team tried out three tyre variants.

Steering and planing with steel skids

Steel skids are welded on at the front and rear. The front skid follows the handlebars and works like a rudder. These planing plates went through six development stages before the record version. For the record ride, Zhang opted for a variant with narrow skids the day before. With this set-up, the motorcycle is said to reach more than 90 km/h on the water.

Sealing and emergency buoyancy

Water in the engine would mean the end. That is why the intake, exhaust and spark plug are sealed against water ingress. Buoyancy plates and airbags are also fitted to the frame. They do not carry the motorcycle over the entire distance, but are intended to delay sinking if the speed is too low. Electronics regulate acceleration and steering on the water so that propulsion remains even.

The base is remarkably light. The MX450 is an off-road model developed in-house by ZXMoto with its own single-cylinder engine. In record trim it weighs around 104 kg (about 229 lbs) and produces more than 60 hp (around 44 kW). The team developed all the conversion parts itself. Responsible for this was technical director Deng Liansong, who is ranked in China as a motorcycle athlete of the highest national class and has worked closely with Zhang for years.

What rules applied to the Guinness record?

The motorcycle had to retain its basic structure and was not allowed any additional propulsion such as a ship’s propeller. Only the distance the motorcycle covered on the water without interruption was counted. If it sank, the attempt was over.

There was only one official attempt for the entire team. Zhang rode first himself. Had he failed, Deng Liansong would have taken over with a second machine. The target was 40 to 41 kilometres. According to the team, this mark was chosen because of the planned duration of the livestream and the time available on the river. In tests, it is said not to have been the maximum.

The previous record was held by Australian stunt rider Robbie Maddison. On February 4, 2017, he rode exactly 31.8 kilometres across the water on a modified KTM 450, reaching speeds of up to 72.4 km/h. Maddison had previously become known for riding waves on a motorcycle. Zhang improved the record by almost 9 kilometres.

The failed attempt of 2009

For Zhang, the record settled a score that had been open for 17 years. On October 29, 2009, at the age of 22, he appeared on a programme on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. He wanted to ride a motorcycle across the water to attract the attention of professional teams.

The technology back then was very simple. Metal sheets were welded onto the wheels. Four times Zhang raced towards the water, four times he ended up in the river with his motorcycle. He did not manage more than around 20 metres. His self-imposed goal was 26 metres.

The idea for a new attempt came in March 2026, when someone mentioned the old story to Zhang. The team then worked for five months on buoyancy, sealing and engine tuning. Time and again they went out on the water for testing to get the stability under control. Zhang describes the difference like this: back then he knew much less and had no safety measures at all. This time he was much calmer and more confident.

Holding the attempt in Mayang was a deliberate choice. Zhang says he wanted to fulfil his dream where he comes from and show the world his home region. The day before the record, he was appointed tourism ambassador for the city of Huaihua, to which Mayang County belongs.

What does the record mean for ZXMoto and the MX450?

Little can be inferred from the record ride for the production MX450, as the water motorcycle is a heavily modified one-off. The MX450 itself is not yet on the market, but according to Zhang, series production is imminent.

The record comes at a time when ZXMoto is growing strongly internationally. Zhang Xue co-founded the manufacturer Kove in 2017 and launched his own brand ZXMoto in April 2024. In its first season in the 2026 Supersport World Championship, the brand finished the year with Valentin Debise as runner-up and third place in the manufacturers’ standings.

The modified MX450 is also set to be on display at EICMA in Milan, where ZXMoto is showing its new products for the coming model year.

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