<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-11-26</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000793952</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HARLEY DAVIDSON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243073</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROSTOWITZ JAMES M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3700 WEST JUNEAU AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53208</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <officerTitle>VP and Controller</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-11-26</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>5200</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>46.72</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-11-26</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>22944</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>297012</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>13216.178</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By 401(k)</value>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>25000</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By Limited Partnership</value>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>6.085</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-11-26</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>22944</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1995-02-16</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2004-02-15</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>22944</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>6.735</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1996-02-02</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2005-02-01</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>29056</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>29056</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>8.9375</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1997-02-15</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2006-02-14</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>16264</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>16264</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>10.39</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1998-02-19</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2007-02-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>14408</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>14408</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>14.4063</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1999-02-19</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2008-02-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>31340</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>31340</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>25.7969</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2000-02-18</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2009-02-17</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>28970</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>28970</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>33.5938</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2001-02-17</value>
        <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2010-02-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>25502</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>25502</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>44.41</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2002-02-08</value>
        <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2011-02-07</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>20062</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>20062</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>52.095</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2003-02-13</value>
        <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2012-02-12</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>19503</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>19503</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>40.72</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2004-02-12</value>
        <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-02-11</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>26199</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>26199</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to the Harley-Davidson, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">All options are currently exercisable.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Granted pursuant to the Harley-Davidson, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">Options granted pursuant to the 1995 Plan shall become exercisable for 25% of the shares covered by the Option on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <remarks />
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Tonit M. Calaway, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-11-26</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

