Arlen Ness Logo PNG
The Arlen Ness logo is radiant and soaring. The emblem conveys how an ordinary motorcycle becomes a work of art that rises above everyday life. The sign evokes wealth and fantasy.
Arlen Ness was born on July 12, 1939, in Moorhead, Minnesota, and moved with his family to San Lorenzo, California, as a child. After school, he worked different jobs and competed in semi-professional bowling. In 1963, he used his bowling winnings to buy a used 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead for $300.
Ness rebuilt the motorcycle in his garage for custom bike shows, changing major parts each year because the rules didn’t allow the same bike to appear twice. The machine became known as Untouchable and remained his first major custom build. In the early 1970s, he opened a 600-square-foot shop on East 14th Street in San Leandro and began selling his own machined metal parts.
The company grew through mail-order catalogs and a widening range of parts for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, from grips and footpegs to frames and fairings. Ness also built custom bikes, including Ness-Stalgia, inspired by the 1957 Chevrolet; Ferrari Bike; Smooth-Ness; Two Bad with two engines; and the 2005 Mach Ness, influenced by Jay Leno’s turbine motorcycle.
In 1992, Ness entered the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and in 1997, The New York Times published a major profile about him. In 2005, the company moved to a 70,000-square-foot complex in Dublin, California, with a showroom and a museum housing more than 40 custom motorcycles. His son, Cory Ness, later managed daily operations, while his grandson, Zach Ness, entered the same field. Arlen Ness died on March 22, 2019, at age 79.
Meaning and History
The logo conveys freedom and speed, embodying the movement of motorcycles and their powerful motors.
What is Arlen Ness?
A California company specializing in customization and spare parts. From helicopter powerplants and twin engines to nods to famous car brands and a fantastic look, Arlen Ness’s founder used these options to transform ordinary motorcycles.
Before 2005
2005 – 2014
2014 – today
An image and an inscription represent the sign. The emblem features a golden circle with outstretched eagle wings, a black oval at the center, and the letter A with sharp wedge-shaped glyphs. Below the image, a large title appears in two lines.
The letter A is the first letter of the manufacturer’s name and the figure’s central element. They are stylized as motorcycle frames when viewed from the front. The black oval represents the gas tank. The altered and shaped letter alludes to the transformation of production motorcycles through Arlen’s imagination and attention to detail. The golden edging indicates luxury, beauty, and style. Artistic processing and painting of all parts of the product.
Eagle wings, or the bird itself, are common in logos and coats of arms. Initially, they symbolized the solar gods living in the sky. Now the wings represent flight, movement, freedom, greatness, and power. In the Ness logo, it is:
- transformation,
- new life of earthly things,
- significant advantage and superiority of customized products,
- Acquisition of increased speed and other characteristics by replacing parts.
The brand name is associated with Arlen Daryl Ness (1939). An American motorcycle customizer founded a motorcycle customization company. Starting by rebuilding Harley-Davidsons in his garage, Ness gradually built an empire of modified bikes and parts, and named it after himself. After his father died in 2019, the founder’s son, Corey, and grandson, Zach, ran the business and kept not only the surname but also their grandfather’s name in the brand.
Font and Colors
Black and gold are the logo’s main colors.
- Black represents brutality, a solid approach, and a lasting mark in history.
- Gold conveys the value, uniqueness, and impeccable style of motorcycles.
Lettering font: Serpentine Bold. The letters’ power suggests the bikes’ capabilities surpass those of ordinary ones.