Billy Joel’s Dear Long Island Motorcycle Shop is closing after about 15 years after giving a free glimpse to fans in their personal collection of dozens of bikes.
The music icon will shut down the 20th century cycle in New York in late September and auction its collection at the end of this year because due to a brain disorder, according to a spokesman Clair Mercury, they have been diagnosed.
In May, Joel announced He was canceling the upcoming concerts, after learning that he is a fluid buildup in his brain, which can affect thinking, focus, memory, movement and more, Cleveland Clinic. The 76 -year -old singer, musician and pianoist were having trouble with their balance, but otherwise nice, he said in an interview by Bill Maher last month. Club random podcast.
Joel, who was raised in a nearby Hicksville, opened the 20th -century cycles in late 2010 as a place to maintain and repair his motorcycles, bought and customized they bought and customized, which they bought and demonstrated their collections to the public without any charges.
He said, “It is basically promoting a beauty here,” he said 2013 YouTube video Filmed at the shop. “I like the old style. I like automotive style from the ’30s to the 60s. I wanted to gather a full bunch of those types of bikes, placed them in one place and let people see what that era of the bike looks like.
He said that he wanted to bring foot traffic and business for a Ritji Waterfront community, about 25 miles (40 km), about 25 miles (40 km) east of Midtown Manhattan – where the road part contains the 20th -century cycle, named Billy Joel Way in 2023.
“I have been living in this community for a long time,” he said in the video. “I really didn’t get away from here. And I would like to get some interest to go to the city and village.”
The house near Joel on the Center Island is listed at $ 29.9 million, and is living in South Florida, while holding a house in the greens harbor on Long Island.
The shop became a popular stop for motorcycle enthusiasts and tourists. It was home to Joel’s collection of more than 75 bikes, dating all ways in the 1940s and included Harley-Davidson, Triumphs, Ducatis, Moto Gujis, Indians and BMW. One of the most valuable, he said, 1952 was the Vincent Rapide, which, according to the auction sites, could sell tens of thousand dollars and sometimes more.
“I think everyone in Ooster Bay would agree that this is a big disadvantage,” said Ted Bahr, who owns A. Vintage rock poster gallery Next to the 20th century cycle. “Billy’s location is seen on weekend by dozens and dozens of people, usually on motorcycles, but people in cars.
The motorcycles in the shop have already been taken out. But it has been open on recent weekends, selling new, used and old motorcycle parts that were still in stock there.
Joel’s enthusiasm for motorcycles has been for decades. In 1982, he was riding a motorcycle on Long Island when he was hitting a car, running a red light, injuring his left thumb and disliked his right wrist. He spent about a month in the hospital. He has rode motorcycles in various benefits for respondents, breast cancer and other reasons in years earlier.
A date has not been set for the auction of their collection.
Dave Collins, Associated Press