Supplemental Consolidating Data - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2022	Jun. 26, 2022	Mar. 27, 2022	Sep. 26, 2021	Jun. 27, 2021	Mar. 28, 2021	Sep. 25, 2022	Sep. 26, 2021
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,436,962			$ 1,160,618			$ 4,006,604	$ 3,724,225
Financial Services	211,613			204,692			606,244	595,650
Total revenue	1,648,575			1,365,310			4,612,848	4,319,875
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	946,656			850,193			2,721,913	2,586,264
Financial Services interest expense	60,740			44,770			150,488	149,098
Provision for credit losses	36,617			11,208			94,572	4,935
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	265,841			254,312			740,699	747,665
Restructuring expense (benefit)	3			615			(389)	1,167
Total costs and expenses	1,309,857			1,161,098			3,707,283	3,489,129
Operating income	338,718			204,212			905,565	830,746
Other income, net	9,358			858			30,443	1,825
Investment income (loss)	1,723			198			(3,786)	4,331
Interest expense	8,124			7,779			23,555	23,209
Income before provision for income taxes	341,675			197,489			908,667	813,693
Provision for income taxes	80,489			34,516			209,130	185,236
Net income	261,186	$ 215,849	$ 222,502	162,973	$ 206,340	$ 259,144	699,537	628,457
Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,439,894			1,167,432			4,015,779	3,742,869
Financial Services	0			0			0	0
Total revenue	1,439,894			1,167,432			4,015,779	3,742,869
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	946,656			850,193			2,721,913	2,586,264
Financial Services interest expense	0			0			0	0
Provision for credit losses	0			0			0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	233,151			216,030			634,506	635,902
Restructuring expense (benefit)	3			517			(389)	731
Total costs and expenses	1,179,810			1,066,740			3,356,030	3,222,897
Operating income	260,084			100,692			659,749	519,972
Other income, net	9,358			858			30,443	1,825
Investment income (loss)	201,723			120,198			196,214	244,331
Interest expense	8,124			7,779			23,555	23,209
Income before provision for income taxes	463,041			213,969			862,851	742,919
Provision for income taxes	61,390			7,408			150,231	112,974
Net income	401,651			206,561			712,620	629,945
Reportable Legal Entities | Harley-Davidson Financial Services
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0			0			0	0
Financial Services	212,100			202,080			607,876	590,468
Total revenue	212,100			202,080			607,876	590,468
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0			0			0	0
Financial Services interest expense	60,740			44,770			150,488	149,098
Provision for credit losses	36,617			11,208			94,572	4,935
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	36,231			42,686			117,117	125,053
Restructuring expense (benefit)	0			98			0	436
Total costs and expenses	133,588			98,762			362,177	279,522
Operating income	78,512			103,318			245,699	310,946
Other income, net	0			0			0	0
Investment income (loss)	0			0			0	0
Interest expense	0			0			0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	78,512			103,318			245,699	310,946
Provision for income taxes	19,099			27,108			58,899	72,262
Net income	59,413			76,210			186,800	238,684
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,932)			(6,814)			(9,175)	(18,644)
Financial Services	(487)			2,612			(1,632)	5,182
Total revenue	(3,419)			(4,202)			(10,807)	(13,462)
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	(3,541)			(4,404)			(10,924)	(13,290)
Restructuring expense (benefit)	0			0			0	0
Total costs and expenses	(3,541)			(4,404)			(10,924)	(13,290)
Operating income	122			202			117	(172)
Other income, net	0			0			0	0
Investment income (loss)	(200,000)			(120,000)			(200,000)	(240,000)
Interest expense	0			0			0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(199,878)			(119,798)			(199,883)	(240,172)
Provision for income taxes	0			0			0	0
Net income	$ (199,878)			$ (119,798)			$ (199,883)	$ (240,172)