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Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities - Amount Of Gains And Losses Recognized In Income Related To Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	$ 3,229,798	$ 3,351,796	$ 3,272,330
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	1,199,056	1,258,098	1,180,176
Interest expense	31,078	30,884	31,004
Financial Services interest expense	210,438	193,187	180,193
Expected to be reclassified in next twelve months	16,400
Cash Flow Hedging \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	27,732
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		9,466	(7,644)
Cash Flow Hedging \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Foreign currency contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	21,433
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		11,492	(7,202)
Cash Flow Hedging \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Commodity contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	(70)
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		24	0
Cash Flow Hedging \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Cross-currency swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	12,156
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		0	0
Cash Flow Hedging \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Treasury rate locks
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	(492)
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		(498)	(442)
Cash Flow Hedging \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Interest rate swaps
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	(5,295)
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		(1,552)	0
Cash Flow Hedging \| Motorcycles cost of goods sold \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Foreign currency contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	21,433
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		11,492	(7,202)
Cash Flow Hedging \| Motorcycles cost of goods sold \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Commodity contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	(70)
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		24
Cash Flow Hedging \| Selling, administrative & engineering expense \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Cross-currency swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	12,156
Cash Flow Hedging \| Interest expense \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Treasury rate locks
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	(362)
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		(362)	(362)
Cash Flow Hedging \| Financial Services interest expense \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Treasury rate locks
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	(130)
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		(136)	$ (80)
Cash Flow Hedging \| Financial Services interest expense \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments Under ASC Topic 815 \| Interest rate swaps
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income	$ (5,295)
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income		$ (1,552)