Best option I've found for Motorcycle Concealed-Carry

MillennialGunslinger · Jul 23, 2017

So I'm not sure how many two-wheelers round about this forum, but it's as good a place as any to post this, I suppose. Honestly, I'd be surprised if there wasn't, given how well the two outside-the-norm lifestyles combine.

I personally like to conceal carry whenever possible. And I also like riding my little sport bike whenever possible. Given how vulnerable motorcycle riding is (we can't just raise the windows and lock the doors, can we?), I particularly feel strongly about carrying my firearm when doing so.

The problem is that tight gear (leather or otherwise) combined with a motorcycle with no extra space and a trunk smaller than your average glovebox doesn't really facilitate this. IWB is my preferred carry position, but on a motorcycle while leaning forward, I often feel like the gun is going to fall out. Specially if I carry my LCP to save on bulk and weight for whatever reason. Or even worse, if I zip up my jacket and pants together, then IWB is simply not an option at all. Some motorcycle pants simply have to be worn tight to be effective in an accident. If I were in an open carry state, I think I'd love a drop leg holster, but that isn't an option in Florida. Really the only thing left is pocket carry (and not all motorcycle jackets or pants have pockets) or shoulder holsters. Shoulder holsters can be inconvenient due to bulk, weight or movement restriction (even if it is minor), or simply impractical given that leather sport pants don't have an attachment point for the holster to keep it down when unholstering. It's also pointless given that since open carry is illegal here, I can't take the jacket off with the shoulder holster underneath. In other words a lot of gratuitous hassle, whichever the method.

I've been struggling to find an option for years, but I think I've found something I finally like. I purchased one of those gimmicky Packin' tee universal shirt holsters and sewed it onto my the inner mesh lining of my leather motorcycle jacket. The result was actually pretty great. As a holster using it as intended it's average at best, but used on a motorcycle jacket it's a really comfortable option. Positioned right, it's slightly underneath the armpit, angled to clear the body, and accessible with the jacket slightly zippered open. You save all the bulk and hassle of the straps of a shoulder holster, and the rigidity of the jacket makes unholstering extremely simple and reliable (given the context). Reholstering is a bit of a pain given the elastic band, but it's comparable to reholstering a pistol in Remora holsters (my hands-down favorite).

As for installation, being left handed, I purchased a right handed large holster to install on the opposite side of the jacket for a cross draw. Installation is quite simple (about an hour doing it the first time). It has a velcro hook backing which I simply stuck on to the mesh lining of the jacket (it stays in place pretty well), and then played around with the position until I found the best possible orientation. After that I just sewed the edges in place from the outside of the jacket (just sewing through the mesh lining), and sewed the mesh lining + holster to the jacket exterior at two points over the original stitching using a speedy stitcher and upholstery thread. From the outside, the jacket is completely unmodified, and if you simply undo the stitching, it can be left exactly as before with no damage to the original fabric.

As for compatibility, it fits full size, compact and subcompact pretty well. Both single and double stack. It doesn't fit pocket guns like the Ruger LCP, but I suppose that would be expected. I do appreciate the universality since my carry gun does vary. And when not in use the elastic band holster stays flat and is completely unobtrusive. I suppose you could even use it for other things that fit there.

I recognize this method isn't perfect (i'm not particularly fond of just elastic covering the trigger, and pistol retention is less than ideal), but it's as good as I've found. I just wanted to share the experience should it be of inspiration to anyone else.

Just to clarify. I never intended this for "using" while riding. This is just for a convenient carry option for motorcycle riding, while still being usable and accessible for self defense once you reach your destination without having the relocate the weapon.

Pictures attached.

