Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,029,955	$ 1,068,138	$ 1,795,141	$ 1,526,950
Marketable securities	122,234	135,634	136,376
Accounts receivable, net	290,158	230,079	256,193
Finance receivables, net	1,829,612	1,743,045	1,726,061
Inventories	401,199	393,524	379,129
Restricted cash	194,329	188,008	217,400
Other current assets	225,188	292,508	237,396
Total current assets	4,092,675	4,050,936	4,747,696
Finance receivables, net	4,355,278	4,038,807	4,189,606
Property, plant and equipment, net	795,235	815,464	764,835
Goodwill	30,041	29,530	28,928
Other long-term assets	210,779	236,036	284,118
Total assets	9,484,008	9,170,773	10,015,183
Accounts payable	326,713	257,386	293,710
Accrued liabilities	539,227	513,591	606,078
Short-term debt	394,460	294,943	404,693
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	721,316	437,162	997,194
Total current liabilities	1,981,716	1,503,082	2,301,675
Long-term debt	4,067,733	4,370,544	4,472,413
Pension liability	144,563	330,294	125,664
Postretirement healthcare benefits	267,919	278,062	261,564
Other long-term liabilities	140,230	131,167	150,504
Total shareholders' equity	2,881,847	2,557,624	2,703,363
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,484,008	9,170,773	10,015,183
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	652,961	727,716	1,048,429	943,330
Marketable securities	122,234	135,634	136,376
Accounts receivable, net	1,228,320	781,642	623,021
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Inventories	401,199	393,524	379,129
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Other current assets	160,538	230,905	177,278
Total current assets	2,565,252	2,269,421	2,364,233
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	763,469	783,068	735,719
Goodwill	30,041	29,530	28,928
Other long-term assets	272,490	292,764	338,987
Total assets	3,631,252	3,374,783	3,467,867
Accounts payable	276,197	221,064	251,755
Accrued liabilities	455,393	439,144	521,867
Short-term debt	0	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	303,000	0	0
Total current liabilities	1,034,590	660,208	773,622
Long-term debt	0	303,000	303,000
Pension liability	144,563	330,294	125,664
Postretirement healthcare benefits	267,919	278,062	261,564
Other long-term liabilities	121,003	114,476	134,509
Total shareholders' equity	2,063,177	1,688,743	1,869,508
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,631,252	3,374,783	3,467,867
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	376,994	340,422	746,712	583,620
Marketable securities	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0	0
Finance receivables, net	1,829,612	1,743,045	1,726,061
Inventories	0	0	0
Restricted cash	194,329	188,008	217,400
Other current assets	64,650	57,609	60,118
Total current assets	2,465,585	2,329,084	2,750,291
Finance receivables, net	4,355,278	4,038,807	4,189,606
Property, plant and equipment, net	31,766	32,396	29,116
Goodwill	0	0	0
Other long-term assets	14,804	19,468	20,193
Total assets	6,867,433	6,419,755	6,989,206
Accounts payable	988,678	587,885	408,783
Accrued liabilities	86,003	74,447	87,936
Short-term debt	394,460	294,943	404,693
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	418,316	437,162	997,194
Total current liabilities	1,887,457	1,394,437	1,898,606
Long-term debt	4,067,733	4,067,544	4,169,413
Pension liability	0	0	0
Postretirement healthcare benefits	0	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	19,227	16,691	15,995
Total shareholders' equity	893,016	941,083	905,192
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,867,433	6,419,755	6,989,206
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(938,162)	(551,563)	(366,828)
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	(938,162)	(547,569)	(366,828)
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Other long-term assets	(76,515)	(76,196)	(75,062)
Total assets	(1,014,677)	(623,765)	(441,890)
Accounts payable	(938,162)	(551,563)	(366,828)
Accrued liabilities	(2,169)	0	(3,725)
Short-term debt	0	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	(940,331)	(551,563)	(370,553)
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	(74,346)	(72,202)	(71,337)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (1,014,677)	$ (623,765)	$ (441,890)