Starting out of his garage in 1967 with the money he won as a semi-professional bowler, Arlen bought his first Harley.

Armed with no more than a spray gun and a dream, Arlen stripped down his Harley Knucklehead and gave it a paint job of his own creation.

After many an appraising eye set sight on his creation, Arlen entered it in a custom show.

First show, First place! Then he was off, with nights spent in the garage working on a growing list of customers bikes, it wasn't long until he rented his first store on East 14th Street in San Leandro, CA.

More work, more shows and more trophies. While still working at his full time job, Arlen worked the store in the evenings. With his wife Bev doing the books, and his 2 kids (Sherri & Cory) in tow, Arlen took a big step out onto thin air. He left his job and went out on his own full time.

His refusal to imitate others, his sense of style and his willingness to take risks is still seen today in their slogan of "Always innovate, never imitate".

In March of 2003, Arlen Ness and approximately seventy hand picked employees opened the new World Headquarters in Dublin, CA. This 68,000 sq. ft. building has a sales showroom, parts department, apparel store, service department, shipping & receiving warehouse, photo studio, museum of Arlen’s famous builds, production area for the new line of NESS MOTORCYCLES, LLC, and Arlen’s and Cory’s workshop where you can actually see the masters working their motorcycle magic.

STURGIS 2005, marked the launch of the new line of “CUSTOM PRODUCTION” motorcycles from NESS MOTORCYCLES, LLC. Three NEW motorcycles, the Low Liner, Speed Liner and the High Liner already have production lines screaming. Over 50 bikes have been sold since Sturgis in August. These bikes have been labeled “custom production” motorcycles because they will accept the nearly 3,000 Arlen Ness custom parts; making each production motorcycle an Arlen Ness custom creation.