Supplemental Consolidating Data - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue:
Total revenue									$ 5,361,789	$ 5,716,875	$ 5,647,224
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									3,229,798	3,351,796	3,272,330
Financial Services interest expense									210,438	193,187	180,193
Financial Services provision for credit losses									134,536	106,870	132,444
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									1,199,056	1,258,098	1,180,176
Restructuring expense									32,353	93,401	0
Total costs and expenses									4,806,181	5,003,352	4,765,143
Operating income									555,608	713,523	882,081
Other income (expense), net									16,514	3,039	9,182
Investment income									16,371	951	3,580
Interest expense									31,078	30,884	31,004
Income before provision for income taxes	$ 13,700	$ 117,300	$ 256,100	$ 170,400	$ (4,100)	$ 141,200	$ 319,400	$ 230,200	557,415	686,629	863,839
Provision for income taxes									133,780	155,178	342,080
Net income									423,635	531,451	521,759
Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue									4,593,585	4,981,445	4,925,003
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									3,229,798	3,352,438	3,272,330
Financial Services interest expense									0	0	0
Financial Services provision for credit losses									0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									1,034,921	1,104,919	1,037,529
Restructuring expense									32,353	93,401
Total costs and expenses									4,297,072	4,550,758	4,309,859
Operating income									296,513	430,687	615,144
Other income (expense), net									16,514	3,039	9,182
Investment income									196,371	235,951	199,580
Interest expense									31,078	30,884	31,004
Income before provision for income taxes									478,320	638,793	792,902
Provision for income taxes									75,278	85,153	214,175
Net income									403,042	553,640	578,727
Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue									779,163	747,432	734,008
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense									210,438	193,187	180,193
Financial Services provision for credit losses									134,536	106,870	132,444
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									175,258	164,623	154,232
Restructuring expense									0	0
Total costs and expenses									520,232	464,680	466,869
Operating income									258,931	282,752	267,139
Other income (expense), net									0	0	0
Investment income									0	0	0
Interest expense									0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes									258,931	282,752	267,139
Provision for income taxes									58,502	70,025	127,905
Net income									200,429	212,727	139,234
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Total revenue									(10,959)	(12,002)	(11,787)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									0	(642)	0
Financial Services interest expense									0	0	0
Financial Services provision for credit losses									0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									(11,123)	(11,444)	(11,585)
Restructuring expense									0	0
Total costs and expenses									(11,123)	(12,086)	(11,585)
Operating income									164	84	(202)
Other income (expense), net									0	0	0
Investment income									(180,000)	(235,000)	(196,000)
Interest expense									0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes									(179,836)	(234,916)	(196,202)
Provision for income taxes									0	0	0
Net income									(179,836)	(234,916)	(196,202)
Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	874,100	1,068,900	1,434,000	1,195,600	955,600	1,123,900	1,525,100	1,363,900	4,572,678	4,968,646	4,915,027
Costs and expenses:
Operating income	(46,500)	47,000	180,700	108,400	(59,500)	65,700	243,400	172,800
Motorcycles and Related Products | Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									4,593,585	4,981,445	4,925,003
Motorcycles and Related Products | Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									0	0	0
Motorcycles and Related Products | Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									(20,907)	(12,799)	(9,976)
Financial Service
Revenue:
Financial Services	198,200	203,600	198,600	188,700	190,200	191,700	188,100	178,200	789,111	748,229	732,197
Costs and expenses:
Operating income	$ 58,900	$ 72,900	$ 75,500	$ 58,700	$ 63,300	$ 83,800	$ 80,500	$ 63,600
Financial Service | Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Financial Services									0	0	0
Financial Service | Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Financial Services									779,163	747,432	734,008
Financial Service | Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Financial Services									9,948	797	(1,811)
Motorcycles And Related Products
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									4,572,678	4,968,646	4,915,027
Costs and expenses:
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									1,020,907	1,101,086	1,035,921
Restructuring expense									32,353	93,401	0
Operating income									289,620	422,363	606,776
Financial Services
Revenue:
Financial Services									789,111	748,229	732,197
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses									523,123	457,069	456,892
Operating income									$ 265,988	$ 291,160	$ 275,305