Arlen Ness dies aged 79
The custom bike legend has been building custom bike since the 1970s and later went on to open a dealership and clothing shop
ARLEN NESS, world famous for long and low custom sleds died on March 22 in San Fransisco after a long illness, he was 79.
Ness was famous for creating wild looking V-twin customs, with raked out forks and wild, colourful paint-jobs. He also ran a successful line in apparel, riding gear and aftermarket parts. His product lines covered performance and aesthetic parts for Harley-Davidsons, Indians and clothing from shirts and hats to race leathers and boots.
Ness began customising bikes at home before setting up a custom shop in San Leandro in the 1970s. in more recent years, Arlan Ness Motorcycles traded from a 72,000-square-foot dealership that featured new and used bikes, as well as riding gear and clothing.
Ness’s company announced on its Facebook page on Saturday that he had died, describing him as a “visionary, loving husband, father, grandfather and leader of our family.”
One team of builders, who’s design style could well have been influenced by Ness, said on Twitter:
— OrangeCountyChoppers (@OCChoppers) 25 March 2019
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
