Carry on a Motorcycle?

[rbernie]

Once you start putting 20K or more miles a year on a bike, you get out of the leather and into the synthetics pretty fast. The most durable, waterproof/ GoreTexed, crashproof, vented, and functional riding attire is IMO made by RiderWareHouse in MN. I have several of their Roadcrafters that have literally more than 150K miles on 'em and they're *still* in great shape. I've lived in shorts, t-shirts, and a Roadcrafter for weeks and weeks on end (I used to do a LOT of ultra long distance adventure riding) and I wouldn't think of wearing anything else as a commuter or long distance tourer.

Anyway, the Riderwearhouse jackets/oversuits have an external vertically zippered chest pocket over the left pec. It's the perfect place for a S&W Model 12, or (if you're willing to get creative in fitting a holster into the pocket) it'll fit a full size 1911 in Condition 1 quite nicely.

 

[stoky]

I've been riding Harley Davidsons for the last thirty years. I don't like IWB or OWB holsters for riding because in a wreck they can be driven into the short ribs or kidneys. Anyone in martial arts will tell you that the floating ribs break real easy. There about as strong as a pencil. I usually carry a snubbie in an inside jacket pocket. Shoulder holsters seem good, but staying concealed can be problematic if you go in someplace where you want to take off your jacket.
When you see someone riding around in shorts, a wife beater T and filpfops you know one thing certain about them; they never fell over dressed like that or they would not be doing it.

 

[klover]

IWB cross draw for cruiser or rocket.

First bike should be a dirt bike ridden in the dirt.
All bikes upwards of 750cc do take some experience to be safe.
Leathers are smoking hot compared to synthetics.
Stop to one side or the other of the car in front so as to be pushed past when someone rear ends you.
Stay off the oil center especially by intersections.
If it hasn,t rained in a while, a fresh rain will make the oil very slick until some is washed away.
During animal ruts, watch that the one you just missed does not have a close following mate.
Kids playing with a large ball is danger headed for your wheels in the next second.
Leaves or gravel on turns will dump you. People will cut in front, then look in the rear view to see if you are still up on two.
Don't spray lube oring chain. Mineral oil lightly or else watch out for hard chain side turns. Better yet get a shaft drive.

Oh, and enjoy the ride.

 

[Meplat]

I'm working through the decision process on the purchase of a new Suzuki V-Strom 1000 for my commute (will save over $300 a month in gas!).

Great bike, for those lucky enough to have grown a long inseam. Sole means of transport for me is a Kawasaki Concours.

Does anyone here carry while riding, and how?

Yep. OWB under a Joe Rocket Ballistic in summer and good old fashioned leather jacket in winter. Not been extremely happy with my holster to date, started a thread over in the accessories section, and got some very good info there. Am deciding which way to go now as far as a carry rig.

Have you found there to be any other special carry issues while riding a bike?

Err...don't go down? Seriously, I think one must understand that carrying while riding ONLY means that you will have your piece with you when you arrive where you are going. It is NOT going to help you when some road raged SUV cager decides he just doesn't LIKE motorcyclists. I think you should also be aware that while the general public is MUCH more accepting of motorcyclists now than they were when I first started riding (I think in the second year of Harley production), that if John Q. Public sees you straddling that high seat on the V-Strom, and your jacket rides up and he sees your gun, not only have you just "flashed", you've hurt the image of CCW holders AND motorcyclists both.

Lastly and least important -- while I know everybody has an opinion on bikes, fact-based or not -- those who have actual experience, chime in on the risks of motorcycle ownership.
Rich

Ownership is not a risk. Riding is a risk. One I assume fully, even embrace. There is no car I've ever driven that allows me to feel as free as I do, or as connected to the world I'm moving through, as a bike does. Used to ride around 50K a year on UJMs, cruisers, and crotch rockets, and churn up a bit of dust off road. After the third heart attack, that slowed down considerably. I now ride what my whippersnapper YZ racing youngun' used to refer to as my "old man's bike". (I say "used to" because he rode pillion with me not long after I got it, and realized that full fairing or not, a hundred ponies still speak). It ain't the ZX-9R, but then again, I just don't feel like contorting myself anymore (and the ZX was a couch of a crotch rocket).

