'Awesome-Ness' exhibit featuring the art of Arlen Ness now open

Legendary bike-builder Arlen Ness cut the ribbon to open the Museum's Awesome-Ness exhibit July 24 showcasing some of the most radical custom bikes on the planet.

The exhibit features 11 of Ness' creations ranging from the 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead called "Untouchable" that launched his career, to "Two Bad," a 2,000 cc twin-engine 1977 Knucklehead (right), to "Top Banana," a yellow machine that won top honors on the Discovery Channel's "Biker Build Off."

Other machines featured include "Ness-Tique," which is a modern custom inspired by a 1903 Harley-Davidson; "Overhead Cam Sportster," (left) which is a one-off 1200cc with sportbike styling; and "Mach Ness," which is a helicopter turbine-powered bike.

"I'm very pleased to have my motorcycles down here," Ness told an admiring crowd. "This is the chance of a lifetime."

Museum Executive Director Mark Mederski noted that the Hall of Legends that houses "Awesome-Ness" is used to featured the lives of members of the Museum's Hall of Fame.

"We wanted to do Arlen Ness because he's a little different from our usual fare, which is racers," he said.

Under questioning from exhibit curator Michael Lichter, Ness revealed that he graduated from high school in 1957 but didn't get a motorcycle until he was 24, and he has been building motorcycles now for more than 40 years.

He bought his first bike, "Untouchable," (left) for $300 and kept rebuilding it year after year because he couldn't afford to buy another bike.

Now, he said, his son, Cory, "is doing the hard work" at the shop, the paperwork, etc. which gives him time to travel and meet people.

"If you do something you enjoy, you work 12 hours a day and then look forward to waking up and doing it again the next day," he said.

Dave and Deb Erskine traveled to the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, to attend the opening of "Awesome-Ness" and to chat with the master bike builder.

"I've been a fan of Arlen's since Day One," Dave said. "He's cutting edge, a leader in the industry."

Deb called Ness a "very down-to-earth and quiet" man who you feel you can get close too. She said she really respects him because he was building custom machines "way before it was the thing to do."

Stan Simpson, chairman of the AMA Board of Directors, noted that it is always a special occasion to open the doors or cut the ribbon for a new exhibit, and Ness deserved to be honored.

Among others who attended the opening were Kent Smith of Neward, Ohio, and Michelle Harris of Hilliard, Ohio.

"I've always read about him and I admire his work," Smith said. "He's just a great bike builder -- one of the best there ever was."

Added Harris: "Who can't like Arlen's bikes? I really enjoy looking at his designs."

Just before the "Awesome-Ness" opening ceremony, Mederski opened another exhibit called "Red Bikes," featuring nine large photographic prints by artist and motorcycle aficionado Dawn Deppi (right).

Deppi, who has a Ducati 250 race bike in her bedroom as a piece of art, said that with her exhibit she wanted to show motorcycles as art.