A few months back there was an article in the Times Saturday magazine which featured Chris Dabbs. I was shocked to read that he was paralysed. I remember him from many moons ago doing bike tests for WhichBike? – they used to use him to get the best out of a bike, particularly for standing quarters and the like. There was one test that I recall particularly well cos he was well leant over on the then new FJ1100 – he looked like a jockey on a shire horse. And I believe he now writes a column for MCN.

Does anyone know how and when he became paralysed?

quite a while back now........ not sure of the exact date though

Quite high profile at the time; riding a blade when it was brand new in 1992.

One of his best pictures was him from behind on an RD500 well cranked over knee down with the caption 'King Kenny at Redgate or Dabbs at ......' Which bike was actually quite funny & contraversial in it's day.

Very good journalist & still involed in Q&As in MCN.

Im shocked as well...how did he become paralysed?

Like Graham said - big off involving a new 'Blade (I think) no other vehicle and a spinal injury.

Real shame - Chris gave me my first break in writing about bikes when he was on What Bike? working for Mark Williams...

And the best picture of him was head on on a Bimota SB2 with the caption "56 degree burns" - that's how far he was leant over. On a roundabout...

SB

What Bike? working for Mark Williams...


SB


Mark Williams - forget his history but has to be one of the funniest bike writers around, from what I've seen now involved with TBM.
Apart from Dan Walsh I don't think any of the current journalist have such an amusing descriptive slant to their biking lives (choosing my words carefully here not to upset SBradley who probably writes under his 'profesional' name - just hope you're not Rupert Paul).


Graham

ps - pretty sure Chris Dabbs accident was on a blade - remembering it being a bike I aspired to at the time.

Thanks Graham - no, I'm not Rupe. Nice guy though he is...

I write as Simon Bradley, spookily enough. So you'll know if it's me you're offending ;)

SB

Oh, and I meant that I think there was no otehr vehicle involved. Chris was on a 'blade...

SB

I write as Simon Bradley, spookily enough. So you'll know if it's me you're offending ;)

SB

Who do you write for? Gotta admit don't buy bike rags like I used to when I was younger, I buy Superbike, my father buys Bike & we swap at the end of the month.

I'm the editor of MotorbikesToday (http://www.motorbikestoday.com) - the number one independent bike magazine in Europe.

SB

First time I've seen that, thanks for the link, now have it on my favourites.....
STEVE........

simon when you next at the ring do you still teach over there ??

bren had a bad crash not so long ago think he is ok though he is one fast biker pheew !:eek2:

Bren's OK. Well, recovering and will be OK. Nowhere near as bad as it ought to have been.

I've not been for a couple of years, will be going a few times next year I hope. And yes, I'll be coaching again after taking the first trip to remind me where it all goes...

SB

keeep us lot informed of your plans to visit the ring might just come over and get the lines for a safe lap .

what do you think to a 9 min 40 lap on a cb500 standard ground clearence(well at the start of the lapp anyway )

im struggling a bit with whipperman bren showed me once but i keep running wide on the exit always next year.:thumb: