American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 238 May 2019 | Page 11

Arlen Ness - "The King of Custom"
AMD was saddened to hear of the death
of industry legend Arlen Ness - "The
King of Custom" - and someone to
whom we all owe such an immense
debt of gratitude and our unstinting
admiration and respect.
Many words will no doubt be written
about Arlen, the man as well as Arlen
the customizer, in the coming days,
weeks and months, but for now it is best
left to his family to sum up what he
meant to them.
Arlen passed on March 22nd, aged 79.
This is the message that his family
posted on the company's Facebook
page the day after his passing. Our
thoughts are with his wife Bev, son Cory,
daughter Sherri, and his grandchildren
and all the members of the family, as
there can be no better epitaph for
anyone than to be able to say that he
had "inspired"…
"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 after the most
creative and inspirational life anyone
could imagine.
Tucker's 'HardTales'
Volume 2 of Tucker's 'HardTales'
magazine is now available to
read online and "in addition to
48 pages of new and exciting V-
twin products from Tucker
Brands, there is a short feature
on The One Moto Show, a recap
of the 2019 Tucker Show," along
with a Tucker brand focus
feature on Twin
Power that
includes an
interview with
custom industry
veteran James
Simonelli, and news
about new 4.25" Big Bore
cylinders for M-8 and the new
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
priorities 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
superlatives. The respect is how Arlen
came to deserve the commonly spoken
nickname “The King of Custom Motorcycles”. Arlen rarely reflected on
his own success. He never planned for
it, this is because what he achieved had
never been done before; it had never
been dreamt of.
Arlen has touched the lives of our family,
the Arlen Ness team and thousands of
others around the world with his
genuine character. We will announce a
memorial service and celebration of life
after some private time, and appreciate
your understanding. We thank you for
your respects and condolences.
Although the Ness family cannot put
their loss into words, they can look up
and smile knowing Arlen has done
something that few men do in a lifetime
of trying. He has inspired."
Twin Power 'Shocker'
battery program.
Vendor news includes
helmets from Arai, rider
comms systems from SENA
and Cardo, apparel from
RSD, Speed & Strength and
First Gear, J&M's 'Rokker'
audio line, shock absorbers
from Progressive Suspension,
Burly Brand 'Voyager' luggage,
exhaust options from Vance & Hines, Cobra and TBR, Letric
Lighting Co products, clutch
options from the likes of BDL,
Barnett and AIM Corp ('Light
Force' hydraulic clutch),
Kibblewhite compression
release valves, Mustang seats,
S&S Cycle cam chest kits, Sport
Chrome rotors and 'Reinforcer'
wheels, and ergonomically
enhanced grips from Avon Grips.
www.tucker.com