Jim Billis from Athens, TN

Just learned a fellow member from this site has passed.  His name was Jim Billis and I never met him in person but considered him a good friend.
I first spoke to Jim in October of 2022 when I responded to a 76 KZ wheel he had for sale on craigslist. We started to talk about Kawasaki's and he sent me a pic of his bike (see above photo) which he  was in process of restoring but it had not run since the mid-eighties.  I don't remember Jim's UserName on this site and he only posted here a handful of times.  Jim battled prostate cancer that had spread to other areas of his body and unfortunately the cancer won. I too had prostate cancer but am lucky that mine was caught early.  Just a reminder to you older guys (50 and older) here on this site to get your bloodwork / PSA test done every year!
God speed Jim and I will be thinking of you next time I take one of my Kawasaki's out for a spin this spring! 

Thanks for the info...and sad to hear of his passing...yep, watch your prostate, gentlemen.

Jim was in my wedding. Graduated high school together, Pentucket Regional, West Newburyport Ma.
great guy. He’ll be missed.

Jim’s 1000 he bought new, was out to a 1200, don’t recall the cam brand but the lobes were so high the casting “x”s inside the valve cover had to be ground away. Pretty even 1/4 mile until he did that work.

The bike was parked after developing a bad oil leak. Heavy traffic, hot day and 1200 he thought warped the head.

Sorry to hear he passed away.  I don't know why, but for some reason they stopped doing PSA here in BC unless it's specifically requested, and even then you have to pay for it.  I get mine done once a year.

>>>>>>>>>>Sorry to hear he passed away.  I don't know why, but for some reason they stopped doing PSA here in BC unless it's specifically requested, and even then you have to pay for it.  I get mine done once a year.

PSA the only chance you have to survive.
I had prostate cancer, came close to death, doing good now thankful to be alive.
BC is trying to kill off old guys.
 

My doctor said studies showed no increase in survival for people who were tested compared to those that were not tested was the reason they stopped testing.  I still demand the test and my doctor complies.  It only costs about $6 bucks, and that's Canada bucks, worth about a cup of coffee in the US.

There is also the digital test, and I don't mean electronic digit!  Funny story...a couple of weeks ago I heard about a guy in northern BC who gets paid to allow doctors practice on him.  He is the most checked guy in the world!

Glad you're still around restoring Zeds.

Not a easy way to make a paycheck.
I'm a prostate survivor  and the system here in Michigan is wonderful.  Thank God for U of M Hospital
Early detection is key to a long life.
Dave 

It's always sad to see anyone die from prostate cancer. It is a grim reminder of my fate.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in 2015. I've been okay since then but now my PSA numbers are starting to climb up again. The doctor said that there's still a couple of treatments left to try. I'm going to try to get in as many road trips as possible this year. Don't know how many summers I have left.

Like they say start getting tested early.

NSRSRick wrote:

Jim was in my wedding. Graduated high school together, Pentucket Regional, West Newburyport Ma.
great guy. He’ll be missed.

Jim’s 1000 he bought new, was out to a 1200, don’t recall the cam brand but the lobes were so high the casting “x”s inside the valve cover had to be ground away. Pretty even 1/4 mile until he did that work.

The bike was parked after developing a bad oil leak. Heavy traffic, hot day and 1200 he thought warped the head.

After looking back through a text stream I've had with Jim over the last year and a half or so, I noticed he said the cams in his bike were from Megacycle Cams.  Jim recently had his motor "rebuilt" back to stock but never got the bike put back together. He took it to a friend I recommended in Shepherdsville, KY - Tom Zinninger - and they had been working together to get the bike reassembled before Jim fell too ill to continue with the project.  I heard from Tom Z. that Jim's brother in Florida wants to get the bike back together and ride it in honor of his brother.  Anything I can do to help I'm in.  

Hi Wheelhop, I’ve spoken to Steve Billis about Jim’s passing. Not surprised he’s not in a great place right now. Arrangements are in process to get Jim back to Groveland / Haverhill Mass where he lived for 60 years.
I will see Steve at the services and when appropriate will talk about the bike.
Rick