Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 5,271,376	$ 5,308,744	$ 5,567,681
Financial Services	725,082	686,658	660,827
Total revenue	5,996,458	5,995,402	6,228,508
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	3,419,710	3,356,284	3,542,601
Financial Services interest expense	173,756	161,983	164,476
Financial Services provision for credit losses	136,617	101,345	80,946
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	1,217,439	1,220,095	1,159,502
Total costs and expenses	4,947,522	4,839,707	4,947,525
Operating income	1,048,936	1,155,695	1,280,983
Investment income	4,645	6,585	6,499
Interest expense	29,670	12,117	4,162
Income before provision for income taxes	1,023,911	1,150,163	1,283,320
Provision for income taxes	331,747	397,956	438,709
Net income	692,164	752,207	844,611
Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	5,281,355	5,318,850	5,577,697
Financial Services	0	0	0
Total revenue	5,281,355	5,318,850	5,577,697
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	3,419,710	3,356,284	3,542,601
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0
Financial Services provision for credit losses	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	1,080,020	1,078,525	1,023,450
Total costs and expenses	4,499,730	4,434,809	4,566,051
Operating income	781,625	884,041	1,011,646
Investment income	187,645	106,585	126,499
Interest expense	29,670	12,117	4,162
Income before provision for income taxes	939,600	978,509	1,133,983
Provision for income taxes	231,986	300,499	338,453
Net income	707,614	678,010	795,530
Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0
Financial Services	726,736	688,211	662,345
Total revenue	726,736	688,211	662,345
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	173,756	161,983	164,476
Financial Services provision for credit losses	136,617	101,345	80,946
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	149,157	153,229	147,586
Total costs and expenses	459,530	416,557	393,008
Operating income	267,206	271,654	269,337
Investment income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	267,206	271,654	269,337
Provision for income taxes	99,761	97,457	100,256
Net income	167,445	174,197	169,081
Eliminations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(9,979)	(10,106)	(10,016)
Financial Services	(1,654)	(1,553)	(1,518)
Total revenue	(11,633)	(11,659)	(11,534)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0
Financial Services provision for credit losses	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(11,738)	(11,659)	(11,534)
Total costs and expenses	(11,738)	(11,659)	(11,534)
Operating income	105	0	0
Investment income	(183,000)	(100,000)	(120,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(182,895)	(100,000)	(120,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0
Net income	$ (182,895)	$ (100,000)	$ (120,000)