Motorcyclist, how do you carry?

[rocinante]

First I am making the assumption you do wear gear when you ride and not just a tee shirt and flip flops. In my case my jacket is too short to carry on my belt. I am also thinking of comfort and where a pistol would add extra impact if I got in a crash. I am thinking maybe a cross draw shoulder harness would be best?

I know this might seem like a weird topic so I will top it with a weirder question. Does anybody practice shooting with gloves and helmet on? just had to ask.

 

[mavracer]

I usually just pocket carry like most other days. I don't wear a helmet unless it's very cold and then I'm usually riding to work and am not carrying.

 

[Wolfebyte]

Summer - belly band pulled up to chest level with a button up shirt over it and then my vest..
Winter.. if we ever have one again, inside pocket of MC jacket.

 

[rocinante]

WHAT? You carry for personal protection but don't at least protect your head from a clear and present foe, a fifty mile per hour fall on asphalt?

I guess the jacket pocket would make sense ...

Gloves and zippers would cramp my lightning fast draw though

 

[bigfatdave]

IWB with a flat autoloader in the normal place - fix your jacket first, or wear a shirt that covers.
Nobody is looking all that hard at the spot behind your right hip as you putt around town, and they surely aren't inspecting your waistline on the highway.
If you're worried about wrecking, a flatter gun held properly IWB tight against the softer part of your waist will help enough, unless you're bones-poking-out skinny or doing something stupid like carrying right over your spine. The one time I was down, I was quite glad that the first thing to hit pavement wasn't part of me, my wallet in the cargo pocket probably saved me from being much more injured, as it padded the impact on my gimpy right knee. I still have those pants, with a wallet-shaped scuff on the knee.


And my bike gloves are my shooting gloves, they're just right for it, as they're thin, grippy, ventilated, and comfortable ... the similar goals of motorcycle/mechanic/shooting gloves mean they're good for more than just riding, unless you have the big armored gauntlets.

But with the helmet on? Why? I suppose if I was shooting explosive targets I'd use my modular helmet (two layers of protection both exceeding z87, if I use the sunshade and visor)
... are you worried about being mugged/jacked just before you saddle up or right after you put down the kickstand?

 

[rocinante]

Why shoot with the helmet on? Just so I can keep my power ranger look intact? I can't think of a legit reason to do so but maybe just to get use to shooting with a helmet on?

I am not really worried about being attacked at all but it is possible out there in Deliverance country all alone so I carry as insurance. I am not worried about wrecking either but it is possible so I am ATGATT.

OK Gunnies anybody modded your riding armor to be really bullet proof? I got thinking you could wear motorcycle gear without causing alarm and actually have bullet protection too. Man you guys are benefiting big time with my goof creative mood today.

 

[tarosean]

And my bike gloves are my shooting gloves, they're just right for it, as they're thin, grippy, ventilated, and comfortable ... the similar goals of motorcycle/mechanic/shooting gloves mean they're good for more than just riding, unless you have the big armored gauntlets.

Remind me to tell you a story about those types of gloves and hitting the asphalt with em on.


To answer the question.. My jacket has multiple inside pockets, my MP45C fit perfectly in one of them..

 

[heeler]

I do not carry the pistol on my body while riding.
It is in a small BullDog cell phone style holster inside the tank bag that I can just take out and clip the holster to my belt when off the bike and no one is the wiser.
Fwiw I generally wear an Aerostich RoadCrafter suit and use Shoei full face helmets only.

 

[mdauben]

There are a number of manufacturers who make leather motorcycle vests with sewn in holster pockets in the lining.

 

[clamman]

I don't carry while riding, I keep it at home, or pack it if I'm on a LD ride. I don't think a 1911 slamming into your body after a get off would be very comfy. Besides, not to many rouge indians these days on the loose, so why play Matt Dillon?

 

[Roadking Rider]

My screen name probably tells you what I ride. I wear it on my hip, Vest pocket or inside the windscreen bag in the summer months. Winter I carry it in my MC jacket pocket. What gun I carry,and where usually depends on where I'm going and the weather. I have a few different size pistols so it gives me plenty of options.

 

[scaatylobo]

No difference

I EDC strong side all the time,and dont actually worry about the gun running along the asphalt.

Rather worry what would happen to my body,and the gun might stop road rash of it got the sliding instead of my skin.

