Bill Roberson
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Author/Co-Author of 61 articles
Please reach out to The Manual editorial staff with any questions or comments about Bill’s work.
What kind of motorcycle should I get? A guide to the best motorcycle types
Looking for a motorcycle? This comprehensive guide walks you through the different types of motorcycles on the market, from baggers to sport bikes.
Throttle Jockey: The Kawasaki H2 and Question One
What is Question One? When it comes to motorcycles, it's the first thing everyone asks: How fast will it go?
Throttle Jockey: Reaching for the far horizon? ADV bikes can get you there
The ADV magic really hits when you circle those three or four days on your calendar, load up the side cases, turn off the phone and seek the far horizon.
Throttle Jockey: New-think scooters will blow away your preconceptions
Don’t tell the bros down at the clubhouse, but I have a soft spot for scooters, especially the new ones.
Throttle Jockey: Brassy, classy Blacksquare CB550 bobber
There's no shortage of custom bike builders these days, but every now and then, you find something special - really special.
Throttle Jockey: Stuart Parr’s collection of dream bikes
Stuart Parr is a film and music producer, and he’s got a thing for vintage motorcycles. Now, part of his collection is on display in New York City.
Throttle Jockey: Honda finally brings the big Africa Twin to the USA
The long wait for a modern dual-sport from Honda is finally over. The Africa Twin arrives early next year.
Throttle Jockey: Mind the (Darien) Gap
The Darien Gap is one of the few places on Earth with no roads through it. Now, a group of ADV riders will try to cross it - along with two continents.
Throttle Jockey: Filling that need for speed
Spring, while not really "in the air" just yet, is approaching, so I'm starting to get that itch that can only be scratched with serious velocity.
Throttle Jockey: Ural still makes ’em like they used to
You love three things: sidecar motorcycles, classic looks and tough-as-Russian-nails performance. Fortunately, Ural motorcycles is here to serve your needs.
Throttle Jockey: Bone up on BMW’s bikes with two new books
Two new books detail BMWs offerings over the years, causing many a show to pile up in my DVR while I soaked in the details of BMW's storied machines.
Throttle Jockey: BMW gets small – and gets dirty
There are two new BMWs headed to showrooms that should pique your interests, no matter what kind of riding history you have.
Throttle Jockey: BMW’s new Scrambler mingles with customs at The One Show
BMW brought a new bike - the R nineT Scrambler - the Portland's One Motorcycle Show, but against this kind of eye candy, it was a wallflower.
Throttle Jockey: 2017 Harley Street Rod, Specs and More
The Harley Street Rod looks much like its Street 750 brother, but it's actually a very different animal in many important ways.
Throttle Jockey: ‘Why We Ride’ explains the religion of motorcycling
What drives millions of Americans to abandon the safety of airbag-filled four-wheeled cars to ride unprotected, unstable, highly-powered motorcycles?
Throttle Jockey: Spring return-to-riding pro tips
If you're like most fair-weather riders, you're probably pretty amped to get back in gear and get back out on the road. But hold on a minute...
Throttle Jockey: High desert getaway
Riding in the Southeast Oregon badlands, you can get very and possibly fatally lost unless you have a knowledgeable guide along on the ride.
Throttle Jockey: A visual tour of the Arlen Ness custom motorcycle museum
Customizer Arlen Ness' bikes were rarely just choppers; they were a mashup of power, aesthetics and innovative form factors. Here's a tour of his museum.
Throttle Jockey: Legacy of the original speed demon
It would not be a stretch to say the original Suzuki GSX-R750 had nearly as much of an impact on motorcycling as the 1969 Honda CB750.
Throttle Jockey: 5 tips for a great motorcycle tour
There is no better way to see the world than on two wheels. Here are some tips to making your motorcycle tour fun, safe and memorable.
Throttle Jockey: New-think ‘UJM’ Hondas that do it all
Honda is working hard to get new riders on bikes, so they've come up with some novel two-wheelers.
Throttle Jockey: Singles therapy on Yamaha’s SR400 retrobike
The retro Yamaha SR400 isn't a lot things. It’s not fast. It’s not loaded with tech. It’s not modern. But all of those things work in its favor.
Throttle Jockey: That special bond between man and Low Rider
Everyone has their Goldilocks bike, a machine that satisfies your lust but adds in something more, something that makes you right with the world.
Throttle Jockey: Triumph Bonneville, the practical modern classic
Technology, when properly married to a classic form factor, can be a wonderful, capable and stylish thing.
Throttle Jockey: Little Big Bikes pack some serious fun
Motorcycle makers used to offer small-displacement bikes that were also big enough for adults. Now, the trend is back. Let's call them Little Big Bikes.
Throttle Jockey: Gilding the lily on a Harley-Davidson CVO bagger
Despite the cost, complexity, and general overkill the 2016 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide provides, I was grinning the whole time I was aboard.
