Famed artist Billy Joel is slowing down and taking things easier. The star, who relatively recently received a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, has canceled his concerts through mid-2026. Now, his 20th Century Cycles motorcycle collection, which contained over 75 motorcycles, will close in September. Then, the bikes will be auctioned off to new owners. You still have a chance to get out to this free museum. But if you miss your chance, you’ll soon be able to own a piece of Billy Joel history. Let’s dig into it.
This news comes to us from our friends at RideApart. The Autopian finds transportation museums of all kinds crucially important to preserving the pieces of transportation history. If it weren’t for the countless museums around America, so much history would be lost, and a lot of that history doesn’t even have proper documentation or photography that regular people can view online. We aren’t actively looking for closing museums, but we’re deeply saddened when we see news about them. We’d rather tell you about these museums now and at least give you one last chance to see them.
Sadly, the world hasn’t been kind to museums, and we’ve lost too many to post-pandemic troubles, deaths of their founders, property management troubles, and more. Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom. I do write about active museums when I find and visit them! A new motorcycle museum just opened near me, and you’ll read about that one soon.
Before I do that, I do want to write about a motorcycle shop and museum that is closing, but will be open for roughly another month, so there’s still a chance to stop by. If you’re a fan of motorcycles and Billy Joel, 20th Century Cycles in Oyster Bay, New York, sounds like it should be a stop this fall.
A Music And Moto Legend
If you’re not already a fan of Billy Joel, he has a handy biography on his website:
Having sold more than 150 million records, Billy Joel ranks as one of most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in the world. Throughout the years, Joel’s songs have acted as personal and cultural touchstones for millions of people, mirroring his own goal of writing songs that “meant something during the time in which I lived … and transcended that time.”
Billy Joel has had 33 Top 40 hits and 23 Grammy nominations since signing his first solo recording contract in 1972. In 1990, he was presented with a Grammy Legend Award. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992, Joel was presented with the Johnny Mercer Award, the organization’s highest honor, in 2001. In 1999 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and has received the Recording Industry Association of America Diamond Award, presented for albums that have sold over 10 million copies.
Joel is perhaps best known for hits like ‘Piano Man‘ and ‘New York State of Mind,’ the latter of which rose to such a level of fame that Joel is nicknamed the Piano Man.
Joel is famous for lending his name and support to charitable causes, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, charities for 9/11 first responders, charities for breast cancer research, Stomp Out Bullying, Love Our Children USA, and more. He, like many artists, has put forth an effort to advance the arts.
In May, Joel announced that he is canceling all remaining tours for 2025 and through half of 2026. The reason? Joel said that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). He’s been open about his health, which has the byproduct of teaching America about a condition they might not have known about. From the Hydrocephalus Association:
The Hydrocephalus Association extends its heartfelt support to Billy Joel and his family following his recent announcement of a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). We commend Mr. Joel for his courage in sharing his health journey, which brings much-needed awareness to this often misunderstood and under-diagnosed condition.
NPH is a neurological disorder characterized by an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles, leading to symptoms such as difficulty walking (gait disturbances), cognitive challenges often confused as Alzheimer’s, and urinary incontinence. It typically impacts individuals age 60 and over. Often referred to as a “treatable dementia,” NPH is one of the few conditions that can potentially be reversed with appropriate treatment. The standard treatment involves the surgical implantation of a shunt system to drain excess fluid from the brain, which can lead to significant improvements in symptoms for many patients.
Hydrocephalus Association President and CEO, Diana Gray, stated, “One million Americans live with hydrocephalus, the majority of whom have normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Sadly, many older adults are either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as having Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson’s Disease and may never have the opportunity to get the appropriate treatment they deserve.”
Last week, ABC News reported that, as part of Joel’s winding down, he’s also closing his 20th Century Cycles. The facility, which opened in 2010, has served as a free motorcycle museum where any person of all walks of life could check out Joel’s awesome collection of over 75 motorcycles. Joel also wanted the shop to be a gathering place for all who love motorcycles. Here’s what Joel has written about his shop:
20th Century Cycles is the culmination of Billy Joel’s love of motorcycles and his passion for motorcycle design. Since, in his opinion, he believes that vintage motorcycles look better and, since he also is aware that modern motorcycles tend to work better, all of the bikes in the collection have been transformed in one way or another into rideable, practical machines with a nod toward the past.
The shop, as it stands today, was born out of necessity: the need for space. As the collection grew it became apparent that in order to properly build, store, and service the 75+ bikes in the collection a larger, more accommodating facility was needed. The perfect shop was found where we could do all of the things mentioned plus share the collection with the public.
