Arlen Ness

Ness was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, on July 12, 1939, to Elaine and Ervin Ness, and moved to San Lorenzo, California, when he was in the sixth grade.{{cite news | title =ART OF THE CHOPPER: ARLEN NESS – FIRST LOOK | newspaper =Cycle World | publisher =Bonnier Corporation | date =December 17, 2007 | url =http://www.cycleworld.com/2007/12/17/art-of-the-chopper-arlen-ness-first-look/ }}

Prior to his career as a motorcycle builder, Ness worked as a pin setter at the local bowling alley, and later as a post office worker and furniture mover. He competed in semi-professional bowling leagues, the earnings of which he used to buy his first motorcycle, a 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead that he later customized.{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=351|title=AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame - Arlen Ness|work=AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame|publisher=American Motorcyclist Association|access-date=10 April 2017}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.aimag.com/arlen-ness-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-from-sturgis-motorcycle-museum/|title=Arlen Ness to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from Sturgis Motorcycle Museum|work=American Iron Magazine|publisher=TAM Communications|access-date=April 10, 2017|archive-date=April 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411060142/http://www.aimag.com/arlen-ness-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-from-sturgis-motorcycle-museum/|url-status=dead}}

Ness was married to his wife Beverly for 59 years until his death.

His first customized bikes were made in the garage of his home in San Leandro, California, but by the early 1970s he had moved to a storefront on East 14th Street.{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/799/8451/Motorcycle-Article/Arlen-Ness-Bio.aspx|title=Arlen Ness Bio|date=3 December 2010|work=Motorcycle USA|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107015255/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/799/8451/Motorcycle-Article/Arlen-Ness-Bio.aspx|url-status=dead}}

Ness was recognized for his painting style and for developing a line of custom motorcycle parts. His popularity grew as he built new custom bikes{{cite web|url=http://luxefair.com/lifestyle/motorcycle/the-most-beautiful-motorcycles-arlen-ness/|title=The most beautiful motorcycles: Arlen Ness|date=22 June 2018|website=Luxe Fair}} and then had those displayed on the bike show circuit and featured in motorcycle magazines.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/16/automobiles/when-it-comes-to-harleys-arlen-ness-is-one-very-cool-customizer.html|title=When It Comes to Harleys, Arlen Ness Is One Very Cool Customizer|last=Charle|first=Suzanne|newspaper =The New York Times | date= October 16, 1997|access-date=August 8, 2014}}

After more than three decades of custom bike building, his business, Arlen Ness Motorcycles, moved to a Dublin, California, facility that includes a museum with more than 40 of his custom motorcycles, including his Untouchable, the twin motor Two Bad, the antique inspired Ness-Tique, Blower Bike, the Italian sports car inspired Ferrari Bike, the '57 Chevy inspired Ness-Stalgia, the Bugatti-like Smooth-Ness, the Discovery Channel's Biker Build-Off bike Top Banana and his jet-powered Mach Ness. The company is also an authorized dealership for Victory Motorcycles and for Indian Motorcycles.{{cite web | title =Manufacturer Models | publisher =Arlen Ness Motorcycles | url =http://www.arlenness-motorcycles.com/showroom/manufacturers | access-date =March 25, 2015 }}

The Mach Ness is a motorcycle that Ness built in 2005, inspired by Jay Leno's turbine-powered bike, that uses a jet-powered helicopter engine as its power plant. The design, concept, paint and graphics were created by Carl Brouhard and the hand-made aluminum body work was by Bob Monroe.{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/asp/museum/exhibits/heroesofharley/biopage1.asp?id=351 |title=Arlen Ness - Heroes of Harley-Davidson |work=Motorcycle Hall of Fame |access-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523093908/http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/asp/museum/exhibits/heroesofharley/biopage1.asp?id=351 |archive-date=23 May 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/gallery/image/mach-ness/|title=Mach-Ness - 74th Annual 2014 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817101318/http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/gallery/image/mach-ness/|archive-date=17 August 2014|url-status=dead}}

