Factory-Fine Victory Custom 2014 Victory High Ball
Zach Ness custom build bike no longer looks like a stock High Ball.
Photo: John Zamora
HB: What was the goal with your 2015 Hot Bike Tour bike?
ZN: We built this bike with two intentions: show what’s possible when working with the Victory platform and to build a rider. I wanted to keep the factory Victory dimensions and most of the bodywork so when people see it, it would open their eyes to what’s possible with a Victory cruiser.
Both sides look just as good.
Photo: John Zamora
HB: What was the hardest part of accomplishing that?
ZN: The Victory powertrain and motorcycle itself is visually pretty wide, and a goal was to slim it down. Cutting the factory tank at the bodyline and building the tailsection to flow right into the newly narrowed tank completely changed the look of the bike. It slimmed it down and gave it the light race look we were going for. The Freedom 106 has plenty of power to move the thing as fast as you would like, and the reliability is damn near unmatched so you can have as much fun as you want without worrying about breaking anything.
The profile of the bike looks completely different.
Photo: John Zamora
HB: Looks like you added your own bit of Ness magic to it.
ZN: The Victory Beveled Collection by Ness is a project I spent a lot of time on with Victory, and the bike is loaded front to back with all the accessories now available through factory Polaris. The blacked-out line with beveled accents match the machine’s aesthetics perfectly, giving a clean, murdered-out look that still stands out without being over the top.
Paint by Eric Reyes.
Photo: John Zamora
HB: Tell us more about that unique headlight.
ZN: The Baja Designs lights (all three of them) put out a total of 8,600 lumens when they are all engaged and give off one bitchin’ look. The LED light in the number plate is the full-time running light, while the additional two other lights in the pods attached to the lower frame rails are engaged when you hit the high-beam switch.
One-off Corbin to fit custom tailsection
Photo: John Zamora
HB: Are you happy with the finished product?
ZN: Definitely. Basically we built a clean street machine that utilized the countless hours of proven Victory engineering that really shows Victory has versatility in its design.
Mid-controls (Modified Victory)
Photo: John Zamora
2014/Victory Freedom/106 in.
Photo: John Zamora
One-off hand-built by Ness
Photo: John Zamora
Flurry by Arlen Ness
Photo: John Zamora
Arlen Ness by Magnaflow Prototype Exhaust
Photo: John Zamora
Flurry by Arlen Ness
Photo: John Zamora
Baja Designs Auxiliary lights.
Photo: John Zamora
Zach Ness
Photo: John Zamora
| General | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Owner | Zach Ness |
| Shop | Arlen Ness |
| Shop Phone | (925) 479-6350 |
| Website | arlenness.com |
| Year/Make/Model | 2014/Victory/High Ball |
| Fabrication | Ness |
| Build Time | 3 weeks |
| Engine | |
| Year/Type/Size | 2014/Victory Freedom/106 in. |
| Builder | Victory |
| Cases | Victory |
| Cylinders | Victory| |
| Heads | Victory |
| Rocker Boxes | Victory |
| Cam(s) | Victory |
| Throttle Body | Victory |
| Air Cleaner | Ness |
| EFI Controller | Ness Big Shot II |
| Exhaust | Arlen Ness by Magnaflow Prototype Exhaust| |
| Transmission | |
| Year/Type | 2014/Victory| |
| Gears | 6 |
| Clutch | Lloyd’z |
| Frame | |
| Year/Type | Victory Highball | |
| Rake/Stretch | Stock |
| Suspension | |
| Front end | Victory |
| Length | Stock |
| Triple Trees | Victory |
| Swingarm | Victory |
| Rear Shocks | Victory |
| Wheels, Tires, and Brakes | |
| Front | |
| Builder/Size | Flurry by Arlen Ness/18 x 3.5 |
| Tire/Size | 18 in. |
| Calipers | Victory |
| Rotors | Flurry by Arlen Ness |
| Rear | |
| Builder/Size | Flurry by Arlen Ness/18 x 3.5 |
| Tire/Size | 18 inch. |
| Caliper | Victory |
| Rotor | Flurry by Arlen Ness |
| Pulley | Flurry by Arlen Ness |
| Finish/Paint | |
| Manufacturer | PPG |
| Colors | Brown/Red/Silver/Gold Leaf |
| Paint/Graphics | Eric Reyes |
| Accessories | |
| Rear Fender | One-off hand-built by Ness |
| Gas Tank | Modified Factory Victory |
| Tailsection | Ness all metal |
| Handlebars | One-off Ness |
| Grips | Victory/Ness Beveled Collection |
| Hand Controls | Victory |
| Foot Controls | Mid-controls (Modified Victory) |
| Pegs | Victory/Ness Beveled Collection |
| Headlight | Baja Designs |
| Number Plate | Ness with Baja Designs LED |
| Lighting | Sheet-metal pods housing two additional Baja Designs LEDs |
| Taillight | Alloy Art |
| License Mount | Alloy Art |
| Seat | One-off Corbin to fit custom tailsection |
