By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

When I picked up my brand-new TL1000R way back in 2000, I was totally stoked, but I was also nervous as hell. And my nerves were not soothed by the lecture I got from the mechanic. After telling me not to ignore the break-in routine, he started by firing off a long list of ways I could kill myself on the bike. I can still remember exactly how his voice sounded when he said, “and then you die.” After that, he told me stories of trashed bikes that had come in to his shop, and the injuries their owners sustained during the wrecks. He concluded by telling me the new tires would feel fine, unless it started to rain. Then it started to rain. Damn, could this idiot have used a lecture like that…

Suzuki’s GXR1000 and Yamaha’s R1 are incredible machines, and both pack more power than virtually anyone can handle—but there’s nothing like a Ducati. The company is calling the new 1098R the "most advanced, most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycle ever built," and they aren’t joking. With a weight of 364lbs and 180 horsepower engine, the bike is mind-numbingly powerful, but it’s the laundry list of MotoGP parts—eight-stage traction control, digital dash, independent ride height adjustment mechanism—which really make it sing. This baby was born to win races, and if Ducati’s recent success in Qatar is any indication, it’s going to deliver in a big way. Get all the details over at Gizmag.

What do you get when you combine a 48 year old FWD British roadster and a Suzuki GSX-R drivetrain? The Berzerkeley, GRM’s crazy project car that they will be showing off at the Performance Racing Industry show in a few days. This project will be finished and run for exhibition at the $2008 Challenge next year. More details on the build at Grassroots Motorsports.