FL-NC · Jul 23, 2017

The problems with handguns as they apply to motorcycles are complicated. First off, if you are in motion, you really need your right hand controlling the throttle/front brake, if you have a front brake (yes there was a time i rode a chopper with no front brake). So that leaves your left hand, which I guess works somewhat if you are one of those 11%. But even if you are stopped, unless the kickstand is down, you still need a hand to hold up the bike. If it falls over, you will likely end up under it, or at least partially trapped by it. Second, even if you are left handed and in motion and "something bad" happens that makes you think you need to bring your handgun into play, you are multitasking while riding a motorcycle- inadvisable under even optimal conditions. It seems to me that your best bet is to use the speed and maneuverability of said bike to separate yourself from the threat- easiest done if you just concentrate on your riding. That's not to even mention the difficulties of hitting a target while on a moving platform. I've done it from boats, trucks, and helicopters with rifles and various crew served weapons- none of which I was driving/piloting at the time. Not easy. Trying it with my weak hand with a handgun on a bike- no thanks. Even though those guys on sons of abercrombie or whatever are really good at it. As far as CCW, my jackets do have interior pockets that will hold my S&W shield, or even a compact 1911, and anything else in between. I have a Desantis and a remora pocket holsters (the larger ones with the rubbery outer finish) that will grip the inside of the pocket and release the pistol when its drawn. The jacket has a metal snap that insures everything stays in the pocket if I lean over (not on the bike) to pick up a dropped item, or something of that nature. All that said, I would love to hear what any motorcycle cops have to say on the subject.

MillennialGunslinger · Jul 23, 2017

Thanks for the input, FL-NC

Honestly I never really considered it from your point of view of shooting from the bike. Much less while moving. It's more related to the destination, or at most a gas station or in a parking lot. Since I tend to use a motorcycle as a method of transport as long as it's sunny, being able to carry at the destination is still important to me. Most of the time when I get there I'm stuck in motorcycle gear anyway (hence this post), but that still means keeping the firearm secure and more or less accessible during the trip.

That said, completely stopped behind traffic at at a light, with the bike upright, feet firmly planted and bike in neutral is certainly a position one could fire from. Thankfully in the middle of the road, and using mirrors, nothing should catch you by surprise in a way you wouldn't at least be able to put the bike in neutral for (or in gear for, depending on the circumstances). But of course, I totally agree, and am of the mindset of, that if you have a nimble, high-reving bike under your legs, you better have a good reason for staying to fight instead of speeding off into the sunset. But regardless of whatever one would decide to do, I can't see any advantage to having the firearm inaccessible compared to accessible. And when I mentioned the open carry before, it was more due to comfort reasons than any possible "tactical advantage".

Once in movement, I'd definitely think you're more likely to create more damage to yourself crashing than whatever you're trying to avoid, if you try to shoot at the same time.

TrickyDick · Jul 23, 2017

I don't think he intends on using the gun while riding. I think he was just pointing out that carrying while riding can be a pain, and this was the most comfortable/effective way.

My IWB holster isn't ideal when seated in my car, but I carry it there because it's the most comfortable/ effective way.

FL-NC · Jul 23, 2017

Harleys are nimble too if you know how to ride them lol! Ride safe!

pdsmith505 · Jul 23, 2017

Seems like you put a lot of thought and effort into finding a solution that works for you. I also ride a sport bike.

That being said, I fall into the category of rider who has gone down (as opposed to the category that will go down). The first time I went down was my fault, and I walked away from it (at least that's what I'm told, I don't remember anything before leaving the hospital after they checked my noggin) with a bad concussion. Full leathers and a helmet saved me from any further harm. The second time another car came through a blind corner straddling the center line, leading to a low speed slide along the pavement. Again, the gear kept my hide in one piece. After both experiences I felt pretty beat up and had some magnificent bruises despite being geared up and not having anything in my pockets.

(here's where the post goes gun related!)

A large chunk of metal attached to you when you go down is almost certainly going to cause some serious damage. A gun in the liner of a jacket or in a shoulder holster serves as a fantastic focus point for all the momentum you were carrying to be transferred to your ribs. A gun on the hip does the same for the bones there. Let alone the possibilities if you are carrying with a round in the chamber at the time.

My solution is to have a small tank bag to carry my stuff in. Phone, wallet, a can of lens cleaner, house keys, and sometimes a small pistol. It's just as easy (probably easier) to unzip and get to the contents than trying to unzip my jacket.The mount bolts to the filler cap ring, so the tank doesn't get scratched up either. It also pops on and off easily so I don't have to leave stuff on the bike. You can see it tucks nicely under my arm in turns.

Stay safe out there... hope for the best, plan for the worst.

entropy · Jul 23, 2017

A tank bag is a good choice for a sport bike. They are common for that type of bike, and convenient. For a cruiser or dresser, they look kind of funny and out of place, though. I use a shoulder holster when I don't anticipate taking off my coat, and a remora inside one of the large inside pockets of the coat when I do. (the gun and remora get slipped IWB then, off the bike.

