Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Schedule Of Fair Value Of Pension Plan and Postretirement Healthcare Plan Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Plan Assets
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	$ 1,899,889	$ 1,841,967
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy excluding assets measured at net asset value	1,877,945	1,818,635
Pension Plan Assets | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	1,127,105	1,139,076
Pension Plan Assets | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	750,840	679,559
Pension Plan Assets | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	84,548	33,539
Pension Plan Assets | Cash and cash equivalents | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	1,284	1,485
Pension Plan Assets | Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	83,264	32,054
Pension Plan Assets | Equity Securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	1,044,455	1,048,370
Pension Plan Assets | Equity Securities | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	1,027,189	1,045,493
Pension Plan Assets | Equity Securities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	17,266	2,877
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	603,568	574,826
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	586,302	571,949
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. companies | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	17,266	2,877
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	50,256	113,803
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	50,256	113,803
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign companies | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Harley-Davidson common stock
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	74,301	57,808
Pension Plan Assets | Harley-Davidson common stock | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	74,301	57,808
Pension Plan Assets | Harley-Davidson common stock | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled equity funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	316,225	301,824
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled equity funds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	316,225	301,824
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled equity funds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	105	109
Pension Plan Assets | Other | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	105	109
Pension Plan Assets | Other | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Fixed-income holdings
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	748,942	736,726
Pension Plan Assets | Fixed-income holdings | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	98,632	92,098
Pension Plan Assets | Fixed-income holdings | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	650,310	644,628
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. Treasuries
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	41,089	42,827
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. Treasuries | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	41,089	42,827
Pension Plan Assets | U.S. Treasuries | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Federal agencies
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	36,210	43,695
Pension Plan Assets | Federal agencies | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Federal agencies | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	36,210	43,695
Pension Plan Assets | Corporate bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	418,522	388,439
Pension Plan Assets | Corporate bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Corporate bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	418,522	388,439
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	170,741	184,142
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	57,543	49,271
Pension Plan Assets | Pooled fixed income funds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	113,198	134,871
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	69,871	64,533
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Foreign bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	69,871	64,533
Pension Plan Assets | Municipal bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	12,509	13,090
Pension Plan Assets | Municipal bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Pension Plan Assets | Municipal bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	12,509	13,090
Pension Plan Assets | Limited partnership interests
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Assets measured at net asset value	9,321	10,530
Pension Plan Assets | Real estate investment trust
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Assets measured at net asset value	12,623	12,802
Postretirement Health Coverage
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	170,092	156,765	$ 156,840
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy excluding assets measured at net asset value	164,574	151,874
Postretirement Health Coverage | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	131,221	121,864
Postretirement Health Coverage | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	33,353	30,010
Postretirement Health Coverage | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	4,442	6,068
Postretirement Health Coverage | Cash and cash equivalents | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	1,180	2,980
Postretirement Health Coverage | Cash and cash equivalents | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	3,262	3,088
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity Securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	117,974	108,771
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity Securities | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	117,779	108,353
Postretirement Health Coverage | Equity Securities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	195	418
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	84,643	74,083
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	84,643	74,083
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. companies | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	14,190	17,267
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	13,995	16,849
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign companies | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	195	418
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled equity funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	19,132	17,410
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled equity funds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	19,132	17,410
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled equity funds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	9	11
Postretirement Health Coverage | Other | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	9	11
Postretirement Health Coverage | Other | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fixed-income holdings
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	42,158	37,035
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fixed-income holdings | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	12,262	10,531
Postretirement Health Coverage | Fixed-income holdings | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	29,896	26,504
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. Treasuries
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	12,262	10,531
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. Treasuries | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	12,262	10,531
Postretirement Health Coverage | U.S. Treasuries | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Federal agencies
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	7,364	6,508
Postretirement Health Coverage | Federal agencies | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Federal agencies | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	7,364	6,508
Postretirement Health Coverage | Corporate bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	11,750	10,270
Postretirement Health Coverage | Corporate bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Corporate bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	11,750	10,270
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled fixed income funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	9,690	8,305
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled fixed income funds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Pooled fixed income funds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	9,690	8,305
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	633	890
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Foreign bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	633	890
Postretirement Health Coverage | Municipal bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	459	531
Postretirement Health Coverage | Municipal bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0	0
Postretirement Health Coverage | Municipal bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	459	531
Postretirement Health Coverage | Real estate investment trust
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Assets measured at net asset value	$ 5,518	$ 4,891