There are riders—and then there are road warriors whose stories ripple far beyond the highway lines. Mr. Nate is one of the latter. Born and raised in Compton, his path could have led to the familiar story of struggle, the kind that stays parked on the same corner forever. But Mr. Nate chose a different gear. With the rumble of a bike beneath him and the horizon always calling, he rewrote his destiny, one mile at a time.

What began as short local rides on borrowed bikes turned into an odyssey across all 50 states. Not for fame, not for accolades—but for freedom. For healing. For unity. Through decades of throttle therapy, Mr. Nate transformed not just himself, but entire communities—mentoring riders, founding a legacy club, and bridging worlds that once stood divided.

This is not just a story about motorcycles. It’s about movement—forward, upward, and outward. It’s about finding your tribe, your purpose, and your peace on the open road. And most of all, it’s about what’s possible when a man chooses not just to ride—but to rise.

Long before the name ‘Rare Breed’ meant something in the motorcycle world, there was just a man and a dream. A young Mr. Nate, fresh out of the Navy and trying to outrun the grip of his neighborhood, found peace in the hum of an engine and the endless possibility of an open road. “The streets almost had me—but the ride gave me freedom. When I got on that bike, everything changed. The road became my way out, my way forward,” said Mr. Nate.

That first journey beyond city lines wasn’t just a weekend escape—it was a glimpse of a new future. Rows of motorcycles stretched for blocks, every parking lot packed, every heart beating in rhythm with the throttle. ‘Unity,’ he calls it. Not just among riders, but among brothers and sisters bound by a deeper code—one of loyalty, freedom, and rebirth.

The club he co-founded, Rare Breed, didn’t start with bylaws and meetings—it started with a feeling. A belief that no matter where you came from, once you got on the road, you were family. Today, it stands as a symbol of healing and hope, pulling riders from all walks of life out of the streets and into something greater.

Mr. Nate’s life is a masterclass in motion. His annual coast-to-coast rides are not about tallying states, but touching lives—his own included. From spontaneous hospitality in Florida to soul-deep moments in the desert, every ride reveals new meaning.

That first long-distance ride to Fresno in 1989 wasn’t just a road trip, it was a revelation. “Every hotel was taken. Every parking lot was full. It was like a party all the way down the block,” Mr. Nate remembers. It was his first exposure to the unity and energy of the Black motorcycle community. “I was stunned.”

It wasn’t long before Mr. Nate became one of the founding members of what would grow into an iconic club: the Rare Breed Motorcycle Club. “There were six or seven of us at first,” he says. “We weren’t trying to start anything official. We just liked to ride.” But the community noticed, and when the questions started coming—“Who are you guys?”—the answer became inevitable. Rare Breed was born.

Though rooted in Compton, Rare Breed transcended neighborhood lines. “The club became a neutral zone,” Mr. Nate explains. “We were bringing guys together who used to be on opposite sides of things. We weren’t worried about where you came from—once you were riding with us, you were family.”

That brotherhood, built on the open road, became a kind of redemption. Mr. Nate doesn’t sugarcoat his past. “We were always scheming in the neighborhood,” he admits. “But out there, on the road, it was different. It was just… freedom.”

That freedom led to cross-country rides that became annual rituals. In 2000, Mr. Nate took his first full coast-to-coast trip on a burgundy Harley “dresser,” a fully equipped touring model. He was fulfilling a dream his father never got to live. “I heard him say it in the garage—‘I want to ride to Texas.’ He never made it. So I did it for both of us.”

Mr. Nate’s journey didn’t stop at Texas. That first ride turned into a marathon of milestones: 15,000-mile trips, the Four Corners challenge, 48 states in one trip, riding to all 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska, and even crossing through Canada and Mexico. He’s done it with his family, alone, and alongside brothers from all walks of life.

In 2023, he completed his fourth Four Corners run in four years—earning what’s known in the motorcycle world as the “Grand Slam.” “Only three of us have done that,” he says with quiet pride. “But it ain’t about the trophy. It’s about the story.”

And Mr. Nate has stories- like the time he unknowingly rode through a heat stroke in the desert, only to be saved by a man he pulled over to help on the side of the road. Or the funeral rides where the streets were lined with hundreds of bikes, a throttle salute echoing unity and loss. “Anytime I thought we didn’t have unity,” Mr. Nate says, “I’d see it at those home-goings.”

Now 69 years old, Mr. Nate still rides. Still cross-country. Still showing up. “I ride with the same purpose I always had,” he says. “To stay off the streets, to stay in motion, to be part of something bigger.”

He’s the last of the original Rare Breed founders still active in the club. “We fought. We went to court, but I stayed. And now, when I look at the respect I get from these younger cats—it’s earned, not given.”

For Mr. Nate, the road never ends. “Sometimes I get home and my bike’s just sitting there… ticking, like it’s talking. Asking, ‘Where we going next?’”

Riding has never just been about the miles—it’s been about meaning. Every trip is a tribute: to his roots, to the brotherhood he helped build, to the freedom he fought to find. “I didn’t know it at the time,” he says, “but that bike saved my life. And every time I ride, I’m keeping that life in motion.”

In the world of motorcycle culture, few figures command the kind of respect and admiration that Mr. Nate does. Not just because of the roads he’s conquered, but because of the life he’s built along the way. Rooted in Compton and rising through challenges that could have easily pulled him in another direction, Mr. Nate turned a simple love for riding into a life of purpose. For many in the Black motorcycle set—a subculture often underrepresented in mainstream media—he’s a pioneer, a protector, and a living legend. His story is not only a chronicle of roads traveled but a testament to how motorcycles can become a path to redemption, brotherhood, and enduring freedom.

Mr. Nate by The Number

• Riding since 1966
• Biggest Supporter-Wife of 33 years
• 50 States Ridden: Including Hawaii and Alaska
• 4x Four Corners: Completed in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 – earning the rare “Grand Slam”
• 15,000 miles: Covered in a single trip visiting all chapters and Seven Wonders
• 35+ Years: In the saddle with Rare Breed Motorcycle Club
• 48 States in a single trip
• First Cross-Country Ride: 2000 (Houston to the Florida coast and back)
• Founding Year of Rare Breed: 1989
• Motorcycles Owned: At least 6 configurations of one Harley frame, plus multiple touring models
• Age: 69—and still riding coast-to-coast

Mr. Nate Riding Tips

• Always stay hydrated – pack water and electrolyte drinks like Gatorade.
• Wear proper headgear – full-face or well-ventilated helmets are essential to avoid heatstroke.
• Know your limits – rest often and never push through dangerous weather.
• Keep your priorities straight – make riding a priority, and everything else will follow.
• Plan loosely – know your destination, but be flexible enough to follow a new road or meet new people.
• Stick to high-quality gear – from your tires to your jacket, the right equipment can save your life.
• Ride with intention – whether alone or with others, stay focused and respectful on the road.

Mr. Nates Packing Tips

Here’s what Mr. Nate always packs when hitting the road cross-country:

• Hydration pack or bottled water
• Electrolyte drinks like Gatorade
• Weather-appropriate gear (rain suit, thermal layers)
• Full-face helmet or well-ventilated helmet
• Phone and GPS with backup charger
• Basic tools and tire repair kit
• Emergency cash and ID
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Lightweight camping gear (when needed)
• Notebook or journal to track his travels
• Gas can