Ben’s Motorcycle Works

I was reluctant to go all the way to Watsonville to get my bike serviced, but I’m happy I did. I’ve been there twice now, and both times were great for me and my bike. It’s day and night compared to the service I was getting at the dealership. Also, Ben and is wife are not pushing for any unneeded work. They can be trusted.

Very happy with the work here. Ben explained everything he wanted to do and thought was necessary, but didn’t press on it. Prices for tires where the same as if I ordered them online. Shop is clean, people are very friendly. I trust them.

Got a rear tire replaced on my k5 gsxr because I was on threads. Got recommended to this place by a friend who lives in Watsonville. I don’t normally write reviews, but Ben’s shop is an honest, reliable and accommodating place and I recommend anyone who has motorcycle troubles to give them a call or swing by their shop. Not only did they recommend me a great tire for my bike, I asked them to inspect my bike as it is a second hand purchase from Fresno. My rear brake felt strange and they gave me an accurate diagnosis that my rear master cylinder needed to be replaced. They allowed me to buy an used oem part of eBay in order to save over 200 dollars and even let me drop the part off when they were closed so as to accommodate my schedule. Ben could have told me I needed a number of different repairs but instead made out with 30 min job and saved me tons of headache and money. I came to pick up my bike and got to the shop right after he closed. He was kind enough to open the shop again and gave me my bike even though it was half an hour past close. To my pleasure I noticed they lowered my high idle and lubed my kick stand as well as other parts as part of the inspection. My bike has never felt better and my wallet is not hurting. Ben says his primary concern is safety and recommended that I keep an out on my front tire.
Auto and motorcycle shops are always out to make a quick buck. I can assure you that is not the case at this shop. Everyone is polite, patient with newbies, and courteous. Thanks a lot Ben, you have earned a lifetime customer.

I commute almost every day from Scotts Valley to San Jose on my 2006 FJR1300. It was approaching it’s 27,000 mile maintenance and I started researching shops to take it to. Multiple friends recommended Ben’s Motorcycle works. From the moment I called them and got the ball rolling for a quote, time it will take to finish, etc. the professionalism was great and accurate. Not only did they do a great job with the standard maintenance that the manual calls for, they also found everything wrong with the bike and notified me to see if I wanted to have it fixed.
I would highly recommended Ben’s Motorcyle Works to anyone with a BMW, Yamaha, or Ducati! Super nice, family operated shop. As good as it will get!

I have been going to Ben to have my. 2009 BMW GSA and now my new 2014 BMW GS since he opened the doors. Great place to do business. I highly recommend his services without reservation.

Our BMW 1999 650 was having issues and we took it in to Bens shop. We called and said we wanted it to be fixed but didn’t want to spend a ton to do so if the diagnose was not good. To give them some leeway we told them that we were not in a super hurry but after TWO months and no phone calls to give us the status of the bike we became curious as to what was taking so long.
My husband called and they said that it was fixed but that the bike was still shutting off and that he thought because we didn’t want to put a lot of money into the bike we should «just ride it and see if the problem would go away.» No proper diagnosis was given, no quote was given to what we would need to spend to get the bike properly running. We assumed when we picked up the bike that it would be running properly as he said or at least give us a quote to what we needed to spend NOT assume that we wouldn’t or didn’t want to spend what was needed to fix it properly. No sooner had we gone 2 miles that the bike started sputtering again and my husband had to pull over many times just to get it home. Today we took it back after having to stop 4 more times to get the 4 miles to the shop.
I was upset because the bike was no better that when we took it to him and spent 500. I told him that it was obvious the bike had not been test driven enough or at all to discern that there obviously was still a huge problem with the bike shutting off. Ben, the owner who should have people skills to address upset clients was rude, childish, macho and dismissive saying that he only wanted to talk to «a technical person and NOT an emotional person because I didn’t know what I was talking about. «Really? Well it’s MY motorcycle and NOT my husbands which he had no idea. He then cursed and said that the bike was a piece of sh— and that no one wanted to spend the money to «f — -in» fix it properly. My husband told him that no one gave us the quote of 1,500 when he insisted that his wife called us with the quote. He is very immature to be running his own business. REALLY, to cuss at a client and put his hand up to dismiss me when my husband told him the exact same thing I had just told him. He just assumed that it was NOT my motorcycle and I had no business even discussing it with him. He refused to look at me and was extremely macho and childish.
He then said he didn’t know exactly what was wrong but he would look at it again. Interesting that when he said that he gave us the quote for 1500 he knew what was wrong but today he didn’t know what it was. I told him that any mechanic should be able to have an idea of what was needed to fix it and give the client the proper quote to say go ahead or no, not worth the money. he continued to rant and rave with his face turning beet red that he would
D ONLY deal with my husband and not me if he «decided» to fix it. He said he will tow it to our house and give us back our money on July 12, 2014. We will see what happens.
Needless to say we will never go back or recommend this shop to anyone.
Paddy D.

