Arlen Ness dies at 79-years of age in California

Bruno Gomes

March 30, 2019

Arlen Ness | Photo credits: The Mercury News

There aren’t many custom bike builders that have such a great legacy behind them as Arlen Ness did, and it’s with sadness that we write that the “Custom King” has died at 79-years of age, in his home in California, surrounded by his family.

Born July 1939, Arlen Ness soon showed his talent to create unique motorcycles using tools and his hands. He bought his first motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson, in 1947, and even at such a young age, Arlen Ness started working on that bike, creating something unique.

He then opened a shop in the 1970s where he worked in aluminum, and a few years later he decided to get serious in customizing motorcycles, and opened up his shop completely dedicated to modifying motorcycles into some of the prettiest and craziest custom bikes the world has ever seen!

Arlen Ness’s Mech Ness | Photo credits: Badass Helmet Store

Not only Arlen Ness dedicated his life at building bikes, as well as giving his name to bike models from big manufacturers like Victory and Indian, but he also ended up creating a clothing brand of his own. The business did so well that his son Cory and his nephew Zach also joined the Arlen Ness business, and now run the store.

A man who loved and breathed motorcycles, Arlen Ness passed away this past week in California, but not before he left his legacy in the two-wheeled world. Bikes like the Mach Ness, a futuristic-looking bike, or the Ness Stalgia, a bike that was inspired by the American hot-rods of the ’50s, will live on and make sure that future generations of bikers will get inspired by the truly awesome work of Arlen Ness.

Arlen Ness and the Iconic Ness-Stalgia | Photo credits: Harley Davidson Forum