In a rare interview ahead of the sale of his valuable motorcycle collection, Billy Joel gives a health update.

This singer speaks about living with hydrocephalus, their hopes of performing again, and why more than 70 bicycles are being auctioned at Christie's: 'I wasn't a collector, I was actually a rider.'

Billy Joel wants nothing more than to get back on stage. Whether he can is still an open question.

"I have to do a bunch of tests before I know," he tells The Hollywood Reporter. "I can't drive right now. I'm not allowed to drive."

Joel is speaking ahead of Gooding Christie's auction of more than 70 motorcycles from his personal collection, a decision he attributes to both advancing age and hydrocephalus, a condition that has affected his balance.

He says that his doctors have also advised him to stay off the program for the time being.

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"What the neurologist told me is that every time you do a program, it's like you're getting a concussion," says Joel. He describes a combination of loud noise, light, stress and energy as anxiety. He adds that further tests will help determine whether he can return.

Now, he's preparing to part with the bikes he's collected over decades of riding.

Gooding Christie's will offer the collection without reserve at its New York Rétromobile auction November 20-21 at the Javits Center.

Among the lots is a custom 1978 Triumph Bonneville T140 given to him by Madison Square Garden to commemorate his 150th sold-out show at the venue. Joel plans to use the proceeds from the sale to support the Joel Foundation.

He has little patience, however, for the idea that these were just trophies

"I wasn't a collector," he says. "I was actually a rider."

Why are you selling your motorcycle collection?

Well, I ended up owning over a hundred motorcycles, and the truth is, you can only ride one at a time. I'm now in my 70's and I find that I can't ride like I used to. I don't want to die like a bug on the windshield. So I thought I'd put a bunch of them up for auction.

And also I have a condition called hydrocephalus which makes driving a bit boring. So I figured it was time to pass it on to someone else.

I love motorcycles. I love cycling. I love driving. I love the anonymity of it. And I love customizing these bikes, modifying, messing things up. I wasn't a collector, I was actually a rider. So I thought it was time to let it go.

I read that riding helps you write songs. Is this true?

Well, yes, everything helps me to write songs. But I wrote a song called I Think You Might Be Right, where I said I'd even ride my motorbike in the rain, and people in England were like, 'Yeah, so what?'

But I think people assumed he was drunk or something and riding his bike when he was drinking. I never did that. never I have always tried to be a safe driver, but I love riding motorcycles.

The "Uptown Girl" video ends with Christie Brinkley being taken away on a motorcycle. Is that one for sale?

No, it wasn't even my bike. I think an old Bud-Davidson Harley or something, I'm not necessarily a Harley enthusiast. I know everyone in America loves Harleys, but everyone thinks if you ride a motorcycle, it's a Harley, but it's not.

I love them all. I like Japanese bikes. I like Italian bikes. I like English bikes. I like American bikes. I like Asian bikes. I love them all.

Which crown is the hardest to let go of?

My crown jewel is a Moto Guzzi California Vintage 1100.

I have no damn clue I bought it in 2007 or something. I don't remember the price, they are great bikes, Moto Guzzi are great.

I had not thought about anonymity. You're wearing a helmet and no one knows Billy Joel is driving right next to them.

it is true This is one of the things I love about motorcycling. You are wearing a helmet. You have glasses, no one knows who you are. Just another scam on a motorcycle.

Oh yeah, I had an accident. This was in 1982. I was in Long Island. I was driving on the main road and the light was red for me, but then the light turned green and then a woman on the right side of the intersection ran her red light and I crashed my bike into her car. Both of my hands were broken and my leg was wounded, and I went flying on top of his car. But I was wearing a helmet, boots and gloves.

I pulled the bike out, brought it to a sidewalk. I'm sitting in the corner, a cop comes and goes, "Can I have your driver's license?" And I said, "Can you take it out of my back pocket, because you can't take it?" So he pulls out my wallet and looks at my license and says to the woman running the red light, "Hey lady, you just ran into Billy Joel."

So finally I got a lawsuit notice. He sued me after he ran the red light. I turned and said: Damn you. This is a common thing that happens to motorcyclists. Car drivers are not very good at taking care of motorcyclists.

Did this accident cause permanent damage to your hands?

I still have no bone in my left thumb. And my right arm, my right wrist was pulled out of its socket, and my left hand was broken, and my leg was broken.

Well, my health is good. I have this thing called hydrocephalus. It used to be called water on the brain, so it affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision and your hearing. But I'm fine, they call it a brain disorder, but it's not that serious. It's just something that affects your balance the most.

i don't know I have to do a bunch of tests before I know, but right now I can't drive. I'm not allowed to drive and I can't perform because the neurologist told me every time you do a show it's like you get a concussion.

What about performance causes it?

Volume. Rock and roll is loud, man. Rock and roll had made me deaf. Therefore, light, sound, the stress of the show, the audience, the energy of the performance. A lot happens when you are on stage. And they said, "Well, you really shouldn't be doing that right now." So they have to test me more to see if I can go back and perform again, which I would love to be able to do.

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