Employee Benefit Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits (Schedule Of Fair Value Of Pension Plan Assets) (Details) (Pension And SERPA Benefits [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	$ 846,677	$ 789,589
Total fixed-income holdings	358,953	286,496
Total pension plan assets	1,253,916	1,105,487	1,026,124
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	801,150	745,285
Total fixed-income holdings	223,683	142,323
Total pension plan assets	1,024,833	887,608
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	3,400	1,672
Total fixed-income holdings	135,270	144,173
Total pension plan assets	186,956	175,247
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	42,127	42,632
Total pension plan assets	42,127	42,632	32,814
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	48,286	29,402
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	48,286	29,402
U.S. Companies [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	533,030	509,976
U.S. Companies [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	529,630	508,304
U.S. Companies [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	3,400	1,672
Foreign Companies [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	55,555	56,133
Foreign Companies [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	55,555	56,133
Harley-Davidson Common Stock [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	49,505	44,155
Harley-Davidson Common Stock [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	49,505	44,155
Pooled Equity Funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	166,460	136,693
Pooled Equity Funds [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	166,460	136,693
Limited Partnership Interests [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	40,016	40,421
Limited Partnership Interests [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	40,016	40,421
Total pension plan assets	40,016	40,421	30,332
Other [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	2,111	2,211
Other [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total equity holdings	2,111	2,211
Total pension plan assets	2,111	2,211	2,482
U.S. Treasuries [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	50,715	35,239
U.S. Treasuries [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	50,715	35,239
Federal Agencies [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	51,290	48,166
Federal Agencies [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	51,290	48,166
Corporate Bonds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	77,295	86,783
Corporate Bonds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	77,295	86,783
Pooled Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	172,968	107,084
Pooled Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	172,968	107,084
Foreign Bonds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	6,312	8,853
Foreign Bonds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	6,312	8,853
Municipal Bonds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	373	371
Municipal Bonds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total fixed-income holdings	$ 373	$ 371