Supplemental Consolidating Data - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2021	Jun. 27, 2021	Mar. 28, 2021	Sep. 27, 2020	Jun. 28, 2020	Mar. 29, 2020	Sep. 26, 2021	Sep. 27, 2020
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 1,365,310			$ 1,165,684			$ 4,319,875	$ 3,329,155
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	850,193			676,796			2,586,264	2,019,310
Financial Services interest expense	44,770			67,533			149,098	182,193
Provision for credit losses	11,208			7,835			4,935	178,433
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	254,312			231,721			747,665	734,057
Restructuring expense	615			43,915			1,167	85,864
Total costs and expenses	1,161,098			1,027,800			3,489,129	3,199,857
Operating income	204,212			137,884			830,746	129,298
Other income, net	858			155			1,825	466
Investment income	198			2,672			4,331	3,082
Interest expense	7,779			7,783			23,209	23,307
Income before provision for income taxes	197,489			132,928			813,693	109,539
Provision for income taxes	34,516			12,710			185,236	11,843
Net income	162,973	$ 206,340	$ 259,144	120,218	$ (92,217)	$ 69,695	628,457	97,696
Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	1,167,432						3,742,869
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	850,193						2,586,264
Financial Services interest expense	0						0
Provision for credit losses	0						0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	216,030						635,902
Restructuring expense	517						731
Total costs and expenses	1,066,740						3,222,897
Operating income	100,692						519,972
Other income, net	858						1,825
Investment income	120,198						244,331
Interest expense	7,779						23,209
Income before provision for income taxes	213,969						742,919
Provision for income taxes	7,408						112,974
Net income	206,561						629,945
Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	202,080						590,468
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0						0
Financial Services interest expense	44,770						149,098
Provision for credit losses	11,208						4,935
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	42,686						125,053
Restructuring expense	98						436
Total costs and expenses	98,762						279,522
Operating income	103,318						310,946
Other income, net	0						0
Investment income	0						0
Interest expense	0						0
Income before provision for income taxes	103,318						310,946
Provision for income taxes	27,108						72,262
Net income	76,210						238,684
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Total revenue	(4,202)						(13,462)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0						0
Financial Services interest expense	0						0
Provision for credit losses	0						0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(4,404)						(13,290)
Restructuring expense	0						0
Total costs and expenses	(4,404)						(13,290)
Operating income	202						(172)
Other income, net	0						0
Investment income	(120,000)						(240,000)
Interest expense	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(119,798)						(240,172)
Provision for income taxes	0						0
Net income	(119,798)						(240,172)
Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,160,618			964,029			3,724,225	2,733,091
Motorcycles and Related Products | Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,167,432						3,742,869
Motorcycles and Related Products | Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0						0
Motorcycles and Related Products | Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(6,814)						(18,644)
Financial Services
Revenue:
Financial Services	204,692			$ 201,655			595,650	$ 596,064
Financial Services | Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Financial Services	0						0
Financial Services | Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Financial Services	202,080						590,468
Financial Services | Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Financial Services	$ 2,612						$ 5,182