Dabbsy signs off
Former Road Test Editor, occasional racer and long-time staffer, Chris ‘Dabbsy’ Dabbs is leaving MCN at the end of the year after almost 37 years.
Dabbsy joined MCN after a job as a London motorcycle courier morphed into being a magazine photo-session rider. He then became a staff writer on Which Bike? magazine, which later became Motorcycle International.
After accepting the role of MCN Road Test Editor in September 1987 from the late editor Jim Lindsay, Chris broke a leg at Brands Hatch’s Paddock Hill bend the very next morning – leading to him spending his first day at MCN four months later having his plaster cast removed.
Chris’ 10-year testing career included icons like the RD500LC and RG500, as well riding through the era of 16-inch front wheels, and wrestling bulky Suzuki GSX-R1100s and Yamaha EXUPs.
‘Testing career included the first FireBlade’
Having also sampled everything from buzzy 250 and 400cc grey imports, as well as ultimate exotica including Honda’s NR750 and RC30, he also reported from the launch of the first-generation, game-changing FireBlade – filing MCN’s first test.
He kept his hand in on the racetrack, too, and was a regular front-runner in the Harley 883 Sportster British championship, coming third in 1992.
A road-bike crash changed everything in July 1993, leaving Chris in a wheelchair for life. But he returned to work editing Bike before re-joining MCN.
As well as maintaining his love of all things motorcycling, Chris took up sailing and competed in the world championships in Portugal earlier this year.
Thanks very much for the memories, Dabbsy and good luck in the future from everyone at MCN.