Billy Joel to close Long Island motorcycle shop, auction off collection due to brain disorder diagnosis

Billy Joel is closing his motorcycle shop in Long Island New York and auctioning off his personal collection of bikes as he battles a brain disorder The -year-old singer revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus NPH which affects his vision hearing and balance he stated on social media at the time Joel also canceled all of his tour dates for and through July Earlier this week Joel's representative Claire Mercuri communicated The Associated Press that the music icon will be shuttering th Century Cycles in Oyster Bay in late September and selling his collection at auction later this year due to his biological issue BILLY JOEL'S WIFE REMAINS HOPEFUL AS LEGENDARY MUSICIAN BATTLES BRAIN DISORDERNPH is a condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain It is the majority likely to impact people older than Treating the condition involves surgery to implant a shunt to drain excess fluid from the inside of the skull according to the Cleveland Clinic In his May report announcing his identification Joel noted that the condition had been exacerbated by latest concert performances leading to problems with hearing vision and balance The declaration added Under his medical expert s instructions Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period Joel who grew up in nearby Hicksville opened th Century Cycles in late as a place to maintain and repair his motorcycles restore and customize ones he bought and showcase his collection for the citizens at no charge LIKE WHAT YOU RE READING CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS It s basically promoting an aesthetic here he noted in a YouTube video filmed at the shop I like older style I like the automotive style from the s to the s I longed to collect a whole bunch of those kinds of bikes put em in one place and let people see what that era of bike looked like Because it s starting to be a lost aesthetic The Piano Man hitmaker disclosed he also sought to bring foot traffic and business to downtown Oyster Bay a ritzy waterfront region about miles east of midtown Manhattan where part of the street that includes th Century Cycles was renamed Billy Joel Way in I ve been living in this neighborhood for a long time Joel reported in the video I in fact 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 million and he has been living in South Florida while keeping a home in Sag Harbor on Long Island CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERThe shop became a popular stop for motorcycle enthusiasts and tourists It was home to Joel s collection of more than bikes which date all the way back to the s and include Harley-Davidsons Triumphs Ducatis Moto Guzzis Indians and BMWs Joel noted that one of his greater part valuable bikes was a Vincent Rapide which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars and sometimes more according to auction sites Joel s enthusiasm for motorcycles dates back decades In 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 The singer has also ridden motorcycles during various benefits for first responders breast cancer and other causes over the years A date for the auction of his collection has not been set The Associated Press contributed to this statement