“The impact pulverized the bone in my left thumb and pulled my right wrist out of its socket,” said Billy, “I’m bleeding, my hands didn’t work, and a police officer asks me for my license. He struck a motorist who turned in front of him near his home on Long Island, landing him in hospital and totalling his new 1979 Harley-Davidson XLCR. In 1977, Billy bought his first bike, a Yamaha 400 Special but then in 1982 his career on the keyboard nearly ended. You’d be forgiven for thinking that riding motorcycles would be a hazardous pastime for a man who earns his very substantial living with his hands. “It’s a beautiful British bike, very hard to find and very rare,” says Billy, “I don't even ride that bike. The most valuable bike in the collection, Billy thinks, is his 1952 Vincent Rapide. A BTH magneto, D Hills center stand and external breather system and fresh wiring make this a bike that can be used with regularity. This ’52 Vincent was built as a reliable daily rider. The shop has made special, hand-built bikes for the fellow New Yorker including a Moto Guzzi and a Kawasaki, but most of the shop time is dedicated to maintaining the private collection. One famous ‘customer’ is Billy’s long-time music pal, Bruce ‘The Boss’ Springsteen. I like the style from the ‘30s to the ‘60s,” says Joel, “We’ve put the whole collection here so that people can see what that whole era of bikes looked like.”Ģ0th Century Cycles occasionally produces custom bikes to order. “We’re promoting an aesthetic here (in the museum/workshop). The ground-breaking Japanese machines from the likes of Yamaha and Honda from the ‘70s are also on show. Moto Guzzis are clearly a favourite, so are BMWs, Indians, Triumphs, Ducatis and lesser-knowns marques like Vincent and BSA.
Plus there are some cruisers like Harley-Davidsons and stock standard machines too. Instead, the now 70-year-old prefers so-called ‘bobbers’ and ‘cafe racers’ and the more refined, retro machines of the mid-20th century. Joking or not, you won't find any of those highly customised, brutish machines in Billy’s collection. that was the beginning of the end for the chopper.” At a media event in his store, he is quoted as saying to the assembled media: “Choppers are dead. Glancing over the museum floor, it is clear that the collection of around 70 bikes closely reflects Billy’s taste for motorcycles, assembled over more than 30 years. This otherwise unassuming white-washed building, across the road from the little town’s railway museum, houses a most considerable collection of motorcycles owned by the famous performer.įor a man who has made a fortune writing and performing some of the most memorable songs of the last century, he is just as comfortable discussing his passion for two-wheeled machines as he is his long list of hit songs. Tucked away in the sleepy Long Island, New York state village of Oyster Bay in a classic early 1900s storefront, is 20th Century Cycles. Utoolmart 5 Pcs 10x10mm Flap Wheel 180 Grits Abrasive Grinding H5,Flap,Industrial Scientific, Abrasive Finishing Products, Abrasive Wheels Discs,10x10mm,Wheel,Abrasive,$2,Pcs,/cartable1902783.html,Grits,$2 Utoolmart 5 Pcs 10x10mm Flap Wheel 180 Grits Abrasive Grinding H Industrial Scientific Abrasive Finishing Products Abrasive Wheels Discs $2 Utoolmart 5 Pcs 10x10mm Flap Wheel 180 Grits Abrasive Grinding H Industrial Scientific Abrasive Finishing Products Abrasive Wheels Discs Utoolmart 5 Pcs 10x10mm Flap Wheel Max 69% OFF 180 Grinding H Abrasive Grits Utoolmart 5 Pcs 10x10mm Flap Wheel Max 69% OFF 180 Grinding H Abrasive Grits 5,Flap,Industrial Scientific, Abrasive Finishing Products, Abrasive Wheels Discs,10x10mm,Wheel,Abrasive,$2,Pcs,/cartable1902783.html,Grits,knows Billy Joel and his catchy tunes like “Piano Man” and “Uptown Girl”, but not everyone will know the best-selling singer-songwriter is a confirmed aficionado for classic motorcycles.
When you’re in the gallery and want to get the UHQ.Ĭaitriona Balfe Uptown Girl Video Trial Scientific Abrasive Outlander's Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan on Their 'Slightly Awkward' Love Scenes. Outlander makes its long-awaited debut on Starz tomorrow night at 9 p.m. Utoolmart 5 Pcs 10x10mm Flap Wheel Max 69% OFF 180 Grinding H Abrasive GritsCaitriona Balfe, Actress: Ford v Ferrari. To make them easier for you to find here is a list of the galleries with links to get to them. CAITRIONA BALFE UPTOWN GIRL VIDEO TRIAL SCIENTIFIC ABRASIVE