I've been going to Nick for 5 years, had 3 different Ducatis worked on by him and have referred 3 other friend/owners to him. Universally he has done outstanding work for all of us. He knows what he's doing, explains things clearly and at length and charges fair prices. He's not the fastest as he has so much work. The best guys always do. I CANNOT, for the life of me, figure out why some people have had a bad experience and have given him bad reviews. User error or attitude maybe? read more

Does anyone know how to get Nick Larson to return calls? He's had my sons 848 in his shop for 3 months. Jeff, my son, was killed three years ago in a car accident. The bike was his pride and joy so I took it to Nick to get it in as new shape.. he took it apart, won't return my calls and never seems to be in his shop. I'm moving out of state in a week and am desperate to get the bike back. If you have any way of communicating with him I just want the bike, don't care how bad he's screwed it up, it's all I have left of my years of riding with my son. Help! Follow up: Nick called, apologized for the delay, and said the bike would be done in two days. It was,runs perfectly, exactly the charges that he had estimated. Ducatis are special beasts ,I guess the guys who understand them are too. Excellent job, finally done, all's well that ends well. Thank you Nick. read more

This review only has five stars because it won't let me give six. Nick is the Ducati GURU. He only works on Ducati (and a smattering of other Italian bikes) because he loves them, and he's been doing it since being trained by his father when he was still a kid. He's not just the best bike mechanic I've had, he's the best mechanic I've ever met, bike or otherwise. He's got that intrinsic instinct about Ducati. His recommendations about appropriate parts, which to use for which style of riding, his knowledge (and willingness to SHARE THAT KNOWLEDGE) is without equal in my experience. He's up front about pricing, doesn't ever charge unnecessary fees, doesn't surcharge every nut and bolt (dealers will charge you for zip ties, believe me), test rides his own work, and in the case of a particularly moody replacement tank, did not charge me to reinstall it when the manufacturer's part kept failing. I live in Claremont. I've ridden to Reseda for service at Valley Desmo in the rain. That's 50+ miles IN A THUNDERSTORM!. It's been worth every mile. If you have a Ducati, bring it to Nick. PERIOD. read more

Valley Desmo - Motorcycle Repair Near Me - Reseda, California

Nick, is the best, he always does honest work knows A Ducati better the. Anyone. Very helpful with questions and an all around nice guy. Highly recommend. read more

Brought my 620 Monster in for 6000-mile service @ 7500 miles and have nothing but great things to say about Nick and the service he provides. Price was fair, the work can be trusted and relied upon. read more

Been coming in to Nick's shop for a few years now and I don't go anywhere else for my Ducatis. He's honest, does not overcharge, and a master technician. read more

Iv been taking my bike to Nick for a few years now and he does excellent work. Had him do and 853 kit on my 748 and it has been running excellently, I mean not a single problem since having it done. Once I wrecked my bike and he even came to my house to do an estimate of the damage. Nick is a genuinely nice and honest guy and I plan to continue taking my bike to him. read more

I just purchased my first Ducati off of craigslist, a Monster 620 Dark. It came with no service record, no real history other than taking the seller's word. I needed to get the bike looked at - make sure everything's in prime condition and start some sense of a maintenance record for the beast. First place I looked was yelp. I called Moto Club di Santa Monica about five times - no answer and no reply to my messages on Victor's machine. I went by Ducati of Beverly Hills and was unimpressed with how impressed they were with themselves. So, the next option was to either make the trek to Reseda or go to a non-Ducati specialist. And I am so glad I gave Nick a call. To start with, he was extremely friendly and said he'd be willing to meet me same day to look at the bike and determine what needs to happen. When I showed up to his shop, he knew my name, was very descriptive with what he was looking at and explained, in detail, everything he thought should happen to the bike. I was very impressed with Nick's shop and how quick he's getting my bike in for the 6k service. I definitely will continue to take my bike, and any future bikes, to Nick to be cared for. He's very knowledgable and open - which are very important traits for a mechanic. read more

