Transporting Rifle (and pistol) on a motorcycle?

[mwsenoj]

My truck is headed for the shop for some looming repairs. I have two local matches coming up and my truck likely wont be ready for them. Is there any legal way to transport my rifle via an Eberlestock scabbard pack? Also the same question with the pistol.

[riderr]

You can use fully enclosed locked container (not sure you can ride with the rifle size container) or simply rent a car.

[Librarian]

For both Federal GFSZ and CA transport laws you will need a locking case for the rifle - a motorcycle does not have a 'within'.

Handguns always need a completely enclosing locked case, unless you have LTC with that gun listed.

[SickofSoCal]

Slightly off topic, but a few weeks ago I was following behind a guy on a motorcycle blasting down the highway with a padded rifle case strapped to his back.

It was a refreshing sight.

[johnny1290]

This is California. We just had the LAX shooting and a kid shot for a toy gun.

This is no place to mess around. If you try this, there's a good chance you'll get arrested or maybe even shot.

If you can't afford to rent a car, you darn sure can't afford to get arrested.

[FalseProfit]

sad that the above is true

also, in CA the second amendment right doesn't include semi automatic weapons like AK's... so there's that.

[Lucky Scott]

I don't know about the rifle, but I transport my pistols on my bike all the time. It is a Harley Road King with locking side bags. I put the handguns in a locking soft case, then in the hard bags. No problem, basically double locked. Of course, ammo in the other locked bag. I shoot at a police range a lot and have never had a problem.
I have thought about how to transport a rifle, but even a AR upper by itself is too long to fit in the harley side bags.

[socaltrailrider]

I've transported like this a few times. Handgun and range bag are in the top case.

[SJgunguy24]

How many time does this come up and people who've never done it like to give advice?. I've transported shotguns, semi auto rifles, and handguns on my bicycle and public transit. There are no laws stating you cannot. I use a "discreet" black padded case with a small lock. Looks like a keyboard case but every cop out there knows exactly what it is.
One night at 7-11 a cop spotted it and asked me what's in it. I said "what do you think, does it matter it's locked." He just looked at it and kept going.
Your not hiding anything, they don't really care unless you are trying to hide something.

[SGTKane]

I used to ride my Triumph out to Sac Valley all the time. I had a dark green soft case that I'd wear strapped to my back to transport the rifle, with a small luggage pad lock through the zipper. The pistol went unloaded in the rear compartment, and the ammo was in the saddle bags.

I was stopped once for excessive speed (leaving Rancho Murieta) and the only comment the officer made was that I should (not must, but should) disconnect the upper from the lower, store the lower with the pistol, or in one of the saddle bags.

His reason for the advice was he wasn't 100% sure that the case I was using was legal or not and another officer might take things further. He still wrote me up for doing 45 in a 35.

Which is the bigger point. If you are on a bike, you have to be extra careful not to give them a reason to stop you. And that applies even if you aren't carrying.

Thats the only thing I hated about riding my motorcycle in CA, the cops really went out of their way to screw with you.

[SJgunguy24]

I used to ride my Triumph out to Sac Valley all the time. I had a dark green soft case that I'd wear strapped to my back to transport the rifle, with a small luggage pad lock through the zipper. The pistol went unloaded in the rear compartment, and the ammo was in the saddle bags.

I was stopped once for excessive speed (leaving Rancho Murieta) and the only comment the officer made was that I should (not must, but should) disconnect the upper from the lower, store the lower with the pistol, or in one of the saddle bags.

His reason for the advice was he wasn't 100% sure that the case I was using was legal or not and another officer might take things further. He still wrote me up for doing 45 in a 35.

Which is the bigger point. If you are on a bike, you have to be extra careful not to give them a reason to stop you. And that applies even if you aren't carrying.

Thats the only thing I hated about riding my motorcycle in CA, the cops really went out of their way to screw with you.

Generally i'm on my bicycle and don't get messed with too often. If he ever had any questions about the legallity of your case, just look it up on your smart phone. It says "Locked container, the trunk of a car is a locked container". Your locked bag, is a locked container. I had a buddy (cop) whip out his knife. OK, so what's the difference with me using my snips to cut through your trunk to get your select fire? Both are locked and need tools to defeat.
Is there anything different between the two within the law? No.