MillennialGunslinger · Jul 23, 2017

pdsmith505 said:
Seems like you put a lot of thought and effort into finding a solution that works for you. I also ride a sport bike.

Nice bike, looks like the type that gets it's fair share of tinkering time.

I also agree with the "either you've gone down, or you will go down" mentality. Honestly, I feel embarrassingly overdue, but I've been lucky so far.

Regarding a chunk of metal on the body in a fall, you can imagine I've thought about it. And at this point I have to admit I've given up on that. A little like the whole firearms issue, there comes a point where you just have to recognize that it's a risky hobby, and find the risk level you feel comfortable with. And given how unpredictable motorcycle accidents can be, I can only humbly accept that making predictions is a bit pointless. That said, given that it's positioned under the armpit, it would be in a moderate impact zone, so the primary impact would likely be elsewhere and perhaps slide on it. Or you could just t-bone a van and all points are moot. That's kinda the conclusion I've reached after the years, so if I really was so concerned with the potential damage of a firearm being on my side in a crash...well I'd probably take the car instead.

Regarding tank bag carry, I've tried them, and for touring I like them but for day to day errands I find it a hassle. I'm more of a backpack type of guy, really. And given the stuff I slap onto my back on some rides, I can't help but wonder if the firearm under the arm is the least of my concerns. At least I can say I'm ATGATT all the time (not like the misguided crowd that's ATGATT some of the time, lol). I honestly was expecting someone to say "That's a great solution, except for the fact that I barely ever wear a motorcycle jacket when riding. Too hot/uncomfortable/heavy/lazy...". I definitely consider an accident way higher up on the risk ladder than needing a pistol, but it's niced to be relatively covered in either case.

Anyway, thanks for the input and ride safe!

entropy said:
A tank bag is a good choice for a sport bike. They are common for that type of bike, and convenient. For a cruiser or dresser, they look kind of funny and out of place, though. I use a shoulder holster when I don't anticipate taking off my coat, and a remora inside one of the large inside pockets of the coat when I do. (the gun and remora get slipped IWB then, off the bike.

What size pistol do you tend to carry when you ride? I bet a nice shoulder holster must be nice, but I'm too cheap for the expensive ones, and the cheap ones are garbage. Plus I have the not being able to tie it down part since I try to zip up pants and jacket together whenever possible. I even made a project where I upgraded the abrasion protection on some kevlar pants, as well as added a compatible zipper to be able to zip jacket and pants together more often. Regarding pocket carry, it's what I've done up to now but with the huge inner mesh pockets, the gun moves all around. And in the outside pockets I can't fit anything bigger than an LCP.

entropy · Jul 23, 2017

MillennialGunslinger said:
What size pistol do you tend to carry when you ride?

Either S&W J frame or Taurus PT-145. Both fit in my Remora for the .45, and the shoulder holster I have was bought at a gun show many years ago, and is adjustable, fits either gun. It's not a Miami Classic, but it works. Always use a pocket holster for pocket carry; I like the Remora in the bike jacket (Police issued motorcycle jacket, my Dad's old one), but I also have a DeSantis Sof-Tuk that can be used as a pocket holster by taking off the J-hook, and an Uncle Mike's pocket holster.

I did go down with a gun on the bike once, but not on my body. I had my 870 strapped to the sissy bar on my '82 Sportster, laying on top of the S&S carb, when I hit dirt in the middle of a curve. (At the county line, the road turned from asphalt to gravel) I sild down the side of the ditch, broke the left turn signals off, but no injury, and the gun was undamaged.

MillennialGunslinger · Jul 23, 2017

entropy said:
I like the Remora in the bike jacket

Yeah I'm a die-hard Remora fan. They are so comfortable and convenient that I've basically got rid of all my other IWB stuff. Plus they make great pocket holsters. I never realized they were so popular though. Just about everyone that posted here mentioned them.

CZ9shooter · Jul 24, 2017

Back when I was I into street riding I used to use the tank bag option. A relatively small one. Just big enough for my wallet, phone, earplugs, map, etc. And of course, a j frame in 38 special. I used the magnetic kind that would easily come on and off the tank. Yeah, it could scratch things up a little, especially if some grit got under it, but I got better things to worry about than a some tiny cosmetic imperfections.

