Supplemental Consolidating Data - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2022	Mar. 27, 2022	Jun. 27, 2021	Mar. 28, 2021	Jun. 26, 2022	Jun. 27, 2021
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,266,471		$ 1,331,500		$ 2,569,642	$ 2,563,607
Financial Services	202,616		200,558		394,631	390,958
Total revenue	1,469,087		1,532,058		2,964,273	2,954,565
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	879,721		924,449		1,775,257	1,736,071
Financial Services interest expense	47,649		48,621		89,748	104,328
Provision for credit losses	29,133		16,201		57,955	(6,273)
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	235,233		261,509		474,858	493,353
Restructuring (benefit) expense	(264)		918		(392)	552
Total costs and expenses	1,191,472		1,251,698		2,397,426	2,328,031
Operating income	277,615		280,360		566,847	626,534
Other income, net	10,055		690		21,085	967
Investment (loss) income	(3,530)		2,731		(5,509)	4,133
Interest expense	7,720		7,722		15,431	15,430
Income before provision for income taxes	276,420		276,059		566,992	616,204
Provision for income taxes	60,571		69,719		128,641	150,720
Net income (loss)	215,849	$ 222,502	206,340	$ 259,144	438,351	465,484
Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,269,592		1,336,970		2,575,885	2,575,437
Financial Services	0		0		0	0
Total revenue	1,269,592		1,336,970		2,575,885	2,575,437
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	879,721		924,449		1,775,257	1,736,071
Financial Services interest expense	0		0		0	0
Provision for credit losses	0		0		0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	195,939		223,512		401,356	419,872
Restructuring (benefit) expense	(264)		807		(392)	214
Total costs and expenses	1,075,396		1,148,768		2,176,221	2,156,157
Operating income	194,196		188,202		399,664	419,280
Other income, net	10,055		690		21,085	967
Investment (loss) income	(3,530)		122,731		(5,509)	124,133
Interest expense	7,720		7,722		15,431	15,430
Income before provision for income taxes	193,001		303,901		399,809	528,950
Provision for income taxes	40,994		49,570		88,841	105,566
Net income (loss)	152,007		254,331		310,968	423,384
Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Financial Services
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0		0		0	0
Financial Services	203,386		199,637		395,776	388,387
Total revenue	203,386		199,637		395,776	388,387
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0		0		0	0
Financial Services interest expense	47,649		48,621		89,748	104,328
Provision for credit losses	29,133		16,201		57,955	(6,273)
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	43,028		42,091		80,886	82,366
Restructuring (benefit) expense	0		111		0	338
Total costs and expenses	119,810		107,024		228,589	180,759
Operating income	83,576		92,613		167,187	207,628
Other income, net	0		0		0	0
Investment (loss) income	0		0		0	0
Interest expense	0		0		0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	83,576		92,613		167,187	207,628
Provision for income taxes	19,577		20,149		39,800	45,154
Net income (loss)	63,999		72,464		127,387	162,474
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(3,121)		(5,470)		(6,243)	(11,830)
Financial Services	(770)		921		(1,145)	2,571
Total revenue	(3,891)		(4,549)		(7,388)	(9,259)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0		0		0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0		0		0	0
Provision for credit losses	0		0		0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(3,734)		(4,094)		(7,384)	(8,885)
Restructuring (benefit) expense	0		0		0	0
Total costs and expenses	(3,734)		(4,094)		(7,384)	(8,885)
Operating income	(157)		(455)		(4)	(374)
Other income, net	0		0		0	0
Investment (loss) income	0		(120,000)		0	(120,000)
Interest expense	0		0			0
Income before provision for income taxes	(157)		(120,455)		(4)	(120,374)
Provision for income taxes	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss)	$ (157)		$ (120,455)		$ (4)	$ (120,374)