Ex-Charles Leclerc Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 sold for surprisingly-low price
Charles Leclerc's custom Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 has been sold at an auction for less than you would expect.
A fully custom Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, previously owned by Ferrari Formula One star Charles Leclerc, has sold at an auction in Paris for €17,000 (around £14,730).
Formula 1 and motorcycles have a long and intertwined history. From Senna to Webber, Vettel to Hamilton, plenty of drivers have admitted that the lure of two wheels is hard to resist.
Another name that was added to the list is Leclerc. The Monegasque Ferrari driver who was spotted collecting a custom Husqvarna 701 in January 2020.
That bike wasn’t just any 701, though. It’s called the 701 Serie Apex 2.0, a custom motorcycle built by the Paris-based Bad Winners. The firm offered limited edition builds of the machine, ranging in spec from Stage 1 to Stage 4, each progressively more aggressive, exotic, and wallet-thinning.
The top-spec Stage 4, which is the one that was for sale from auction house Collecting Cars, would have relieved you of €20,990 (roughly £18,190) when new, so for the bike to sell for considerably less than that makes it somewhat of a bargain. The lucky new owner of this bike is getting a motorcycle, that thanks to its full custom works, has shed 27kg compared to the standard model, giving it a new weight of 130kg.
The bike features a reworked frame and full carbon fibre bodywork. Underneath, the engine breathes through a full system exhaust and decat system, with fuelling handled by a Power Commander V. Add in a lightweight Li-Ion battery, an SC-Project end can, and DYMAG carbon wheels, and you’ve got a package that’s as sharp to ride as it is to look at.
It also seems like it's only had the lightest of use since being collected by Monsieur Leclerc, with only 3,000km (1,864 miles) being recorded on its odo, with most of those apparently coming before its custom transformation. On the bike's listing, is says Bad Winners carried out a service of the bike in 2021.
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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!
After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