Anyhow, while on the bike the weapon was right there in front of me. Not super quick to access, but it's as good as a shoulder rig or any other "unzip to draw" type of carry that works on sportbike. While off the bike, like having lunch or getting gas, the bag came with me.

Also, a little off topic, but to the OP... have you considered track riding? It's an enlightening experience. So much so that I, and many others like me, have virtually no interest in riding out in the public streets anymore. I have no idea what kind of organizations might be operating in your area, but I recommend looking into it.

HOWARD J · Jul 24, 2017

I had a magna 700 with truck horns--they kept a lot of people from turning left in front of me.
Had a lot of pockets in that kraut jacket---one filled with a 25 auto

anothernewb · Jul 24, 2017

Being a lefty apparently has advantages on the bike. unless I have to shift - (which can also be done without the clucth) my throttle hand never leaves the bar.

not that I've ever had to actually draw my weapon.

However - to the OP. i use a shoulder underarm rig with either a j frame or a sig 938. works very well for me and works whether I have the vest, a light jacket, or full leathers. In the wind and the nylon jacket - i suspect it prints pretty bad. but since I rarely don't have the vest. There are probably better options out there, but it works. and I'm admittedly too cheap/lazy to research them at this point.

rbernie · Jul 24, 2017

I carry on my body rather than on the bike, because I'm far more likely to need a carry weapon when I'm off the bike. I carry a G42 in the right front flap pocket of my Roadcrafter, in a pocket holster. It's not the fastest presentation, but it's better than you might think. It's certainly faster than trying to get back to the tankbag and grab something. It's also easier to manage when I'm away from the bike (e.g. going pee at a gas stop) - there's no worry about theft or other such things.

If you look at this pic, you can just see the outline of the pocket holster:

And yes - I wear the Roadcrafter in all seasons, including the Texas summer. (It was 104F in Winslow when I had that picture taken.) That nice new one I've got on in the pic? I got that by grinding through an older one on my way to work. I've ridden better than 250K miles in a Roadcrafter so far, and I won't ride wearing anything else.

bassjam · Jul 24, 2017

So did the LCP not fit in this pocket?

Back when I rode (and religiously followed AGATT) I had 2 jackets, a leather and a mesh. Both had shallow zippered pocket like that on the left side where I slid my LCP in with a pocket holster and kept that zipper open. The gun was secure and still easy to get to, and I specifically wanted to carry a LCP because it was the thinnest gun you could get at the time. I had a pretty scary accident where I slid about 30 yards on the pavement before slamming into a bank, and I was very glad I had a thin single stack gun on me instead of a fat double stack that might have broken a rib or 2.

MillennialGunslinger · Jul 24, 2017

CZ9shooter said:
Also, a little off topic, but to the OP... have you considered track riding? It's an enlightening experience. So much so that I, and many others like me, have virtually no interest in riding out in the public streets anymore. I have no idea what kind of organizations might be operating in your area, but I recommend looking into it.

Certainly considered it, and once I finish modding my harbor freight trailer into a motorcycle carrier it's high on the list of priorities, but regardless I like the efficiency of a motorcycle for urban travel. It's as much a tool as a hobby. I just feel incredibly wasteful having to drive a car to go get a few screws from Home Depot when I can just grab the bike and chuck them in a jacket pocket.

HOWARD J said:
I had a magna 700 with truck horns--they kept a lot of people from turning left in front of me.

Are those pneumatic? I installed a dual pair of dual Hella Supertone's, the loudest piezo horns available. It's always fun to see people confused about who's blowing the horn when I trigger it. It hardly seems like the type of sound that would come out of a sportbike. But still, I'd love to have something like this. I can't help but chuckle every time.

anothernewb said:
In the wind and the nylon jacket - i suspect it prints pretty bad. but since I rarely don't have the vest.There are probably better options out there, but it works. and I'm admittedly too cheap/lazy to research them at this point.

Nah, probably not. It's probably the type of thing where you would have heard about it if there was. Sounds like as good a solution as any.

rbernie said:
And yes - I wear the Roadcrafter in all seasons, including the Texas summer. (It was 104F in Winslow when I had that picture taken.) That nice new one I've got on in the pic? I got that by grinding through an older one on my way to work. I've ridden better than 250K miles in a Roadcrafter so far, and I won't ride wearing anything else.

