Supplemental Consolidating Data - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,874,745	$ 3,257,203	$ 833,868
Accounts receivable, net	182,148	143,082
Finance receivables, net	1,465,544	1,509,539
Inventories, net	712,942	523,497
Restricted cash	128,935	131,642	64,554
Other current assets	185,777	280,470
Total current assets	4,550,091	5,845,433
Finance receivables, net	5,106,377	4,933,469
Property, plant and equipment, net	683,984	743,784
Pension and postretirement assets	386,152	95,711
Goodwill	63,177	65,976
Deferred income taxes	82,922	158,538
Lease assets	49,625	45,203
Other long-term assets	128,727	122,487
Total assets	11,051,055	12,010,601	10,528,159
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	374,978	290,904
Accrued liabilities	601,981	557,214
Short-term deposits, net	72,146	79,965
Short-term debt	751,286	1,014,274
Current portion of long-term debt, net	1,542,496	2,039,597
Total current liabilities	3,342,887	3,981,954
Long-term deposits, net	218,180	0
Long-term debt, net	4,595,617	5,932,933
Lease liabilities	29,904	30,115
Pension and postretirement liabilities	95,299	114,206
Deferred income taxes	9,261	8,607
Other long-term liabilities	206,663	220,001
Commitments and contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity	2,553,244	1,722,785	$ 1,803,999	$ 1,773,949
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	11,051,055	12,010,601
Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,078,205	666,161
Accounts receivable, net	284,674	220,110
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories, net	712,942	523,497
Restricted cash	0	0
Other current assets	96,714	93,510
Total current assets	2,172,535	1,503,278
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	655,091	709,845
Pension and postretirement assets	386,152	95,711
Goodwill	63,177	65,976
Deferred income taxes	17,180	69,688
Lease assets	42,362	40,564
Other long-term assets	193,819	184,300
Total assets	3,530,316	2,669,362
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	356,309	277,429
Accrued liabilities	497,038	444,786
Short-term deposits, net	0	0
Short-term debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt, net	0	0
Total current liabilities	853,347	722,215
Long-term deposits, net	0
Long-term debt, net	744,668	743,977
Lease liabilities	22,437	26,313
Pension and postretirement liabilities	95,299	114,206
Deferred income taxes	18,899	7,166
Other long-term liabilities	154,950	171,242
Commitments and contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity	1,640,716	884,243
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,530,316	2,669,362
Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Financial Services
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	796,540	2,591,042
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Finance receivables, net	1,465,544	1,509,539
Inventories, net	0	0
Restricted cash	128,935	131,642
Other current assets	92,295	190,690
Total current assets	2,483,314	4,422,913
Finance receivables, net	5,106,377	4,933,469
Property, plant and equipment, net	28,893	33,939
Pension and postretirement assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	77,956	90,011
Lease assets	7,263	4,639
Other long-term assets	38,960	33,115
Total assets	7,742,763	9,518,086
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	121,195	90,503
Accrued liabilities	107,380	115,506
Short-term deposits, net	72,146	79,965
Short-term debt	751,286	1,014,274
Current portion of long-term debt, net	1,542,496	2,039,597
Total current liabilities	2,594,503	3,339,845
Long-term deposits, net	218,180
Long-term debt, net	3,850,949	5,188,956
Lease liabilities	7,467	3,802
Pension and postretirement liabilities	0	0
Deferred income taxes	1,531	1,441
Other long-term liabilities	49,610	46,514
Commitments and contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity	1,020,523	937,528
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,742,763	9,518,086
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(102,526)	(77,028)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories, net	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Other current assets	(3,232)	(3,730)
Total current assets	(105,758)	(80,758)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Pension and postretirement assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(12,214)	(1,161)
Lease assets	0	0
Other long-term assets	(104,052)	(94,928)
Total assets	(222,024)	(176,847)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(102,526)	(77,028)
Accrued liabilities	(2,437)	(3,078)
Short-term deposits, net	0	0
Short-term debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt, net	0	0
Total current liabilities	(104,963)	(80,106)
Long-term deposits, net	0
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Lease liabilities	0	0
Pension and postretirement liabilities	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(11,169)	0
Other long-term liabilities	2,103	2,245
Commitments and contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity	(107,995)	(98,986)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (222,024)	$ (176,847)