Arlen Ness Enterprises, A Brief History
1967, Arlen buys his first motorcycle, a 1947 Knucklehead®. Working in his own garage armed with only a spray gun and a vision Arlen stripped his motorcycle and gave it a full custom paint job. Shortly after, Arlen entered his first custom bike show and took first place; the first of many to come. Spending the nights in his garage working on an ever-growing list of customers' bikes Arlen realized it was time to quit his day job working for a private contractor and open a store. Renting a store space on East 14th in San Leandro, CA Arlen opened Arlen's Motorcycle "Ness-ecities". In the beginning the store was only open at night giving Arlen time to paint and work on bikes during the day. Soon demand for Arlen's "Ness-ecities" became too great and the store had to be opened full time. Following in his father's footsteps, Arlen's son Cory designed and built his first bike in his mid-teens. Together they made Arlen's Motorcycles “Ness-ecities” a hug success throughout the eighties and nineties resulting in several relocations into progressively larger stores.
Gallery Images In Chronological Order
progress on the 1st bike arlen with his first bike first bike Knuckle Head first store Kevin working Outside store in 1972 Arlens Magna Bike Arlen and Bev Ness on Bike the green machine the second store
crew at the second store second store with arlen first bike Knuckle Head first store Arlen with mom on orange blossom bike Arlen with Accell Bike Arlen with Cory Ness Arlen Ness Store Arlen with the vision bike the Ness Family
Cory and Arlen Ness Arlen at Sturgis on Ferrar Bike leading the pack at Sturgis Hamsters at Sturgis Arlen with the Avon Bike Arlen Chill Smoothness Bike Celebrating Finishing of Top Bannana Bike Arlen with the victory bike the Mach Ness Jet Bike
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