They worst possible experience any Ducati owner could ever have. Please look else where. I have gladly paid the higher dealer prices than to deal with the headache of getting an update on my bike from Nick, my bike was there for weeks, and he never called to follow up or give me any update whatsoever. Went in for simple change of fluids and new tires, 4 weeks later he says come pick it up. ZERO COMMUNICATION during that 4 week span , no social skills...I called several times with NO Reply back. Please ride a further distance and go to other independent Ducati shops. This place is a joke, looks like a junk yard inside the shop....no organization, he needs some guidance on running a shop, he should just be a mechanic for another shop, as he has NO business skills to be running a shop, let alone a Ducati shop...this place is a JOKE read more

If you have a Ducati this is the guy, fast response time and incredibly knowledgeable about Ducati's. I highly recommend taking your bike here. read more

I just recently started coming to this shop. I bought a salvaged 2017 Ducati Monster 797 and Nick has been nothing but awesome helping me with every issue I have. I went through and read all the negative reviews and I see that several years have passed. To those reviews I say this: every time I need to get in touch with Nick I send him a text and he gets back to me incredibly fast, always the same day. Nick is insanely knowledgeable when it comes to Ducati's and I would tell anyone they can trust him. I do plan on getting more work done here so if anything changes I'll be sure to post it. read more

I recently picked up a 2001 748 with 1785 on the odometer and since it has been sitting for 5 years, I wanted to find someone who's willing to come by and perform a timing belt change. I initially called a mechanic out of W Hollywood, but he was against performing the service at my house even though its takes less than 1 hour to put belt in claiming that I might learn the trick of the trade. I then called Nick, who was more than happy to perform the work at MY house. He brought all the right tools, and was very friendly and even asked me to watch what he's doing! He obviously knows what he's doing since he made everything look so easy! After he was done w/ the belt change, he visually inspected my bike, and noticed that I installed the rear wheel incorrectly. He helped me remove and reinstalled them, and gave me some other pointers since I told him I plan on performing my own maintenance. His price was EXTREMELY reasonable, and given his honesty and skills, I am very thankful he was able to accomodate my needs. I plan to see him again for future service needs. I challenge any of you to find a more accomodating professional mechanic who will work on your bike for a reasonable price. read more

I was recommended by a friend who used to have his ducati monster serviced here(till he sold it). I took my 748 to get the chains, front and rear sprockets, front tires and its brakes bled. I got my back the next day and i couldn't believe its the same bike. That was just icing on the cake; the best part is how competitively priced his labor fees are. A fraction of what these high end ducati dealers would charge you! And what he quoted you, is exactly what he is charging you. He won't nickel and dime you. Nick will also give you pricing options on parts and its pros and cons. He'd never tell you to get something if you don't need it. He is a "form follows function" kinda guy, very precise and concise. Dont expect to see pro italia service bays here but if you own a ducati, live in SFV and still go somewhere else, you are a short changing yourself. Not to mention you also get to meet Jim and his son Russ who are honda specialists working in the same bay. All amazing, wonderful and honest people. Nostalgic fairings everywhere, ducati's lined up for nick to service and honda race bikes for jim to work on. Im coming back soon for new timing belts and valve adjustments and I cannot wait!!!! Something very trivial, if you want to put faces on their names, Nick looks like Kevin Bacon, Jim looks like Robert Duvall and his son Russ looks like Peter Gallagher! lol Have a safe ride everyone!!!! read more

Just wanted to say that Nick will definitely take care of you if you bring your Ducati here. I made a mistake of bringing my M900 to a non-ducati specialist and it cost me dearly (money and damage). I called up Nick and he took the bike in the next day and fixed everything like it should have been done in the first place. Price of the service was beyond fair almost dirt cheap compared to the major shops. You definitely get great customer service and no BS from small local shops. read more

