Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 01, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 01, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	$ 1,631,466	$ 1,569,047	$ 3,045,714	$ 2,842,416
Financial services	162,841	160,613	319,806	316,935
Total revenue	1,794,307	1,729,660	3,365,520	3,159,351
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	1,029,596	1,005,230	1,924,402	1,822,089
Financial services interest expense	45,506	48,712	86,060	99,968
Provision for credit losses	11,297	(5,259)	24,407	3,754
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	281,384	283,244	552,883	548,898
Restructuring (benefit) expense	(5,297)	6,220	(2,359)	17,671
Total costs and expenses	1,362,486	1,338,147	2,585,393	2,492,380
Operating income	431,821	391,513	780,127	666,971
Investment income	1,770	2,231	3,385	4,164
Interest expense	11,238	11,595	22,629	23,090
Income before provision for income taxes	422,353	382,149	760,883	648,045
Provision for income taxes	150,614	134,899	265,015	228,760
Net income	271,739	247,250	495,868	419,285
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	1,634,165	1,572,003	3,050,974	2,847,786
Financial services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,634,165	1,572,003	3,050,974	2,847,786
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	1,029,596	1,005,230	1,924,402	1,822,089
Financial services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	249,996	248,268	490,071	484,847
Restructuring (benefit) expense	(5,297)	6,220	(2,359)	17,671
Total costs and expenses	1,274,295	1,259,718	2,412,114	2,324,607
Operating income	359,870	312,285	638,860	523,179
Investment income	1,770	2,231	188,385	229,164
Interest expense	11,238	11,595	22,629	23,090
Income before provision for income taxes	350,402	302,921	804,616	729,253
Provision for income taxes	124,271	106,377	213,557	176,995
Net income	226,131	196,544	591,059	552,258
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	0	0	0	0
Financial services	163,335	160,843	320,632	316,749
Total revenue	163,335	160,843	320,632	316,749
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial services interest expense	45,506	48,712	86,060	99,968
Provision for credit losses	11,297	(5,259)	24,407	3,754
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	34,581	38,162	68,898	69,235
Restructuring (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	91,384	81,615	179,365	172,957
Operating income	71,951	79,228	141,267	143,792
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	71,951	79,228	141,267	143,792
Provision for income taxes	26,343	28,522	51,458	51,765
Net income	45,608	50,706	89,809	92,027
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	(2,699)	(2,956)	(5,260)	(5,370)
Financial services	(494)	(230)	(826)	186
Total revenue	(3,193)	(3,186)	(6,086)	(5,184)
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(3,193)	(3,186)	(6,086)	(5,184)
Restructuring (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(3,193)	(3,186)	(6,086)	(5,184)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Investment income	0	0	(185,000)	(225,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	0	0	(185,000)	(225,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	$ 0	$ 0	$ (185,000)	$ (225,000)