Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	$ 1,414,248	$ 1,273,369
Financial services	156,965	156,322
Total revenue	1,571,213	1,429,691
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	894,806	816,859
Financial services interest expense	40,554	51,256
Financial services provision for credit losses	13,110	9,014
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	271,499	265,653
Restructuring expense	2,938	11,451
Total costs and expenses	1,222,907	1,154,233
Operating income	348,306	275,458
Investment income	1,615	1,933
Interest expense	11,391	11,495
Income before provision for income taxes	338,530	265,896
Provision for income taxes	114,401	93,861
Net income	224,129	172,035
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	1,416,809	1,275,783
Financial services	0	0
Total revenue	1,416,809	1,275,783
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	894,806	816,859
Financial services interest expense	0	0
Financial services provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	240,076	236,579
Restructuring expense	2,938	11,451
Total costs and expenses	1,137,820	1,064,889
Operating income	278,989	210,894
Investment income	186,615	226,933
Interest expense	11,391	11,495
Income before provision for income taxes	454,213	426,332
Provision for income taxes	89,286	70,618
Net income	364,927	355,714
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	0	0
Financial services	157,297	155,906
Total revenue	157,297	155,906
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial services interest expense	40,554	51,256
Financial services provision for credit losses	13,110	9,014
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	34,316	31,072
Restructuring expense	0	0
Total costs and expenses	87,980	91,342
Operating income	69,317	64,564
Investment income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	69,317	64,564
Provision for income taxes	25,115	23,243
Net income	44,202	41,321
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	(2,561)	(2,414)
Financial services	(332)	416
Total revenue	(2,893)	(1,998)
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial services interest expense	0	0
Financial services provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(2,893)	(1,998)
Restructuring expense	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(2,893)	(1,998)
Operating income	0	0
Investment income	(185,000)	(225,000)
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(185,000)	(225,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net income	$ (185,000)	$ (225,000)