That jacket looks like it would have loads of pocket space. And that gear certainly has a good reputation. I don't know if it's southern Florida's tropical weather or it's culture, but gear here seems almost taboo. Barely anyone wears a jacket here, let alone full gear.

bassjam said:
So did the LCP not fit in this pocket?

Fit? Probably, but it wouldn't make any difference. That pocket wouldn't fit anything bigger than an LCP, and it's so hard to access that the firearm would be inaccessible both on and off the bike. I'm not sure if it's evident there, but that pocket is on the inside of the jacket. I'd rather something like an M&P Shield in the pocket just to the left of the holster I installed, but it moves all around and is never in the same position, but regardless tends to be pointing at some part of my body. To make things worse, that would be a main impact area.

If it were a case of "how to carry a pistol on a motorcycle", those pockets are definitely of some use, but as far as "The best way I've found to carry a pistol on a motorcycle", a holster under the arm is far superior. Accessibilitiy is great both on and off the bike. And given that it only takes a 5$ holster attachment and an hour with a needle and some thread, it's not like it's an unrealistic project to anyone looking for a better way.

I definitely agree that the LCP is a convenient motorcycle gun, and probably pretty safe given the heavy trigger pull and it's thinness. Only disadvantage might be the small trigger guard if you ever tried to shoot it with a motorcycle glove, but that's pretty universal.

rbernie · Jul 24, 2017

I don't know if it's southern Florida's tropical weather or it's culture, but gear here seems almost taboo. Barely anyone wears a jacket here, let alone full gear.

I had a commuting incident in January of this year - hit some just-re-routed-and-unmarked freeway construction concrete curbing in the darkness (aka 'edge trap') and went sliding at 65mph. Nobody hit me and I didn't hit anything but the concrete pavement.

The Roadcrafter ballistics on the elbows and forearms had pinhole grinds all the way through the outer layers, and the pants were completely holed through the liner due to the wallet sticking out proud of the surrounding impact area (my butt). After the accident, I was able to get up, pick the bike up, and complete the ride to work and then back home. Cost to repair the bike was about $5K, which was needed to replace mostly mechanical bits like the bent front forks. I physically suffered no breaks, no bruises, and just a little joint/muscle stiffness over the following couple of days.

If I had been wearing blue jeans with a riding jacket instead of the full suit, I'd have had some serious hamburger where my buttcheeks had previously been. Had I been wearing no protective gear at all, I would not have been able to walk or crawl away from this accident. Yeah, Aerostitch gear isn't cheap - but it can be priceless.

And the front jacket pockets will fit a pocket holster/pocket gun quite well.

A large chunk of metal attached to you when you go down is almost certainly going to cause some serious damage.

This is worth repeating. If you're gonna use on-body carry (and I am/do, for the reasons I described above), make sure that you can carry the gun in places that are not likely to be impact zones. This leaves traditional IWB/OWB hip carry and SoB carry off the list, as far as I'm concerned.

OTOH, I've never slid down the road on my chest without also having my arms in front of me. Given the body's natural instinct to brace a face-first fall with your hands and arms, I have found that I have never scraped my chest or belly on the ground in all of my offs (on the track, on the street, or on the trail). IMO, front jacket pocket carry is about as safe a means of on-body carry as can be had while riding.

MillennialGunslinger · Jul 24, 2017

rbernie said:
And the front jacket pockets will fit a pocket holster/pocket gun quite well.

Haha you had to tag that on the end to justify telling the anecdote, huh? Wow that sounds like it sucked. Honestly potholes and construction work terrifies me with how unpredictable they are. They simply don't seem to consider people on two wheels most of the time, like when they leave the raised manhole covers. Did you ever try to see if the city would cover the damages given you could probably have argued negligence on their behalf?

I have probably at least 5 or 6 motorcycle jackets depending on the weather and context. That way I never have an excuse to not gear up. Pants are more complicated though. I haven't found any textile pants I'm happy with, so I ended up upgrading my own. I wish some manufacturer sold something like that. They feel almost as protective as leather, while being almost as comfortable as armored jeans. They are heavyish with all the protection though, but at least they aren't hot. But that definitely isn't as easy a project as adding a holster.

