You’ve probably seen tourists or friends do it. Maybe you’ve even travelled to China to do Chongqing’s viral motorbike trend video yourself.
Yes, the one where someone hops on the back of a motorcycle ridden by a handsome local biker while a videographer and choreographer capture cinematic shots as the bike zips through the city, backdropped by Chongqing’s neon-lit skyline.
Well, one Singaporean decided to do things a little differently and ride his own bike to do this trend instead.
Singaporean Ian Huang, 29, aka @theuntravelledman, is on an epic 20,000km motorcycle expedition to Portugal. But he made a pitstop in Chongqing, after riding some 8,000km from Singapore, to hop on the viral bike trend, but with one tiny request.
The flood modeller and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist wanted to ride his own motorcycle instead.
Ian, who has also been a drum instructor for the past five years, told 8days.sg that the bike and video crew in Chongqing wasn’t exactly convinced.
“I tried to arrange a shoot on my own terms online, but they weren’t keen on letting me ride due to safety concerns, Ian tells 8days.sg.
Can we blame them, though?
After all, Chongqing’s roads are notoriously busy, and the viral shoots are carefully choreographed with only a tiny window to capture the city’s iconic skyline. Also, any incident might lead to a shut down by nearby police enforcement.
But Ian had travelled thousands of kilometres on his trusty 2023 Yamaha XSR900.
“I did not ride 8,000km into Chongqing just to sit on the back of some jock’s typically inferior machine,” he says, adding that he was persistent and determined to make this work.
“I went there in person to work something out and was met with a surprisingly pleasant reception,” he shares, adding that it was also the first time the crew had seen a foreign plate.
After hearing about Ian’s journey, they made an exception and allowed him to complete the shoot on his own bike.
According to the crew, he also became the first foreigner to do so.
“I couldn’t stay long enough to fish for my first customer. But reservations for the Benjamin Sheares Bridge are open when I return,” Ian jokes.
While the viral video has become one of the highlights of his adventure, it’s just one stop on what may be one of the most ambitious motorcycle road trips from Singapore.
Ian’s Motorbike Road Trip From Singapore To Portugal
Ian, who is currently on sabbatical, mapped out this 20,000km journey, starting from Singapore and ending at the westernmost point of mainland Europe — Cape Roca in Portugal. His goal? To complete it in 100 days, with the final day being National Day (Aug 9), too.
He left Singapore on May 1, setting off from The Handlebar, where 40 family members, friends, and colleagues gathered to send him off. Another 10 motorcyclists escorted him to Tuas Checkpoint before he officially began his journey.
His bike expedition will end at Cape Roca in Portugal, which is the westernmost point of mainland Europe.
Ian believes the 20,000km-long route is currently the longest continuous road trip possible from Singapore without using ferries or flights, thanks to current border restrictions.
Unlike many overlanders, who fly their motorcycles over closed borders or transport them across seas, Ian intends to keep his wheels firmly on the ground for the entire expedition.
His route takes him through Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain and finally Portugal.
“I’d like to make a point that the world outside of the well is vast and more interconnected than we’re led to believe. There’s more to living than going through the cookie-cutter,” he says.
Of course, it’s not all about scenic mountain roads and Instagram-worthy sunsets.
When he last messaged us, Ian was in Almaty, Kazakhstan, waiting for his Russian visa to be processed before tackling one of the toughest legs of the journey.
When 8days.sg checked in with Ian on July 1, he tells us that he expects the worst is yet to come, having already been through some harrowing traffic incidents.
He survived a crash in Laos after a truck veered into his lane, and endured what he described as some of the most discourteous driving he has ever encountered in China.
“I have honestly lost count of the number of times I was abruptly cut off or would have gotten into an accident had I not taken evasive action. I reckon I could make a movie of close calls from my dashcam already,” he shares.
On the bright side, Ian says he sees Singaporean drivers in a better light now.
“I’d like to think these experiences will prepare me for the roads ahead and perhaps us Singaporean drivers ain’t so bad after all!” he quips.
Ian also tells us about his challenges while in Kazakhstan.
“I entered Kazahkstan after an eight-hour debacle with border control that required the assistance of the Singapore consulate in Almaty,” he says.
Not long after, he was stranded for three hours in in 40°C heat after a tyre valve failure left him stranded 80km from the border while battling a fever and a gout attack.
“I am looking at bad roads in western Kazakhstan which I need to rush through, and the Russian fuel shortage,” he shares.
When asked was still on track to complete the road trip in 100 days, Ian says: “It is starting to look like a gruelling challenge, due to the two-week visa processing timeline from the Russian side which leaves me only five days to clear 3,000km of the Kazakh steppe before my visa here expires.”
Ian says he has written to the Singapore Embassy of Moscow and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in hopes they can assist.
“But it isn’t looking good. Regardless of the outcome, I will persevere, even if it takes a little longer; I remain committed to doing this entirely on my bike,” he says.