Etc.

etc.

FEET FLAT

Inseam challenged? Not to worry, Buell has the bike for you. Seat height for the ’03 xB9S Lightning Low is just 28.6 inches, a full 1.5 inches lower than on the standard model. How’d they do that? By reshaping the saddle and altering the suspension, that’s how. Despite the changes, both bikes share the same suggested retail price: $9995.

HEALTH-CARE HIJINKS

Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin have introduced legislation in Congress that would “promote healthcare coverage parity for individuals participating in legal recreational activities or legal transportation activities.” Should bill number S423 become law, insurance companies could no longer exclude coverage of injuries incurred from such activities as motorcycling, skiing and horseback riding, among others.

A STAR IN THE EAST...

Their T-shirt motto? “My hog is kosher.” Their slogan? “We’re loud, proud, we’re Hebrew.” The guys with the mezuzahs, The Star of Davidson Motorcycle Club (www.starofdavidson.com), made its Daytona debut this past March, along with an estimated half a million other motorcyclists. “It’s the place to go ‘vroom, vroom’,” said Drew Rayman, the club’s founder. “When I was at Daytona last year, I was offended that there weren’t any Jewish bikers, though they had every other conceivable group— Christian bikers, Hells Angels, NeoNazis.” Now a year old, the club currently has 100 members.

ROUNDUP

LAGUNA’S NEW LOOK

Where will the well-heeled watch this year’s AMA and World Superbike races at Laguna Seca Raceway? In the 12 new suites located at the entrance to pit row. Built at a cost of $7.5 million, the two-story facilities were unveiled this past January. Each of the 10 lower-level garages is 16 feet wide and 32 feet deep, and features roll-up doors at both ends.

BIG BRO TO THE RESCUE?

In an effort to “effectively enforce the rules of the road” and curb “hostile and perilous conditions that can lead to tragic consequences,” New York City council members Bill de Blasio and Alan Gerson have proposed installing cameras to track the “kind of show-off driving that many motorcyclists engage in.” The pair claims the use of cameras to apprehend dangerous and aggressive motorcyclists would reduce reckless behavior and crashes, improve the safety of the city’s roadways, and enhance overall quality of life.

STREET SUITE

Now in its 30th year of operation, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has released the Experienced RiderCourse Suite. Skills Practice, License Waiver and Skills Plus are intended to complement the Basic RiderCourse and provide the next steps in improving on-bike proficiency and safety. Including between-exercise discussions, classes last about five hours. The Basic RiderCourse is used in 47 states. For class locations, go to www.msf-usa.org.