HOWARD J · Jul 24, 2017

I had two electric truck horns---they were loud enuf to get me involved with a lot of angry people

Speedo66 · Jul 24, 2017

I had a flip phone in my pocket when I went down a few years ago at 55mph. I rolled several times, was ATGATT, needed a new helmet, jacket, gloves, and pants, but they did their jobs. No complete rip through, but both knees were skinned badly, like gym floor burns, from the insides of the pants. Boots survived, just a ground down spot on one toe. The phone screen was cracked and not functional.

Aside from a dislocated finger which I yanked and put back into place myself at the scene, the phone did the damage to my leg. The leg felt dead, I could barely walk on it for days, had trouble lifting it to get onto a sidewalk, and had a huge black and blue mark for weeks. Seemed like a heavyweight had punched me there as hard as they could.

My ribs also hurt quite a bit from the impact with the ground, to the point of being unable to sleep on my side for several weeks. I never checked to find out if I'd cracked one, but I'm sure if I'd had a sidearm there it would have been worse. I now carry a thin i-phone in my front pocket and will not carry a sidearm on my body when I ride.

Speedo66 · Jul 24, 2017

As far as a horn, these are nice and loud, yet quite small. Stebel Nautilus air horns. https://www.amazon.com/Stebel-11690019-Nautilus-Compact-Black/dp/B00CMX20H4

They also come in chrome if that's your thing.

rbernie · Jul 25, 2017

MillennialGunslinger said:
Haha you had to tag that on the end to justify telling the anecdote, huh? Wow that sounds like it sucked.

I'm an ATGATT guy, and I always try to make the point that people shouldn't elect to ride without protective gear because of heat or comfort or style.

It's just my thing.

Aside from a dislocated finger which I yanked and put back into place myself at the scene, the phone did the damage to my leg. The leg felt dead, I could barely walk on it for days, had trouble lifting it to get onto a sidewalk, and had a huge black and blue mark for weeks. Seemed like a heavyweight had punched me there as hard as they could.

I suspect that you had compartment syndrome (impact causes internal bleeding in a muscle sheath). That's potentially pretty dangerous. I've known folk whose handlebar end punched their leg hard enough in a get-off to do exactly the same thing.

You are absolutely correct - if you carry on your body, you need to put the gun in a place that is least likely to hurt you in a crash. For that reason, IWB/OWB/SoB are all really bad ways to carry on a bike, IMO.

OTOH, off-body carry on a bike (e.g. in a tankbag) is not a good choice if you have to ever walk away from the bike. So I recommend on-body carry in a location that is *least* likely to cause issue in a crash.

wickedsprint · Jul 25, 2017

FL-NC said:
The problems with handguns as they apply to motorcycles are complicated. First off, if you are in motion, you really need your right hand controlling the throttle/front brake, if you have a front brake (yes there was a time i rode a chopper with no front brake). So that leaves your left hand, which I guess works somewhat if you are one of those 11%. But even if you are stopped, unless the kickstand is down, you still need a hand to hold up the bike. If it falls over, you will likely end up under it, or at least partially trapped by it. Second, even if you are left handed and in motion and "something bad" happens that makes you think you need to bring your handgun into play, you are multitasking while riding a motorcycle- inadvisable under even optimal conditions. It seems to me that your best bet is to use the speed and maneuverability of said bike to separate yourself from the threat- easiest done if you just concentrate on your riding. That's not to even mention the difficulties of hitting a target while on a moving platform. I've done it from boats, trucks, and helicopters with rifles and various crew served weapons- none of which I was driving/piloting at the time. Not easy. Trying it with my weak hand with a handgun on a bike- no thanks. Even though those guys on sons of abercrombie or whatever are really good at it. As far as CCW, my jackets do have interior pockets that will hold my S&W shield, or even a compact 1911, and anything else in between. I have a Desantis and a remora pocket holsters (the larger ones with the rubbery outer finish) that will grip the inside of the pocket and release the pistol when its drawn. The jacket has a metal snap that insures everything stays in the pocket if I lean over (not on the bike) to pick up a dropped item, or something of that nature. All that said, I would love to hear what any motorcycle cops have to say on the subject.

We train to draw normally while popping clutch to kill engine and dump bike to low side while stepping off and firing and ultimately seeking cover behind bike.

