Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits - Schedule Of Fair Value Of Pension Plan and Postretirement Healthcare Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Pension Plan Assets
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	$ 2,209,222	$ 1,874,618
Pension Plan Assets | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	2,192,855	1,858,192
Pension Plan Assets | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	1,325,197	1,149,386
Pension Plan Assets | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	867,658	708,806
Pension Plan Assets | Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	16,367	16,426
Pension Plan Assets | Cash and cash equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	35,463	40,984
Pension Plan Assets | Cash and cash equivalents | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Cash and cash equivalents | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	35,463	40,984
Pension Plan Assets | Equity holdings | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	1,233,337	1,076,467
Pension Plan Assets | Equity holdings | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	1,209,289	1,061,618
Pension Plan Assets | Equity holdings | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	24,048	14,849
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	728,892	636,308
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	707,276	621,459
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	21,616	14,849
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	79,707	66,143
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	77,275	66,143
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	2,432	0
Pension Plan Assets | Harley-Davidson common stock | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	47,365	43,455
Pension Plan Assets | Harley-Davidson common stock | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	47,365	43,455
Pension Plan Assets | Harley-Davidson common stock | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled equity funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	377,301	330,476
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled equity funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	377,301	330,476
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled equity funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Other | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	72	85
Pension Plan Assets | Other | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	72	85
Pension Plan Assets | Other | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Fixed-income holdings | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	924,055	740,741
Pension Plan Assets | Fixed-income holdings | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	115,908	87,768
Pension Plan Assets | Fixed-income holdings | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	808,147	652,973
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. Treasuries | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	67,234	45,102
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. Treasuries | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	67,234	45,102
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. Treasuries | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Federal agencies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	15,434	27,811
Pension Plan Assets | Federal agencies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Federal agencies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	15,434	27,811
Pension Plan Assets | Corporate bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	583,475	434,070
Pension Plan Assets | Corporate bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Corporate bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	583,475	434,070
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	142,134	140,630
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	48,674	42,400
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	93,460	98,230
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	103,439	83,852
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	266
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	103,439	83,586
Pension Plan Assets | Municipal bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	12,339	9,276
Pension Plan Assets | Municipal bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Municipal bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	12,339	9,276
Pension Plan Assets | Limited partnership interests | Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	4,118	5,918
Pension Plan Assets | Real estate investment trust | Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	12,249	10,508
Postretirement Health Coverage
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	220,992	190,357	$ 217,537
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	214,354	184,860
Postretirement Health Coverage | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	193,681	166,713
Postretirement Health Coverage | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	20,673	18,147
Postretirement Health Coverage | Cash and cash equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	2,458	5,276
Postretirement Health Coverage | Cash and cash equivalents | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Cash and cash equivalents | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	2,458	5,276
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity holdings | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	151,857	124,073
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity holdings | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	151,179	124,047
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity holdings | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	678	26
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	104,399	86,975
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	104,399	86,949
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	26
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	22,422	16,342
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	21,744	16,342
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	678	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled equity funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	25,029	20,747
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled equity funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	25,029	20,747
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled equity funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Other | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	7	9
Postretirement Health Coverage | Other | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	7	9
Postretirement Health Coverage | Other | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fixed-income holdings | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	60,039	55,511
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fixed-income holdings | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	42,502	42,666
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fixed-income holdings | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	17,537	12,845
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. Treasuries | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	5,782	8,707
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. Treasuries | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	5,782	8,707
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. Treasuries | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Federal agencies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	7,986	5,445
Postretirement Health Coverage | Federal agencies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Federal agencies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	7,986	5,445
Postretirement Health Coverage | Corporate bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	8,425	6,590
Postretirement Health Coverage | Corporate bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Corporate bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	8,425	6,590
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled fixed income funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	36,720	33,959
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled fixed income funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	36,720	33,959
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled fixed income funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	672	538
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	672	538
Postretirement Health Coverage | Municipal bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	454	272
Postretirement Health Coverage | Municipal bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Municipal bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	454	272
Postretirement Health Coverage | Real estate investment trust | Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	$ 6,638	$ 5,497