I'll post a first review, as I just talked to Nick, really nice guy over the phone, will drop my bike this evening for him to review.. I have a Ducati Monster 2005 620 Follow up 9/27/10 Nick is a great guy. The shop is small, don't expect any lounge treatment for those of you going exclusively to Ducati dealers. He gained my trust, his price is super reasonable, and won't push for anything not needed. My ducati needed a tire replaced, electrical checked/fixed, handle bar replaced, which he did and at a really low price. He chraged me for the exact time he spent. I will go back for all the regular services needed. read more

Nick is good to go don't let any negative comments make you think otherwise. I had nick do and 853 kit when I had in my 748 for its 12k and it's run flawlessly so far, almost 18k later. I will continue to give Nick my business from here on out. EDIT: just to comment on what is below so this review doesnt seem fake, yes at times it is difficult to get ahold of Nick. He is the ONLY one in the shop and if he has to answer the phone every ten minutes nothing will ever get done. Be patient and you'll be glad you brought your bike to him. Im not easy on my bike and it hasnt had a single problem since the 853 kit or any other work he has performed. read more

I brought by 2005 Ducati Monster 620 here. My rear tire had a flat, the rear brakes were squealing and I needed to get my handlebar replaced. Nick did a great job. The first time he looked over the bike with the utmost attention to detail, I knew he was a Pro and I was in good hands. He charged me a fair price and got the work done on time. Highly recommended. read more

The guy who works on Ducatis named Nick is a crackhead. Super tweaky and held up my bike with very stiff shaky hands. I was almost concerned he'd drop it. Don't let him work on your bike. There's something wrong with him. read more

I was in an accident with my 2011 848Evo where I was forced to lay her down going around 35 mph. 90% of the damage was all cosmetic (fairings, windscreen ect) & the only mechanic things that needed to be replaced was simple, (clutch lever & gear shift lever).... Simple right? I brought my bike here hoping that it would be done quickly. 2 months later I had to take it back. It took Nick 2 months to simply do an insurance estimate. That is unacceptable. They also suggested to replace parts that didn't need to be replaced. IE: the tail fairing sustained a SMALL 1inch scratch that wasn't even caused by the accident. Yet that hiked the damage estimate up 1,200 bucks. Also, the shop is a total wreck. Random old bikes lying in every corner, at least 35 bikes in a shop that's around the size of my bedroom. No kidding. There isn't even a sign outside saying "Valley Desmo". Also unacceptable. What further frustrates is that Nick is a truly NICE GUY. We talked for a long time when the accident happened about the repairs & I was TRULY happy & confident to send my bike there so I'm saddened by the outcome. If he were to prioritize & fix the bikes that have the least amount of damage FIRST then maybe this review would be different & I'd be riding again but unfortunately, I won't be recommending his shop. read more

I brought my 848 there with MINIMUM repairs needed. 6 months later I had to take the bike back cause it still wasn't ready. I never got any update calls and I had to call to check on it every month and he kept say, "another week or so". Nice guy but just horrible service. I think he needs more people or something. read more

I don't trust a lot of folks to work on my toys. The only time a dealer usually sees them is for recall work. However with the Duc, I've decided to bring it in to Nick based on recommendations. I couldn't have been happier with the decision. Nick is very easy to work with and I feel he is very passionate about his work. I have to go through ridiculous 405 traffic to get here but it's worth it for me. I would definitely be going back here as long as I have a Duc. read more

I've been taking my bikes to Nick for a few years now, and have always been extremely satisfied with his service. He's super-reliable, knowledgeable and friendly. Look no further if you have a Ducati that needs work! read more

Nick is the valleys only n best ducati service guru around I came in w my 750 n he took the time n care to get me back on the road... I highly recommend !! Nick for all yyour ducati needs, way better prices n definitely friendlier then most ducati shops I've been too. Thanks again Nick!! read more