Ness received recognition and awards including Builder of the Year, induction into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Awards. His son, Cory Ness, worked with Ness for more than 30 years, and now runs the day-to-day business operations at Arlen Ness, Inc.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2005/11/25/a-new-breed-ness-revving-up-less-expensive-line-of-manufactured-motorcycles/|title=A New Breed: Ness revving up less expensive line of manufactured motorcycles|date=November 25, 2005|website=East Bay Times|access-date=January 5, 2019}} Cory has himself been recognized as a top custom bike builder and even defeated his father in a 2004 episode of Biker Build-Off. Carrying on the family tradition to a third generation, Cory's son, Zach Ness, built several high end custom bikes before finishing high school in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.hotbikeweb.com/tour/zach-ness-profile-sailor-jerry-presents-hot-bike-invitational-bike-build|title=Zach Ness Profile/ Sailor Jerry Presents Hot Bike Invitational Bike Build-Off|date=10 June 2014|work=Hot Bike|publisher=Bonnier Corporation|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-date=24 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124091125/http://www.hotbikeweb.com/tour/zach-ness-profile-sailor-jerry-presents-hot-bike-invitational-bike-build|url-status=dead}}

Ness received a patent for the Big Shot, a method of altering the motorcycle's fuel injection system, and thereby enhancing its performance.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7000599|title=Supplemental fuel injector trigger circuit|access-date=8 August 2014}}

Ness died on March 22, 2019, at the age of 79.{{cite web | url =https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2019/03/23/arlen-ness-passes-1939-2019/ | title =Arlen Ness Passes – 1939-2019 | last =Williams | first =Don | date =March 23, 2019 | website =Ultimate Motorcycling | access-date =March 23, 2019 }}

File:QuickNess 1984.jpg|QuickNess, in the permanent collection of the Oakland Museum of California.{{cite web | url =http://collections.museumca.org/?q=collection-item/h843051 | title =Arlen Ness - Harley Davidson: QuickNess motorcycle | date =2019 | website =OMCA Collections | publisher =Oakland Museum of California | access-date =March 24, 2019 | quote = Harley Davidson Sportster Motorcycle, 1972. Customized body with silver and copper leaf, gold plating, and engraving. History: Arlen Ness customized this motorcycle in 1984. He used it for display and in competition naming it "QuickNess." Regular shows were held where customizers exhibited their artistry. Arlen Ness has won many trophies for his superb machines. This one has a tangerine orange body with copper leafed and painted designs and engraving on the chrome parts. }}

File:Arlen Ness two engine motorcycle.jpg|A motorcycle with two engines by Arlen Ness

File:Arlen Ness streamlined motorcycle.jpg|A streamlined motorcycle by Arlen Ness

File:Ness-Stalgia.jpg|Ness-Stalgia Model

File:Arlen Ness Harley-Davidson Progressive Insurance.JPG|Arlen Ness Victory motorcycle at the Seattle International Motorcycle Show

File:Arlen Ness Motorcycles 1.jpg|Entrance to Arlen Ness Motorcycles in Dublin, California

File:Arlen Ness motorcycles and trophies.jpg|Arlen Ness motorcycles and trophies on display in Dublin, California

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |title= Arlen Ness; The King of the Choppers |first1= Michael |last1= Lichter |first2= Arlen |last2= Ness |publisher= MotorBooks International |ISBN= 9781610608091 }}

{{Commons category|Arlen Ness motorcycles}}

• {{Official website|http://www.arlenness.com/}}
• {{Mhof|351}}

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Category:1939 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:Motorcycle builders

Category:American motorcycle designers

Category:People from San Lorenzo, California

Category:Dublin, California

Category:People from Moorhead, Minnesota

Category:Vehicle modification people

Category:Mechanics (people)