Latest news with #20thCenturyCycles
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Billy Joel closing beloved motorcycle shop
Billy Joel is closing his beloved motorcycle shop. The Uptown Girl hitmaker opened 20th Century Cycles on Long Island, New York, in 2010 to maintain, restore, and customise his collection of more than 75 bikes, as well as showcase them to the public for free, but after being diagnosed with rare brain disorder Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus earlier this year, he is set to close the doors on the shop in September, his spokesperson told The Independent. Billy, 76, will also aucition off his vast collection of motorbikes later this year. The bikes that were in the shop have already been moved out, though the store has been open on recent weekends to sell new, used, and vintage motorcycle parts that were in stock. Local residents are disappointed bythe news. Ted Bahr, who owns a vintage rock poster gallery next to 20th Century Cycles, said: 'I think everybody in Oyster Bay would agree that it's a big loss. 'Billy's place is visited on weekends by dozens and dozens of people, typically on motorcycles but also people in cars. People come up and look at the window all the time. I mean, it's a real destination. Billy Joel is a real superstar, and he is a hometown boy, so it's really unfortunate." Earlier this year, Billy cancelled his upcoming tour because of the brain disorder, which has caused problems with his hearing, vision and balance. A statement posted on his Instagram said: "Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance. "Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritising his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage." Billy added his own message to fans, saying: "I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding."
Arab Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Billy Joel closing beloved New York motorcycle shop after brain disorder diagnosis
NEW YORK, Aug 14, (AP): Billy Joel's beloved Long Island motorcycle shop is closing down after nearly 15 years of offering fans a free peek at his personal collection of dozens of bikes. The music icon will be shuttering 20th Century Cycles in Oyster Bay, New York, in late September and auctioning off his collection later this year because of a brain disorder he has been diagnosed with, according to a spokesperson, Claire Mercuri. In May, Joel announced that he was canceling upcoming concerts after learning he has Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a fluid buildup in his brain that can affect thinking, concentrating, memory, movement, and more, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The 76-year-old singer, composer, and pianist was having trouble with his balance but otherwise felt good, he said in an interview last month on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast. Joel, who grew up in nearby Hicksville, opened 20th Century Cycles in late 2010 as a place to maintain and repair his motorcycles, restore and customize ones he bought, and showcase his collection for the public at no charge. "It's basically promoting an aesthetic here," he said in a 2013 YouTube video filmed at the shop. "I like the 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 bikes looked like. Because it's starting to be a lost aesthetic.' He said he also wanted to bring foot traffic and business to downtown Oyster Bay - a ritzy waterfront community about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of midtown Manhattan - where part of the street that includes 20th Century Cycles was renamed Billy Joel Way in 2023. "I've been living in this community for a long time,' he said in the video. "I actually grew up not far from here. And I'd like to get a little interest going into the town and the village.' Joel's nearby home in Centre Island is listed for $29.9 million, and he has been living in South Florida, while keeping a home in Sag 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 back all the way to the 1940s and including Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, Indians, and BMWs. One of the most valuable, he said, was a 1952 Vincent Rapide, which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars and sometimes more, according to auction sites. "I think everybody in Oyster Bay would agree that it's a big loss," said Ted Bahr, who owns a vintage rock poster gallery next to 20th Century Cycles. "Billy's place is visited on weekends by dozens and dozens of people, typically on motorcycles but also people in cars. People come up and look at the window all the time. I mean, it's a real destination. Billy Joel is a real superstar, and he is a hometown boy, so it's really unfortunate." The motorcycles that were in the shop have already been moved out. But it has been open on recent weekends, selling new, used, and vintage motorcycle parts that were still in stock there. Joel's enthusiasm for motorcycles dates back decades. In 1982, he was riding a motorcycle on Long Island when he was struck by a car that ran a red light, injuring his left thumb and dislocating his right wrist. He spent about a month in the hospital. He has also ridden motorcycles in various benefits for 9/11 first responders, breast cancer, and other causes over the years.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Billy Joel's Long Island motorcycle shop set to close
