Similar to some of these reviews Matt was great at first but but then became horrible. I gave him my bike to fix on 2/9/24, paid up front and it's been over a year now. He's given excuse after excuse (some were true) and won't respond to texts and calls and claimed the bike was ready for pick up in September but I could never get a hold of him to schedule a pick up. I now have taken legal action to get my bike back. Can't warn you enough, stay away from this mechanic. read more

This is a sad review to write but for the safety of anyone considering working with Matt I need to share. Matt literally sabotaged the work on my bike and you should not trust him with yours. Matt had done great work on my bike for years until this last repair that I brought in to him fall 2023. I needed a rebuild on the motor for my 1975 R90 BMW bike. He sent me updates on the repairs but then when it came time to pick up the bike He kept finding excuses why he was unavailable. This went on for 5 months, he would not give me a time where he would be at the shop. Eventually I drove out (it's 90 minutes from my house and I have to book a car) and when I get to the shop I see an eviction notice on the locked door. He had stopped responding to my texts and calls weeks before this. I also see a YELP review online from the last month of someone having the same issues. I go to the police to see what my options are and they say I have to send a demand letter to Matt and work through insurance which I do. He finally responds to that and leaves the bike in the lot. I Pick it up, he says it needs an oil change in 250 miles of riding after the rebuild and we part ways. Unfortunately it goes down hill from here even further. I should have taken it directly to another mechanic to check but foolishly trusted his work. Once I hit the 250 mile mark I take it to get the oil changed and they find a mess. He used oil that according to the mechanic looked like it was over 5k miles in use, dark and filled with crap. Also was should have been new spark plugs were both way past life and fouled with oil. On top of this the valves were also ticking. He had to put in used oil after the rebuild and burnt plugs, that would not happen over 250 miles of riding on a brand new rebuild. Whatever hard times be it an accident or whatever it was that Matt went through, it is no excuse for the sabotage of my bike, it was deliberate and malicious. I lost 9 months of being able to ride my bike and the cost of the rebuild as he effectively has damaged the seals and gaskets with the dirty oil. I went to Matt for over a decade, never again. read more

Sorry to say but my experience is similar, and ongoing. Matt has become more and more desperate over the years, offering increasingly bizarre stories to keep angry clients at bay. He owes me a lot of parts and the labor, already paid for, to finish restoring my bike. read more

Matt is a brilliant mechanic. I was lucky enough to find him after some really bad experiences. He replaced the transmission on my 1970 r75/5 earlier this year. It runs flawlessly. He was helping me out with minor issues when he was injured in a bicycle accident but he's back now and just rebuilt my front brake. That too works perfectly. I've never encountered anyone as thorough in his work. He's a pleasure to work with and has extraordinary knowledge of vintage BMW motorcycles. I give him my highest recommendation. read more

Matt is extremely knowledgeable and a true professional. I took my 1960 R60 to his shop after looking around for a while. The bike needed everything. He handled the brakes, tires, carbs, wiring, engine rebuild, clutch, seat and more!! I've never met a more thorough mechanic in my life. Also the price was extremely fair. He also took care of my friends motorcycle with his amazing COVID procedure. Matt arranged for both pick up and drop off. Needless to say if you own an airhead BMW this is the only shop I would recommend. read more

Black Kat Motorwerks - New tires, suspension work and brakes! - Motorcycle Repair Near Me - Tarzana, California

Did a wonderful job restoring my 1976 R75/6, can't sat enough good things !!!!!!!!!!!!! George Halter read more

Happy to have met Matt and his team. Besides fixing my 1970 BMW that had been neglected, he is also a great guy. Matt is someone you can trust and cares about the work and the bikes. You can see the passion and enthusiasm. I'm a writer, and there is a saying that a writer is never done with a piece of work, it's just time for pencil's down. We keep trying to improve. Same goes for Matt, he always thinks he can do something a little better, so he adjusts this, or does that. He's an artist with these bikes, and so glad I met him. He works his ass off, and his pricing is super fair. I used to take it to West Valley Cycle, and hated the people there. And couldn't find another BMW place, so it sat. No matter where you are in LA area, go to Matt. Seriously, go to Matt. He's the only most skilled, honest and caring BMW mechanic in the city. read more

I've been taking my R80/7 to Black Kat Motorwerks for maintenance since Rick was there 3 locations ago. I love and miss Rick. His prodigy, Matt is as knowledgeable. Matt is a diamond in the rough, a true expert in the boxer/airhead community. There is no one I would trust more to work on my bike -thank you. read more