Most would be unwilling to practice dumping their personally owned bike.

As a civilian, better to always have an escape route decision pre planned everytime you're stopped and vulnerable. It kills me when I see riders stopped close to car's rear bumper. Nowhere to go if they're about to get rear-ended.

wickedsprint · Jul 25, 2017

FL-NC said:
Harleys are nimble too if you know how to ride them lol! Ride safe!

Agree.

wickedsprint · Jul 25, 2017

MillennialGunslinger said:
So I'm not sure how many two-wheelers round about this forum, but it's as good a place as any to post this, I suppose. Honestly, I'd be surprised if there wasn't, given how well the two outside-the-norm lifestyles combine.

I personally like to conceal carry whenever possible. And I also like riding my little sport bike whenever possible. Given how vulnerable motorcycle riding is (we can't just raise the windows and lock the doors, can we?), I particularly feel strongly about carrying my firearm when doing so.

The problem is that tight gear (leather or otherwise) combined with a motorcycle with no extra space and a trunk smaller than your average glovebox doesn't really facilitate this. IWB is my preferred carry position, but on a motorcycle while leaning forward, I often feel like the gun is going to fall out. Specially if I carry my LCP to save on bulk and weight for whatever reason. Or even worse, if I zip up my jacket and pants together, then IWB is simply not an option at all. Some motorcycle pants simply have to be worn tight to be effective in an accident. If I were in an open carry state, I think I'd love a drop leg holster, but that isn't an option in Florida. Really the only thing left is pocket carry (and not all motorcycle jackets or pants have pockets) or shoulder holsters. Shoulder holsters can be inconvenient due to bulk, weight or movement restriction (even if it is minor), or simply impractical given that leather sport pants don't have an attachment point for the holster to keep it down when unholstering. It's also pointless given that since open carry is illegal here, I can't take the jacket off with the shoulder holster underneath. In other words a lot of gratuitous hassle, whichever the method.

I've been struggling to find an option for years, but I think I've found something I finally like. I purchased one of those gimmicky Packin' tee universal shirt holsters and sewed it onto my the inner mesh lining of my leather motorcycle jacket. The result was actually pretty great. As a holster using it as intended it's average at best, but used on a motorcycle jacket it's a really comfortable option. Positioned right, it's slightly underneath the armpit, angled to clear the body, and accessible with the jacket slightly zippered open. You save all the bulk and hassle of the straps of a shoulder holster, and the rigidity of the jacket makes unholstering extremely simple and reliable (given the context). Reholstering is a bit of a pain given the elastic band, but it's comparable to reholstering a pistol in Remora holsters (my hands-down favorite).

As for installation, being left handed, I purchased a right handed large holster to install on the opposite side of the jacket for a cross draw. Installation is quite simple (about an hour doing it the first time). It has a velcro hook backing which I simply stuck on to the mesh lining of the jacket (it stays in place pretty well), and then played around with the position until I found the best possible orientation. After that I just sewed the edges in place from the outside of the jacket (just sewing through the mesh lining), and sewed the mesh lining + holster to the jacket exterior at two points over the original stitching using a speedy stitcher and upholstery thread. From the outside, the jacket is completely unmodified, and if you simply undo the stitching, it can be left exactly as before with no damage to the original fabric.

As for compatibility, it fits full size, compact and subcompact pretty well. Both single and double stack. It doesn't fit pocket guns like the Ruger LCP, but I suppose that would be expected. I do appreciate the universality since my carry gun does vary. And when not in use the elastic band holster stays flat and is completely unobtrusive. I suppose you could even use it for other things that fit there.

I recognize this method isn't perfect (i'm not particularly fond of just elastic covering the trigger, and pistol retention is less than ideal), but it's as good as I've found. I just wanted to share the experience should it be of inspiration to anyone else.

Just to clarify. I never intended this for "using" while riding. This is just for a convenient carry option for motorcycle riding, while still being usable and accessible for self defense once you reach your destination without having the relocate the weapon.

Pictures attached.

If a camelback is useful to you when riding (it is for me on motorcycle and bicycle), they come in all sizes, some with big pockets. My smaller one will fit my Glock 26 in a nemesis pocket holster comfortably. Not super fast to draw though.

Best option I've found for Motorcycle Concealed-Carry

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