Throttle Jockey: The utterly classic (and new) motorcycles of Royal Enfield
Looking for a motorcycle that's capable, simple, affordable, and classy at the same time? Royal Enfield of India has just what you're looking for.
Throttle Jockey: Harley Rolled out New V-Twin Engine, so We Asked Bill Davidson all about it
It's not every day that Harley debuts a clean-sheet redesign of their primary power plant, so we talked to Bill Davidson about the new V Twin Engine.
Throttle Jockey: relax post-ride with a new book on Indian Motorcycle’s History
Perhaps no American motorcycle brand has as much of a story behind it as Indian. Now, Motorbooks has released a new tome about Indian Motorcycle's history.
Throttle Jockey: the Suzuki SV650 do-it-all fun machine is just right
In the category of Motorcycle That Does Pretty Much Everything Well, the long-running Suzuki SV650 is a perennial winner. For 2017, it's even better.
Throttle Jockey: Motorcycling to the power of three
Think riding a trike is for 5-year-olds? Think again: three-wheelers are packing tech, power, style and improved safety into hard-charging road machines.
Throttle Jockey: Harley’s CVO Pro Street Breakout is low – but not slow
Harley-Davidson is solidly embracing the power-cruiser segment and one of the new entries is the 2016 CVO Pro Street Breakout.
Throttle Jockey: Yell YAHOO in your helmet with Harley’s hotrod Low Rider S
Recently, the folks at the Bar and Shield generously invited me to take a two-day spin on their "new" Low Rider, the sinister and simplified Low Rider S.
Throttle Jockey: Scared of the shifter? Honda’s DCT has you covered
Learning to ride a motorcycle can be like learning to fly a helicopter: every limb and sense is involved in the process. Now, there's a shortcut.
Throttle Jockey: Harley’s expanded Sportster lineup has a bike for everyone
I’ve been trying to stick to the “one bike focus” thing for Spring, but like Honda’s diverse line of bikes with automatic transmissions that we looked at last time, I’m having a hard time picking just one again, especially when it comes to Harley-Davidson’s recently expanded offerings around a single model: the Sportster. We’ve all […]
Throttle Jockey: Tour in high style on the new Indian Springfield
Indian has apparently taken all my advice (or just totally read my mind) and released the Indian Springfield, a full-on vintage touring bike. Let's go!
Throttle Jockey: Motofocus on the go-anywhere Kawasaki KLR 650
Set up with legal knobbie tires and additional carrying capacity, riders around the world have circled the planet on their trusty Kawasaki KLR 650s.
Throttle Jockey: Harley’s classic XLCR lives on in the new Low Rider S hotrod
At long last, Harley-Davidson has resurrected - for the most part - the iconic XLCR "Cafe Racer", but now it's called the Low Rider S.
Throttle Jockey: Get hip with Triumph’s stable of cool new retro Britbikes
Some up-close inspections and seat-of-the-pants impressions indicate that Triumph has likely taken retro to the next level - the performance level.
Throttle Jockey: Triumph pumps up the Bonneville, Thruxton models
Since the re-booted Bonneville and Thruxton arrived in 2001, fans have been asking for more power. Their prayers have now been answered - big time.
Throttle Jockey: Single-cylinder motorbikes simplify a complex world
With rare exception, early motorcycle engines were one-cylinder machines, also known as singles, thumpers. Why are they are still around today?
Throttle Jockey: Hit the streets in style on Harley’s fierce Forty-Eight
Harley-Davidson's sporty line up of middle-weight "Forty-Eight" cruisers are cool, capable and fun to ride.
Throttle Jockey: Rise, Fall and Rise of the 300
250cc too small and 600cc too big? Check out the new crop of 300cc (or so) motorcycles that are just right.
Throttle Jockey: Riding in honor of those who served and died
In 2005, a small group of motorcyclists formed the Patriot Guard Riders, or PGR. Here's why - and how - they honor veterans and others.
Throttle Jockey: Desert dirtbike getaway, Part 2
It's time again for a journey to the far reaches of Oregon's desolate southern corner for some time away from cell phones, work emails and, yes, family.
Throttle Jockey: Italian beauties on parade
Modern tech and the demands of riders today mean that bikes like these are likely to remain artifacts of glory years gone by. Appreciate them while you can.
Throttle Jockey: Just one bike? Yamaha’s FJ-09 triple does it all
One trend I’m happy to see is the return of the “standard” motorcycle, a do-everything bike that can work and play. Yamaha's FJ-09 caught my eye.
Throttle Jockey: Motorcycle myths? Don’t believe ’em
Motorcycling has had more than it’s fair share of negative stories over the years, so here are some myths and truths gathered from behind the handlebars.
Throttle Jockey: dreaming of rides past – and of those to come
Most motorcycle owners own more than one bike, just like most people own different cars over time. Some stick with you long after they're gone.