A 13-year-old scooterist was recently duped by an unscrupulous Facebook Marketplace seller and ended up with a written-off scooter in exchange for his hard-earned savings.
Alfie, pictured above, is sitting on the LML with his 8-year-old brother, Harry, riding pillion. Both lads are scooter crazy.
Despite coming from a non-scootering family, young Alfie was bitten by the scooter bug at an early age and dreamt of getting his very own scooter. He’s been saving all his pocket, Christmas and Birthday money, as well as any cash he made from doing odd jobs. More importantly, he’d convinced his parents to let him buy a ‘project’ scooter that he and his dad could work on together.
It’s only cosmetic
Alfie saw what he thought was an ideal scooter on Facebook Marketplace. A “Cosmetically damaged” LML 4-stroke 200 for £750. Even without the damage, it wasn’t exactly cheap.
The deal was done, and he got it home to start looking at things. We all know just how magical that first-ever scooter feels.
Not quite what Alfie was hoping for from the DVLA…
Crushed!
Two days after buying the “Cosmetic” crash-damaged LML, Alfie decided to try to get it insured in his dad’s name, only to be told some devastating news. The scooter came back on the database as a CAT A write-off; it was meant to have been scrapped last year, so it can never go back on the road. The previous owner (Brian Hanson from Wolverhampton) didn’t mention it when this keen young lad was handing over his life savings of £750. He also wouldn’t entertain giving Alfie a refund, got quite shirty when challenged, then blocked the family and disappeared from Facebook.
Alfie’s mum, Emma, told us, “The LML was written off in September 2025, and the owner sold it to us in April 26. A week later, we received a letter from the DVLA (instead of the new V5) to advise us that it was a write-off and we needed to take it to an “Authorised Treatment Facility” to be destroyed. Alfie was heartbroken.”
Two Stroke to the rescue
The story quickly went around on social media, with many angry scooterists taking to their keyboards. Friends of the family set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Alfie so he could pursue another project. Another kind-hearted scooterist, Ben Payne, saw the story and “Was gobsmacked.” Ben said, “I got in touch with the family and asked if I could donate my old scooter as a project for Alfie.”
The Bajaj Cheetak is a much more suitable project for dad and lad to get stuck into.
South Coast Customs
Just 24-hours after receiving the Bajaj, Alfie and his dad got it up and running. The kindness just kept on coming, though. South Coast Customs have donated a complete spray job for the scooter in a colour of Alfie’s choice. Other scooterists and companies have also donated parts to help this lad get his enthusiasm back and realise that most scooterists are salt of the earth.
Ben with the two brothers and one of their supporters
Good outweighs the bad
We asked Alfie’s mum what she thought of the whole thing “After an emotional rollercoaster, we are incredibly thankful for the kindness & generosity shown by the scooter community – with a special mention to Ben Payne. The support has been truly overwhelming & has made it possible for Alfie to continue with his scooter project & pursue his dreams. While the experience has been a difficult lesson, it has also reminded him just how many genuinely good people there are. Everyone’s support has meant the world to him & has truly put the smile back on his face!
The Bajaj Cheetak was handed over to an overwhelmed Alfie at the St George’s Day Parade in Tamworth recently. Ben runs a specialist scooter transport company, Two Stroke Couriers, so getting the scooter to Alfie for the handover was no problem! The youngster even helped to judge the custom show. A few hundred quid was raised through donations on the day, and there’s already over £1000 in the GoFundMe.
Dad, Scott with his two young scooter lads
Never grow up
When I mentioned to Ann that my own mother told me I’d “Grow out of it” when I was the same age as Alfie, she replied, “I can’t see it, but they have our full blessing and probably a lot of our money going forward, if this is how the scooter community look out for each other, I’m all for it!”
Words: Iggy
Photos: Ann, Gaz Collins
