Supplemental Consolidating Data - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2022	Mar. 28, 2021
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 1,495,186	$ 1,422,507
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	895,536	811,622
Financial Services interest expense	42,099	55,707
Provision for credit losses	28,822	(22,474)
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	239,625	231,844
Restructuring benefit	(128)	(366)
Total costs and expenses	1,205,954	1,076,333
Operating income	289,232	346,174
Other income, net	11,030	277
Investment (loss) income	(1,979)	1,402
Interest expense	7,711	7,708
Income before provision for income taxes	290,572	340,145
Provision for income taxes	68,070	81,001
Net income	222,502	259,144
Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Revenue:
Total revenue	1,306,293	1,238,468
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	895,536	811,622
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	205,417	196,359
Restructuring benefit	(128)	(593)
Total costs and expenses	1,100,825	1,007,388
Operating income	205,468	231,080
Other income, net	11,030	277
Investment (loss) income	(1,979)	1,402
Interest expense	7,711	7,708
Income before provision for income taxes	206,808	225,051
Provision for income taxes	47,847	55,996
Net income	158,961	169,055
Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Financial Services
Revenue:
Total revenue	192,390	188,750
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	42,099	55,707
Provision for credit losses	28,822	(22,474)
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	37,858	40,275
Restructuring benefit	0	227
Total costs and expenses	108,779	73,735
Operating income	83,611	115,015
Other income, net	0	0
Investment (loss) income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	83,611	115,015
Provision for income taxes	20,223	25,005
Net income	63,388	90,010
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Total revenue	(3,497)	(4,711)
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	(3,650)	(4,790)
Restructuring benefit	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(3,650)	(4,790)
Operating income	153	79
Other income, net	0	0
Investment (loss) income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	153	79
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net income	153	79
Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,303,171	1,232,107
Motorcycles and Related Products | Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,306,293	1,238,468
Motorcycles and Related Products | Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Financial Services
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0
Motorcycles and Related Products | Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(3,122)	(6,361)
Financial Services
Revenue:
Financial Services	192,015	190,400
Financial Services | Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Revenue:
Financial Services	0	0
Financial Services | Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Financial Services
Revenue:
Financial Services	192,390	188,750
Financial Services | Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Financial Services	$ (375)	$ 1,650