Although, I do find myself from time to time eyeing the ZX-10R with bad intent. (Que up the Jethro Tull, please) 164 hp in a less than four hundred pound package is pretty awesome. But back to the risk thing...not a good idea even if you are of sound heart....alas.

EDITED after reading a bit futher:

Sorry, I assumed you had some riding experience under your belt. These guys have all made some excellent points about entry level bikes. Very good sense points from protective gear to bikes to start out on. One of the most economical models to own I've ever had from a maitainence/tire standpoint was a '95 Honda Nighthawk. Plenty of go to keep you happy for more than a little while, excellent gas milage, less expensive longer milage tires, no valve checking/adjustments (self adjusting tensioners) and not so powerful as to be an undue menace to yourself. And the goodest part is the fact that you can normally find them with low milage and previously installed Windstar or Memphis Fats shields for under three grand. THAT'S economy. <sigh> Won't be too long though, as Honda stopped making the trusty 750 four.

 

[RonC]

As some others here, I am concerned about having a handgun on my body while riding. I've had 3 'asphalt incidences', two of which sent me flying (even though I am not built like an air foil ). In one case, I flew headfirst into a steel post and then hit the ground hard. My helmet saved my life and my protective gear did just what it is supposed to do. The second crash was a 'high side' and I was launched and came down on the side of my head-face and shoulder, then slid on the asphalt and gravel. The helmet kept me beautiful ) Again, the gear performed its duties and I was uninjured. I can't imagine what would have happened if I had a gun on my body during each of these launches.
On the third crash, my buddy turned into a gravel lot and I followed him. Do NOT hold the front brake while turning into gravel! The front wheel slipped out and my head and helmet hit the ground like it came out of a slingshot. Again, my brain is still intact (although others might argue that point ).
I keep my Kahr MK9 in the tank bag. I don't really think I will need it during a crash. I want it for the motel or camp site, particularly at night. I take the tankbag and handgun into restaurants with me during food stops.
Carrying is a hassle when I go through states that do not have CCW reciprocity with my state. Then, I take out the magazine and lock the gun in one hardbag and the mag in the other.
I put about 12,000 miles a year on my sport-tourer (Yamahaha FJR1300), with two 2000-3000 mile trips a year. I put another 2000-3000 on my dual sport Kawasaki KLR 650, about 1/2 of that on dirt.
The Suzuki DL650 V-Strom is a great bike for commuting, occasional excursions on fire roads, and even a bit of touring. It gets better gas mileage than the VStrom 1000 and is much lighter. I would have one instead of the KLR if I could have afforded it. There is a motorcycle shop in Washington state called 'Sunnyside', that will let you out the door with the DL650 for $4995 - a steal.
Ride and Shoot Safe,
Ron

 

[Meplat]

In one case, I flew headfirst into a steel post and then hit the ground hard.

Ron

Ron, I'm darn sure glad to know you're still here amongst us to ride and shoot another day. The HURT report showed that in the majority of single vehicle motorcycle related fatalities, coming into contact with a solid object was the main cause of demise.

Stay away from the steel posts, bro. We need more freedom loving folks.

 

[Sindawe]

It is NOT going to help you when some road raged SUV cager decides he just doesn't LIKE motorcyclists.

Second that motion. When some nut-case in a cage gets all torque'd up you'll 'prolly not have enough time to stop, draw and aquire target before said nut-case squashes you. For example...

Just heard this one through the local club, hope they catch this guy. Apparently a guy in a black sentra, possibly a spec-v, liscence plate starting with NJ7, intentionally hit some guy on a bike last night. (orlando, arby's parking lot area corner of alafaya and 50). Car would have front bumper/body damage, and an obnoxious muffler.

If you know anything or spot a car like the above, post it here and I'll pass on the info. Anybody who hits a bike on purpose like that needs to get what's coming to them.

Additionally: some people had hypothesized that some guy who posts as "nismo" on a few forums might have been involved, drives a black spec-v, recently stated that he might be bringing a different car to a meet. All conjecture though. Again if you know anything at all, post it up.

Source: http://www.b15sentra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=126716

The cager responsible has been located and will soon have lots of new friends and snappy orange jumpsuit.

