Many motorists in the United States prefer to hit the road with a firearm in their vehicle. However, even if you’re one of those gun owners, you might prefer to ride a motorcycle than drive a car. So, can you ride a motorcycle with a concealed or open carry gun in a holster? And if you can, how do you do it safely?

You can legally ride a motorcycle with an open-carry or concealed-carry gun in many states, but you might want to consider a few things

Many states, like Texas, Florida, Colorado, or Kentucky, will allow you to carry a gun on your motorcycle in either an open or concealed context. However, you might want to consider a few things before you do.

• Consider your state’s laws regarding transporting a firearm aboard a vehicle
• Your state might not allow you to ride with an open-carry firearm
• Appendix, hip, or shoulder-holstered weapons could crack bones in the event of a crash
• Depending on the retention classification, a holster might not be suitable for riding
• Some businesses might not allow firearms, like “51%” establishments

First and foremost, riding a motorcycle with a concealed-carry or open-carry gun requires an awareness of state laws. For instance, Colorado won’t allow motorists to hit the road with a handgun that has a loaded chamber. However, Texas will allow motorcycle riders to open carry a gun without a license to carry (LTC). 

As you might imagine, a steel firearm is stronger than, well, your ribs or pelvis. As a result, if you put your bike down or crash, that firearm finds the path of least resistance. Hopefully, it’s out of your holster. However, if you ride with a large firearm, like a K-Frame revolver, in a level three shoulder holster, it may break your ribs.

While a Kydex outer waistband holster (OWB) might be sufficient for a concealed-carry gun, it might not suffice for motorcycle riding. Riding is an involved process, and a low-retention holster might result in you dropping your firearm on the highway. 

Beyond riding a motorcycle with a firearm, you might not be legally allowed to carry your gun into certain establishments. For instance, if a Texas establishment makes 51% or more of its revenue from alcohol sales, it’s illegal to carry inside. It makes sense, too; the state doesn’t want intoxicated people brandishing a firearm.