Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 4,915,027	$ 5,271,376	$ 5,308,744
Financial Services	732,197	725,082	686,658
Total revenue	5,647,224	5,996,458	5,995,402
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	3,261,683	3,419,710	3,356,284
Financial Services interest expense	180,193	173,756	161,983
Financial Services provision for credit losses	132,444	136,617	101,345
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	1,181,641	1,217,439	1,220,095
Total costs and expenses	4,755,961	4,947,522	4,839,707
Operating income	891,263	1,048,936	1,155,695
Investment income	3,580	4,645	6,585
Interest expense	31,004	29,670	12,117
Income before provision for income taxes	863,839	1,023,911	1,150,163
Provision for income taxes	342,080	331,747	397,956
Net income	521,759	692,164	752,207
Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	4,925,003	5,281,355	5,318,850
Financial Services	0	0	0
Total revenue	4,925,003	5,281,355	5,318,850
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	3,261,683	3,419,710	3,356,284
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0
Financial Services provision for credit losses	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	1,038,994	1,080,020	1,078,525
Total costs and expenses	4,300,677	4,499,730	4,434,809
Operating income	624,326	781,625	884,041
Investment income	199,580	187,645	106,585
Interest expense	31,004	29,670	12,117
Income before provision for income taxes	792,902	939,600	978,509
Provision for income taxes	214,175	231,986	300,499
Net income	578,727	707,614	678,010
Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0
Financial Services	734,008	726,736	688,211
Total revenue	734,008	726,736	688,211
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	180,193	173,756	161,983
Financial Services provision for credit losses	132,444	136,617	101,345
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	154,232	149,157	153,229
Total costs and expenses	466,869	459,530	416,557
Operating income	267,139	267,206	271,654
Investment income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	267,139	267,206	271,654
Provision for income taxes	127,905	99,761	97,457
Net income	139,234	167,445	174,197
Eliminations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(9,976)	(9,979)	(10,106)
Financial Services	(1,811)	(1,654)	(1,553)
Total revenue	(11,787)	(11,633)	(11,659)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0
Financial Services provision for credit losses	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(11,585)	(11,738)	(11,659)
Total costs and expenses	(11,585)	(11,738)	(11,659)
Operating income	(202)	105	0
Investment income	(196,000)	(183,000)	(100,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(196,202)	(182,895)	(100,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0
Net income	$ (196,202)	$ (182,895)	$ (100,000)