Here's the deal. Despite his youthful appearance, Matt Gagne knows his machines. I'm not surprised to learn he was an engineer for Porsche Motorsports for 8 years. He brings that reputation for excellence and attention to detail to restoring, diagnosing, and repairing your vintage BMW. In a world where everyone is getting their hustle on at the expense of your pocket book, Matt is a refreshing, no nonsense kind of guy who is straight up and tells it like it is. You'll get the best deal for parts and labor from this independent shop which is quickly making its mark as the go to place for vintage BMWs. Note: His popularity is making it difficult to get your bike in, so call ahead and make an appointment. read more

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Matt at Black Kat did a great job on fixing my wrecked 1973 R75/5. It needed a whole new headlight bucket and speedo rewired as well as new valve covers and push rod seals, a battery and new tires. He did an amazing job and she's running beautifully. These guys know Beemers. I wouldn't trust anyone else. I wish I would have found them sooner. Would have saved me a lot of headache. He has lots of great vintage parts as well. Thumbs up read more

Black Kat Motorwerks - Motorcycle Repair Near Me - Tarzana, California

Matt took in my 1972 BMW R75, and within an hour analyzed some of the specific things that needed attention, to get my bike running great again. He was extremely thorough in explaining the diagnosis, and a breakdown of cost and labor. I was only without the bike for two days. The price for parts and labor was very reasonable. I will only be taking my BMW to Matt & Black Cat Motorwerks from now on. read more

Black Kat Motorwerks - Thanks for getting my R75 purring again Matt! - Motorcycle Repair Near Me - Tarzana, California

Matt is a genuine guy and knows exactly what your vintage bike needs, he doesn't mess around with prices and has a straight forward attitude about any problem. He's helped me out with multiple bikes and every one of them comes back running better then it ever did, probably better then it ever did from the factory! I'd suggest Black Kat Motorwerks to anyone and everyone! Thanks Matt! read more

Matt and Rick are fantastic. If you have an older BMW airhead this is where you want to bring it. I brought my R50/5 in for new pushrod seals. The bike is new to me and I was worried what I might find if I pulled the jugs off myself with only new seals and gaskets in hand. It was a good decision to bring it in for Matt and Rick to handle. Once the jugs were off rust was found in one, and it was beyond the point of honing out. It would have had to been rebored and that would have meant new pistons and rings $$$. Fortunately, Matt was able to swap my old jug for a stock bore replacement so I simply needed new rings... Nice! Patience is a valuable currency here. I wasn't in a rush and Matt was able to addressed several other issues with my bike for nothing, or at cost while it was there. I highly recommend Rick and Matt of Black Kat Motorwerks. read more

Took my 72R-75/5 to Black Kat Motorwerks and the difference in the performance of my bike is like night and day! Matt is very knowledgeable when it comes to airheads. I highly recommend to all airhead riders to get tuned by Black Kat Motorwerks. Now I am not afraid to own a classic. Looking for a new airhead project . Thank you very much Black Kat Motorwerks (Matt) Edgar Rivera read more

Black Kat Motorwerks - Motorcycle Repair Near Me - Tarzana, California

MATT is the best. I no longer ride but I had a 1977 R100S and he ALWAYS cared to make sure it was running tip top. Matt used to repair Ferrari Engines and all I can say is.. in addition to knowing his stuff, HE REALLY cares. I can not recommend him enough. read more

I've taken My 1991 BMW R100 Classic to Matt at BLack Kat. Twice Once to rebuild the front forks and he did wonders for that repair. Second time I took my bike in to get a tuneup done to re-jet the carbs for the new exhaust. He went above and beyond by putting in new fuel lines, adjusted the cables, changing out the brake fluid, Also got me new tires and the ones he recommended made the bike look better the short time riding handle a lot better and I also like the wider front tire.... Matt is very knowledgeable and fair...... Michael read more

Matt and Rick (former owner) have been good friends since I first brought in my 1977 R75/7 in the summer of 2014, back when the shop was still in Inglewood. Since Matt took ownership and moved BKM to Tarzana, things have only gotten better. He runs a clean shop, and has a profound understanding of bike mechanics to be expected from a former race technician and MIT engineering grad. He's been through my bike inside and out over the years, and it's always coming out of his shop running better than when it went in. I can't recommend BKM enough for the excellent service and great attitude. Call ahead and keep in mind that their expertise is in high demand for good reason. read more

Black Kat motorwerks is a great find if you own a vintage airhead. Matt is very meticulous and conscientious when it comes to his work. Ive had 3 different bmw's worked on by him and have been more than satisfied with the work he has done. When you own a vintage bike I've learned patience since some parts are hard to come by and the smallest part needed can hold up a project for extended periods of time. There is also a motorcycle storage garage next door to Black Kat that has a detail service and oil change. read more

