It is with heavy hearts that we announce Arlen Ness the visionary, loving husband, father, grandfather and leader of our family passed away last night March 22, 2019. HAYWARD — They called him the king of custom motorcycles. (Mike Lucia/ Staff Archives), Arlen Ness sits next to the "Hulkster" a Custom Harley Davidson that he built for Hulk Hogan, the pro-wrestler. That original Knucklehead is still in the ANM collection. Arlen Ness, ‘king of custom motorcycles,’…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Live updates: 49ers lead Rams 14-3 at SoFi Stadium, Arlen Ness, ‘king of custom motorcycles,’ dies at 79. Arlen was known for his wild paintwork as well as his outlandish custom choppers, baggers and cruisers. Arlen Ness astride one of his custom built motorcycles inside his Dublin store, that is a showroom, museum and repair facility on April 1, 2008 in Dublin, Calif.(Jim Stevens/Tri-Valley Herald Archives), Motorcycle designer Arlen Ness in November 2005. Instead of patches, Hamsters wear yellow T-shirts. I found the photo above and many of his other bikes at this site: https://luxefair.com/lifestyle/motorcycle/the-most-beautiful-motorcycles-arlen-ness/. Deepest sympathy and condolences to his family. (Yuki Saito-Miller/ Staff Archives), CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos or video on a mobile device. His achievements included helping found the Hamsters Motorcycle Club, made of riders who want to counter the popular image of custom bikers as outlaws and criminals, according to Buck Lovell, a longtime motorcycle magazine editor. Every bike he created was literally a work of art. That was what you did back then. Ness is survived by his son Cory, grandson Zach (both in the family business), and his wife of 59 years, Beverly. Kevin J Ness, brother to the famous motorcycle customizer Arlen Ness has succumbed to his injuries after being involved in a crash on the I-80 … She's a Bay Area native and a San Jose State University journalism graduate. Arlen Ness was a prolific figure in the world of American cruiser motorcycle customization, dating back to 1970 when he began tweaking his own Harley-Davidson Knucklehead in his California garage. The custom motorcycle world is mourning the death of Arlen Ness, aged 79 years. With just his high school shop experience, Ness took the Knucklehead apart, added a peanut-shaped gas tank, painted it green and entered it in a motorcycle show. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Ness received a patent for the Big Shot, a method of altering the motorcycle’s fuel injection system, and thereby enhancing a motorcycle’s performance. The Ness model had a gorgeous custom Black Cherry Fade paint scheme, billet wheels, seven Ness accessories, and loads of chrome components. “On Friday nights, we’d cruise East 14th Street (in Oakland and San Leandro). According to Nevada Highway Patrolman Chuck Allen, a motorcyclist riding a 2008 Victory Vision was thrown from his bike after being struck by a vehicle; the rider was identified as As well as producing his own customs, he worked with several motorcycle brands, most notably the axed Victory Motorcycles, producing limited-edition production models. It’s been great,'” the company said. If you want to describe a Ness bike, you have to say, that motorcycle looks like it’s going 90, standing still, and you aren’t exaggerating ! “He was the nicest guy,” Cory Ness said, adding that people have contacted the family from around the world as news has spread about the death of his father. While the Californian will be remembered for his more recent flamboyantly styled choppers and the one-off models he designed for Victory motorcycles, his greatest legacy was created in the early 1970s. Your work brought joy into this world ! In addition to building custom one-off motorcycles for clients, Arlen Ness Motorcyles also builds custom parts for Harley, Indian, and Victory brand motorcycles. “Nobody was doing what he was doing,” said Danny Perez, the retail manager of the Dublin shop, which features a museum of some of Ness’s creations. He was 79. “A true gentleman.”. I’d go by that place 20 times a night just to look at the bikes. There was a place where all the guys with bikes would hang out. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Rest in Peace artist ! “This bike was the first custom I ever did, because I only had one bike,” Ness once said. Ferer purchased the bike and was waiting for it to be completed. were building look alike choppers, I stumbled upon Arlen Ness’s works - at the SEMA show if I’m not mistaken....Anyway, it was amazing...His art deco bikes were astounding. Her previous roles at the Mercury News include Lowell Thomas award-winning editor of the Travel section, Alameda County bureau chief and Getting Ahead editor. Ness is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beverly, and his children and grandchildren. In 2016, he earned the Sturgis Lifetime Achievement Award. Since then he’s become one of the best known custom builders in the scene, known to some as The King of Custom Motorcycles. The Inventory team is rounding up deals you don’t want to miss, now through Cyber Monday. As a young man, Ness earned money as a semipro bowler, parlaying $300 of winnings into his first motorcycle purchase, a 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, according to Bay Area News Group archives. Arlen Darryl 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. That first 1947 Knucklehead, called Untouchable, is a great story. “Arlen once said that, ‘Motorcycling has been a great ride … my whole life since I’ve been motorcycling has been wonderful. Peter Hegarty is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group. I didn’t really know one from another, but I knew I liked the ones that had a low-slung look.”. Arlen Ness Motorcycles posted on its Facebook page Saturday that the man, the myth, and the legend has passed away at the age of 79. https://www.wkrg.com/news/custom-motorcycle-legend-arlen-ness-dies The Ultimate Motorcycling website said a memorial service and celebration of life will be held at a later date. But there was more to Arlen Ness and his favorite machine. The motorcycle world and other fans, including country music star Travis Tritt, took to social media to mourn and pay tribute to Ness. Since the early 1970s the business has continued on through three generations of Ness. Ness … The custom motorcycle retailer, which is a landmark in Dublin, also features the legendary Arlen Ness … (Jim Stevens/Tri-Valley Herald Archives), Custom motorcycle designer Arlen Ness in his motorcycle museum at the new Arlen Ness headquarters in Dublin, CA., Thursday, November 13, 2003. Arlen Darryl 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. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Jalopnik contributor with a love for everything sketchy and eclectic. It was nice to hear how he got started and also learn of the bike he kept modifying. Very saddened to hear of the passing of the great motorcycle designer, Arlen Ness today. At a time when everyone - Jesse James, the “Paulies,”etc. The first Ness Signature Series model was the 2004 Arlen Ness Signature Series Vegas, which carried a U.S. MSRP of $19,999 (compared to a standard black Vegas MSRP of $15,349). 5 restaurants in Pasadena closed for failing to comply with coronavirus rules, Geologists assess debris flow risk in Santa Cruz Mountains, Marin drug company develops coronavirus nasal spray, Marin fundraiser supports Coast Miwok cultural center. #RIPArlenNess, — Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) March 24, 2019. Arlen Ness Motorcycles posted on its Facebook page Saturday that the man, the myth, and the legend has passed away at the age of 79. Never quite sticking with the standard, Ness went above and beyond with his builds, creating some truly unique bikes. The motorcycle sits in his museum in his motorcycle store in San Leandro. 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