Carrying while riding a motorcycle.

As one who's crashed a motorcycle while wearing a sidearm, I can assure you it hurts to come down on top of one. It leaves big bruises too. It's not good for the gun or holster, either.

After that the gun went into the storage box or bag until I got where I was going.
 
I carry a Kahr P40 in the high side saddlebag and a Kahr P380 in my back pants pocket, vest pocket, or jacket pocket depending on what I am wearing. I also have a DeSantis paddle holster for the 40 that conceals well under a vest or light jacket.

Bill
 
As Iron man said, when I carry my KelTec PF-9, it goes into the vest pistol pocket on my riding jacket -- easily accessible & protected. When I'm in a state where my CPL isn't valid, I put it (unloaded) in one of the lockable saddle bags on my Harley.

And, CajunBass, it hurts when you crash...period. The least of my concerns would be a firearm. :)

Ride safe...!
 
Well, I'm still riding in late Decmber, but I don't own a car, so I ride every day. We've been getting 20s overnight at times, but we generally only get a couple days of snow or ice per year, and if it hits while I'm at work, I bum a ride home. If it happens overnight, I take a day off :)

When I pocket carried a Kahr PM9 every day, I just left it in the pocket. These days I carry "something a bit bigger" IWB at 4-4:30, and yes, I am always concerned about what would happen if I impact pavement with the pistol there. I don't have a perfect solution as yet. "Don't crash" is easier said than done.

For my Kahr P45, I use a UBG Striker 1 IWB. For my 1911, I use a Milt Sparks VMII. For my 4" N-frames, a Side Guard Holsters IWB or a Galco OWB. Always an armored jacked (mesh in summer).

Edited to add:
I don't think the OP is worried about drawing underway, because he mentioned getting his bike jacked. If you are on the bike and the engine is running, you are better off running than drawing.

I am at my most vulnerable (and most alert) while fueling--hands occupied, fiddling with debit card, nozzle, fuel cap, etc. Once the fuel is actually flowing, I have a pretty good defensive weapon in hand. If you've ever been soaked with fuel, you will know exactly how unpleasant it is, and if you never have, take my word for it. Eyes, crotch, armpits will feel as if they are afire.
 
gunpic.jpg
 
It is hard for me to imagine any scenario where one would pull a pistol when riding a motorcycle. How do you draw righty and keep a hand on the throttle? Theoretically possible on my bike with cruise control engaged, but how likely is that? How would you draw lefty and downshift or upshift? How do you draw cleanly wearing riding gloves on a moving bike? Maybe I'm missing something.

At a stoplight is my main concern as far as actually being ON the bike - but mostly, I get worried about getting held up while I'm riding at a gas station/roadhouse/wherever I am going. (It's happened to me!) That's the only time I would draw, methinks. Otherwise, I am on a running bike - faster and more maneuverable than a car.

I don't think I would really engage a target from my mount; rather, I would just like my hogleg accessible faster than a saddlebag could allow. Insofar as a gloved hand, many wear tipless gloves, and I know that I can toss a glove and draw way faster than I can dismount, lean 'er over on the sidestand, pop a lock, and pull my piece.

Just my thoughts...
-L.
 
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When I ride my 'Wing, I carry the same was as I do any other time. I carry my Rossi 462 in a Don Hume belt slide worn crossdraw. I always ride with a vest, so concealment is not an issue. I use the extenders on the snap closures to keep the vest from flailing in the wind.
 
Post #20

bizak

Turing and cruising almost same thing. If you are going to seat up right on a motorcycle it's most likely a cruiser unless if you have a dirt bike. Still can't drag knees at 140mph.


Sorry, I'm an old squid, with an old 77 (150,000 miles), 84 GW, a few (late 80s) old moto-X bikes (Y) and a few RZ500s (one's an RD500LC), but no "cruisers". Some were raced BTW.

So I wouldn't know what your talking about. I my be a has been, but I'm not a want to be.:D We could go on and on. Sorry for the rampage, but it's good to be alive.:D

Back to on topic, I carry on a bike is a shoulder holster or an inside pocket of my jacket, but mainly the inside pocket with my light snub.
 