I would highly recommend Black Kat Motorwerks. From a simple tune-up and oil change to a full restoration, Matt and Rick are experts on all things BMW Airheads. I have been riding BMW's for well over 20 years and have not yet come across a more knowledgeable shop. read more

It took me a long time to find the right place to bring my bike. It's a 77 BMW R60 and not many people understand those bikes. Matt and his crew were fantastic. They were able to get it running smoothly, new tires and all without breaking the bank. They also had suggestions for how to get it looking better without a big "restoring it" kinda discussion. Matt is a super great guy. HIGHLY recommend him and the whole team. read more

I will recommend Matt and the guys at Black Kat to anyone with an old BMW motorcycle. I dropped off an old ratty r69s that hadn't run for some years before I got it. I (quickly) got back a smooth running machine! Beforehand, I had the usual trepidation about cost overruns and a never ending timeframe. NOT the case at Black Kat. These guys are fast, fairly priced and super knowledgeable. The bike runs great, starts on the first kick and I am now looking for every chance to ride for any errands! I think they even waxed it before I picked it up and it looks like a new bike! Thanks again guys!!! Mike Kern read more

If you have a BMW motorcycle, do not take it anywhere but here. After YEARS of inexperienced (moron) bike mechanics jerry-rigging stuff on my bike (and dumping my money down the drain) to the point that it was unusable, Matt and Rick have brought it back to life. After not even turning over for four years, it now purrs like a lion cub and is absolutely beautiful. They take pride in their work, and can explain to you every repair, tweak and improvement they make - their willingness to talk about what they've done is just one of the indications that they stand by their jobs. Rick is like a walking Beemer encyclopedia and Matt is an incredibly knowledgeable and decent small business owner. All throughout the repair and restore process, Matt texted me with updates and photos of the bike in various stages of rebuild. It made me feel confident and great that they cared about it as much as I did. And I cannot wait to get this bike out on the PCH as it deserves. I can't recommend these guys enough. Thank you for bringing her back to life! read more

Black Kat Motorwerks - Thanks to Matt, Rick and Black Kat, my 1971 R60/5 LIVES! - Motorcycle Repair Near Me - Tarzana, California

She's 55 years old, she needs someone who knows how to treat her right to keep her purring like a kitten. Matt at Black Kat Motorwerks is the only person I trust to work on my vintage BMW. Fair pricing and great customer service keeps me coming back. read more

I recently bought a 1978 BMW R80/7 in pretty good condition, but it needed a bit of work before hitting the road. I'll admit it took a little while in the shop (its pretty packed, another testament to its excellence), but once they finished the bike was running like a charm. I've since brought it back for a quick valve tighten/tuneup and will definitely be bringing it back for any future maintenance. For a bike going on 40 years old, it runs like new now. Matt really knows what he's doing! If you have an older BMW that needs some work, Black Kat is the only place to go. read more

Best vintage BMW service on the planet! In riding a 1972 BMW R60/5 across the country, you develop an appreciation for effective service and care. I've had good experiences thus far, but BKM has been the high water mark, and by a significant margin. I arrived at Black Kat having had to fix the bike on the side of the road that morning. Carbs were out of synch, my roadside repairs were necessary but not sufficient and my confidence in the bike's heretofore bulletproof reliability was flagging. Owing to the unplanned nature of my breakdown, I arrived at the shop unannounced. Hearing me approach, Matt met me outside the shop and, even before I could get my helmet off, he set about diagnosis. Not only did he make space for my needs in his already busy, by-appointment-only schedule, my bike left in far better condition than when it arrived. In so stating, I don't mean that he fixed what was wrong, I mean that he assessed the motorcycle's condition and addressed all of the little things that need attention after 40 years of being ridden. Some of these items required parts and/or labor charges, but many he simply fixed because he believes that machines should operate the right way. Replacing the random collection of nuts and bolts that 45 years of service yields with the correct parts, adjusting and servicing systems that were functional but not optimal, returning expedient modifications from previous owners to correct function all were done simply because Matt doesn't do things any other way than the way of excellence. He even fabricated a custom fastener arrangement for my aftermarket seat assembly and then gave me a pair of pliers to take with me, should I need to remove the cotter pin on the way. Shops just don't do that kind of thing anymore... You can't pay for this kind of expertise. Matt and his team have mastery of the skills necessary to care for older BMW motorcycles. They have a comprehensive knowledge not only of the mechanics of the type, but also the history and accuracy of the brand. Moreover, they have a level of engagement that far exceeds the typical exchange-of-money-for-services. They do it right, mechanically, historically and aesthetically. And they do it for the love of the marque. Most importantly, Matt places the needs of the owner over the needs of the shop - there were numerous places, in the face of an old motorcycle's needs, where he could have encouraged the kind of maintenance that improves a shop's bottom line, but instead he simply made an knowledgeable assessment, presented the facts in a transparent way and let me decide. Needless to say, my motorrad has run the best it ever has now that its spent a little time at Black Kat. It also made it the remainder of the journey without any additional disruption. So confident am I that this is the premier vintage BMW shop on the west coast that this is the place where I'll continue to return for ongoing service, despite the fact that I'll have to ride down to Los Angeles to do it. And if you find yourself in the LA area with a vintage BMW, I'd suggest you do the same. You won't be disappointed... read more

