This is the dramatic moment a motorcycle burst into flames when the owner tried to start the engine.

The rider had parked in front of a grocery shop before climbing on the vehicle to leave for home in Roi Et, northeast Thailand, on September 7.

However, when he kicked the ignition, a fire erupted from below the handlebars - sending him running away for his life.

A friend batted the flames with a t-shirt before a resident grabbed a fire extinguisher to fight the blaze. Police arrived shortly after to secure the area.

The owner of the motorcycle believes that the fire was caused by shoddy modifications to the motorcycle's carburetor, which led to an oil leakage.

This oil leakage then ignited when he attempted to start the motorcycle.

Numphung, the owner of a shop where the incident happened, said it was fortunate that none of the youngsters were hurt in the accident.