Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we discussed the basics of printing and how to avoid printing. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a closer look at some of the unique challenges of riding a motorcycle that are different from riding in a vehicle or other options. Let’s take a deeper dive into concealing on a motorcycle.

Motorcycles Are A Different Style

The big difference between carrying in a regular car and a motorcycle is the fact that you’re exposed to the outside world and elements while on a motorcycle, so there aren’t many places to just outright hide your handgun. Not only do you have to worry about keeping your handgun concealed, but you also have to keep in mind that moving around and leaning on your bike can cause different strain on your holster than what’s typically normal for carrying concealed. When going at highway speed, it’s common for shirts to ride up in the wind without a heavier vest to keep things in place. It’s important to think about where your handgun is positioned and if there’s a chance of it being exposed at higher speeds when on the highway.

For some, carrying appendix or strong side with an IWB holster can be a little tricky if you don’t wear the proper cover garment. While a lightweight cover garment in the summertime will be perfectly fine in a regular car, having something that light while riding 60 mph+ just won’t stay tucked in or down, ultimately creating a situation where your gun is plainly in sight for all passing traffic to see. The takeaway is the fact that even though certain styles may work for a car, it’s drastically different for a motorcycle, but there are certainly fixes for this.

Things To Consider

When it comes to carrying on a bike, you have to keep a few things in mind that are different from carrying in a regular car. Your right hand is in charge of the throttle and front brakes, so carrying on the right side of your body won’t be the easiest thing to get to if you’re moving. There is a pretty divided line when it comes to carrying a handgun on the bike. Half of people want to have the handgun accessible to the left hand since that only works the clutch, while the other half don’t think it’s possible to try and get away on the bike and have a handgun in your hand at the same time.

I am in the second group of thinking where I either want to be trying to evade the situation on the bike or I’m stopped with no other choice when I draw my handgun. This idea of having my handgun out while I’m riding like it’s a scene out of Sons of Anarchy is ridiculous. What people who don’t ride often seem to miss is the fact that each arm and leg has a job to do and it’s incredibly difficult to put a handgun into the mix. I still carry one every time I ride a bike, but the idea of being on the move and drawing your handgun is crazy talk in my mind.

When it comes to concealing your handgun, I use a leather riding vest to my advantage since they protect against road stones or debris from hitting your chest as you ride, but also allows you to carry easily in the vest with zero printing. Leather does an incredible job of breaking up any printing since it’s a thicker material, but a heavy canvas vest or riding jacket can do the same thing as well. Having a vest or riding jacket will obviously protect you if you have an accident, but it also does a phenomenal job of concealing firearms as an added bonus.

Overall Thoughts

When it comes to carrying on a bike, it’s really tough to have a one-size-fits-all solution. Some people wear full leather tracksuits while others wear a shirt and shorts. You should have some sort of heavier cover garment, whether it’s a leather or heavy canvas vest, in order to have the weight to keep your gun covered and protect yourself from debris off the road. Figuring out what you want to carry and going from there, it’ll just take time, but it will be worth it.

Let me know if you have a favorite style of carry when it comes to riding on a motorcycle in the comments below. If you have questions about concealment or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.