Carrying a pistol on a motorcycle.

UPDATE: Oct 2023

4th gen solution is a small fanny pack with a sig p365 in it. Turns out the chest protector with pouch is TOO HOT for me. The sweaty chest is the main radiator for us humans 🙂

I did fabricate a kydex “plate” to reduce the impact on my body in the event of a crash and I land on my hip.

For snowbiking, I plan to go back to the chest protector so I can run a larger self-defense pistol. Higher risk means I’ll have a chest protector and larger caliber.

I went with the “Mountainsmith Vibe Lumbar Waist” and I’m super happy with it. I have the larger “Vertx SOCP Sling Tactical Fanny Pack Waist” but seems too large for this application IMO.

In this video, I took my self defense tool, my dirt bike and myself for a bath in a river.  Pistol was fine after I cleaned it that night. https://youtu.be/rTYV16n_P0c?si=34AX5tOmMPUGV4v4

PREVIOUS

Carrying concealed firearm on a motorcycle has been a challenging issue to find a solution to. I’ve been trying different things for over a year and I think I’ve finally come up with a solution that meets my needs.

Requirements:

1. safe! Safe as in; can I deploy the gun in around 1 second? And safe as in, the gun won’t injury me or my loved ones/equipment.
2. Comfortable, otherwise I may not bring it along.
3. Secure. I do NOT want to lose my gun nor have unauthorized persons having access to it.

Here are the options ranked favorite to least favorite.

Option1: Retention/serpa holster mounted to handle bar while riding and then move the pistol to your fanny pack or underarm holster when you dismount from bike (at the restaurant or hotel/camping).

PlanA on a motorcycle is hit the gas or maneuver around threat quickly, like motorcycles can.

PlanB show and tell and “smile wait for flash”, which works for 2 legged predators, but not 4 legged predators.

Camera angle is just right to see holster in action. Cool river crossing too

Pros:

1. Not breaking ribs or injuring your body on a wreck, minor or major wreck.
2. Easily accessible, less than 1 second rule.
3. Very comfortable
4. Affordable. Serpa holster is under $30 and I was able to customize some kydex to ensure it never got lost, even if zip ties failed.

Cons:

1. You may forget the gun is strapped to your handle bars, but its right next to the key. But I forget my phone in my “phone mount” about 1 out of 3 and my hand passed right by my phone to hit the key.
2. Not super concealed while on the bike handle bar.
3. Your gun is open to dust/rain/elements, likely less damaging than sweat if you clean your gun after your motorcycle adventure this shouldn’t matter.
4. Likely running with a left handed serpa holster(so you can operate the throttle with your right hand). Another reason to train your left hand to run a gun professionally.
5. Operate the gun and the motorcycle at the same time.

Option2: Under arm holster (tested and this is my 2nd fav solution).

IMO the best under arm holster is the spectre shoulder holster for adventures (galco light around town works great too and much more affordable).

https://gunfightersinc.com/shop/spectre-shoulder-holster/

See my blog about details on spectre holster.

http://libertyfoxdefense.com/my-357-sig-predator-defense-system-for-off-road-adventures/

Pros:

1. With Motorcycle jacket unzipped a bit, you can get the gun out in about 1.5 seconds. but you can not operate the motorcycle and the gun at the same time.
2. Comfortable, almost never feel the gun even in rough trails
3. You don’t forget your gun and if you get knocked off your bike, you have your gun with you and can present it in a curled up position.

Cons:

1. In a wreck you likely will injury your ribs, especially with a double stack gun (much thicker).
2. Spare mag may fall out (with the spectre holster).

Option3: pocket carry, in a zippered pocket.

Revolver or sub-compact 380 or 9mm. Ether left/right or jacket zippered pocket.

Pros:

1. comfortable

Cons:

1. Unable to deploy while riding and unable to quickly present while off bike.
2. During a wreck, likely to injure groin area and w/o a grip safety or manual safety may even discharge!
3. Likely a much smaller caliber like a 9mm, which is not adequate for predator defense (mid to large predators, really only adequate for 2 legged predators IMO).

Option4: fanny pack

Pros:

1. Larger and more concealable pistol.
2. Carry other preparedness items in your fannypack (most dual sport riders that run a fanny pack have tools, but they put the pack in the back,not the front.

Cons:

1. Very slow presentation of firearm.
2. Males running pack in the front may feel discomfort in the front groin area (yeah, my testing made this evident quickly, standing up for rough trails going flat/down is fine, but going up a hill, where you need a lot of rear traction and its also bummy, likely going to feel some pain in the groin area).
3. Likely injury during a wreck.
4. Likely going to take pack off after riding. How do you responsibly secure your firearm? Is your gun going to be accessible if attacked?

Option5: belt mounted holsters, IWB/OWB.  (NOT recommended for dual-sport motorcycling, might be “ok” for street only bikes).

Pros:

1. Likely everyone already owns a IWB/OWB holster

Cons:

1. Even with an awesome Foxy Tuck holster, I just don’t see this being usable on a motorcycle because you are moving alot and depending on body-type/size it may not be concealable/accessible or likely not even safe.
2. Given riding seat angles, I think this would be very uncomfortable.
3. Given angles, likely not concealable.