Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	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		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue:
Motorcycles and related products	$ 1,032,292	$ 1,180,284	$ 1,631,466	$ 1,414,248	$ 1,010,898	$ 1,089,268	$ 1,569,047	$ 1,273,369	$ 5,258,290	[1]	$ 4,942,582	[1]	$ 4,662,264	[1]
Financial services	158,342	163,434	162,841	156,965	159,962	161,027	160,613	156,322	641,582	[1]	637,924	[1]	649,449	[1]
Total revenue									5,899,872		5,580,506		5,311,713
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold									3,395,918		3,222,394		3,106,288
Financial services interest expense									165,491		195,990		229,492
Provision for employee long-term benefits									60,008		22,239		17,031
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									1,126,884		1,111,232		1,060,943
Restructuring expense									(2,131)		28,475		67,992
Total costs and expenses									4,746,170		4,580,330		4,481,746
Operating income									1,153,702		1,000,176		829,967
Investment income									5,859		7,369		7,963
Interest expense									45,256		46,033		45,266
Loss on debt extinguishment									4,947		4,323		9,608
Income before provision for income taxes	112,091	241,331	422,353	338,530	106,356	207,111	382,149	265,896	1,114,305		961,512		792,664
Provision for income taxes									380,312		337,587		244,586
Income from continuing operations									733,993		623,925		548,078
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									0		0		51,036
Net income	75,409	162,716	271,739	224,129	70,639	134,001	247,250	172,035	733,993		623,925		599,114
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and related products									(10,190)		(10,166)		(9,678)
Financial services									(1,485)		(1,558)		(25)
Total revenue									(11,675)		(11,724)		(9,703)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold									0		0		0
Financial services interest expense									0		0		0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0		0		0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									(11,675)		(11,724)		(9,703)
Restructuring expense									0		0		0
Total costs and expenses									(11,675)		(11,724)		(9,703)
Operating income									0		0		0
Investment income									(185,000)		(225,000)		(125,000)
Interest expense									0		0		0
Loss on debt extinguishment									0		0		0
Income before provision for income taxes									(185,000)		(225,000)		(125,000)
Provision for income taxes									0		0		0
Income from continuing operations									(185,000)		(225,000)		(125,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									0		0		0
Net income									(185,000)		(225,000)		(125,000)
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and related products									5,268,480		4,952,748		4,671,942
Financial services									0		0		0
Total revenue									5,268,480		4,952,748		4,671,942
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold									3,395,918		3,222,394		3,106,288
Financial services interest expense									0		0		0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0		0		0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									995,378		977,782		926,832
Restructuring expense									(2,131)		28,475		67,992
Total costs and expenses									4,389,165		4,228,651		4,101,112
Operating income									879,315		724,097		570,830
Investment income									190,859		232,369		132,963
Interest expense									45,256		46,033		45,266
Loss on debt extinguishment									0		0		0
Income before provision for income taxes									1,024,918		910,433		658,527
Provision for income taxes									279,841		233,385		150,756
Income from continuing operations									745,077		677,048		507,771
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									0		0		51,036
Net income									745,077		677,048		558,807
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and related products									0		0		0
Financial services									643,067		639,482		649,474
Total revenue									643,067		639,482		649,474
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold									0		0		0
Financial services interest expense									165,491		195,990		229,492
Provision for employee long-term benefits									60,008		22,239		17,031
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									143,181		145,174		143,814
Restructuring expense									0		0		0
Total costs and expenses									368,680		363,403		390,337
Operating income									274,387		276,079		259,137
Investment income									0		0		0
Interest expense									0		0		0
Loss on debt extinguishment									4,947		4,323		9,608
Income before provision for income taxes									274,387		276,079		259,137
Provision for income taxes									100,471		104,202		93,830
Income from continuing operations									173,916		171,877		165,307
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									0		0		0
Net income									$ 173,916		$ 171,877		$ 165,307

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