Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2012	Jun. 26, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	HARLEY DAVIDSON INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000793952
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		230,497,185
Entity Public Float			$ 8,881,219,627