I don't think that will be necessary to show how many friends John had. I was told that many hundreds of people showed up to his funeral. His good friend Paul is in contact with the family and can direct them to this thread when appropriate.
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John Underwood (xsjohn)
- Thread starter Travis
- Start date
I don't think that will be necessary to show how many friends John had. I was told that many hundreds of people showed up to his funeral. His good friend Paul is in contact with the family and can direct them to this thread when appropriate.
cooltouch
XS650 Addict
Regarding paper, the web, and memories pertaining to XSJohn, I believe that one of the best tributes that we could make in his honor would be to collect his comments and advice for the XS into a single compendium. And I propose that it be shared among the XS650 community, the better for us to learn from it. What pains me, almost as much as John's passing, is the possible loss to the XS650 community if we do not attempt to preserve his wisdom. I believe John would approve.
kent_in_kc
Heartlander
Sad to hear.
BiffTirkle
addict
this tragic news has stunned me. i will miss his advice, insight and personality. my heart goes out to his family.
Yamaman, you've said it with with more more poetry, eloquence and feeling than most of us could ever hope to. What a loss - for us in the XS community, all he wanted was for our bikes to run the best they could, and he shared everything he knew about that, again and again, with anyone who asked. I bought a set of his needles for my current '82 before I even had the bike home - he wrote many extra notes on his printed installation instructions, which I thought were pretty thorough just by themselves. He e-mailed me twice to make sure everything went together and worked all right, which it did. I did his timing retard - works great - and his extra inlet in the airboxes. What a generous spirit - too few in the world as it is, and now one less. I believe the best way to honor him is to be as generous in sharing what we know with each other, if maybe only a small fraction of what John knew (which surely is my case), as freely as he did.
Yes, the XS650 has lost one of it's biggest supporters. Like most here, I never personally met him but we corresponded quite a bit both on and off the net. He sent me needles to test and I sent him various parts to help in his experiments. I credit him with single handedly ushering the BS34s into the new century and making them work as they should. Before his custom needles came along, the 34s had a deservedly bad reputation. He will be missed.
I like cooltouch's idea about an XS John post gathering. With some review and editing (not everything he tried worked), it could be very good. Several years back, John was adamantly against running anything bigger than stock jetting. Through his needle development, he eventually discovered the BS34s do indeed need slightly bigger jets to run right.
I like cooltouch's idea about an XS John post gathering. With some review and editing (not everything he tried worked), it could be very good. Several years back, John was adamantly against running anything bigger than stock jetting. Through his needle development, he eventually discovered the BS34s do indeed need slightly bigger jets to run right.
cooltouch
XS650 Addict
Back when 650 Rider was still around, John and I exchanged quite a few PMs. I know I kept 'em all. Guess they're gone for good now, though.
pyrocentric
XS650 Addict
- Messages
- 221
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 18
How did I miss this? Damn I'm taking this hard. He lived near me, I was thinking just the other day I should ride out and meet him.
DetroitMuscle07
XS650 Enthusiast
Terrible news. I wish John's family all the best. May he R.I.P.
When I got involved with this forum, John was one of the first to help with my questions.
To feel the way I do about this loss for someone I have never met in person is hard to wrap my head around. I'm sure many feel as I do. He will be missed, and my prayers will be for his family.
To feel the way I do about this loss for someone I have never met in person is hard to wrap my head around. I'm sure many feel as I do. He will be missed, and my prayers will be for his family.
dlabkeeg
XS650 Addict
Rest and ride in peace.
blue900
XS650 Addict
I just got back from 1 week of Scout Camp.
I saw this post I couldn't believe it, My heart sank. John was very helpful to me as well,
with his needles, and air box mod, and emails/pms and personal encouragement.
Was hoping to try out his 8-1 mod.
God Bless him and his Family.
and I will miss him Greatly.
I saw this post I couldn't believe it, My heart sank. John was very helpful to me as well,
with his needles, and air box mod, and emails/pms and personal encouragement.
Was hoping to try out his 8-1 mod.
God Bless him and his Family.
and I will miss him Greatly.
pumps
XS650 Junkie
Always willing to help out. A great believer in the XS and a great experimenter to coax the best out of the XS. We will miss you old friend. He had his own opinions about a lot of things but that was part of his charm. I always listened to his advice. Ride well old friend. 
txpowdercoater
XS650 Addict
- Messages
- 206
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 16
Rest in Peace John
Kingwj
I know nothing, nothing!
So sad. John was one of the smartest, passionate, opinionated and usually correct guys I ever came across. Rest in peace.
