chaim
Member
So, I am starting a new hobby. 2 1/2 weeks ago I bought my first motorcycle , and in 2 weeks I get my license (no I'm not riding without a license, the dealer has been holding it, the salesman will deliver it to me in about a week so it will be waiting for me and ready for a ride when I get my license). So, some questions about carry on a motorcycle.
First, I live in MD. No carry in MD. I only carry when out of state in a CCW state. In a car that is easy, keep a gun in a backpack and either grab it from the trunk and transfer it to a holster while sitting in the car (but away from other parked cars) first time I stop in PA or VA or grab the bag and head to a public restroom and use the privacy of the stalls. On a motorcycle I can use a gun in a backpack or duffel in the saddlebags or buy some other kind of bag and use the restroom. So, not a big issue, but it isn't quite as flexible as a car.
Once in a CCW state, I'm not sure I'll want to carry on my person or not. I plan to wear full protective gear so I will have pants and leather overpants to go through to get to a pocket carry or IWB gun. Year round I will have armored jackets on (I have a leather and mesh jacket), but in the summer a shoulder holster won't work since I will take off the jacket once I stop (even the mesh would get warm without the wind moving through it in the summer around here). Also, I'm not sure I want any kind of on person carry while riding since a hard metal (or polymer) object on my body could pose additional injury risk in case of an accident (and an accident is probably more likely than needing the gun right away). However, I do want easily accessible defensive instruments available when I can.
If it helps in evaluating my options below, the bike I bought is a Suzuki Boulevard C50 cruiser (non-motorcycle types, think Harley style and the size of the smaller Harley cruisers but more reliable and less expensive ).
For the next few months it won't be a huge issue. I will just be a beginner and I won't be going on long rides out of state, MD is a non-carry state, so no CCW anyway. However, once I'm comfortable on my motorcycle I am very near VA and often find myself in northern VA, so I'm sure I'll be there a lot on my bike too. Also, after a year or two experience I plan to do some traveling on my bike (I'm a teacher and off summers, I will probably do some motorcycle camping). When I do start the camping I will have my .45LC S&W 625MG or .357mag S&W 65LS in my saddlebags to carry at the campsite, though I'll still have the access while riding questions.
So, those of you who ride, what are your solutions? Do you just carry and put up with any safety concerns? Do you find one of my solutions better than another? Is there an option I've missed?
First, I live in MD. No carry in MD. I only carry when out of state in a CCW state. In a car that is easy, keep a gun in a backpack and either grab it from the trunk and transfer it to a holster while sitting in the car (but away from other parked cars) first time I stop in PA or VA or grab the bag and head to a public restroom and use the privacy of the stalls. On a motorcycle I can use a gun in a backpack or duffel in the saddlebags or buy some other kind of bag and use the restroom. So, not a big issue, but it isn't quite as flexible as a car.
Once in a CCW state, I'm not sure I'll want to carry on my person or not. I plan to wear full protective gear so I will have pants and leather overpants to go through to get to a pocket carry or IWB gun. Year round I will have armored jackets on (I have a leather and mesh jacket), but in the summer a shoulder holster won't work since I will take off the jacket once I stop (even the mesh would get warm without the wind moving through it in the summer around here). Also, I'm not sure I want any kind of on person carry while riding since a hard metal (or polymer) object on my body could pose additional injury risk in case of an accident (and an accident is probably more likely than needing the gun right away). However, I do want easily accessible defensive instruments available when I can.
If it helps in evaluating my options below, the bike I bought is a Suzuki Boulevard C50 cruiser (non-motorcycle types, think Harley style and the size of the smaller Harley cruisers but more reliable and less expensive ).
For the next few months it won't be a huge issue. I will just be a beginner and I won't be going on long rides out of state, MD is a non-carry state, so no CCW anyway. However, once I'm comfortable on my motorcycle I am very near VA and often find myself in northern VA, so I'm sure I'll be there a lot on my bike too. Also, after a year or two experience I plan to do some traveling on my bike (I'm a teacher and off summers, I will probably do some motorcycle camping). When I do start the camping I will have my .45LC S&W 625MG or .357mag S&W 65LS in my saddlebags to carry at the campsite, though I'll still have the access while riding questions.
So, those of you who ride, what are your solutions? Do you just carry and put up with any safety concerns? Do you find one of my solutions better than another? Is there an option I've missed?
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