How do you carry while riding?

[mcantar18c]

I just picked up my first bike in 5 years, and I'm curious how y'all carry while you ride. I carry AIWB, and that's definitely not going to work on the bike.

[roberth]

Bicycle or motorcycle?

[redneck122]

Shoulder holster is most comfortable in my opinion. Its a pain in the ass when you wanna take off your jacket on pit stops.

[wctriumph]

I carry a J-Frame in my jacket pocket and never leave my jacket unattended.

[Great-Kazoo]

Inside breast pocket or r/side outside one in my jacket. It also depends what kind of MC you're riding, for sport & sport touring a tank bag is option A. For full blown touring they make handlebar bags if your fairing doesn't have pouches, storage compartments etc.

[68Charger]

I also do a holster in inside jacket pocket...
If it's hot, I can carry the jacket with me. A short trip to the men's room and I can switch to AIWB.

depending on where I'm at, I have no problem moving holster from AIWB to jacket pocket while preparing to ride... People generally don't pay attention to someone gearing up.

[ruthabagah]

In style

58233

[cstone]

Bicycle for me. I carry the same place all of the time regardless of activity. One less thing my increasingly feeble brain has to process in a crisis.

It will never be a satin pillow, warmly snuggled up to your skin. It is a gun. That little bit of discomfort is nothing compared to the world of hurt you will bring on the day you have to use it.

Be safe.

[Sixgun]

I carry a J-Frame in my jacket pocket and never leave my jacket unattended.
Same here.. J-frame in pocket while on the motorcycle and Glock 380 in my backpack while mountain biking.
You guys see the new Indain military old school bike.. Looking for a link..

[BladesNBarrels]

A thought for a rider:

58234 58235

Also great for fishing in Bear Country58236


Or, arm the passenger 58237

[Sixgun]

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/indian-motorcycles-military-tribute-scout

[mcantar18c]

MC. First gen Yamaha FZ1. Shoulder holster isn't a bad idea, but digging it out of my jacket doesn't seem very fast and I'm not sure I like the idea of having a chunk of steel against my ribcage if I get into an accident. I was thinking either moving my holster to 4-5 o'clock while I ride, or maybe mounting a holster somewhere between my leg and the bar and transferring the gun back and forth.

[sellersm]

Active Pro Gear makes something that might work. I've not tried it personally...

http://www.activeprogear.com/jogger_holster.html

[hurley842002]

MC. First gen Yamaha FZ1. Shoulder holster isn't a bad idea, but digging it out of my jacket doesn't seem very fast and I'm not sure I like the idea of having a chunk of steel against my ribcage if I get into an accident. I was thinking either moving my holster to 4-5 o'clock while I ride, or maybe mounting a holster somewhere between my leg and the bar and transferring the gun back and forth.
Are you completely opposed to OWB? If I know I'm going to be riding on any given day, I'll typically throw on the OWB and call it good.

[mcantar18c]

Are you completely opposed to OWB? If I know I'm going to be riding on any given day, I'll typically throw on the OWB and call it good.
I'm not opposed to it, however if I have to go into an NPE (say, Denver), I'll need to find another option.

[hurley842002]

I'm not opposed to it, however if I have to go into an NPE (say, Denver), I'll need to find another option.
I've never had a problem throwing a tshirt over my pistol (even G19), and hiding it. Stop wearing those shmedium shirts and you'll be fine lol.

[fly boy]

I tend to shift it more forward so I can cover with my arm a little more. But I just tuck my shirt into the clip so it keeps it over it (You will tear your shirt to get it out quick, but that will be the last of my worries).

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q28/04crimsongt/Concealed%20carry%20clothes/greenshirtlongsleeve1.jpg

[davsel]

Inside jacket pocket or cargo pants thigh pocket.

[WETWRKS]

MC. First gen Yamaha FZ1. Shoulder holster isn't a bad idea, but digging it out of my jacket doesn't seem very fast and I'm not sure I like the idea of having a chunk of steel against my ribcage if I get into an accident. I was thinking either moving my holster to 4-5 o'clock while I ride, or maybe mounting a holster somewhere between my leg and the bar and transferring the gun back and forth.

