While not exactly two topics that commonly mix and mingle, the latest edition to the White House has many around the Clutch and Chrome offices bringing politics and motorcycles together and asking a question seemingly from the Barbara Walters interview handbook.

If Barack Obama was a biker, what kind of biker would he be?

Without the honor of sitting down in the Oval Office and asking the charismatic President himself the question, this article is based upon complete speculation and riddled with light-hearted humor, all meant in the best possible taste.

Further to the curiosity is a quick realization that the wondering is in fact two questions;

What kind of biker would he be and the more exciting question of what would the President ride?

Simply because we can, the first question of what kind of biker would President Obama be is answered last in this article and the second first.

So what would the 45th President of the United States wear and ride as a motorcycle enthusiast?

Would he relentlessly wear every piece of safety gear, wire the matching full faced helmets so he and the First Lady could chat while enjoying the open road with a team of two-wheeled Secret Service following? Or would it be a bandana, some old sunglasses, a sleeveless tee showing off the latest tattoo with donuts and burnouts the order of the day in the Rose Garden courtesy of a custom chopper?

Unlike golf, tennis or even bowling, riding a motorcycle isn’t a pastime actively pursued by many who achieve the highest office in the land. If leaps are taken and we considered the romantic cousin of the steel steed (which is widely acknowledged to be the horse) into the discussion, we would look to the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt (pictured right).

He made his military career on a horse commanding the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, commonly known as the ‘Rough riders’ leading the charge in the famous 1898 Spanish-American War. It would be many decades later when famous pictures would show Ronald Reagan sitting astride his Arabian horse, ‘El Alamein’ during time spent at the former President’s ranch.

It could be said that the understandable concern for Presidential safety has never been kind to the humble motorcycle. Its unencumbered nature that feeds the sensations and creates a passion for riding could also be the primary reason no motorcycle club has ever been formed at the White House.

There were some that were bitten by the biker bug before achieving the highest office in the land however. It was rumored Jimmy Carter gave up his saddle time when he moved to Pennsylvania Avenue in 1977 and while it’s not confirmed if he ever twisted a throttle, Bill Clinton presented an ‘Art of the Chopper’ exhibition at his presidential library in October 2008.

"Just as (Bill Clinton) defines the end of the 20th century, so does the chopper," said Clinton center director Terri Garner, speaking with the newspaper USA Today at the time of the exhibit.

Not to be out done, in 2010 the Reagan Library held an exhibit featuring motorcycles ‘chronicling the history and rich tradition of motorcycle culture’. Called ‘Born to be Wild’ the event included rides from the movies as well as notable historical models, all nestled among the scaled authentic recreation of the White House, an actual Air Force One aircraft and the full-size replica of the White House Oval Office.

Actually, President Reagan did set some motorcycle presidential precedents, such as being the first resident of the Oval Office to visit a Harley-Davidson factory.

It was 1987, President Reagan was talking against tough trade sanctions then being considered in Congress and praised Harley for the company’s productive use of tariffs to regain its footing against foreign competition.

Tthe most recent President Bush made several visits to Harley-Davidson’s factories and although he had his picture taken on a V-Rod, nothing ever written indicates any motorcycles making it onto Crawford Ranch.

And who could forget during the 2008 election when the Presidential path became ‘born to be mild’. Campaigning Republican candidate John McCain stumped to a crowd of bikers at the Sturgis Rally in August 2008 to a chorus of revving engines. For some, the highlight came from an awkward offer to have his wife enter the Miss Sturgis contest while others enjoyed the irony of a roar of engines collectively burning away overpriced gasoline while a smiling politician promised to drill for more oil.

So it’s with little relevant historic references Clutch and Chrome answers this important question.