Stunt Rider Breaks 125mph Handlebar Wheelie World Record
Stunt rider Magnus Carlsson has broken two records, one for the highest speed wheelie while riding the handlebars, and the other for riding a motorcycle backwards
The Guinness World Record (GWR) for the latest handlebar-mounted wheelie has been broken, with the Swede, Magnus Carlsson, topping 125.93mph at an airfield in Sweden. The record was set in the Summer of 2023, although as is the way with the GWR, the feat has only recently been published on its website. The previous record, again set by Carlsson in 2023, stood at 109.2mph.
Speaking about his record-breaking run, Carlsson said:
“The handlebar wheelie is my absolute favourite stunt of all, and one of the stunts that took the most attention during my career as a stunt rider.
“The first time I did a handlebar wheelie was in 1992. Three years later I made a record attempt at Skövde Airport in Sweden. Since a few handlebar wheelie record runs over the years have been made and documented by Guinness World Records, I wanted to make a record attempt while I still have the bike and the knowledge and try to break the 200 km/h handlebar wheelie.”
The wheelie is the rider’s second GWR, the other being the greatest distance riding a motorcycle sitting backwards. For this record, the daredevil rode a KTM Duke and managed to top a whopping 190.14 miles, eclipsing the previous record by more than 65 miles.
Speaking about that record, Carlsson said:
“The decision to make this record attempt came from taking on a personal challenge in endurance and tenacity. Many questions and considerations arose during the long planning for the record attempt, such as the choice of motorcycle, fuel consumption, maintain water balance and, above all, how the attempt would be documented.”
“I had a stated goal of completing 250 km sitting backwards, but my personal goal was at least 300 km," he added.
“After the finish when I turned around, it felt completely wrong to be sitting facing forward. My legs could barely carry me when I got off the motorcycle.”
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
