AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Arlen Ness passed away on March 22 at age 79.

Ness is best known for his innovative and wild custom motorcycle designs and custom parts business, and often was called “The King of Custom Motorcycles.”

Ness grew up in Oakland, Calif., and started as a custom hot-rod car builder before making the transition in the late 1960s to motorcycles. Ness’ first custom motorcycle build was a 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead he bought for $300 and is known as “Untouchable.”

Soon after, Ness opened a motorcycle painting business and branched into custom parts that he made and sold at his shop and through catalogs nationwide.

Ness’ custom bikes were known for their low-slung, stretched-out look. His trendsetting designs have been studied and copied by other bike builders and factory engineers.

In 2008, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame honored Ness’ contributions to motorcycling with “Awesome-Ness,” an exhibit that featured memorabilia and motorcycles, including “Untouchable” and 10 other custom motorcycles from Ness’ personal collection.

Ness was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1992.