Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	$ 1,180,284	$ 1,089,268	$ 4,225,998	$ 3,931,684
Financial services	163,434	161,027	483,240	477,962
Total revenue	1,343,718	1,250,295	4,709,238	4,409,646
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	763,969	711,364	2,688,371	2,533,453
Financial services interest expense	39,944	46,231	126,004	146,199
Provision for credit losses	14,604	9,069	39,011	12,823
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	273,016	257,359	825,899	806,257
Restructuring (benefit) expense	646	9,170	(1,713)	26,841
Total costs and expenses	1,092,179	1,033,193	3,677,572	3,525,573
Operating income	251,539	217,102	1,031,666	884,073
Investment income	1,161	1,447	4,546	5,611
Interest expense	11,369	11,438	33,998	34,528
Income before provision for income taxes	241,331	207,111	1,002,214	855,156
Provision for income taxes	78,615	73,110	343,630	301,870
Net Income	162,716	134,001	658,584	553,286
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	1,183,016	1,091,887	4,233,990	3,939,673
Financial services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,183,016	1,091,887	4,233,990	3,939,673
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	763,969	711,364	2,688,371	2,533,453
Financial services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	240,593	224,393	730,664	709,240
Restructuring (benefit) expense	646	9,170	(1,713)	26,841
Total costs and expenses	1,005,208	944,927	3,417,322	3,269,534
Operating income	177,808	146,960	816,668	670,139
Investment income	1,161	1,447	189,546	230,611
Interest expense	11,369	11,438	33,998	34,528
Income before provision for income taxes	167,600	136,969	972,216	866,222
Provision for income taxes	51,721	47,859	265,278	224,854
Net Income	115,879	89,110	706,938	641,368
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	0	0	0	0
Financial services	163,829	161,438	484,461	478,187
Total revenue	163,829	161,438	484,461	478,187
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial services interest expense	39,944	46,231	126,004	146,199
Provision for credit losses	14,604	9,069	39,011	12,823
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	35,550	35,996	104,448	105,231
Restructuring (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	90,098	91,296	269,463	264,253
Operating income	73,731	70,142	214,998	213,934
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	73,731	70,142	214,998	213,934
Provision for income taxes	26,894	25,251	78,352	77,016
Net Income	46,837	44,891	136,646	136,918
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	(2,732)	(2,619)	(7,992)	(7,989)
Financial services	(395)	(411)	(1,221)	(225)
Total revenue	(3,127)	(3,030)	(9,213)	(8,214)
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	(3,127)	(3,030)	(9,213)	(8,214)
Restructuring (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(3,127)	(3,030)	(9,213)	(8,214)
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)