Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Billy Joel is preparing to auction off his motorcycle collection.
The 77-year-old music legend is putting over 70 bikes from his personal collection up for sale at Rétromobile New York in November, with proceeds going to his own Joel Foundation.
In a statement to TMZ, Gooding Christie president David Gooding said: “We are truly honoured to present the Billy Joel Motorcycle Collection, and with what better location than New York City itself, a place so strongly associated with Mr. Joel and his celebrated legacy as one of the most beloved musicians of all time.”
Lots set to be featured in the auction include the Piano Man hitmaker’s 1978 Triumph T140 Bonneville, a 1982 Ducati Mike Hailwood 900, and a 1975 Ducati 750 Sport.
Gooding added: “Billy Joel is one of the most recognized motorcycle enthusiasts in the world and we are thrilled to be presenting his prized collection at Rétromobile NY in November.”
Billy opened his own 20th Century Cycles shop in late 2010 as a site to maintain, repair, restore and customise his collection.
In 2013, he said in a YouTube video: “It’s basically promoting an aesthetic here. I like older style. I like the automotive style from the ‘30s to the ’60s.
“I wanted to collect a whole bunch of those kinds of bikes, put ’em in one place and let people see what that era of bike looked like. Because it’s starting to be a lost aesthetic.”
In August 2025, it was first reported he was looking to sell his collection at auction after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a neurological condition that occurs primarily in older adults.
Earlier this month, Billy revealed he’s now on the road to recovery.
Appearing on SiriusXM’s The Billy Joel Channel, he shared: “I said, ‘Well, what does that entail?’ ‘Well, we drill a hole through your skull and we stick a shunt inside your brain.’ I said, ‘Nah, I think I’ll pass on that.’
“I didn’t want to do that, but then I read up on it and I realised it can help improve your balance and can help your memory. You know, I don’t want to lose my marbles.
“It’s hard to tell what’s age and what’s a condition, so I agreed to do the shunt. I had a surgery and they implanted a shunt in my brain — and it actually improved things.”
Billy has experienced an improvement in his memory and balance in recent times, but he’s still felt it necessary to cut back on his work schedule.
The chart-topping singer said: “The doctors told me this: because of my job, which is playing rock and roll music very loud, that it was giving me something like a concussion every time I did a show.
“It was causing damage to my brain nerves and I could be losing more brain cells the more shows I did and I realised that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now. I got to improve.
“They don’t want me to stress too much, so I’m doing physical therapy. I’m doing whatever it is they tell me to do because I don’t want to lose it, you know? So, I’m always testing myself.”
The award-winning star subsequently reassured fans that he’s “not going anywhere”.
He said: “I know people have heard, ‘Oh, he’s got a brain disorder,’ and I’m okay. I just want people to know, don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I’m still here.”
