Business Segments And Geographic Information (Information By Strategic Business Units) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 29, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jul. 01, 2012		Apr. 01, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013 segment		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments																	2
Motorcycles net revenue	$ 1,032,292,000		$ 1,180,284,000		$ 1,631,466,000		$ 1,414,248,000		$ 1,010,898,000		$ 1,089,268,000		$ 1,569,047,000		$ 1,273,369,000		$ 5,258,290,000	[1]	$ 4,942,582,000	[1]	$ 4,662,264,000	[1]
Selling, administrative and engineering expense																	1,126,884,000		1,111,232,000		1,060,943,000
Restructuring expense																	(2,131,000)		28,475,000		67,992,000
Financial services revenue	158,342,000		163,434,000		162,841,000		156,965,000		159,962,000		161,027,000		160,613,000		156,322,000		641,582,000	[1]	637,924,000	[1]	649,449,000	[1]
Operating income																	1,153,702,000		1,000,176,000		829,967,000
Interest Income Paid By Motorcycles Segment																	10,400,000		11,500,000		10,500,000
Motorcycles Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles net revenue																	5,258,290,000		4,942,582,000		4,662,264,000
Gross profit																	1,862,372,000		1,720,188,000		1,555,976,000
Selling, administrative and engineering expense																	993,894,000		976,224,000		926,808,000
Restructuring expense																	(2,131,000)		28,475,000		67,992,000
Operating income	60,712,000	[2]	175,471,000	[2]	357,665,000	[2]	276,761,000	[2]	53,114,000	[2]	144,752,000	[2]	309,559,000	[2]	208,064,000	[2]	870,609,000		715,489,000		561,176,000
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial services revenue																	641,582,000		637,924,000		649,449,000
Financial Services Costs																	358,489,000		353,237,000		380,658,000
Operating income	$ 61,324,000		$ 76,068,000		$ 74,156,000		$ 71,545,000		$ 62,989,000		$ 72,350,000		$ 81,954,000		$ 67,394,000		$ 283,093,000		$ 284,687,000		$ 268,791,000

[1] Revenue is attributed to geographic regions based on location of customer.

[2] Operating income for the Motorcycles segment includes restructuring expense (benefit) as discussed in Note 4 for the following periods (in millions): 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Mar 31,2013 April 1,2012 June 30,2013 July 1,2012 Sep 29,2013 Sep 30,2012 Dec 31,2013 Dec 31,2012Restructuring expense (benefit) $2.9 $11.5 $(5.3) $6.2 $0.6 $0.9 $(0.4) $1.6