Shifter jammed and was due for some maintenance. Nick was patient answering all my questions and explaining the processes of others. Recommended other maintenance with no pressure. He is highly knowledgeable, friendly and more than fair on pricing. Despite being an hour ride for me, I wouldn't take my bike anywhere else read more

This is a great shop. I took my last 3 bikes there and I'm very pleased. I get the care and the knowledge that you don't find at the dealership, substantially cheaper. I got work done on the engine, clutch, suspension and maintenance, never had any problems, I was always happy with the results. Is not a huge shop so scheduling is key, Nick will let you know what needs to be done and/or ordered, and will let you know when the bike is done. Is a great alternative to the dealer and I'm very happy I found it. read more

Initially it seemed like a great shop. I purchased a Ducati off someone and it had been serviced there in the past. Nick seemed very nice and well informed. Well I finally made it down there to purchase a chain and a couple of sprockets that I was hoping to have installed there. He said it would be less that a week to get the parts in and then we could figure a good time to come and get them installed. I didn't expect to get the bike in there in a week. Shops get busy, I get it. After about two weeks I called just to make sure the parts came in. No reply. Odd but I can live with it. I call back a few days later......maybe I mumbled ....maybe the connection was bad......who knows. We then I tried again.....and again......and again. Now its been over 30 days and I haven't had one call returned to me. Its a chain and sprockets. I didn't order a custom jet pack. Have they arrived yet? Any thing? Not a single returned call. I just got off the phone with Visa to cancel the transaction. I will not only never go there but I will go out of my way to make sure no one that I know does either. This behavior is just un acceptable. If you are a master mechanic.....one of the best.... you should be smart enough to return calls or hire an assistant to handle the other aspects of the shop read more

Nick fixed my bike a year ago and I'd give him six out of five stars. Right now he doesn't answer his phone and it's frustrating even though I know he must just be on vacation.......... read more

Nick is a great guy, always willing to give tips( not common in this profession) and is very professional. Would recommend warmly to take your desmo there... Keep up the good work, nick. read more

Nick at valley Desmo is great, super friendly, knowledgeable and kind with the prices! Nick was the only one i trusted with my S2R and did all services on it from installing accessories to valve adjustments, etc...was always fair and never any issues after. I had a lowside and he brought it back to life. I've since moved to central Florida and my new duc shop here complimented on how great and well maintained my S2R was when I brought it in for a major service. read more

Nick is really good. I was recommended to him by Bombay Motorsports, and I was not disappointed. His prices were good. His work was very good, and I trust him. The dealerships always jack up the prices, but Nick didn't do that. I need some electrical work done, and I'm going straight to Nick. read more

I haven't met Nick but very impressed when he agreed to store a Duc for me at a very reasonable price. I found a Duc on eBay and was looking to fly to LA and ride home but seller was unable to store as he was moving and Nick was happy to step up with a solution. Try that at one of big box stores. read more

lemme say this - if you live in socal and bring your ducati ANYWHERE else for work, you're nuts. nick (and before him stew) have been servicing my ducatis for over 7 years now. i will NEVER bring my bikes elsewhere. there are 2 ducati dealers/service centers MUCH closer to me but they will never get my business from nick and valley ducati. bottom line best guy out there for these bikes and you will never get raked over the coals on price or upsold on some nonsense you don't need. as good as it gets. read more

I took two Monsters here first in 2009 to save money after calling around for quotes. I found the shop to be the most reasonably priced in Southern CA and the mechanic knows his stuff. The shop does top notch work, efficiently, and at a price that can't be beat. It means a lot that, Nick, the guy who runs Valley Desmo Service, is hands down the most trustworthy mechanic I've ever been to. I've been pleased with all the work he's done on both bikes and won't take my bikes anywhere else when I'm in LA. I've been a loyal customer ever since and highly recommend this shop. read more

I just rode back from the Rock Store where I met Robert who says that Nick (at Valley Ducati) is just great. He was so enthusiastic about him that I definitely will take my Duc there as soon as I need service. read more

does great work. but take a long time