On riding, its GREAT fun and cheap on gas. I also second the move to take the Motorcycle Safety Course. When I ride, I make the assumption that:

1: I'm made of GLASS

2. I'm alternately invisible and brightly glowing blaze yellow.

3. EVERYBODY else is out to get me.

 

[RonC]

Ron, I'm darn sure glad to know you're still here amongst us to ride and shoot another day. The HURT report showed that in the majority of single vehicle motorcycle related fatalities, coming into contact with a solid object was the main cause of demise.

Stay away from the steel posts, bro. We need more freedom loving folks.

Thanks, Meplat!!

In the ambulance, the EMT said that my eyes were open but I was babbling. I told him that it wasn't a sign of injury. They tell me that at work all the time.

Ron

 

[Working Man]

It sounds like you'd be new to motorcycles. I strongly recommend taking a good motorcycle training class based on MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) materials. You'll have fun, save a little on bike insurance, and learn good riding skills. If you want to be safe on a bike, get good training, practice braking/swerving regularly until it's instinct, and wear good protective gear from head to toe EVERYTIME you ride the bike. Good gear (designed for motorcycling) will greatly reduce the chance of a serious injury in a crash. A good helmet, mc jacket, mc pants, mc gloves, and boots are the minimum IMO for every ride. You'll see lots of riders with little (or no) protection, but it's their body that'll have the road rash (hopefully no head injuries though, that damage tends to be permanent). You must take responsibility for personal protection. It's your body that will suffer if you do not.

Riding a motorcycle is enjoyable but has a higher risk of injury than driving an auto. You can mitigate much of that risk with training, good gear, and awareness, but it doesn't completely go away. Anyone that says motorcycling is perfectly safe is lying to you. Like most things, it's a risk vs. reward choice. For me, riding lonely backcountry roads is very rewarding especially if they are twisty.

One thing to figure into your monthly commute savings is replacement tires. You won't get (EDIT: much over) 15K miles on a mc tire and it could be under 10K miles depending upon wheather it's the front or back (they wear out faster) and what type of riding the tire is designed for (touring, sport riding, cruising, etc.). Also decent mc tires cost more than decent auto tires especially if you buy them at a shop and pay them to change the tires (I do my own).

PM me if you want to know more. I'm a former motorcycle instructor and have some experience and a few opinions on the subject.

I agree. I did the street bike thing long before I had a truck (or other covered
vehicle) and have to say your awareness is going to be your greatest
protection. It made me a better car/truck driver by making me more aware
of what was going on around me.

I would not go the bike only route though.... hail hurts.... even rain hurts at
the higher speeds.

As far as carry goes, I have my compact .40 HK in the waist down the back
with no worries.

 

[c_yeager]

I think it is better to go with a big cc bike than a small cc bike because if you get the small cc bike you will just end up buying a big cc bike in a year or so. So go for the big cc bike right off. Everyone else in the entire universe says otherwise but that is my 2 cents.

For the record, the Vstrom DL650 makes very close to the same rear wheel horsepower as the S83, and it weighs about 120 lbs less. The DL1000 that the original poster is talking about weighs about 30 pounds more than the 650and makes about nearly 90 horses at the wheel. This is why I am hesitant to recomend the DL1000 to a new rider.

The DL650 is a 420lb bike that is making somewhere around 65 horses with lots of v-twin torque, i really dont think that is going to become a boring bike in the near future. Like I said, guys who drag hard parts at the track on a regular basis seem to remain interested in its cousin the SV650.

You can't really do direct displacement comparisons between different types of motors. A 1400CC air cooled cruiser motor is a very different thing from a sport-tuned liquid cooled motor, even if they are both V-twins. To give you an idea, many racing bodies place the SV650 right into the same class as the air-cooled 1200cc Buells.

 

[Ryder]

It's not so dangerous after a while. I only had a half dozen near death experiences my first year. A few less than that the second year and by year three it dwindled down to one or two a year. Experience teaches you how to avoid bad situations. Been riding accident free since 78 but still have the occasional learning experience. I have had one or two riding seasons that were uneventful but it's not something I'd bet on.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I sell bikes and ride them. I ride a bike everyday that there isn't snow falling or ice on the ground.
First, I have to say that the V-strom 1000 is a great machine that you'll be completely happy with as long as you don't want it to be a superbike.
So, congratulations on your purchase.