If you get into an accident there probably isn't any good place to have a chunk of metal on you.

[mcantar18c]

I've never had a problem throwing a tshirt over my pistol (even G19), and hiding it. Stop wearing those shmedium shirts and you'll be fine lol.
You're just jealous you can't fit into one lol. Really though, I'm thinking more about wind than shirt size here.

I tend to shift it more forward so I can cover with my arm a little more. But I just tuck my shirt into the clip so it keeps it over it (You will tear your shirt to get it out quick, but that will be the last of my worries).

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q28/04crimsongt/Concealed%20carry%20clothes/greenshirtlongsleeve1.jpg
Your screen name and picture are confusing me...

http://www.thegunman.com/Images/sigtac3.jpg

Sig-tac carry jacket. They don't make it anymore but other companies do make similar. Real leather, and I've hit pavement in mine - no issue. Carry full size, no problem.
Way more than I'm looking to spend here.

If you get into an accident there probably isn't any good place to have a chunk of metal on you.
Yeah, fair point.

[Great-Kazoo]

You're just jealous you can't fit into one lol. Really though, I'm thinking more about wind than shirt size here.

Your screen name and picture are confusing me...

Way more than I'm looking to spend here.

Yeah, fair point.

What size jacket do you wear. I have an XL tight mesh weave, kevlar inserts in elbows, back & shoulders, with zip out liner. Wore it 1 season before i stopped riding. Great riding gear. IIRC it was one of the river road series. Now it's collecting dust, along with a HJC full face, wore it 4 days before my carbon fiber came it. That's also available.

[sellersm]

I know someone with some great jackets that have excellent places to hold a firearm...

[buffalobo]

Same as any other time or activity. OWB between 3 and 4 o'clock. Also have a custom made (by my wife) leather tank bag that I use when warranted.

Always wanted to make a holster to attach in the angle space created at the bottom of back of tank/front of seat and the inside of my leg.

[68Charger]

If you get into an accident there probably isn't any good place to have a chunk of metal on you.

Besides the huge chunk of metal underneath you? (with parts hot enough to burn you in seconds)

I'm making light of it, but it is a real concern...
There are a few things to consider- I think I'm less likely to drag across my chest, most road rash is on hips/legs/back elbows and shoulders... notice where they put the kevlar reinforcement and leather pads on gear... now you could go flying and land on it, but I'm also likely to put my arms out to land on unless I'm out cold already.

Another consideration is transition... what hand would you prefer to take off your handlebars if you have to draw while still stopping? How about while stopped?
while stopping, I can't take my right hand off the brake, but while stopped I'd rather keep the clutch in...

If stuff goes South while I'm stopped and I have an exit route I'll likely use my right wrist and release the clutch in a hurry rather than draw (can't say 100% this will work, but I try to leave an exit route- MSF fundamentals)

So I've decided on the inside pocket because it's on the right side, and I'll cross-draw with my left (I'm mostly ambi with pistols, Left eye dominant but right-handed) while transitioning from a stop to defend myself. If I have to wait until I'm at a full stop to be able to draw, then I may as well stick with AIWB, since I"ll stop and stand up. (I ride a cruiser, so it's not uncomfortable, just not accessible). I'd use a jacket with a purpose-built holster pocket, but not a built-in holster- moving a holster from one place to another in semi-public is one thing, drawing a pistol out of a holster is a whole other thing.

[PSS]

58250

[fly boy]

Your screen name and picture are confusing me...


I don't have a picture of mine personal holster, just an example of where I carry.

[mcantar18c]

What size jacket do you wear. I have an XL tight mesh weave, kevlar inserts in elbows, back & shoulders, with zip out liner. Wore it 1 season before i stopped riding. Great riding gear. IIRC it was one of the river road series. Now it's collecting dust, along with a HJC full face, wore it 4 days before my carbon fiber came it. That's also available.
I generally wear a medium. I'm 5'9"/160lbs. I appreciate the offer though.

