Billy Joel Motorcycle Auction
Billy Joel Auctions 70 Personal Motorcycles for Charity at New York Sale
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Billy Joel is auctioning more than 70 motorcycles from his personal collection at Gooding Christie’s inaugural Rétromobile New York sale, scheduled for Nov. 20–21 at the Javits Center. Selected bikes will be exhibited at Christie’s Rockefeller Center showroom Oct. 8–12. The collection includes motorcycles by Ducati, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Honda, Yamaha and other manufacturers; highlighted lots include a 1978 Triumph Bonneville gifted to Joel by Madison Square Garden after his 150th sold-out show there, a 1982 Ducati Mike Hailwood 900 and a restored 1975 Ducati 750 Sport. Estimated prices for highlighted bikes range from about $10,000 to $35,000. Joel previously showcased and serviced the collection at his Long Island shop and museum, 20th Century Cycles, which closed in 2025. Proceeds are to benefit The Joel Foundation, which supports music education and the arts.
Key Points
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The motorcycles will be sold without reserve, meaning they have no minimum sale price.
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Joel said he was drawn to bikes made by people who paid attention to detail: “I’ve loved building this collection. Now it’s someone else’s turn to hit the road.”
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The Triumph gifted by Madison Square Garden comes with a matching helmet listing the years and shows Joel played at the venue.
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Newsday reported that Joel had planned to close his shop and auction the bikes following his normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis; he later had surgery to place a shunt to improve his function and balance.
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