Why is Billy Joel selling his 70 motorcycles at Gooding Christie’s Retromobile New York auction? Rock icon breaks silence

Singer Billy Joel has shared a health update. He said that he is eager to make a return on the stage, but his doctors have advised him to stay away from performing. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the legendary rock icon said he needs to undergo a series of tests and he is unable to drive right now. “I have to take a series of tests before I know,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I can’t drive right now. I’m not allowed to drive,” he said. Joel’s remarks came ahead of a Gooding Christie’s auction.

Joel, 77, has put up 70 motorcycles for sale at auction from his personal collection. He has attributed the decision to his age and also hydrocephalus. This is a health condition that has affected his balance.

“What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion,” Joel told The Hollywood Reporter. While describing his concerns, he said it's a combination of extreme sound volume, lighting, stress, and energy as the concern. He further stated that he requires further testing to determine whether he can return or not.


As of now, Joel, popularly known as "Piano Man," is gearing up to part his ways with bikes he has accumulated over decades of riding. The collection will be offered without reserve by Gooding Christie’s during the inaugural Retromobile New York auction. It is scheduled for November 20 and 21 at the Javits Center. The collection includes a custom 1978 Triumph Bonneville T140. He received it from Madison Square Garden when he commemorated his 150th sold-out show at the venue.

Joel is aiming to use proceeds from the sale to support the Joel Foundation. “I was not a collector,” he said. “I was actually a rider,” he further explained.

Why is Billy Joel selling the motorcycle collection?

During the interview, Joel explained his decision to sell his motorcycle collection. He said that currently he has over a hundred motorcycles, and he can only ride one at a time. Citing his age, the 77-year-old rock icon said,

“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. So I thought I’d put a lot of them on auction. And also I have a condition called hydrocephalus, which makes driving a little bit iffy. So I realized it’s time for me to turn it over to somebody else.”

“I love motorcycles. I love biking. I love driving. I love the anonymity of it. And I love the customization of these bikes, the modifications, and the messing around with things. I was not a collector. I was actually a rider. So I figured it was just time to let it go,” he further stated.