The worlds of Formula 1 and motorcycles don’t often cross paths, but when they do, it usually gets people talking. In this case, it’s Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who’s behind the story. The 27-year-old from Monaco has made a name for himself as one of the most determined drivers on the grid.
Since his debut with Sauber in 2018 and his big move to Ferrari in 2019, Leclerc has been a consistent fan favorite thanks to his aggressive racing style and his ability to squeeze every ounce of performance out of his car.
Like many F1 drivers, Leclerc’s passion for speed isn’t limited to four wheels. Lewis Hamilton has been spotted riding custom MV Agustas. Fernando Alonso is no stranger to two-wheeled machines either. Even legends like Michael Schumacher were known to hop on bikes during their downtime. It’s not surprising—racing drivers often gravitate toward motorcycles for the same reason the rest of us do: freedom, simplicity, and raw connection to the road.
That brings us to the bike itself: a Husqvarna Vitpilen 701. On paper, it’s an unusual choice for an F1 star. You’d expect someone in Leclerc’s shoes to swing a leg over a liter-class superbike with 200 horsepower—perhaps a late-model Ducati Panigale V4—not a stripped-back single-cylinder naked making a puny 85 horsepower. But that’s part of the appeal. The Vitpilen is light, agile, and more about feel than outright numbers. It’s a reminder that speed isn’t just about straight-line figures. It’s about soul and character.
Of course, this isn’t a stock Vitpilen. Leclerc’s bike was reworked by French custom shop Bad Winners into what they call the “Apex 2.0.” The entire body was rebuilt in carbon fiber, from the tank to the tail section, and paired with Dymag carbon wheels. Weight dropped from 346 pounds to just 287 pounds, giving it the kind of power-to-weight ratio that makes backroad blasts addictive. Under the skin, upgrades include an SC Project exhaust, Power Commander V fuel tuner, and a freer-breathing K&N filter.
The cockpit gets a TFT dash, Renthal clip-ons, and a custom leather seat, tying the build together in a way that feels high-end but still minimalist. Even the details reflect Leclerc’s F1 background, where shaving grams and chasing efficiency is second nature.
This particular bike is notable for another reason: it’s the first Apex 2.0 that Bad Winners ever built, and it was commissioned specifically for Leclerc. That kind of provenance gives it an edge in the collectible world. Recently refreshed with new carbon parts and serviced earlier this year, it looks as good as it did when it left the Paris workshop in 2020.
And if you’re wondering what something like this is worth, the answer came just recently. The bike was sold via private sale on the auction site Collecting Cars for around 17,000 euros (about $18,300). It’s a reminder that keeping an eye on motorcycle auctions can pay off. Unique machines like this don’t just appear on your newsfeed for you to ogle at and read about; they could eventually end up parked in your own garage, provided you’ve got pockets deep enough to swallow the cost.
Source: Collecting Cars
