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, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Pension Plan Assets
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	$ 2,433,975	$ 2,209,222
Pension Plan Assets | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	2,422,537	2,192,855
Pension Plan Assets | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	1,415,283	1,325,197
Pension Plan Assets | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	1,007,254	867,658
Pension Plan Assets | Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	11,438	16,367
Pension Plan Assets | Cash and cash equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	56,153	35,463
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	56,153	35,463
Pension Plan Assets | Equity holdings | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	1,327,585	1,233,337
Pension Plan Assets | Equity holdings | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	1,304,711	1,209,289
Pension Plan Assets | Equity holdings | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	22,874	24,048
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	785,227	728,892
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	769,583	707,276
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	15,644	21,616
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	114,013	79,707
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	106,783	77,275
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	7,230	2,432
Pension Plan Assets | Harley-Davidson common stock | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	46,741	47,365
Pension Plan Assets | Harley-Davidson common stock | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	46,741	47,365
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	381,538	377,301
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled equity funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	381,538	377,301
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	66	72
Pension Plan Assets | Other | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	66	72
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	1,038,799	924,055
Pension Plan Assets | Fixed-income holdings | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	110,572	115,908
Pension Plan Assets | Fixed-income holdings | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	928,227	808,147
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. Treasuries | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	59,116	67,234
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. Treasuries | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	59,116	67,234
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	15,230	15,434
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	15,230	15,434
Pension Plan Assets | Corporate bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	691,003	583,475
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	691,003	583,475
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	148,717	142,134
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	51,456	48,674
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	97,261	93,460
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	110,062	103,439
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	110,062	103,439
Pension Plan Assets | Municipal bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	14,671	12,339
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	14,671	12,339
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	537	4,118
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	10,901	12,249
Postretirement Health Coverage
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	244,035	220,992	$ 190,357
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	238,180	214,354
Postretirement Health Coverage | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	213,016	193,681
Postretirement Health Coverage | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	25,164	20,673
Postretirement Health Coverage | Cash and cash equivalents | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	4,306	2,458
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	4,306	2,458
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity holdings | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	172,154	151,857
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity holdings | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	172,154	151,179
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity holdings | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	678
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	115,272	104,399
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	115,272	104,399
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	29,670	22,422
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	29,670	21,744
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	0	678
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled equity funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	27,207	25,029
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled equity funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	27,207	25,029
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	5	7
Postretirement Health Coverage | Other | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	5	7
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	61,720	60,039
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fixed-income holdings | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	40,862	42,502
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fixed-income holdings | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	20,858	17,537
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. Treasuries | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	2,873	5,782
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. Treasuries | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	2,873	5,782
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	6,970	7,986
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	6,970	7,986
Postretirement Health Coverage | Corporate bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	12,460	8,425
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	12,460	8,425
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled fixed income funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	37,989	36,720
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled fixed income funds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	37,989	36,720
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	970	672
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	970	672
Postretirement Health Coverage | Municipal bonds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 and 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total benefit plan assets	458	454
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	458	454
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	$ 5,855	$ 6,638