I was riding from Moss Beach to Rancho Cucamonga and found a slow leak in the rear tire of my BMW R1200 Adventure bike. I had known of «BMW of Santa Cruz» and searched for them at their old address — they are now out-​of-​business. Jesse, at a local Chevron service station directed me to Ben’s Motorcycle Works. They were wonderful — promptly replaced my old tire and I was on my way.
A nice family owned business that puts customer service and quality work at the top of their list. Ben’s mechanics are experts working with BMW motorcycles and can help with all your repair and maintenance work. Based upon my experience, they easily rate 5-​stars.
Thanks to Ben’s Motorcycle Works, I was able to complete my ride with minimum delay.

I ride a 2007 — K1200LT and Ben recently performed the 24,000 mile service which is the most comprehensive service required by BMW. Everything was done perfectly and service was completed on time. A few days after the service I stopped by with a few questions and my bike was taken in immediately for a quick FREE checkup to be sure that my concerns were not a serious issue to be worried about or not. This shop is run by professionals with kind of enthusiasm normally only shown by amateurs.
They treat your bike like if it was their own. They also understand the importance when you leave their shop on two wheels, your life depends to the quality of the work they performed on your bike.
We all know how important it is to find a mechanic /​service you can truly trust.
Well, if you take your motorcycle to Ben’s Motorcycle Works, then you’ve found the both!

Motorcyclists occasionally hear this story: I was on an organized ride on this holiday weekend when I had an emergency and was stranded and this person saved the day! Now, it happened to me! DOH! I was to leave San Juan Bautista Saturday morning with SCMA motorcycle group on about an 800 mile ride… Ebbetts Pass, Sonora Pass, a guy tipped me off AS I LEFT «uhhh…dude your friggin’ back tire is BALD» It was bald. I only had 2000 miles on that cheap-​ass IRC tire. I do not know how it is possible for it to have magically gone bald, but whatever. I dialed around, found one shop out of business (I rode on the bald tire, carefully). Then I caught Ben on the phone. He sold me a Michelin, excellent tire, jumped me to the front of the line and I met my group straight down the road while they were stopped for breakfast, completed the rest of the ride scrapin’ pegs on Rt 49 east of 108 into Mariposa, hit snow at 9,000 feet on the Sonora Pass. What a ride! If it weren’t for Ben and his lovely wife at Ben’s Motorcycle Works, I would have had to load my sh*t in the back of a truck and go home, crying. Five stars are not enough. Thank you for the excellent service.
Shawn

The mechanics at this shop are great. They were able to fix my 1999 bmw 1100 rt-​p that was having major issues. I’m not that motorcycle savvy but he fixed it for an affordable price.

Brought my K1200S in for a clutch and tuneup. Excellent work, done on time and at a competitive cost. Everything well explained in a way that allowed me to make the right choices.
Returned again 6 weeks later for a new front shock absorber. Watched Ben and his fellow mechanic work. Both were highly competent.
Very happy. My motorcycle is running superbly well. Highly recommend this shop.

Thanks Ben for the great service on my K1600 GT while on my way back to Alberta. You and your wife are truly run an outstanding shop.
Later, Graham

Ben has worked on my BMW 1100, BMW 1150, BMW 1200, and Kawi 1400. Have literally 100,000+ miles with his expert service performed on my bikes. Never a problem. Always on time. Always professional. Highly recommend.

Ben does some of the best work in the area.
I know that when ever I take in any of my motorcycles to be worked on, Ben always gives me back a bike that runs SO much better then what I brought in.
Ben is the best!

On the recommendation of two colleagues, I took my 2001 BMW F650GS to Ben for a new chain & sprockets and new tires. When the sprockets delivery was late, Makaya drove from Freedom to Capitola to the FedEx station to get the package off the truck and expedite the repair. (This, after they offered to deliver the bike to my house.)
Excellent customer service, good people, and good prices; all ingredients for a very satisfied customer.
Thanks, Ben and Makaya… I’ll be back!

I have been taking my bikes to Ben’s since they opened their doors. He runs a clean shop, is meticulous, and gets you on the road. If he finds other issues, he calls it how he sees it. And his prices are very fair. He comes recommended by a number of people who don’t usually take their bikes to shops, but when they do, they go to Ben’s. I can’t think of anywhere I trust more to take care of my bikes. I have 2 BMWs, but he also works on other brands.

I just had my BMW RT serviced and Ben did a marvelous job. He even threw some work in for free. Which was nice because BMW service is never cheap — that said, he did a really good job servicing everything — the whole bike, replacing things and fixing the timing. I’m so happy now — and it was all shiny clean when i picked it up. And they gave me a lift home. I’ll be back soon to get some other things replaced… We are so lucky to have them open up here in South County Santa Cruz. Thanks Ben !

I love that he works on the other major brands as well.
I dropped my bike off for a minor service and tires and picked it up after work same day. AWESOME! and she rides soooo smooth now :)
Needless to say I am VERY pleased.