Chen Xingyi, who has been with Zhang since their teenage years, found herself in the public eye after ZXMOTO made history in April when French rider Valentin Debise claimed two WorldSSP victories at the Superbike World Championship aboard the company’s 820RR-RS. The triumph marked the first international road-racing championship win by a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer.
As interest in Zhang’s story grew, many also became fascinated by Chen and the sacrifices the couple made to build the business.
Now 38, Zhang grew up in a poor family in Hunan Province. Raised by his grandmother after his parents divorced, he left school after middle school to work as an apprentice in a motorcycle repair shop, where he discovered a lifelong passion that would shape his career, according to Chinese media outlet QQ.
Chen, his middle school classmate, initially knew him as a mischievous boy who often teased her. Their relationship blossomed while helping organize a New Year celebration, but they kept it secret because Chen came from a more affluent family and feared her parents’ disapproval.
In 2006, at age 19, Zhang rode more than 100 kilometers to meet a local television crew in hopes of appearing on a motorsports program, an episode that later went viral across China. He subsequently joined a professional racing team as both a mechanic and stunt rider before gradually moving into motorcycle manufacturing.
Zhang Xue and his wife, Chen Xingyi. Photo from X |
The couple married in 2011 and later had two children. While Chen took care of the household and managed the family finances, she also played a crucial role in Zhang’s entrepreneurial journey.
To finance their business, they borrowed millions of yuan from relatives and friends. Chen carefully recorded every loan and repayment by hand in a notebook, documenting an 11-year struggle to clear the debts.
The notebook has since become one of the most widely discussed symbols of the couple’s journey, illustrating that Zhang’s success was built not only on his passion for motorcycles but also on years of financial hardship, frugal living and perseverance.
In 2018, Zhang began earning a monthly salary of 10,000 yuan (US$1,390), a milestone Chen regarded as a reward after years of living modestly while paying off debt.
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The notebook documenting the couple’s loans and debt repayments. Photo from Xiaohongshu |
Before founding ZXMOTO in Chongqing in April 2024, Zhang co-founded KOVE MOTO in 2017 and helped increase its annual production from about 800 motorcycles to 30,000. ZXMOTO later reported an industrial output value of 750 million yuan (US$104 million) in 2025.
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Chen Xingyi. Photo from X |
Zhang’s success has prompted many people to visit his wife’s social media account. On her account, @xingjie0543, which has around 410,000 followers, Chen frequently posts photos of motorcycles and shares stories about supporting her husband through his journey. When some praised her for having “a good eye for people” and bringing Zhang good fortune, she replied she had simply tried to remain steadfast through their years together.
“I am someone without big dreams, but more people have come to know my life because of his dreams.
“I am not a great person. I am simply someone who wants to live my life well.”
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