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10 | WheelsOfGrace.com | Issue 46 (July 12, 1939 – March 22, 2019) 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. Prior to his career as a motorcycle builder, Ness worked as a pin-se er at the local bowling alley, and later as a post office worker and furniture mover. Ness also 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. Ness was married to his wife Beverly for 59 years un l his death. His first customs 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. Ness was recognized for his unique pain ng style and for developing a line of custom motorcycle parts. His popularity grew as he built new custom bikes and then had those displayed on the bike show circuit and featured in motorcycle magazines. A er more than three decades of custom bike building, his business, Arlen Ness Motorcycles, moved to a Dublin, California facility that includes a museum featuring more than 40 of his custom motorcycles. The museum displays his Untouchable, the twin motor Two Bad, the an que inspired Ness-Tique, Blower Bike, the Italian sports car inspired Ferrari Bike, the '57 Chevy inspired Ness-Stalgia, the Buga -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. The Mach Ness is a motorcycle Ness built in 2005, inspired by Jay Leno's turbine-powered bike, that incorporates 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. Ness received recogni on and awards including Builder of the Year, induc on into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Life me Achievement Awards. His son, Cory Ness, has worked with Ness for more than 30 years, and now runs the day-to-day business opera ons at Arlen Ness, Inc. 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 tradi on to a third genera on, Cory's son, Zach Ness, built several high-end customs before finishing high school in 2006. Today Arlen Ness Inc. is completely owned and operated by a family. At the moment, Arlen Ness brand offers products for V-twin engines and motorcycle gear. The Arlen Ness museum and showroom are located in Dublin, California. Ness received a patent for the Big Shot, a method of altering the motorcycle's fuel injec on system, and thereby enhancing a motorcycle's performance. Ness passed on March 22, 2019 at the age of 79 surrounded by his family in California. His company's Facebook page has published this eulogy: "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. Arlen passed away comfortably in his home surrounded by loved ones a er the most crea ve and inspira onal life anyone could imagine. The most important things in Arlen's life were his wife of 59 years Beverly, his children, grandchildren, friends and motorcycles. Arlen once said that "Motorcycling has been a great ride… my whole life since I've been motorcycling has been wonderful. I've met so many nice people. Friends all over the world… We can go almost anyplace and stay with friends. It's been great." With few words Arlen conveyed his priori es every day, family and friends. Everyone who knew Arlen respects him for his achievements and for who he was as a person, both of which are superla ves. The respect is how Arlen came to deserve the commonly spoken nickname "The King of Custom Motorcycles". Arlen rarely reflected Iconic bike builder Arlen Ness leaves this world at age 79 10 WheelsOfGrace.com Issue 46