I carry a G-23 and if on a long road trip then a BUG is along on ankle or pocket carry.Usually a S&W 360 [ 9 ounce snub or Ruger LCP].

I also have a custom seat that very well hides a large pistol/revolver.

And yes I have tried to ride and shoot [ cruise control ] so with helmet on its the same as riot gear for shooting and did that for a few decades.

As to conceal,the shirt or vest/jacket do well enough regardless of the weather.

You might have noted that many bikers wear a sleeveless denim shirt,that could cover/conceal a small Uzi.

And yes I am one that thinks of any SHTF scenerio,so I found that a Kel-Tec 16C will fit in my hard bags [ Harley ].

No its not for a sunday ride,but it does fit and yes I have ridden with it .

 

[rocinante]

oh wow scaatylobo I never even considered the art of shooting while rolling on down the road. Nah I will leave that for the coming Mad Maxx future

 

[One_Jackal]

I always wear jeans when I am riding a motorcycle. I just stuff my weapon in my pants. Holsters just don't work for me on a bike. The tank pack idea I could live with but I prefer to keep my weapon on my person. I have been pulled one time for a weapon in the kidney position. My shirt was blowing up so the entire pistol was visible. Lucky for me, the officer was motorcycle friendly.

 

[Bubbles]

Handgun:


Carbine

 

[guyfromohio]

Crossbreed kidney position. Works fine for me on both sportbikes and my current cruiser. I always where boots, long pants, jacket, gloves, and helmet.

I've never trained with gloves and helmet. I don't foresee a situation from which I can't flee by bike. Even my 800lb bagger is quicker and more nimble than Just about anything on four wheels.

 

[1KPerDay]

Pocket carry. I don't plan on needing to shoot while mounted on a bike.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I am left handed which I think it a bit of an asset allowing the right hand to remain on the throttle if needed. Who needs a clutch anyhow?

My LCP rides in a jacket pocket, windshield bag, or IWB strong side. When I toted a 1911 it was owb crossdraw. When the XD40sc gets the call it's windshield bag or jacket pocket.

 

[mavracer]

WHAT? You carry for personal protection but don't at least protect your head from a clear and present foe, a fifty mile per hour fall on asphalt?

Why even risk the danger of riding at all? Wouldn't it be safer to trade the helmet for a SUV?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Nothing special just because I am on one of my bikes...usually in the leather pancake I wear most of the time.

 

[siglite]

I'm an ATGATT guy. Pocket gun in the left front of my aerostich. I can get to it while wearing my gloves, and if necessary while holding the front brake on the bike, or the throttle. That's a big concern. What will you be doing on the bike if you have to get to it? Holding the brake? Holding the clutch? Dropping the bike on its side at a light to deal with something? Thus, which side does your gun go? Talk about tradeoffs.... But they're things to think about.

Anyway, I generally carry the pocket gun left front of my 'stich, and under the stich, but reachable through the side vent my P226 on my belt like normal.

 

[siglite]

And bubbles, that rig is awesome. Your hubby and I are almost due for a ride down south soon.

 

[tyeo098]

When I ride a carry a crappier gun.

If it falls on the ground, so what. Adds character.
Slides on the ground? Eh. Whatever.
Slides on the ground with me on top? Not a care.

For those curious its my 15% Bulgy Makarov

 

[General Geoff]

like this:

 

[forindooruseonly]

I ride sportbikes, and leathers by design fit snugly - it doesn't allow the protective gear to rotate, snag or get torn. You want to slide, and that's what they are designed to do. Also, if you get thrown into the air, you do not want to land on your gun or any other small hard object as it can cause serious injury. In my serious riding leathers, I can't carry on the person. If I'm just out with a jacket and jeans (helmet and gloves always), I can pocket carry but it's not real comfortable on a sportbike. Most riding jackets are cut too short to carry concealed, but check out the tall sizes. I have a Joe Rocket textile jacket in a tall size and it is plenty long enough to cover my pancake holster. I carry appendix that way sometimes.

Don't carry small of the back - you get flipped, you don't want to land on your back with a gun against the spine. I also wouldn't carry IWB anywhere on the hip, hips tend to be one of the more common injuries in motorcycle wrecks.

Mostly I carry in a tank bag just to get from point A to point B. There's very few situations I can't just ride away from on a liter sportbike. Realistically, I'm more scared of someone just ramming you without warning, rather than getting into a gunfight on a bike.