Arlen Ness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arlen Ness
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Ness in 2014
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| Born | July 12, 1939 Moorhead, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Died | March 22, 2019 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Motorcycle designer, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1960–2019 |
| Known for | Custom motorcycles |
| Spouse(s) |
Beverly Ness
(m. 1960) |
| Relatives | Cory Ness (son), Zach Ness (grandson) |
Arlen Darryl Ness (born July 12, 1939 – died March 22, 2019) was a famous American motorcycle designer. He was also an entrepreneur, which means he started and ran his own business. Arlen Ness was best known for creating amazing custom motorcycles. People loved his designs because they had unique shapes and awesome paint jobs.
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Arlen Ness's Early Life
Arlen Ness was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, on July 12, 1939. When he was in the sixth grade, his family moved to San Lorenzo, California.
Before he became a famous motorcycle builder, Arlen worked different jobs. He was a pin setter at a bowling alley. He also worked at a post office and moved furniture. He was a good bowler and even played in semi-professional leagues. He used the money he earned from bowling to buy his first motorcycle. It was a 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. He soon started to customize it, making it his own.
Arlen Ness was married to his wife, Beverly, for 59 years. They were together until he passed away.
Building Amazing Custom Motorcycles
Arlen Ness started building his first custom bikes in his home garage. This was in San Leandro, California. By the early 1970s, his business grew. He moved to a bigger place on East 14th Street.
Arlen became very well known for his special painting style. He also created his own line of custom motorcycle parts. His popularity grew as he built more unique bikes. These bikes were shown at motorcycle shows and featured in magazines.
The Arlen Ness Motorcycle Museum
After more than 30 years of building custom bikes, his company, Arlen Ness Motorcycles, moved to a new building. This new place is in Dublin, California. It includes a museum where you can see over 40 of his custom motorcycles.
Some of his most famous bikes in the museum include:
- Untouchable
- Two Bad – a motorcycle with two engines!
- Ness-Tique – inspired by old-fashioned bikes.
- Blower Bike
- Ferrari Bike – inspired by Italian sports cars.
- Ness-Stalgia – designed to look like a 1957 Chevy car.
- Smooth-Ness – which looks a bit like a Bugatti car.
- Top Banana – built for the Discovery Channel's Biker Build-Off show.
- Mach Ness – a motorcycle powered by a jet engine!
His company also sells new motorcycles. They are an official dealer for Victory Motorcycles and Indian Motorcycles.
The Jet-Powered Mach Ness
The Mach Ness is a very special motorcycle. Arlen Ness built it in 2005. He was inspired by a turbine-powered bike owned by Jay Leno. The Mach Ness uses a jet-powered helicopter engine to make it go! Carl Brouhard created the design, concept, paint, and graphics. Bob Monroe did the amazing hand-made aluminum body work.
Awards and Family Business
Arlen Ness received many awards for his work. He was named "Builder of the Year." He was also inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He received several Lifetime Achievement Awards.
His son, Cory Ness, worked with Arlen for over 30 years. Today, Cory runs the daily business operations at Arlen Ness, Inc. Cory is also a top custom bike builder. He even won against his father in a 2004 episode of Biker Build-Off!
The family tradition continues with the third generation. Cory's son, Zach Ness, also builds high-end custom bikes. He built several before he even finished high school in 2006.
Arlen Ness also received a patent for something called the Big Shot. This was a way to change a motorcycle's fuel injection system. It helped to make the bikes perform even better.
Arlen Ness passed away on March 22, 2019, at the age of 79.
Images for kids
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A motorcycle with two engines by Arlen Ness
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A streamlined motorcycle by Arlen Ness
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The Ness-Stalgia Model
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An Arlen Ness Victory motorcycle at the Seattle International Motorcycle Show
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The entrance to Arlen Ness Motorcycles in Dublin, California
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Arlen Ness motorcycles and trophies on display in Dublin, California
