Motorcycle carry

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juggler

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I've done the search and didn't really get the information I was looking for. I am picking up my new bike this morning and was wondering what to carry.

This will be the first time that I have been able to ride armed and was trying to figure out the logistics. IWB with the Glock is fine as long as I keep the jacket on, or keep a vest handy.
Pocket carry with a J-frame may be an option, though I will have to see how that feels.

For this morning I am going with the J-frame in a belly pack, which gives me 5 rounds and a speed loader.

I'm concerned about what happens in a couple of particular situations;

1) If I need to use the firearm, which is the quickest/easiest method of drawing from a motorcycle, with the best retention.
NO, I am not imagining shooting the guy tailgating me (much) :evil: .....just the issue that I will either be sitting on the bike, have just gotten off the bike, or gotten knocked off the bike and am getting off the ground. Which brings us to........

2) What happens if I become incapacitated? If I am injured how do I secure the gun? No trunk with a safe in it to store the weapon.

It’s been over 15 years since I’ve ridden, though for a long period of time all I had was a bike. In New England that means riding in rain/snow/sleet/hail/locust etc. Someone was watching over me back then fer sure!! ;)

I’ve been in two major accidents (down south BTW, not here), and after the last one I stayed away from bikes for awhile. Now that I am getting back into it I’ve thought about this a lot. Like I said, my search didn’t address any of this, so I am interested in your thoughts.

Off in a hour or so to go get the bike. Chores to do today, but it’s supposed to get into the 70’s tomorrow…..guess what I’m gonna do?
 
I've used Smartcarry on a motorcycle, and it was okay as long as I didn't lean too far forward. This is with a Kel-Tec P11.

I usually will carry in the cargo pocket of my riding pants. I have a BMW so I do have "trunk" space.

I think IWB would work well behind your hips some place, but accessibility would be next to impossible with a riding jacket on. Of course, since you have to use both hands to ride, access is difficult regardless of carry type.
 
Weather permitting (i.e., cool enough to wear a jacket), it seems as if a shoulder holster would be ideal.

I'd be leery of carrying IWB in the back, since you're going to be leaning forward a bit and the wind may pull up your jacket for you. Also keep in mind that if you fall off the bike, you don't want to land with the gun in the small of your back or perhaps in the kidney area, as it may increase your likelihood of injury somewhat.

In warmer weather, a small gun/pocket carry combo might do well. Probably, getting off the bike and using it for cover while drawing might be a better choice than sitting on it and blazing away, since it limits your mobility so much.
 
I'd have to see the bike really. This thread is useless w/o pics! :)

I'd think go with a pancake holster on the weak side. And attach a lanyard to your pistol if possible. Getting off a bike isn't like coming out of a car, door, it takes a second and you'd make yourself a nice target doing it. If you can fire accurately with your left hand, you've got it. Plus is sounds like a good excuse to go riding around out in a field shooting targes while on the move!
 
benEzra brought up a good point that I didn't consider since I've never carried IWB. But, I probably would avoid carrying on my back, especially SOB, while riding.
 
i carry strongside IWB when i ride. most riding jackets are long enough to cover even if you lean forward and are made of leather or Cordura and are not stretchy so they don't fly up in the breeze. mine has a drawstring on the waist and the jacket doesn't budge, even at freeway speeds but i can lift the jacket up and draw if i have to. (i've tried) don't forget that you'll probably be wearing gloves too. that means you're a little less agile with your hands so don't stuff it in a small pocket thats hard to get to.

as far as injuries go, i really don't think a gun is going to cause anymore serious injuries than falling of your bike at 50 mph and smacking yourself on the pavement. its not something i worry about anyway.

if you carry now, i'd just stick with what you use. that way at least you'd be comfortable with your carry method and wouldn't have to learn a new SOP just for riding.

thats my opinion and i'm stickin' to it.

Bobby

p.s. you didn't tell us what kind of bike?
 
After 30-odd years of riding I've formed some definite opinions about CCW while motorcycling.

I always wear a riding jacket - ALWAYS. Anyone who has ever experienced (or even seen) a case of Road Rash does. With modern fabrics and design, ventilation and comfort even on the hottest days don't have to be sacrificed in the interest of safety.

I've tried several methods over the years. The best compromise for accessibility, comfort, relative safety in a get-off, and discretion once the jacket comes off for me has been strong-side pocket carry in the jacket. With a good pocket holster, discrete transfer from jacket to trouser pocket if and when necessary is easily done. I have been known to carry an IWB rig in my other jacket pocket and change modes in the restroom when I'm going to be off the bike for a while sight-seeing or having a sit-down meal.

Shoulder rigs work well as long as the jacket stays on. If your ride is going to be a typical 'cruise' with no particular destination and you end up back home - fine and dandy. However, should you run into a situation where something unexpected happens and the jacket must come off, you may have a problem. All it takes around here is a cellphone call from a hysterical sheeple reporting a "biker with a gun" to give you an all-too-interesting afternoon.

Believe me, you do not want to have anything substantial on your hip or against your back should you go down. Anything that could concentrate impact energy into a smaller area will be like getting hit there with a hammer, and the potential for really serious injury much enhanced. Sliding is bad enough; tumbling will really mess you up.
 
I carry mine OWB strongside, I just tuck the bottom edge of my t-shirt up under the bottom of the holster to keep the wind from exposing my piece while riding.
 
Keep in mind that throttle is right hand. Should you EVER need to draw while bike is still under control, you want that throttle still in hand.

