From a law enforcement stance: If you possess a ccw from your home state and you are travelling through another, most officers will not bother you. Realistically, if you possess a ccw, then your weapon should be concealed so that it would not be an issue anyhow.
If you want to take it a step further, as previously stated, a small locked container holding the empty pistol (simply remove the loaded magazine and clear the chamber) and put this in your saddlebags, T-bag or whatever means of storage you have, will further indicate your intention to comply(many states recognize this as the proper means of transporting a firearm through the state where you are not a resident).
There is no "need" to inform an officer that you are armed on initial contact. If for some reason he is patting you down, then inform him that you are carrying, where it is, and what type of weapon it is. Do it calmly and allow the officer to remove the weapon, DO NOT attempt to remove it yourself unless directed to do so.
Lawfully and practiced nationally, a law enforcement officer can conduct a "pat-down" frisk of any person(s) he is in contact with or search the immediate area (where a person may have access to)(Terry v. Ohio) if he feels it is necessary. This does not require a warrant or permission. Typically this is only done when circumstances are outside of a routine contact (your actions, comments, etc. are threatening or aggressive or the officer becomes suspicious of your answers and may believe you have or are committing some type of offense).
In addition, there are circumstances where you or your vehicle (MC in this case) can be lawfully searched without a warrant. The most recognized and utilized is pursuant to policy under inventory guidelines. For example, you are arrested (for DWI, operating w/o a license, drugs, whatever) on your motorcycle. If the police elect to tow or impound your motorcycle (car), they can lawfully conduct an inventory search. This policy protects the department against claims of "I had $20,000 in cash stowed in the trunk of my '72 pinto". The one area where they would need a warrant is if they located a locked container (box, briefcase, etc.). Then the police would have to seek a search warrant which would require them to articulate their probable cause of a crime and that evidence of the crime may be concealed in the locked item. For example, if you were arrested on possession of narcotics, it would be fairly easy to articulate that additional narcotics, proceeds ($$) or records or evidence of the crime might be contained in the locked container. However, If you were stopped for theft of hand tool from Home Depot (say a drill), then a warrant would be denied as the drill could not fit in a small (say handgun) size compartment.
All in all, if you are going to carry, just do so responsibly. Don't give law enforcement a reason to stop or frisk you. Then there is no problems whatsoever.