[leekellerking]

How many motorcycle riders do we have here and how do you carry on your bike?

I carry appendix but I'm concerned that the pressure of my gun belt on my back might be part of what has caused my lower back to hurt for the last week.

For more background, I just purchased a 2011 BMW F650GS (the twin, not the single) with 1-2 inch bar siers and carry a Glock 48 MOS in a Tier 1 Concealed Axis Elite holster.

Should I get a pocket pistol for when I'm on the bike? (I always wear all the gear, all the time, so I have jacket pockets). This would also make it handier to access my pistol while geared up.

What say ye?

Thanks,

Lee

 

[Rock_Crawler_Jeep]

I carry a G19 or a 1911 Government in a OWB holster @ the 3 o'clock position.
Been doing this for 30+ years with no back issues- dirtbikes and street.

 

[wrmiler]

When I rode motorcycles and carried a pistol (a long time ago), I did so left-handed in a shoulder rig. That way I didn't have to remove my hand from the throttle.

 

[Vaquero 357]

OWB @ 16:00.

 

[sciolist]

Not a bike-specific comment, but going to lighter belts helped me a lot with muscular back pain. And not speaking from experience, but seems like 3:00 OWB would work well on a bike.

 

[harleypower69]

Either 3 O’clock OWB or chest pocket of my cop leather I bought at VANSON.

 

[Sheepdoggie]

I'm a life long motorcyclist and life long firearms enthusiast but this spring will be my first time thinking about EDC on motorcycle trips. I've carried packed away for interstate transport before but now looking to make use of my carry permits. I'm always wearing motorcycle gear (jacket, pants, gloves, helmet w/ear protection, etc) so it would be easy to conceal in either a jacket pocket or riding pants cargo pocket but definitely not going to be quick to draw from there especially with gloves on. It's going to be a puzzler so I'm happy to hear from the collective wisdom here that's got a happy solution to this requirement.

 

[jstrange]

As much as it pains me to admit it, I used a fanny pack quite successfully while riding.

 

[It'soncuz!]

I carry the same as always.
Pocket carry is gonna be tough for you here. You have gloves on, you're sitting down. Pants pocket will be tough. Even in a jacket, you might have problems.
Not trying to dump on it, just highlighting the challenges.

 

[leekellerking]

I carry the same as always.
Pocket carry is gonna be tough for you here. You have gloves on, you're sitting down. Pants pocket will be tough. Even in a jacket, you might have problems.
Not trying to dump on it, just highlighting the challenges.

Understood. The gloves would be the biggest problem, but I was thinking more of when I'm off the bike but still have my riding pants and jacket on. My Kilimanjaro jacket has pretty good sized pockets.

The good news is that my back is feeling better today. The bad news is that it is going to rain both Saturday (58 percent chance) and Sunday (75 percent chance). While I used to be okay riding in the rain and my new Aerostich R3 suit is coming in today, I'm not back to that level of comfort.

 

[Sheepdoggie]

Aerostich is great stuff. My gear is Klim Badlands with a generous long opening thigh pocket that shouldn't print (heavy Goretex). That's a good point made about making sure it is in a place that won't hurt me in an energetic accident. Breast pockets could be problematic for injury in an accident.

I definitely want to think of a solution where I'm not having to move it around as I go on and off the bike. I'm on a holster journey anyway and my drawer is slowly filling up with options. I might as well go explore a pocket holster that will ride in that thigh pocket. No matter where I carry it my strong hand glove will have to come off before things can get loud.

 

[SpringerTGO]

I've ridden motorcycles for a long time. Mostly Sport bikes, Adventure bikes, and Sport Touring bikes. I can't imagine a situation where I need to shoot a gun while riding. Everything I ride can out run a vehicle. I can see when I'm stopped for lunch, gas, etc. it's a different matter. One of my big concerns is what would happen if I crash with a gun on me. Another concern is that where I live the weather can change pretty quickly. Because of that, I typically carry a small (LC9S Pro or LCP) relatively inexpensive gun in a pocket I am not likely to land on if I crash..

 

[leekellerking]

I've ridden motorcycles for a long time. Mostly Sport bikes, Adventure bikes, and Sport Touring bikes. I can't imagine a situation where I need to shoot a gun while riding. Everything I ride can out run a vehicle. I can see when I'm stopped for lunch, gas, etc. it's a different matter. One of my big concerns is what would happen if I crash with a gun on me. Another concern is that where I live the weather can change pretty quickly. Because of that, I typically carry a small (LC9S Pro or LCP) relatively inexpensive gun in a pocket I am not likely to land on if I crash..

I'm not expecting to need it while riding, but after I get where I'm going. Until I take off my armored riding pants, I can't access my pistol easily with appendix carry. But we will see what it is like when I get to try on my new Aerostich R3 suit tonight.

 

[warbow150]

Same as any other day. OWB on my right side.

 

[9x45]

Fanny pack since 1968. In CA that requires a concealed carry permit. I even practiced drawing from the holster while going about 15 mph up at our local academy. Now that is a challenge. Pull your left glove off with your teeth, then rip the pack. Left hand back on the bars, now coasting, pull right glove and draw gun. Course you are still coasting at this point. Like Sonny Barger used to say "I don't recommend it" My last 3 bikes were a 2003 Valkyrie, 2006 1800VTX and a 2008 Gold Wing. But my most favorite bike of all time was the 1984 Aspencade!

 

[Ordell Robbie]

 

[FTMFXR]

G19 4 o’clock in a very stable holster
When I carried my Canik it was in a Crossbreed IWB.

 

[Three-Five-Seven]

In a get-off, having a pistol anywhere on your waist can cause some serious damage to pelvis and/or spine. Carry in the breast pocket of your riding jacket. Or, if you have a jacket marketed by H-D, you will almost always find a gun pocket just behind the zipper placard.

 

[fastbolt]

I've used IWB, OWB, shoulder holster, belt case (camera and larger) and pocket-holster carry on my bikes.

Belt case and pocket-holster methods better allowed me to doff riding gear (if only riding jacket) once I arrived at my destination in hot weather months (think beach towns). More versatile and comfortable.

If you fall, no matter how you decide to carry, it may still find a way to add to the hurt.

I've known 3 guys who drew weapons while riding. All had badges and were on their own time, with 2 on the way to work and the other one just riding. That said, I'd still consider that to be a rare thing, and the last thing I'm going to think about and wish to try and do while keeping a bike upright during demanding conditions. Once the bike is stopped, it's a different matter.

As time went on, I found smaller and lighter off-duty (and now retirement) choices to be handier, including when riding. Well, especially when riding.

Once someone chooses their CCW gun - for whatever reasons make sense to them - then security/safety of the carry method needs to be considered.

 

[Goldstar225]

3:30 OWB or in the chest gun pocket of my jacket.