Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,300,690	$ 1,068,138	$ 1,071,496	$ 1,526,950
Marketable securities	133,631	135,634	135,848
Accounts receivable, net	253,819	230,079	250,268
Finance receivables, net	2,010,974	1,743,045	1,854,838
Inventories	307,717	393,524	323,046
Restricted cash	212,004	188,008	188,564
Other current assets	235,636	292,508	245,807
Total current assets	4,454,471	4,050,936	4,069,867
Finance receivables, net	4,214,612	4,038,807	4,161,731
Property, plant and equipment, net	790,563	815,464	776,793
Goodwill	29,183	29,530	28,604
Other long-term assets	218,369	236,036	279,789
Total assets	9,707,198	9,170,773	9,316,784
Accounts payable	344,423	257,386	252,239
Accrued liabilities	450,247	513,591	535,097
Short-term debt	525,745	294,943	845,868
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	776,274	437,162	907,389
Total current liabilities	2,096,689	1,503,082	2,540,593
Long-term debt	4,234,352	4,370,544	3,576,994
Pension liability	148,974	330,294	122,496
Postretirement healthcare benefits	271,122	278,062	263,295
Other long-term liabilities	134,822	131,167	147,019
Total shareholders' equity	2,821,239	2,557,624	2,666,387
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,707,198	9,170,773	9,316,784
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	935,095	727,716	725,909	943,330
Marketable securities	133,631	135,634	135,848
Accounts receivable, net	956,619	781,642	885,797
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Inventories	307,717	393,524	323,046
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Other current assets	175,231	230,905	182,464
Total current assets	2,508,293	2,269,421	2,253,064
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	758,674	783,068	747,133
Goodwill	29,183	29,530	28,604
Other long-term assets	277,409	292,764	335,811
Total assets	3,573,559	3,374,783	3,364,612
Accounts payable	290,363	221,064	197,891
Accrued liabilities	392,613	439,144	466,808
Short-term debt	0	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	303,000	0	0
Total current liabilities	985,976	660,208	664,699
Long-term debt	0	303,000	303,000
Pension liability	148,974	330,294	122,496
Postretirement healthcare benefits	271,122	278,062	263,295
Other long-term liabilities	116,645	114,476	131,754
Total shareholders' equity	2,050,842	1,688,743	1,879,368
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,573,559	3,374,783	3,364,612
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	365,595	340,422	345,587	583,620
Marketable securities	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0	0
Finance receivables, net	2,010,974	1,743,045	1,854,838
Inventories	0	0	0
Restricted cash	212,004	188,008	188,564
Other current assets	60,405	57,609	63,343
Total current assets	2,648,978	2,329,084	2,452,332
Finance receivables, net	4,214,612	4,038,807	4,161,731
Property, plant and equipment, net	31,889	32,396	29,660
Goodwill	0	0	0
Other long-term assets	18,011	19,468	17,956
Total assets	6,913,490	6,419,755	6,661,679
Accounts payable	756,860	587,885	689,877
Accrued liabilities	61,015	74,447	71,756
Short-term debt	525,745	294,943	845,868
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	473,274	437,162	907,389
Total current liabilities	1,816,894	1,394,437	2,514,890
Long-term debt	4,234,352	4,067,544	3,273,994
Pension liability	0	0	0
Postretirement healthcare benefits	0	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	18,177	16,691	15,265
Total shareholders' equity	844,067	941,083	857,530
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,913,490	6,419,755	6,661,679
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(702,800)	(551,563)	(635,529)
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Inventories	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Other current assets	0	3,994	0
Total current assets	(702,800)	(547,569)	(635,529)
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Other long-term assets	(77,051)	(76,196)	(73,978)
Total assets	(779,851)	(623,765)	(709,507)
Accounts payable	(702,800)	(551,563)	(635,529)
Accrued liabilities	(3,381)	0	(3,467)
Short-term debt	0	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	(706,181)	(551,563)	(638,996)
Long-term debt	0	0	0
Pension liability	0	0	0
Postretirement healthcare benefits	0	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0	0
Total shareholders' equity	(73,670)	(72,202)	(70,511)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (779,851)	$ (623,765)	$ (709,507)