Southampton: Motorbike goes up in flames on teenager's 18th birthday

Vinyl Marley was riding his new pride and joy - a Lex Moto LZR125 - which he had received for his 18th birthday.

But his gift was destroyed when the Millbrook teenager was riding towards St James’ Park on Monday - the day of his birthday.

He started smelling smoke, pulled up, and saw smoke coming from the engine, before the bike then burst into flames.

Motorbike up in flames at St James Close, Southampton (Image: Vinyl Marley)

Speaking to the Echo, Vinyl said: “I was on my way home and I started seeing my engine smoking. My dad bought me the bike so the first thing I did was call him.

“I pulled over and called 999 and when it started catching fire but when as soon as I got off the phone it took off and went up in flames.

“After it went up had to wait for the fire to arrive which they did not for another five minutes.

“I was lucky I managed to get out of it unscathed.

“It probably was a mechanical fault. I had filled up the tank prior to that, about seven mins ago and I’m pretty sure I didn’t spill anyone full on the bike.”

Unfortunately for Vinyl, he only had third-party insurance so cannot make a claim.

He was gifted the bike by his dad just three weeks ago.

The 18-year-old - who has just lost his job working in a pub kitchen - was forced to watch on in horror as his blue and silver motorbike was consumed by the blaze.

He said: “I was devastated seeing my bike go up in flames. It was the last thing I expected to happen to it.

“My emotions were already all over the place because on Sunday I lost my job. One of the people who saw what had happened actually gave me a lift, so I went back home to sort out the insurance.”

However, Vinyl did not let this ruin his 18th birthday celebration.

He added: “Afterwards I went out to celebrate my birthday with my mates.”