Harley Davidson Arlen Ness Digger Show Bike

Harley Davidson Arlen Ness digger Show bike
My fascination with diggers started some years ago after a chance meeting with Arlen Ness himself in Verona.
When I got back to sunny England I decided I had to have one so I set about putting some together.
I put several Honda diggers together and a couple of Harley’s - this particular bike was the final one and was meant to be a keeper but I’ve been putting it together for so long ( over 11 years) that life has changed, the family has grown and now I don't know if I’ll ever have time to finish it or ride it.
Anyway the bike details-
The frame is a genuine Arlen Ness hardhead- thats a stock early cast sportster frame with an extended front frame section grafted on.
These ‘hard heads’ were available from the Ness Catalogue.
I found this frame in Germany and it’s beautiful, it is 7/ 8th chromemoly tubing and gives the bike a really delicate look.
The tank is also a very rare item which I found in the States- it is a Bob Munroe tank made for Ness and it is the exact tank for this frame with the cut outs for the rockers. The tank was ‘new’ when I got it, it had never been fitted on a bike since it was made in the 70’s.
Rear fender.. or mudguard if you prefer is also a genuine Ness Tail Light fender available from the Ness catalogue.
The forks are really special and are Super Narrow Ness items- these forks are made by Ness prior to Century making forks for him.
They have been re chromed and have new bronze bushes.
The engine is a 1970 Harley Davidson XLH motor that has been fully stripped and rebuilt by the legendary custom bike builder Phil Piper of The Chopper Shack.
Phil was actually semi retired when he built this motor, I had to ship it to him in Malta. The motor is built to stock specs, everything has been done from the crank up. This is as best an ironhead motor as you will get. It is done right.
The motor is magneto fired and kick only- it’s a new magneto.
Carbs are new dual mikunis on a Branch manifold.
The paint is a pinky purple candy with 24k gold leaf work inspired by Arlens dual engined sportster ‘Two Bad’
The paint was done by Dave Addis of Flakeys Paint studio. It’s a fine job and looks amazing in the sunshine.
The bars, exhausts, rear struts, rear fender rails, pegs, kicker pedal and other bits of fabrication were all made by me.
Front wheel is a fully chrome 21” spool hub wheel.
Rear wheel is a 16” fully chrome drum brake sportster wheel
The rear swingarm was smoothed out and everything has been triple plated chromed by Castle Chrome except the engine covers which I was planning on getting engraved by Don Blocksidge but sadly he passed away before I was able to get the parts to him.
The cases are polished though and look well.
Now the bad bits- unfortunately I have never run the bike properly due to time. I’ve had it started a few times but as the bike is at work I have very limited time to tinker. The engine is strong though and if anything it might need a bit of mag timing or carb fettling… but it might not.. I’m going to make an effort to get it running now I have advertised it and at least ride it once..
So it is being sold as a non runner although I’m confident it will roar into life with a little bit of time spent on it.
It is stored in my office and the engine is turned over regularly, the carbs are empty of fuel and clean.
The other bad part is that it has no paperwork hence I am selling it as a ‘show bike’
I’m sure the more ingenious people among us could think of ways of getting it on the road though ( wink wink) or put it in your office and look at it like I do.
Anyway- there you have it- I’d say this is the only ‘newly built’ Arlen Ness digger in existence using the right parts.. I hate the phrase period correct but this bike is indeed absolutely how they were built when diggers roamed the earth.
If you require any more information please don’t hesitate to contact me.
The bike is located in Birmingham England and will need to be collected from here.