Billy Joel to Auction 70+ Motorcycles as Health Struggles Mount
Billy Joel is parting ways with more than 70 vintage motorcycles from his personal collection, a decision the legendary singer announced in a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter on October 15. The auction, set for November 20-21 at the Gooding Christie's Rétromobile New York auction at the Javits Center, will offer the bikes without reserve. But the sale is more than a collector thinning his herd—it is a stark marker of a health crisis that has forced Joel to step back from both the road and the stage.
"I'm into my 70s now, and I realized I can't ride as much as I used to. I don't want to die like a bug on a windshield," Joel told THR. "So I thought I'd put a lot of them on auction." He added that his neurological condition makes riding "a little bit iffy" and that "it's time for me to turn it over to somebody else."
The announcement comes as Joel, 77, continues to grapple with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder that has already derailed his touring plans and now affects his daily mobility.
Health Update: 'I Can't Drive Right Now'
In the same interview, Joel revealed that he is currently unable to drive. "I can't drive right now. I'm not allowed to drive," he said, explaining that a neurologist told him that "every time you do a show, it's like you're getting a concussion." The cumulative effects of performing—loud volume, intense lighting, and high energy—have exacerbated his condition, leading doctors to advise him to step away from live performances for now.
Joel's diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus was made public last year when he canceled his previously scheduled 2025-2026 tour. A statement on his website at the time explained that the disorder had "been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance" and that he was undergoing physical therapy under his doctor's instructions.
The condition, which involves an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles, can cause gait disturbances, cognitive impairment, and incontinence. Joel has been candid about its effects: "It affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision, your hearing," he told THR. Yet he has also sought to reassure fans that the disorder is not as dire as it sounds. "I know people are worried about me because they read that I have a brain disorder, which sounds a lot worse than it actually is," he said on SiriusXM last month. "I'm okay. My balance isn't that good. Lost a little bit of my hearing, but that may have to do with my age, too, and the rock and roll life and the loud volume probably didn't help. But I'm fine. I want people to not have to worry about me. I'm okay."
A Lifelong Passion Comes to an End
The motorcycle auction represents the closing of a significant chapter in Joel's life. For decades, the "Piano Man" singer has been an avid collector and restorer of vintage motorcycles. For 15 years, he operated 20th Century Cycles, a shop on Long Island that stored and serviced his bikes and doubled as a free museum showcasing his collection. The shop shuttered in 2025.
"I was not a collector. I was actually a rider," Joel told THR, emphasizing that his passion was always about being on the road rather than accumulating machines. That distinction makes the sale particularly poignant: the bikes are not merely assets to be liquidated but artifacts of a lifelong love that his health no longer allows him to pursue safely.
The collection, which will be offered without reserve, is expected to draw significant interest from motorcycle enthusiasts and Billy Joel fans alike. The Gooding Christie's Rétromobile New York auction is a high-profile event that typically attracts serious collectors, and the provenance of Joel's bikes—many of which he personally restored—could drive prices well beyond typical market values.
Touring Future Remains Uncertain
When asked about when he might perform again, Joel was unequivocal: "I have to take a series of tests before I know." The singer did not offer a timeline for those tests or for any potential return to the stage. His last major performances were in 2024, including a show at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, before he stepped away from the road.
The uncertainty surrounding Joel's touring future is a significant blow to the live music industry. Joel has been one of the most reliable concert draws for decades, particularly with his long-running residency at Madison Square Garden, which he concluded in 2024 after an unprecedented 150 shows. His absence leaves a void in the classic rock touring circuit that will be difficult to fill.
Joel's health struggles also come amid a broader conversation about the toll that decades of performing can take on aging artists. The neurologist's comparison of a show to a concussion underscores the physical demands of live performance—something that fans often overlook when they see their favorite musicians on stage.
A Candid Reckoning With Mortality
Joel's comments to THR reflect a man taking stock of his life and limitations. "I don't want to die like a bug on a windshield" is a stark acknowledgment of the risks that riding motorcycles now poses given his balance and vision issues. It is also a recognition that the activities that once defined him may no longer be safe.
At the same time, Joel has been careful to manage public perception of his condition. His SiriusXM remarks in September were aimed at calming fans who might have feared the worst after reading about his brain disorder. "They call it a brain disorder, but it's not that serious. It's just something that affects your balance," he said.
That balancing act—between honesty about his limitations and reassurance that he is okay—has characterized Joel's public statements since his diagnosis. The motorcycle auction is the most concrete manifestation of that reckoning: a public, irrevocable step away from a passion that his body will no longer allow him to pursue.
What the Auction Signals for Fans and Collectors
The November auction will be a major event for the vintage motorcycle community. Joel's collection is known for its quality and breadth, and the no-reserve format means that every bike will find a new home, regardless of price. For collectors, the opportunity to own a motorcycle restored by Billy Joel himself is a rare proposition.
For fans, the auction is a bittersweet milestone. It marks the end of an era—not just for Joel's hobby, but for his career as a whole. While the singer has not formally announced his retirement, his comments suggest that a full return to touring is far from guaranteed.
Joel's legacy as a songwriter and performer is secure. With hits spanning from "Piano Man" to "We Didn't Start the Fire," he has cemented his place in the rock and roll canon. But the image of a 77-year-old man selling off his motorcycles because he can no longer safely ride them is a humanizing reminder that even rock stars are subject to the ravages of time and illness.
The auction will take place on November 20-21 at the Javits Center in New York. Whether Joel will ever perform again remains an open question—one that will be answered, if at all, only after a series of medical tests that he has yet to complete.
Comments