With all the gray-market motorcycles on the streets of Beijing and other big Chinese cities, the biggest surprise is why it took Harley-Davidson so long to open its first authorized dealership in this country of 1.3 billion people.

The U.S. manufacturer said on Thursday that it has appointed Beijing Feng Huo Lun as its initial Chinese dealer, with the official opening slated for early April. Additional factory-authorized Harley stores are expected to open later this year and next in Shanghai and other major cities.

The new store, called “Beijing Harley-Davidson,” will sell motorcycles and related Harley products, including apparel and collectibles, and will provide after-sales service. The dealership is located on the Fourth Ring Road, just outside the downtown area in northeast Beijing. FHL has been selling brand-name imported motorcycles in China for more than 10 years.

In addition to sales and service, the dealer, which operates a riders’ club in Beijing, will offer rider training, organized rides and related events.

(this article was taken from edmunds.com)