I know someone with some great jackets that have excellent places to hold a firearm...
Yeah I saw those in the TP. Wayyy to big for me, unfortunately. Although I think my wife wants that helmet, I'll send you a PM.


Post...

Excellent points... maybe the shoulder holster is the lesser of the evils in this case. I think I'd be more likely to break contact if I'm moving than stopped, so I'll stick with right hand draw.

I don't have a picture of mine personal holster, just an example of where I carry.
I figured, just thought it was funny.

[Irving]

You sound about right for a jacket Kazoo would wear.

[mcantar18c]

This, I think. I need to design a mounting bracket.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/17/8b355aebf6ac43ff55e5fdb935968255.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/17/dbfb2764cd4494da2665cae2cb4a84b7.jpg

[Great-Kazoo]

That's too much heat coming off the engine. I'd be concerned ammo reliability, you're running @ 150-180F engine coolant temp. Gunpowder reacts in different ways when it's normal air temp. Keeping it that close to the engine is questionable. YMMV.

Just run tank bag.

Going to the extreme. IF you needed to defend yourself while riding, the question might be raised. Could you not have left the scene faster then one would have decelerating , then drawing to discharge the gun?

[lead_magnet]

A: This^, if you choose to draw and fire on the bike, you're going to have to stop the bike completely (meaning engaging neutral), draw and fire, plus probably end up dropping the bike, VS using the speed and maneuverability of a motorcycle to evade or disengage the threat. This translate into: On the bike = primary defensive mechanism is the bike, off the bike = switch to normal carry options. So having the gun on your person quickly accessible while riding isn't a primary concern.

B: Riding a motorcycle, you're far more likely to suffer an accident of some kind that you are to be attacked while on the bike. Dress for the crash. A bike will break your pelvis enough as it is, and wearing an unforgiving 3-5 lb chunk of metal strapped on top of that wont help, not that it would matter that much either way. Maybe its because I spent my adolescence growing up in Las Vegas, but try to play the best odds. If someone is more concerned with bringing a gun with them on the bike than a helmet and proper riding gear, then one could question their logic. If you look at it this way, odds of dying in a motorcycle crash (depending on what study you read, or believe for that matter) is about 60 in 100,00 (that's from NHTSA) . Odds of dying from a homicide is about 4.7 in 100,00 (from FBI, that's for all Americans, so probably nowhere near that high on the mean streets of Colorado), however I'd guess that riding on Colorado's sand covered roads make a crash slightly more likely. Now most homicides are the result of someone you know, so unless someone you know is out to get you, and specifically while you're on your bike, your probably pretty safe. Not to mention they'd probably just run you over, less hassle and clean up, :P. There are no homicide rates specific to victim was riding on motorcycle at time of assault that I can find, but I'd imagine the rate is pretty damn low. BTW: the NHTSA injury rate per 100,00 for motorcycle riders is about 440.

I guess my whole point is focus on the riding part while riding, leave all the other shit for when the kickstand is down.

But to answer your question in short, I carry a little snubnose in my pocket. I can't even get to it on the bike due to the gloves and the angle of my leg (riding a Yamaha FZ-09 as of current) it's just there for when I get off the bike. If I'm going to Denver or for an extended stay somewhere I'll carry normal gear in my backpack. (Have a hard spine protector in the backpack between me and all that shit, plus the normal articulated spike armor under my jacket.

As for the guy that mentioned the shoulder holster, I'm not knocking you or anything, but that makes my ribs hurt just thinking about taking a hard tumble with a pistol in my ribs. To quote the great Bevis and Butthead "No way dude"

[sandman76]

Not great for any kind of a quick draw but I carry in a J frame in an ankle holster. Always with me. Comfortable. And two strips of extra ammo in my pocket.