I have about 750,000 miles while carrying and have been through a spill or two. I always carried IWB, left side, or shoulder, right side. The spill with a shoulder rig hurt more than did the spills with the IWB. However, keep in mind that I build my own IWB and include a large-area piece of leather against the butt cheek to spread impact forces. Since I had to white-shirt/tie for much of that travel, I could dress to cover when I took off my riding gear. I ALWAYS wore a vest of my own design, whether business dressed or out boondocking.

Pops
 
Since your only concern on a bike is to avoid going down and prepare for the time you WILL go down. With that said I would never carry a gun on my person when riding. It would be in a tankbag or saddle bag. I've been down enough times with and without good leather to know a hard metal object between you and the pavement is just asking for the pain to come.
JMHO
 
I've always carried left ankle. It's slow to get at, but it's always there. Although I suppose that it's possible, I can't really envision a scenario in which I'd have to draw while riding.
Biker
 
I wear Langlitz

ok...not to sound snobby, but I wear Langlitz...they ahve a handy dandy pocket into their leather jackets that I guess you would call under ribcage/above hip cross draw. it is leather lined, and sized for a 1911. Works GREAT for all sorts of stuff (before I carried, it was the home to my hard-box of smokes--hard to wear out leather with the corners of a box).

The one time I fell, I rolled, and the smokes were kinda squshed, but they weren't broken, and the leather kept my belly from gettin' a poke.

Downside: Langlizt is SPENDY. 500+$
 
I carried my 870 strapped to the sissy bar with the barrel sitting on top of my S&S Super while riding my '81 Sporty to the trap range. :D
 
Depends on the bike.

There is a lot of difference in riding position between different types of bikes, and I can only relate to Harleys. I have been riding 30+ years and carrying for 1 1/2 years. When it is fairly cold out an untucked flannel shirt covers most IWB or OWB as long as it is carried fairly high even when taking off the leather coat. Warm weather I carry a tuckable IWB with a tucked in t-shirt and mabye a leather vest. Of course while riding in my home state of Illinois I use a fanny pack and carry unloaded to stay legal. Thankfully I live only about 5 miles from Indiana where the roads are more senic and Florida permits are honored.
Jim.
 
I haven't carried yet while riding but I've been looking at the options that fit me best. I'm thinking of going to an ankle holster on the left leg. It's seems the best for me to reach it better since I'm on a sport bike.
 
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Ir depends on which bike I'm riding as to how I carry , the Beemer makes it easy . I often carry in a shoulder rig that I can get to through the vents in my riding jacket but figure on some extra pain if I crash - maybe I should carry a Lorcin so the potmetal would have some give to it ? IWB is pretty uncomfortable with a sportbike so I usually carry in the tank bag .
 
Again I am pleasantly surprised at some of the responses…… a true sign of intelligence is how much someone agrees with you. :D

Unfortunately I am not as far into the 22nd century to have a digital camera, so y’all will have to wait until we develop the film and I can scan the image.

If you are interested, you may look up the bike by searching for a Kawasaki Vulcan 800……mine is the blue one (the “A†model) not the classic. Right size for my needs, and I forgot how much fun it is to ride.

So mainmech48 hit it on the nose. I spent the day with my J-frame in my strong-side pocket, and had a belly pack with the speed-loader, cell phone, dental floss, etc…. ;)

When I arrived at the shore and took off the jacket for awhile the gun went into the pants pocket. Otherwise I wore the coat open….it was a nice day in New England but all that means is we got above 50. I doubt we hit 70 down by the shore.

I will be giving some thought to the wearing of leather in the summer. I have seen some bad road rash, as well as experienced it in it’s minor form, and agree that it is something to avoid. I am trying to develop the same mind-set in wearing a helmet as I am when I wear seatbelts……….if you don’t do it all the time you can bet Murphy will be watching when you don't.

The photo by outofbattery was great. Now THAT is an efficient and thoughtful way to carry on a bike. I assume the tank bag comes with you when you walk.

A rifle scabbard would probably be the best, but what can you do? :evil:

No way am I going to consider shooting while moving, so the gun will stay strong side. That means I will be using my mind more and leaving the firearm as a back-up-plan. I just don’t think that I can shoot and drive at the same time……doing a halffast job of both might turn out to be less than useless.

So thanks for the replies. I am off to work at the early hours tomorrow morning (0430) and hope that the temps will at least be above freezing.
 
Juggler;

I've ridden a fair amount whilst carrying. Of course, I've got the natural advantage of being left handed. In any case, I carry in the tank bag. It's easy to either secure a holster in the bag, or otherwise adapt the bag to do the job. Mine has double zippers on the compartment I use. Very nice little feature, that. Most bags have so many compartments that loss of capacity isn't really an issue either.

When I leave the bike, the bag comes with me. Which is to say, I have a bag that's easy to remove from it's harness. Nobody gives it a second thought. Leaving the bag on the bike is an invitation to theft.

If I do go down, I don't have to worry about the rig punching my kidney or breaking ribs either. Haven't had a bad wreck yet & don't plan to. But, if that were to happen, I'd have to figure that my problems staying alive would by far exceed the problem of reaching my gun. Unless, of course, the potential wreck appeared to be coming because of the deliberate actions of another driver. And then we're back to accessability while on the bike.

Reaching into the bag when the zips are parted about 4" is easy & unobtrusive. Hitting a moving target when moving yourself is another matter. But most homicidal maniacs in other vehicles still don't want to take the chance that you are either very skilled or very lucky & presumably will back off.

900F
 
Riders have the advantage of being able to wear cover garments that aren't uncomfortably hot , unless you're in the South and it's flipping hot no matter what ! I don't consider a leather vest and nose picker gloves appropriate riding gear but there's a large segment of riders that wouldn't ever consider wearing even a perfed black leather jacket with armor or any of the textile alternatives .
 
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