- A new 24-hour motorcycling distance record has been set by Spanish endurance rider Iván Cervantes on board a Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer riding 2493 miles.
- Set at the Nardò Technical Center in Italy, Cervantes lapped the course 317 times with an average speed of 104 mph, 18 pit stops, and one tire change.
- To prepare for the epic feat, Cervantes underwent a strict nutrition and sleep strategy dictated by Professor Andrew Bagshaw at the University of Birmingham.
Have you ever road-tripped on a motorcycle? It’s a rewarding method of cross-country transportation that will leave you with realizations, sunburns, and a lot of fatigue along the way. But for many, it’s also an unforgettable experience.
Ask those same people if they want to ride a motorcycle for 24 hours straight, however, and they’ll probably answer with something along the lines of, “hell no!” Riding at highway speeds for extended periods can be grueling without a windscreen or fairings to protect you.
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Even with those shields in place, it takes a toll on you—a toll that Spanish 5x Enduro World Champion and Triumph Global Ambassador Iván Cervantes appears immune to.
That’s because he just set the Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled on a motorcycle in 24 hours. Riding a Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer at the Nardò Technical Center in Italy, Cervantes rode more than 2493 miles for 24 hours straight, beating the previous record by 372 miles.
Now, this record was set by riding in circles at the Nardò high-speed loop, meaning this wasn’t the most exciting ride. In fact, Cervantes actually beat the record five hours early thanks to an average speed of 104 mph, managing to loop the 7.8-mile course 317 times.
The Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer used in the record was bone stock, requiring him to make 18 pit stops, re-fuel the 8.93-gallon tank over 15 times, and even change the rear tire.
“For sure, the hardest part was the weather, because it started to rain, but this bike has a very big screen and excellent protection, which helped me a lot,” Cervantes said. “It’s not easy to ride for 24 hours in a row but, in the end, the record is mine with this amazing bike!”
Fueling issues early on meant Cervantes had to stop more frequently.
Cervantes is no stranger to adversity, given his participation in the Baja Aragón, 1000 Dunas Raid, and Basella Maxi-Trail Race. But he did take some special means to prepare for this challenge, including a specific nutrition and sleep strategy dictated by Professor Andrew Bagshaw at the University of Birmingham.
To minimize binding and physical fatigue, Cervantes would even use his left hand to throttle the bike, giving the right side of his body a rest. After all, it’s hard enough to stay awake for 24 hours straight without riding a motorcycle at over 100 mph.
This record was not broken alone, of course. In order to ensure that the fueling, timing, and energy needs of Cervantes were met, Triumph had a team set up to track his progress.
“I am truly humbled to have witnessed Iván Cervantes’s awe-inspiring achievement of setting the Guinness World Records title for the greatest distance on a motorcycle in 24 hours (individual). Iván’s unwavering dedication and Triumph’s support embody the values we hold dear at Guinness World Records. It is a true testament to the indomitable spirit of human determination and the pursuit of greatness,” said Victor Fenes, Official Adjudicator at Guinness World Records.
What’s the longest road trip you’ve taken? Where did you go? Please share your experiences below.
Associate Editor
A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 street parked in his South Brooklyn community.
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