As far as carry goes, obviously there are lots of options, as evinced here.

Currently, I wear a Firstgear Kilimanjaro jacket that has eleventeen pockets including a nice pair of lined "map" pockets on the outside. I also throw a messenger bag over my shoulder since I do a lot of writing on my lunch hour and interview people around the area. Carry weapon goes in the bag and I can reach it with my left hand if need be. The Kilimanjaro works great on adventure bikes like the strom since it falls to below the waist, and is water/windproof. http://www.firstgear-usa.com/prod_htj_kilimanjaro.htm
Of course, this is not to say that I couldn't carry on me. I just choose to not carry on me anymore while riding since I don't care for the collateral damage a wheelgun could cause me in a fierce wreck.
Riding with a weapon on you is like walking with a weapon on you. You should already be out of condition white anyway. And, that's pretty much how you ride on public roads: condition yellow or orange. So, carrying a weapon while in traffic isn't an extra worry.
Also, ride wearing a pair of gloves. And, make sure you can operate your weapon while wearing the gloves.
Again, I believe you'll be very happy with the strom, and I hope all your miles on it are happy ones.

my bikes = BMW K100C (my injected commuter), 81 Honda CB900F (carbureted classic) [yes, both are for sale]
I carry a wheelgun on me in .45 long colt, or a CZ85 combat. Winter= wheelgun since I wear heavy gloves, but summer gives me more choices since I wear sportbike style gloves.

 

[stoky]

I've carried in a tank bag before, the advantage being that a hand cannon can be hidden in there that prolly won't become an implant in a crash. Then I got to thinking how stupid am I going to feel if some banger wanna be shows his homies how spunky he is by riffling the tank bag while I'm in the bathroom and I end up looking down the barrel of my own gun.
I think that an often overlooked article of basic safety apparel on a motorcycle is a good pair of boots. In certain situations they can keep you from going down and may be the only preemptive gear that you can wear.
Motorcycling is way dangerous, don't let anyone bs you different. It takes much more knowledge and skill to stay alive than is required to pilot a cage. Frugality,in an of itself is not a good enough reason to ride. Economy is what we tell the sane folks that will never understand the passion that motorcycles have ignited in us.

 

[Firehand]

When weather allows a jacket or vest, my normal carry, either a Fobus paddle or IWB.

When it's too hot for that, either a loose shirt that'll cover it, or a buttpack. I just don't like the idea of leaving it in a tank bag, or somebody seeing me moving it from there to my waist and freaking out.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I own a 1996 Honda Magna and have been riding for about 3 years.
I used to carry(a Makarov) in a shoulder holster under my riding jacket, but found that while it was more comfortable than IWB carry, it was decidedly more difficult to get at when wearing riding gloves.
I've since gone to IWB 100% as it is easier to get at and makes it easier to keep concealed once I reach my destination.

As far as the dangers of riding, as with anything, there are things you can't control. Do what you can to be more noticable and ride defensively. Always follow the laws when possible. I however have a few things that I do that, while not technically legal, give me a slight edge on the roads.
One, I have no qualms about speeding to put space between a cage...I mean car and myself. I usually look for areas with the fewest cars around, then try to stay in them as much as possible.

Second, I ride with my high beam on during the day. Yes, it can cause extra glare and distract other motorists, but I'd much rather be noticed.

Some states may not allow them, so check local laws, but moving lights or light modulators (things that make your bike flash its high beam at a regular interval) can get you noticed.

I'd much rather pay a small speeding ticket or disable a modulator for a court date than get hit by some clown on a cell phone.

 

[Blue Jays]

Hi Stoky-

Please, please, please don't leave that firearm in a tankbag even for a second! If that is where you wish to carry it, just sling the bag over your shoulder if you must go inside or otherwise leave the motorcycle unattended.

~ Blue Jays ~

 

[stoky]

Blue Jays,
Thanks for the advice. I quit carrying in a tankbag some time ago. Lately I've been packing a small revolver in an inside jacket pocket. I think that I'm going to try to work something out with a shoulder holster for a Commander size 1911.

ride safe (formerly ride hard and die free )