A Chinese motorcycle entrepreneur has set a Guinness World Record by riding a modified motorcycle across open water for more than 25 miles (40 kilometers). The achievement took place in his hometown in Hunan Province and marked a milestone for the founder of motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO.

Zhang Xue used a specially modified motorcycle to complete the record attempt, making repeated runs across a river to cover the required distance. The feat concludes a pursuit that began in 2009, when Zhang first experimented with riding a motorcycle on water and overcame early failures to achieve his latest goal.

Xue set a Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled on open water by a modified motorcycle. The record attempt took place in Mayang Miao Autonomous County in central China’s Hunan Province, where Zhang repeatedly traveled back and forth across a river on a specially modified ZXMOTO MX450.

The motorcycle was adapted to operate on land and water, with amphibious skis, an enlarged fuel tank, and added waterproofing. Its design allows it to build up speed on land before skimming across the water, with a front ski providing steering and the rear tire generating propulsion by pushing water backward.

The MX450 featured several modifications to support its unusual operating conditions. Amphibious skis help the motorcycle remain above the water’s surface, while the front ski provides directional control during the crossing.

The rear tire plays a different role from its conventional use on roads. Instead of relying on traction against a solid surface, it pushes water backward to generate forward propulsion.

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