I bought a used bmw r75/6 in pretty rough conditions, took it in to Matt and within a couple days he had it running like new..He went through the bike very thoroughly, and informed me of best possible route to continue my rolling restoration. He really went above and beyond fixing small things many others would probably overlook, all for a reasonable price too. would definitely recommend to anyone with a 60s-70s bmw airhead. I will continue going to black Kat for all my mechanical needs in the future for sure. read more

Great shop. Matt is super passionate and attentive to service and detail. He treats your bike like it's his. Got my bike running like a champ. read more

I've been going to Black Kat for years with my '72 R75/5 and they have always been super friendly and easy on the pocket book. Now that Matt has taken over the business, it's now even better with always fast and perfect repair work. Only place in town for my airhead. read more

Can't say enough good things about Black Kat - Matt is great, did a thorough job going through my 1978 r100s. Matt's very responsive and a perfectionist - He delivers what he says he will and he is VERY knowledgeable and accounts for everything. Very fair pricing and honest! Really knows BMW's! Thanks Matt! read more

Matthew is an amazing person and a great mechanic. He inherited the reconditioning of my BMW RL65LS from the previous owner who is legend in BMW repair himself. I am sure he thought long and hard before selling this business to Matthew. I gave them a budget which was way less than the posh stores around where I live where you can spend $20-40k to recondition a bike just for the honor of wearing their t-shirt. Black Kat did my recondition of my 30 year old bike up to 2015 standards for a fraction of the price and for the first time I feel comfortable riding the bike on short and long trips. Matthew kept calling an apologizing each time he found something else but he would than tell me it should be done and now I have a bike I am totally proud of and I'd put up against any of the cache bike reconditions in Los Angeles both for looks and performance. Thank you Matt. Keep up the reputation and amazing work. read more

matt was able to fit my R60/2 into his busy schedule and get the work done in less time and for less than his original quote.

I have been looking for a good shop that specializes in older BMW bikes for some time. I was having some issues with my 1976 R90s and was tired of doing all the work myself. In addition I needed help to get the fuel to air mixture sorted because I had Luftmeister put on 1000cc cylinders and heads on the bike and they not I were ever able to get the mixture right. After a recommendation from a friend and talking to Matt I decided to rake my bike to Black Kat. I am absolutely thrilled I did. Matt was responsive to my concerns, listened intently to the issues I was having with the fuel system and made me feel at ease from our first meeting. My bike was there for what I would consider a normal length of time for a shop that specializes in older and sometimes problematic machines. I had told Matt that I also wanted him to do a general check on the entire bike as it had not been given the once over by a real mechanic in some time. Matt discovered that there were a few other things that needed addressing and with my approval he did all the work that we agreed upon. When I picked up the bike several things were apparent. For starters he not only had done the repairs but also had partly detailed the bike in the areas that he worked on. On the ride home the bike ran like a dream. All the earlier fuel problems that had eluded the techs at Luftmeister were gone and, because he had also rebuilt the front forks, to handled like I remember when I bought it all those years ago. I couldn't be happier. I put another 120 miles on this past Saturday and it was pure pleasure with the bike in this condition. I can't recommend Black Kat enough. read more

i love the city of angels and today it gave back. if you love bmw motorcycles, specifically old airheads, black kat motorwerks is your place. i skeptically took my green /5 to reseda for what i thought would be a waste of time. these bikes require brains, patience, and the hatred of hitting things with a hammer. matt, who owns the place, was that guy. matt and his cronies welcomed me in, diagnosed my issues and with the smart turn of a few screws, sent me on my way. this bike will perhaps need bigger issues addressed in the future that had me stressed, but now i'm happy that black kat and matt will be at the wheel. cheers matt, and thanks again. read more