Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 5,716,875	$ 5,647,224	$ 5,996,458
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	3,351,796	3,272,330	3,425,997
Financial Services interest expense	193,187	180,193	173,756
Financial Services provision for credit losses	106,870	132,444	136,617
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	1,258,098	1,180,176	1,213,794
Restructuring expense	93,401	0	0
Total costs and expenses	5,003,352	4,765,143	4,950,164
Operating income	713,523	882,081	1,046,294
Other income (expense), net	3,039	9,182	2,642
Investment income	951	3,580	4,645
Interest expense	30,884	31,004	29,670
Income before provision for income taxes	686,629	863,839	1,023,911
Provision for income taxes	155,178	342,080	331,747
Net income	531,451	521,759	692,164
Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	4,981,445	4,925,003	5,281,355
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	3,352,438	3,272,330	3,425,997
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0
Financial Services provision for credit losses	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	1,104,919	1,037,529	1,076,375
Restructuring expense	93,401
Total costs and expenses	4,550,758	4,309,859	4,502,372
Operating income	430,687	615,144	778,983
Other income (expense), net	3,039	9,182	2,642
Investment income	235,951	199,580	187,645
Interest expense	30,884	31,004	29,670
Income before provision for income taxes	638,793	792,902	939,600
Provision for income taxes	85,153	214,175	231,986
Net income	553,640	578,727	707,614
Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	747,432	734,008	726,736
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	193,187	180,193	173,756
Financial Services provision for credit losses	106,870	132,444	136,617
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	164,623	154,232	149,157
Restructuring expense	0
Total costs and expenses	464,680	466,869	459,530
Operating income	282,752	267,139	267,206
Other income (expense), net	0	0	0
Investment income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	282,752	267,139	267,206
Provision for income taxes	70,025	127,905	99,761
Net income	212,727	139,234	167,445
Eliminations
Revenue:
Total revenue	(12,002)	(11,787)	(11,633)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	(642)	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0
Financial Services provision for credit losses	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(11,444)	(11,585)	(11,738)
Restructuring expense	0
Total costs and expenses	(12,086)	(11,585)	(11,738)
Operating income	84	(202)	105
Other income (expense), net	0	0	0
Investment income	(235,000)	(196,000)	(183,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(234,916)	(196,202)	(182,895)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0
Net income	(234,916)	(196,202)	(182,895)
Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Total revenue	4,968,646	4,915,027	5,271,376
Motorcycles and Related Products | Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	4,981,445	4,925,003	5,281,355
Motorcycles and Related Products | Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	0	0	0
Motorcycles and Related Products | Eliminations
Revenue:
Total revenue	(12,799)	(9,976)	(9,979)
Financial Services
Revenue:
Total revenue	748,229	732,197	725,082
Financial Services | Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	0	0	0
Financial Services | Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	747,432	734,008	726,736
Financial Services | Eliminations
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 797	$ (1,811)	$ (1,654)