The Brief Billy Joel's Long Island motorcycle shop, 20th Century Cycles, is closing down after nearly 15 years, the Associated Press reports. Joel will be closing the Oyster Bay shop and auctioning off his collection later in the year due to the diagnosis of his brain disorder. A date for the auction has not been set as of this time. NEW YORK - Billy Joel's Long Island motorcycle shop, 20th Century Cycles, is closing down after nearly 15 years, the Associated Press reports. Billy Joel's shop shutting down What we know Joel will be closing the Oyster Bay shop and auctioning off his collection later in the year due to the diagnosis of his brain disorder. Joel canceled his tour earlier this year after being diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a fluid buildup in the brain. A date for the auction has not been set as of this time. 20th Century Cycles The backstory The store, which opened in 2010, was created as a place to repair and upkeep Joel's motorcycles, as well as to showcase his collection of bikes to the public for free. The location is not far from where Joel grew up, in Hicksville. His goal was to bring business to downtown Oyster Bay. The shop quickly gained notoriety from both motorcycle enthusiasts, tourists and fans – it housed Joel's collection of over 75 motorcycles. The Source This article includes reporting from the Associated Press. Solve the daily Crossword
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Billy Joel selling off 75 motorcycles amid brain condition battle
NEW YORK: US pop great Billy Joel will auction the motorcycle collection he maintains in New York state after being diagnosed with a brain condition that forced him to cancel a planned tour, his management said Wednesday. In May, Joel scrapped dates in Britain and a packed schedule crisscrossing the United States from July 2025 up until July 2026 because of a diagnosis of a rare condition, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). "Due to a recent medical diagnosis, Billy will be auctioning off his bike collection later this year," his publicist told AFP. Joel's extensive collection of motorcycles is housed at a shop in the Long Island town of Oyster Bay, where they can be seen free of charge on weekends. "He will not be renewing the lease on the 20th Century Cycles bike shop once it expires late September," the publicist said. The 76-year-old "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "New York State of Mind" legend has been a pop mainstay since the 1970s, and motorcycles have long been part of his public persona. In the hit song's music video, he whisks away an "Uptown Girl" on the back of his motorcycle, and sings about riding a motorcycle in the rain in the song "You May Be Right." His collection includes more than 75 bikes, per the shop's website. "I like the older style," with some motorcycles dating back to the 1940s, Joel said in a promotional video. Joel's condition arises if cerebrospinal fluid cannot properly flow throughout the brain and spinal cord, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The excess fluid and pressure can cause brain damage. The institution said on its website that NPH is rare, and can cause cognitive impairment including memory problems as well as trouble walking. Joel said previously "this condition has been exacerbated by (previous) concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance."--AFP
France 24
2 days ago
- Automotive
- France 24
US singer Billy Joel to sell off motorcycles due to health condition
In May, Joel scrapped dates in Britain and a packed schedule crisscrossing the United States from July 2025 up until July 2026 because of a diagnosis of a rare condition, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). "Due to a recent medical diagnosis, Billy will be auctioning off his bike collection later this year," his publicist told AFP. Joel's extensive collection of motorcycles is housed at a shop in the Long Island town of Oyster Bay, where they can be seen free of charge on weekends. "He will not be renewing the lease on the 20th Century Cycles bike shop once it expires late September," the publicist said. The 76-year-old "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "New York State of Mind" legend has been a pop mainstay since the 1970s, and motorcycles have long been part of his public persona. In the hit song's music video, he whisks away an "Uptown Girl" on the back of his motorcycle, and sings about riding a motorcycle in the rain in the song "You May Be Right." His collection includes more than 75 bikes, per the shop's website. "I like the older style," with some motorcycles dating back to the 1940s, Joel said in a promotional video. Joel's condition arises if cerebrospinal fluid cannot properly flow throughout the brain and spinal cord, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The excess fluid and pressure can cause brain damage. The institution said on its website that NPH is rare, and can cause cognitive impairment including memory problems as well as trouble walking. Joel said previously "this condition has been exacerbated by (previous) concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance."