[hurley842002]

Seems like there is a lot of over thinking going on here. I also carry appendix, and have no problem riding my bike while carrying this way. If I did have an issue carrying appendix while riding, I'd simply switch it to the 4 o'clock position and call it good. The chances of me drawing my weapon while riding are so slim, I'd rather not excessively modify my standard method of carry for riding. My 2 cents

[mcantar18c]

That's too much heat coming off the engine. I'd be concerned ammo reliability, you're running @ 150-180F engine coolant temp. Gunpowder reacts in different ways when it's normal air temp. Keeping it that close to the engine is questionable. YMMV.

Just run tank bag.

Going to the extreme. IF you needed to defend yourself while riding, the question might be raised. Could you not have left the scene faster then one would have decelerating , then drawing to discharge the gun?

You don't think the massive airflow will negate any effects engine heat might have?
And yes, obviously if E&E is an option that's the best thing to do.


A: This^, if you choose to draw and fire on the bike, you're going to have to stop the bike completely (meaning engaging neutral), draw and fire, plus probably end up dropping the bike, VS using the speed and maneuverability of a motorcycle to evade or disengage the threat. This translate into: On the bike = primary defensive mechanism is the bike, off the bike = switch to normal carry options. So having the gun on your person quickly accessible while riding isn't a primary concern.

B: Riding a motorcycle, you're far more likely to suffer an accident of some kind that you are to be attacked while on the bike. Dress for the crash. A bike will break your pelvis enough as it is, and wearing an unforgiving 3-5 lb chunk of metal strapped on top of that wont help, not that it would matter that much either way. Maybe its because I spent my adolescence growing up in Las Vegas, but try to play the best odds. If someone is more concerned with bringing a gun with them on the bike than a helmet and proper riding gear, then one could question their logic. If you look at it this way, odds of dying in a motorcycle crash (depending on what study you read, or believe for that matter) is about 60 in 100,00 (that's from NHTSA) . Odds of dying from a homicide is about 4.7 in 100,00 (from FBI, that's for all Americans, so probably nowhere near that high on the mean streets of Colorado), however I'd guess that riding on Colorado's sand covered roads make a crash slightly more likely. Now most homicides are the result of someone you know, so unless someone you know is out to get you, and specifically while you're on your bike, your probably pretty safe. Not to mention they'd probably just run you over, less hassle and clean up, [emoji14]. There are no homicide rates specific to victim was riding on motorcycle at time of assault that I can find, but I'd imagine the rate is pretty damn low. BTW: the NHTSA injury rate per 100,00 for motorcycle riders is about 440.

I guess my whole point is focus on the riding part while riding, leave all the other shit for when the kickstand is down.

But to answer your question in short, I carry a little snubnose in my pocket. I can't even get to it on the bike due to the gloves and the angle of my leg (riding a Yamaha FZ-09 as of current) it's just there for when I get off the bike. If I'm going to Denver or for an extended stay somewhere I'll carry normal gear in my backpack. (Have a hard spine protector in the backpack between me and all that shit, plus the normal articulated spike armor under my jacket.

As for the guy that mentioned the shoulder holster, I'm not knocking you or anything, but that makes my ribs hurt just thinking about taking a hard tumble with a pistol in my ribs. To quote the great Bevis and Butthead "No way dude"

This is more intended for if, say, I'm in heavy traffic (80% of my commute both t to and from work) and A) am not moving, or am moving extremely slowly and/or B) there isn't a fast way out.
I just read a post on another forum from a guy who was riding on an open stretch of highway and a couple MC gang guys tossed a handful of nuts and bolts into him while riding, with the intent of putting him down and stealing shit. Apparently it's their SOP in that area. I'm not saying I expect anything like that to happen to me, just that shit happens.

Seems like there is a lot of over thinking going on here. I also carry appendix, and have no problem riding my bike while carrying this way. If I did have an issue carrying appendix while riding, I'd simply switch it to the 4 o'clock position and call it good. The chances of me drawing my weapon while riding are so slim, I'd rather not excessively modify my standard method of carry for riding. My 2 cents
What do you ride? I'm on a FZ1, and the riding position is pretty uncomfortable with AIWB. And I'm really not too keen on having it on my hip if I go down.