When I'm not riding I carry multiple guns.

When I'm riding I carry multiple guns. I also have a gun in the Tank Bag. Shoulder Holster can be great when you're on the bike, not so great when you're in the cafe and want to take your jacket off to eat lunch. The only mode of carry that I would strongly advise against when on the bike is Small of the Back, and Ankle.

SOB Carry presents some really serious issues for the rider, both in concealment and if you come off the bike. 90% of motorcycle accidents involve injuries below the knee to some extent, IIRC. That leads me to not want a firearm, or anything else for that matter, on my ankle in the event that I have an accident. I use the same IWB Holster on the bike that I use when I'm off the bike. My pocket gun gets moved to my jacket pocket from my pant's pocket.

Take care, stay safe, and keep the metal side up.

Biker
 
Motorcycle carry

I carry a Kahr PM40 in a belly band under my right arm. Even if I'm on or off my Meanstreak, it's accessable with my left hand.
 
I ride a Hayabusa and I wear a L/handed shoulder holster with a Colt Defender.
under my riding jacket . I can still use the throttle if needed.
 
My carry gun goes in the tank bag in front of me. At a stop, it is no problem to reach into the tank bag and pull out Kahr MK9 or Ruger SP101, depending which one I took that day.

Since the tank bag also contains my camera, I take the whole bag with me when I leave the bike.

If I am in a state that doesn't permit a carry gun in a restaurant that serves alcohol, then it is a pain to surreptitiously switch the gun to a rear hard case. But that same problem would be there if I carried a gun on my person on the bike.

I have totaled two bikes years ago, and from those experiences, I DO NOT want a bulky piece of metal next to my body. Nohow, noway.


Ron
 
My suggestions would be
1)Shoulder holster
2)Tank Bag

The tankbag would be a good alternative to the shoulder holster since its in front of you and easily accesible. If you need to go inside a gas station/restaurant etc, just take the tankbag with you. Its also easy to carry around if the tankbag has a carry strap and it stays concealed as well.

Here's my setup:
DSCI0684.jpg


With the shoulder holster setup during a crash, i'm more concerned about the damage to my bike anyway. If i'm gonna get injured, i'm gonna get injured anyway; theres many other ways that can happen without your gun on you.
 
I usually open carry with an OWB holster (44 mag Super Redhawk) when I'm on the Beemer. When I need concealment, I'll carry the .45 in the pistol pocket of my leather jacket. When I really need to conceal, my NAA mini in a custom-made necklace holster under the T or a button-up shirt. Definately need some type of retention while riding. I've found a Galco semi-shoulder, belt mounted holster in a crossdraw position works best for me.
 
I've ridden my Harley FXDL across country half a dozen times in the last decade, several times solo. I usually carry something small enough - S&W 637, NAA Guardian, Kahr PM9 - to give me several carry options. My jacket and favorite vest are from Coronado Leather, each with dual concealment pockets that require no holster. Pocket holsters (like my Superfly from Desantis) allow me to switch carry to the front pocket of my jeans if I'm off the bike and not wearing the jacket or vest. I like having flexible options that don't limit me to one carry method or handgun.
 
Bizak,

I was going to suggest the tank bag, but someone beat me to it. They do make them with built in holsters, btw.

The other suggestion I would have is to get a spare windscreen and find someone who makes Kydex holsters. Get a Kydex holster made for your gun with a retention strap, and have it pop-riveted to the spare windscreen, then when you hit the road and need to carry, you can put the windscreen with holster in (on my 1999 GSXR 750 SRAD it was about a five minute job) and scoot away.

Now the problem with carrying while riding is that if your CCW permit isn't valid in the state your in, you might have an issue. I know in Ohio, a motorcyle is considered a motor-vehicle per gun laws, so if you don't have a CCW, you can't carry a loaded weapon in the vehicle or on your person in/on the vehicle, regardless of it being open or concealed.
 
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