20th Century Cycles does not sell or maintain bikes outside of the collection. Nor do we sell parts or accessories. We are here to simply maintain and augment the collection and share it with the motorcycling community.
The Collection
As you can guess, 20th Century Cycles is mostly filled to the brim with motorcycles from a bygone era of riding. According to ABC News, Mr. Joel has a collection of “Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, Indians and BMWs.” So, if you love motorcycles, there will almost be something in there that you’ll like!
A date for the upcoming auction has not been set yet. Nor does there even appear to be an auction house chosen yet. It’s also not known how much of the collection will be sold. However, 20th Century Cycles does have pages detailing what’s in the collection. According to ABC News, one of the flagships of Joel’s fleet is a 1952 Vincent Rapide.
As the story goes, in 1917, British Royal Flying Corps pilot and motorcycle racer Howard Raymond Davies was shot down during World War I and taken prisoner by the Germans. It’s been said, although not confirmed, that when Davies was in German custody, he designed a motorcycle. In 1924, Davies finally turned his motorcycle ideas into a reality. Davies joined forces with engineer E.J. Massey, forming HRD. Those motorcycles were successful racers, but a sales failure. HRD folded in 1928.
Motorcycle enthusiast Phil Vincent picked up a ton of assets from HRD, eventually forming Vincent HRD. At first, Vincent HRD paired Vincent’s innovative inventions with the engines of other manufacturers. When those engines failed, Vincent decided that his company needed its own engines. That’s where Australian engineer Phil Irving got to work and, in three months, designed a high-performance 499cc single-cylinder engine.
One of Irving’s innovations was a guide system for each valve that was designed to eliminate the common valve failures of the day. Vincent HRD would become known for speed, with the Irving single-powered Vincent HRD Meteor and Comet riding to a claimed top speed of 90 mph. That was all on 1930s technology, too! In 1936, Vincent released the Rapide, which raced to 110 mph thanks to a 998cc V-twin. As Silodrome notes, the Rapide was born after Irving put two drawings of the Meteor’s single-cylinder engine together, forming them into the now-familiar V-twin. The Rapide was such a high-performance machine that, reportedly, Vincent recommended tearing down the engine every 1,000 miles for maintenance.
In other words, it’s a worthy flagship bike for someone who adores motorcycles from the 1930s to 1960s, as Billy Joel does. Let’s take a look at some of the rest!
Royal Enfield Scrambler
1960 BMW R60 With 1975 R90/S Drivetrain “Wehrmacht Gespann”
1999 Kawasaki Drifter
1982 Moto Guzzi V50 Monza
1975 Ducati 750 Sport
Harley-Davidson Panhead
1979 Triumph T140
If you’re looking to visit 20th Century Cycles, it is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for now. According to ABC News, the shop will be closing in “late September.” That probably means you have a month to get there. But it appears that no definitive closing date has been set.
Regardless of what happens to this motorcycle collection, my heart goes out to you, Billy Joel. I cannot imagine having to stop doing what you love. I wish Joel easier times ahead and a strong recovery! As I’ve said before, vehicles can be replaced, but you cannot. Take it easy and take care of yourselves, everyone.
(Topshot: 20th Century Cycles/YouTube Screenshot)
As if I needed a motive to love this guy even more, I learned he shares his collection with anyone, instead of hoarding it away somewhere.
Hope his recovery goes well.
The old man’s started scaling his collection back-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack
… you should’ve known by now.
No more time for rides with a loaded pack.
At least he can polish the fenders.
What a shame.
He hasn’t even had a chance to crash some of these.
My aunt has this and is getting a shunt put in a few days from now. She was happy to tell me she didn’t have Alzheimers, she had this. Then she told me to tell my mother. My mother’s been dead nearly 10 years. I really hope the operation works, but what I’ve read isn’t terribly encouraging.
As someone who is going through stuff with my wife, please know I am praying for your aunt’s recovery.
Thanks, and the same to you. Brain diseases are particularly cruel, though at least this one has sort of a fix, unlike other forms of dementia.
Aw, sad to hear about it. Never really had any thoughts about him before, but I’ve now learned that a) he sometimes plays Weird Al’s “Still Billy Joel To Me” at concerts and b) he has fun taste in bikes.
(Also, psst! “Piano Man” is the former not latter song here.)
I love Billy’s music and I love his bikes. I wish him well. “Even rode my motorcycle in the rain. And you told me not to drive, but I made it home alive. So you said that only proves that I’m insane.”
…”but it just might be a lunatic you’re looking for”. Love the man and his songs. Best wishes to you Billy!
Hydrocephalus is so devastating. This collection is most awesome and makes me love Billy Joel just a little bit more.