When Michael Clark sold his Kawasaki ZX-12 toward the end of 2006, he was already thinking ahead to his next project, all the while searching out his muse for an inspirational motif around which to build a new motorcycle.
At the time, Clark was a part of his local motorcycle club, the Ruff Ryders. The 48-member group was composed of as many bikes as it had members, each with his or her own interpretation of the sports bike culture. Ironically, Clark found more time for his hobby after opening a series of businesses. And it didn’t hurt that the club itself started meeting out of Clark’s own barber shop.
By 2008, Clark purchased a new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14. On its own, the bike needed little help attracting attention. But by 2009, Clark’s muse revealed herself, and his Ninja, like the rest of the nation, was swept up by the winds of change.
When Barack Obama stood to take the oath of office on a cold January day, many people were preparing their own tributes in honor of the historic event. Some sold T-shirts. Others held parties. Clark decided that what his bike needed to do was tell a story, the story of his own heritage vicariously captured in one man’s victory.
“The bike was painted by Titus Graphics in New Jersey,” Clark said. “But I had it done three times because of issues.”
The first piece of patriotic flair added to the bike was an airbrushed American flag on the frame, draping across the swing arm. The gas tank was airbrushed with a collage of pioneering black leaders including Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.
Yet, when it was time to do portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama across the shield guard, Clark was disappointed when two of the most influential black leaders in the country came out looking … cartoonish.
“The [artwork on the] tank looked so real so I didn’t want to disrespect because the whole bike told a story,” Clark said.
A friend of Clark’s provided recent photos of the power couple that were then passed on to the artists in New Jersey. After a second attempt, Clark was pleased with the result. From front to back, the bike tells a tale of struggle and success through the faces of prominent black figures intimately linked to the African-American collective identity.
Clark has also added a few chrome accouterments along the way including handlebars, and had a 360 tire kit installed on the back, where the swing arm was extended six inches to accommodate the altered tire size.
As he shows the bike at regional shows, Clark is happy to take second stage as the Obama bike is barraged by a hail of camera flashes. He still holds out hope that one day Barack Obama will see his bike and personalize all the hard work with an autograph.
What do you drive? A 2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14.
Why do you drive it? The only time I do drive the bike is to shows. It’s not an overall road bike. With the graphics and worrying about the rock chips, I don’t want to mess up the bike. So I kept it as a show bike.
What makes this motorcycle so special? The history. Off the back section you have the silhouette of Africa with the slave ships going to America. Then you have the slave’s chains breaking free ending slavery. Then you have the collage of everybody who helped this nation and people in general to obtain where we are at today.
What is your most memorable driving experience? My most memorable experience riding the bike was riding it when it was put together.
What was the first vehicle you owned? A 1974 V-6 Pontiac Ventura. My mother said if I was going to drive I had to buy my own vehicle. I was doing a paper route and car washes, and saved my money and bought a used car.
What music are you currently listening to on your motorcycle? Nothing at all.
And your first ticket? What was it for? I remember it was a parking ticket because my mom said I better pay or I’d lose my license. My first ticket on my bike was doing a 72 in a 55. When the police officer pulled me over, he said, “Need for speed, huh?” He also said he rode a bike too and had mercy on me.
