Remembering Great-Ness: Our All-Time Favorite Arlen Ness Customs

We pore over some of the iconic designer and builder’s very best work from his 40+ year career.

As of today, it’s been exactly two months since legendary motorcycle builder, Arlen Ness passed away on March 22, 2019, at the age of 79. The seasoned builder rode out a more than four-decade-long career churning out custom bikes and aftermarket parts and being recognized by a who’s who from the industry along the way. Ness is an AMA Hall of Fame inductee, at last year’s Quail Moto Gathering, was recognized as a “Legend Of The Sport”, and two-years prior to that, he was given the Sturgis Lifetime Achievement Award. Simply put, the dude was a legit legend, and then some.

Ness completed his first build — a surprisingly elaborate Knucklehead purchased for $300 with Ness' bowling winnings — in the late 1970s and has been going hard ever since. He is credited for influencing the next generation of cruiser/chopper customization outfits, with mainstream builders like the OCC crew growing up admiring (and being inspired by) Ness’ work. Ness even had a clear impact on production offerings, such as the BMW K1600 bagger, not to mention several Victory models. Arlen’s work bore a distinct, stretched, low-profile aesthetic, almost always finished off with over-the-top custom paint jobs. Over his illustrious career, Ness delivered countless stellar one-off builds, so in celebration of Ness, his life, work, and contribution to the world we love, we’re counting down our picks for our favorite Arlen Ness Custom Motorcycles.

The Two-Wheeled ’57 Chevy

Dubbed “Ness-Stalgia”, this elaborate build was done as a tribute to the iconic 1957 Chevy Bel Air. The one-off cruiser is constructed around an 80ci Harley Evo engine and a Softtail frame and features hand-formed aluminum bodywork (that reportedly took eight months to complete!) as well as a genuine headlight bevel, fins, side-trim, and taillights from a Bel Air. First unveiled at the 1995 Oakland Roadster Show, the Ness-Stalgia sports a front-end that’s been stretched by 5” while the rear-end has been stretched by 2”. The whole build rolls along on a set of custom Performance Machine wheels (19” front and 18” rear) wrapped in Metzeler rubber.

The Ness-Stalgia started as a crude sketch on the back of a pizza box, which was then presented to Ness. Upon first seeing the drawing, Ness passed on the offer to purchase it, though a little down the road he reneged, and forked over the cash for what had turned into a more refined design. Ness wonderfully possessed the ability to recognize exactly what it is that moto and gearheads appreciate, and he was able to brilliantly implement those elements into his work. From the distinct headlight bezel to the iconic tail fins, Ness captured everything the world loved about the Bel Air and applied it to a two-wheeled platform — using the obvious engine choice for such an American build.

Art Deco Beauty

Another car-inspired entry from Ness, this one-off specimen is known as the “Smooth-Ness”. Built around a 1,340cc Harley V-Twin, the art-deco styled two-wheeler is reportedly based on the famous 1930’s Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. The shape of the front fender and luggage paired with the way the “fairing” flows into the tank and tail is nothing short of an artistic tour de force. While it isn’t for sale, the custom was evaluated at a $100,000 worth (when it was insured). This build was one of Ness’ final projects, and in our opinion, it’s some of the best work he ever did. And aside from his very first build, Ness stated the Smooth-Ness was one of, if not his favorite build he’s ever done.

Spondon-Framed Sportbike

This particular build stands out amongst Ness’ work as it’s the only sportbike that he ever built. At the heart of the project is a 2009 Victory 106ci motor, but what really makes this build shine is it's trick Spondon frame and matching single-sided swing-arm, which collectively weigh in at just 37lbs. The entire build is decked out in heavily polished, one-off aluminum bodywork, and a custom exhaust was fabbed up and then capped off with a Supertrapp can. Other highlights include CNC’d sprockets, custom rear-sets and clip-ons, Magnesium rims, and top-shelf Ceriani suspension fore and aft.

Dancing Horse Moto

Following a visit to the Ferrari factory, Ness was inspired to spend the next three-years building this custom Ferrari-style bike. Like the famous Italian supercars, this build featured one seriously potent powertrain; a 2,100cc Harmon motor fitted with dual Magnuson turbochargers and quad-carbs. (Because what a two-liter moto engine needs is dual blowers!) Helping to get all that power to the pavement was a (belt-driven) modified car rim and tire that looks more like something you’d see on a drag bike than a road-goer. A classy custom leather saddle, 90’s Ferrari-style exhaust, and the brand’s trademark red paint job all help to round out this unique project.

Double-Engine Sporty

Ness’ first true breakout custom was probably his dual Harley Sportster engine project called “Two Bad”. On top of the dual V-Twin arrangement, the custom boasted a one-off hardtail chassis, drag-style seat, and front-hub center-steering, though the cylinder heads and casings were also decorated in beautiful, ornate engravings. Looking at the thing, it’s hard to believe that Two-Bad was one of Ness’ earliest builds, though it undeniably demonstrated his chops for building bikes. Just look at that belt-drive setup! C’mon!

Ness’ Turbine-Powered Two-Wheeler

After seeing Jay Leno’s MTT Turbine Superbike at a motorcycle event, Arlen Ness decided he needed to have one for himself. At least that was the case until he was made privy of the bike’s $250K price tag, prompting the builder to do what he does best, and build his own bonkers two-wheeler. Known as the “Mach Ness”, this machine features a detuned gas helicopter turbine engine shrouded in custom aluminum bodywork. The massive engine requires its own small motor with friction drive just to get the thing fired up. Helping to bring the massive machine to a stop is a pair of six-piston calipers biting equally beefy 13” rotors. The fact the engine was built to propel a helicopter pretty much says it all.

Skinny, Long, and Low

Completed back in 1986, the “Accel” helped Ness to establish his signature style of low and stretched customs. While his later work began to take on more body panels, Ness’ earlier work was markedly scrappier and more stripped down. More chopper and less bagger, if you will. A major theme in Ness’ work for the first decade of his building career was utilizing drag-racer visual themes into his creations, and the Accel is a perfect example of exactly that. Looking at this build it’s abundantly clear that this style was responsible for influencing a host of today’s biggest builders, with an obvious example being the work of Ed Turner.

Though the book has closed on Arlen Ness’ chapter in motorcycling, the spirit of his work lives on through his son, Corry Ness, and grandson, Zach Ness.

“My dad was extremely well-respected around the world,” stated Ness’s son, Cory, shortly after his father’s death. “Everyone loved his artistic side and the creative things he did with motorcycles. He was a true gentleman and the nicest guy.”

Ride in peace Arlen. You will be missed.