Asset-Backed Financing - Servicing Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Transfers and Servicing [Abstract]
Current unpaid principal balance - On-balance sheet serviced retail motorcycle finance receivables	$ 6,500,938	$ 6,360,907	$ 6,500,938	$ 6,360,907	$ 6,185,350
Current unpaid balance - Off-balance sheet retail motorcycle finance receivables	43,938	93,147	43,938	93,147	79,613
Current unpaid balance - Total serviced retail motorcycle finance receivables	6,544,876	6,454,054	6,544,876	6,454,054	6,264,963
Delinquent unpaid balance - On-balance sheet serviced retail motorcycle finance receivables	217,712	204,574	217,712	204,574	228,015
Delinquent unpaid balance - Off-balance sheet serviced retail motorcycle finance receivables	954	1,767	954	1,767	1,658
Delinquent unpaid balance - Total serviced retail motorcycle finance receivables	218,666	206,341	218,666	206,341	$ 229,673
Credit losses, net of recoveries - On-balance sheet serviced retail motorcycle finance receivables	30,167	24,005	85,930	71,478
Credit losses, net of recoveries - Off-balance sheet serviced retail motorcycle finance receivables	(18)	230	375	729
Credit losses, net of recoveries - Total serviced retail motorcycle finance receivables	$ 30,149	$ 24,235	$ 86,305	$ 72,207

Assets And Any Other Financial Assets Managed Together, Delinquent Amount At End Of Period

No definition available.

Name:	hog_AssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherDelinquentAmountAtEndOfPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	hog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Assets Securitized Or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Assets And Any Other Financial Assets Managed Together, Net Credit Losses During Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hog_AssetsSecuritizedOrAssetbackedFinancingArrangementAssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherNetCreditLossesDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	hog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of net credit losses charged off.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (e)(5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118948506&loc=d3e107314-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsThatContinueToBeRecognizedSecuritizedOrAssetBackedFinancingArrangementAssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherNetCreditLossesDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Principal amount of transferred financial assets in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the assets underlying the transaction. Continuing involvement includes, but is not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in transferred financial assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118948506&loc=d3e107314-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContinuingInvolvementWithTransferredFinancialAssetsPrincipalAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This is the amount of the financial instruments that are considered delinquent (past due) at the end of the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (e)(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118948506&loc=d3e107314-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerecognizedAssetsSecuritizedOrAssetbackedFinancingArrangementAssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherDelinquentAmountAtEndOfPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net credit losses are charge-offs and are based on total loans outstanding during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerecognizedAssetsSecuritizedOrAssetbackedFinancingArrangementAssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherNetCreditLossesDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transferred financial assets in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the assets underlying the transaction that have been derecognized. Continuing involvement includes, but is not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in transferred financial assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118948506&loc=d3e107314-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerecognizedAssetsSecuritizedOrAssetbackedFinancingArrangementAssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherPrincipalAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This is the amount of the financial instruments that are considered delinquent (past due) at the end of the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (e)(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118948506&loc=d3e107314-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritizedAssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherDelinquentAmountAtEndOfPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transferred financial assets in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the assets underlying the transaction that continue to be recognized in the statement of financial position. Includes, but is not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in transferred financial assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118948506&loc=d3e107314-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritizedAssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherPrincipalAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration